"Ruin My Life" is a song by Swedish singer Zara Larsson, released as a single on 18 October 2018. The song serves as the lead single from her upcoming second international and third overall studio album.[1]
Composition
"Ruin My Life" has been described as a "pop meets R&B track", with a danceable drum track backed by an electric guitar and keyboard backed by synths.[2][3]Paper described the song as "Larsson at her dreamiest with pensive piano breakdowns and cinematic sing-a-long choruses that roll into stadium-sized emotional crescendo after emotional crescendo. Larsson unearths a darker side of herself lyrically, diving into the dynamics of a toxic relationship. With a self-annihilating fatalism, Larsson's refrain of 'I want you to ruin my life/ruin my life/ruin my life' may seem naively reckless but, as the singer explains, taps into a more universal sentiment."[4]
Promotion
Larsson announced the release of the song on Instagram in September 2018, also sharing the cover art.[5] Larsson later appeared on BBC Radio 1 to talk about the song with Greg James.[6]
Critical reception
Natasha Azarmi of Aftonbladet called the song a mix between the two moods of Larsson's previous album So Good, in that it is "quiet in the verses" and then picks up the pace for the chorus.[7] Despite complimenting Larsson's "strong" voice and noting the song's "distinct beats" and "dreamy" sound, Azarmi said that the track "lacks enough sorrow and desperation" to be effective, and said that she hopes Larsson will show more "vulnerability" on her upcoming album.[7]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201847 into search. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
^Arvunescu, Victor (26 November 2018). "Top Airplay 100 – Avem ritm, avem dans, avem un nou lider!" [Top Airplay 100 – We have rhythm, we have dancing, we have a new leader!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201846 into search. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201847 into search. Retrieved 27 November 2018.