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Everything Is Embarrassing

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"Everything Is Embarrassing"
Single by Sky Ferreira
from the EP Ghost
B-side"Sad Dream"
ReleasedApril 16, 2013 (2013-04-16)
StudioHeavy Duty (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length4:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ariel Rechtshaid
Sky Ferreira singles chronology
"Red Lips"
(2012) 		"Everything Is Embarrassing"
(2013) 		"You're Not the One"
(2013)
Music video
"Everything Is Embarrassing" on YouTube

"Everything Is Embarrassing" is a song by American singer Sky Ferreira from her second extended play (EP), Ghost (2012). It was first premiered online on August 30, 2012, and was later released as a single on April 16, 2013, by Capitol Records in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The song was written by Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, and Dev Hynes, while the latter two produced the track. An accompanying music video for "Everything Is Embarrassing" was directed by Grant Singer with no budget; it was premiered through Pitchfork on October 1, 2012, and sees Ferreira singing in various locations throughout Los Angeles.

"Everything Is Embarrassing" was widely acclaimed and hailed by music critics as one of the best songs of recent years. In 2015, Pitchfork placed the song at number 14 on its list of "The 200 Best Tracks of 2010–2014". In 2019, Pitchfork placed the song at number 12 on its list of "The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s".

Composition

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"Everything Is Embarrassing" is a synth-pop,[1] electropop,[2] dance-pop,[3] alternative pop,[4] and synth-rock[2] ballad.[5] It was written by Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, and Dev Hynes, while the latter two produced and co-produced the track, respectively. Hynes, a former friend of Ferreira, had sent her a demo of the song, which was inspired by a failed relationship; Ferreira then modified the original lyrics and structure along with Rechtshaid.[1][6][7][8]

Release and promotion

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Single release

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With her debut studio album having been frequently delayed throughout the early 2010s,[9] Ferreira released her second extended play Ghost on October 2, 2012, while simultaneously continuing production of her full-length record.[10] "Everything Is Embarrassing" appears as the fifth of five songs on the track listing.[11] The track was premiered through Pitchfork on August 30, 2012,[12] and was later released as a single in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2013.[13] It was later included on the compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 46 compilation album, released on May 7, 2013.[14] Remixes by Twin Shadow and Krystal Klear were released digitally on February 5 and March 25, 2013, respectively,[15][16] while a remix by Unknown Mortal Orchestra was included on Ferreira's third extended play Night Time, My Time: B-Sides Part 1, released on November 25, 2013.[17]

In her debut television performance, she performed the track on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on January 7, 2013.[18] She has also performed the track at the SXSW festival.[19]

As of July 2013, "Everything Is Embarrassing" had sold 19,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[20] In Belgium, the song peaked at numbers 20 and 46 the Flanders and Wallonia Ultratip charts, respectively.[21]

Media appearance

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The main protagonist of the Special series on Netflix, Ryan Hayes (portrayed by Ryan O'Connell), in the first episode of season 2 says Sky Ferreira is his "diva of choice" and that "Everything Is Embarrassing" is "a perfect pop song." The song was featured in episode 5.[22]

Critical response

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"Everything Is Embarrassing" was met with acclaim from music critics. The single was named "Best New Track" by Pitchfork the day following its premiere[3] In his review of Ghost, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times called the song "counterintuitive and brilliant" and "one of the year's unlikely pop gems".[23]

Several publications and music blogs listed the song among the best of 2012, including Pitchfork,[24] The Guardian,[25] the Los Angeles Times,[26] Billboard,[27] Spin,[28] Fact,[29] the Bangkok Post,[30] and New York, the latter of which named it the best song of the year.[31] It was placed at number fifteen in the 2012 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[32] In 2014, Pitchfork placed "Everything Is Embarrassing" at number 14 on its list of "The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010–2014)", writing: "[The song] is ostensibly a done-with-your-shit kiss-off, and it's a glorious one", adding "she might be ready to move on, but she's still feeling a million conflicting emotions, and few songs capture that internal strife as honestly and effortlessly as 'Everything Is Embarrassing' does."[33] In 2018, NPR ranked the track as the 149th greatest song by a female or nonbinary artist in the 21st century, saying:

Sky Ferreira's 'Everything Is Embarrassing' marked her first foray into pop stardom – by that point, the 20-year-old had a successful career as a model and actress, but this downtrodden dance-pop single produced by 1980s revisionists Dev Hynes and Ariel Rechtshaid ushered in a new musical moment. Ferreira's vocals are impossibly cool, fully embracing the humiliation of anxiety and unfulfilled romances. It's a song that submits to mundane mortifications, the sound of sweet suffering.[34]

In 2019, Pitchfork ranked the song at number 12 on its list "The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s".[35] On October 9, 2019 Ferreira in an Instagram post celebrated the recognition by Pitchfork, with a screenshot photo from the list, stating she would be 'releasing new music right before the decade (2010s) is over'.[36]

Music video

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Capitol Records requested that an accompanying music video for "Everything Is Embarrassing" with no budget be filmed following the track's online premiere; it was directed by Grant Singer, who had previously directed the clips for Ferreira's tracks "Sad Dream" and "Lost in My Bedroom", and was filmed in one day in Los Angeles before Ferreira was scheduled to depart for New York City shortly after.[37] It was premiered through Pitchfork on October 1, 2012;[38] the black-and-white clip sees Ferreira singing in various locations throughout the city, including a playground, on the Los Angeles Metro and the roof of the Capitol Records Building.[37]

Track listings

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Digital download[13]
No.TitleLength
1."Everything Is Embarrassing"4:09
2."Sad Dream"3:34
3."Everything Is Embarrassing" (MK Remix)5:55
4."Everything Is Embarrassing" (Unicorn Kid Remix)3:31
Total length:17:09
Digital download – Twin Shadow Remix[15]
No.TitleLength
1."Everything Is Embarrassing" (Twin Shadow Remix)4:53
Total length:4:53
Digital download – Krystal Klear Remix[16]
No.TitleLength
1."Everything Is Embarrassing" (Krystal Klear Remix)6:13
2."Everything Is Embarrassing" (Krystal Klear Radio Edit)3:37
3."Everything Is Embarrassing" (Krystal Klear Instrumental)3:37
Total length:13:27

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Night Time, My Time: B-Sides Part 1.[39]

Recording

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Personnel

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Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[21] 20
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[40] 46

Other cover versions

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In 2021, British singer Will Young covered "Everything Is Embarrassing" on his album Crying on the Bathroom Floor.[41][42][43]

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Worldwide August 30, 2012 Online premiere Single version
[12]
United States February 5, 2013 Digital download Twin Shadow Remix [15]
March 25, 2013 Krystal Klear Remix [16]
United Kingdom April 16, 2013 Single version [13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Leedham, Robert (April 17, 2013). ""To be fair, I'm a bit jaded" – DiS meets Sky Ferreira". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "All The Best Songs Of The 2010s, Ranked". Uproxx. October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  3. ^ a b St. Asaph, Katherine (August 31, 2012). "Sky Ferriera: "Everything Is Embarrassing"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  4. ^ Davies, Dean Mayo (February 16, 2016). "Sky Ferreira: enduring spirit". Dazed. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  5. ^ Geslani, Michelle (January 18, 2013). "New Music: Sky Ferreira – "Everything Is Embarrassing" (Twin Shadow Remix)". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  6. ^ "Sky Ferreira – Everything is Embarrassing + You're Not The One | Newtown Radio | Swan 7 Studio". Newtown Radio. November 27, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Battan, Carrie (October 31, 2012). "A Small Pop". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  8. ^ Jones, Nate (December 12, 2012). ""People Were Trying to Find Out if I Was 'Real'": Talking to Sky Ferreira About Pitchfork Fame". Popdust. Archived from the original on April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  9. ^ Aquino, Tara (June 15, 2012). "Interview: Sky Ferreira Talks "Red Lips," Terry Richardson and Being Seen As A Socialite". Complex. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  10. ^ St. Asaph, Katherine (August 31, 2012). "Sky Ferreira: "Everything Is Embarrassing"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  11. ^ "Ghost – EP by Sky Ferreira". iTunes Store. United States. October 16, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Martin, Andrew (August 30, 2012). "Listen: Sky Ferreira "Everything Is Embarrassing"". Complex. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "Everything Is Embarrassing: Sky Ferreira". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  14. ^ "Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 46 by Various Artists". iTunes Store. United States. May 7, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c "Everything Is Embarrassing (Twin Shadow Remix) – Single by Sky Ferreira". iTunes Store. United States. January 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c "Everything Is Embarrassing [Polydor]". Beatport. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Night Time, My Time: B-sides, Pt. 1". Amazon. United States. November 25, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  18. ^ "Sky Ferreira Makes TV Debut on 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  19. ^ "SXSW 2013 Reviews: Dave Grohl's Sound City Players, Sky Ferreira, Divine Fits". Consequence of Sound. March 15, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  20. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (July 23, 2013). "Sky Ferreira Explains Album Wait: 'It Wasn't As Good As It Could Be'". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Sky Ferreira – Everything Is Embarrassing" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  22. ^ "Every song from S2E5 - Special, "Ryan Joins the Crips"". WhatSong. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  23. ^ Ratliff, Ben; Caramanica, Jon (October 15, 2012). "Releases by Jason Aldean, Sky Ferreira and Godspeed You! Black Emperor". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  24. ^ "The Top 100 Tracks of 2012". Pitchfork. December 17, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  25. ^ Smith, Caspar Llewellyn (December 13, 2012). "Best tracks of 2012: read the full list". The Guardian. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  26. ^ Wood, Mikael (December 27, 2012). "Best of 2012 Pop Music: Singles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  27. ^ "20 Best Songs of 2012: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 18, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  28. ^ "SPIN's 40 Best Songs of 2012". Spin. December 9, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  29. ^ "The 100 Best Tracks of 2012". Fact. December 13, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  30. ^ Poomsawai, Chanun (December 30, 2012). "TOP 15 singles of 2012". Bangkok Post. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  31. ^ Abebe, Nitsuh (December 2, 2012). "Song of the Year". New York. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  32. ^ "Pazz+Jop 2012: Singles Winners". The Village Voice. January 15, 2013. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  33. ^ "The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010–2014)". Pitchfork. August 17, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  34. ^ Sherman, Maria (July 30, 2018). "The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+". National Public Radio. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  35. ^ "The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s". Pitchfork. October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  36. ^ Ferreira, Sky (9 October 2019). "Sky Ferreira Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  37. ^ a b Klinger, Doug (November 2, 2012). "Video Chats: Grant Singer on "Sad Dream" and "Everything is Embarrassing" by Sky Ferreira". IMVDb. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  38. ^ "Sky Ferreira Shares "Everything Is Embarrassing" Video, Works With Cass McCombs, Jon Brion on EP". Pitchfork. October 1, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  39. ^ Night Time, My Time: B-Sides Part 1 (liner notes). Sky Ferreira. Capitol Records. 2013. B001953122.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ^ "Sky Ferreira – Everything Is Embarrassing" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  41. ^ Stroude, Will (26 April 2021). "Will Young releases new single 'Daniel' from upcoming female pop covers album". Attitude. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  42. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (4 August 2021). "Album reviews: Will Young – Crying on the Bathroom Floor, and Fredo – Independence Day". The Independent. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  43. ^ "Will Young - Everything Is Embarrassing (Official Audio)". YouTube. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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