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Misery (Gwen Stefani song)

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"Misery"
Stefani is shown with her left hand touching her mouth and tugging on her bangs; the background consists of the song's handwritten lyrics while the song's title is surrounded by hearts and appears in the upper right hand corner
Single by Gwen Stefani
from the album This Is What the Truth Feels Like
Released May 23, 2016
Format Digital download
Recorded
Genre Electropop
Length 3:26
Label Interscope
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Mattman & Robin
Gwen Stefani singles chronology
"Make Me Like You"
(2016)		 "Misery"
(2016)

"Misery" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani, taken from her third studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like. While originally intended to be released as the album's second single, Interscope Records released it as a promotional single on March 11, 2016, before Stefani revealed on Instagram that it is the album's third single. It will be serviced to hot adult contemporary radio on May 23, 2016. The electropop track was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, and Robin Fredriksson, while production was handled by Mattman & Robin.

Lyrically, "Misery" discusses getting over a past lover, while accepting a new one. Many critics felt that the song was inspired by her relationships with Gavin Rossdale and Blake Shelton, and Stefani confirmed in an interview that "Misery" was written about the latter. Upon release, "Misery" received highly positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song for being "addictive" and "catchy". However, some critics were confused over who the song was written about. A lyric video for the song was uploaded to Stefani's Vevo account on March 10, 2016 and featured hand-drawn illustrations created by Stefani; the song's official video debuted on May 31 and displayed Stefani in various dresses and outfits.

Background and release

After the lackluster response to Stefani's previous singles, "Baby Don't Lie" and "Spark the Fire", she scrapped the release of her studio album to begin work on "more authentic" material.[1] When Stefani divorced her then-husband Gavin Rossdale, she began writing intimate songs for a brand-new project.[2] Following the completion and release of "Used to Love You", Stefani continued writing personal tracks to express her feelings.[3] Several months after writing various songs, Stefani began shifting focus and writing tracks about Blake Shelton instead of Rossdale; Stefani confirmed that "Misery" was written about "her newfound happiness with Shelton" in an interview with Dana Ross Falcone of Entertainment Weekly.[4]

"Misery" became one of the later songs written for the project, and was later announced to be the second single released from This Is What the Truth Feels Like.[5] Stefani later confirmed via Twitter that "Misery" would be released instead as a promotional single on March 8, 2016.[6] After providing a sneak preview of the track on Instagram on March 10, 2016, Stefani released the track to the iTunes Store an hour later.[4] The song will be serviced to hot adult contemporary radio on May 23, 2016 as the album's third single.[7]

Composition

An electropop song,[8] "Misery" was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, and Robin Fredriksson; production of the track was handled by Swedish songwriting duo Mattman & Robin.[9] As described by Dee Lockett of Vulture, "Misery" contains "some synths, a funky bassline, and well-placed hand claps to disguise the pain."[10] Leoni Cooper of NME stated that "Misery" has "future-disco beats", and "captures the highs and lows of being "gobsmacked in love,"[11] using the metaphor that "a love is as irresistible as drugs."[12] Nicki Gostin, writing for the New York Daily News, questioned the song's subject matter, stating "it's not clear who she's crooning about — ex Gavin Rossdale or new love Blake Shelton";[13] Alexis Rhiannon of Bustle claimed that the song "give[s] an inside look to a painful past relationship."[14]

Critical reception

Upon release, "Misery" received mostly favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone called the song "addictive" and "catchy" while having "feel-good lyrics."[15] Mashable's Emily Blake praised the song and stated "try not to get hooked."[16] A reviewer from TooFab enjoyed the "surprisingly upbeat" sound of the track compared to Stefani's single, "Used to Love You".[17] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Leah Greenblatt dubbed "Misery" as a "come-on disguised as [a] caution"; Greenblatt further praised the song for being a "stomper".[18] Sal Cinquemani of Slant called the track a "standout".[19]

Lucas Villa of AXS praised Stefani for "continu[ing] her streak of solid pop tunes by turning her confessional lyrics into completely delectable hooks," further stating that "if this is misery, sign us up for more of it please";[20] similarly, Emilee Lindner of fuseTV praised the track for "Gwen's bouncy voice".[21] Lauren Duca, writing for The Frisky, labeled "Misery" as "catchy" and joked that "whether the song's subject is Gavin Rossdale or Blake Shelton, I'd burn calories listening to this song if it was about a Pomeranian Gwen met at a shelter and regrets not adopting."[22] On the same subject of Shelton and Rossdale, Amanda Bell of MTV News enjoyed the song, but was confused over the song's lyrics and compared it to Stefani's song "Make Me Like You", stating "and unlike ["Misery"], "Make Me Like You" was pretty straightforward with the 'in like' adoration message" but later said she's "miserably stumped" when it comes to "Misery".[23]

Music videos

Two videos were produced for "Misery". A lyric video for the track was released on March 10, 2016 on Stefani's official YouTube account.[24] The video displays handwritten lyrics by Stefani on graph paper, note cards, and post-it notes; it also features several photos of Stefani during a photo shoot for This Is What the Truth Feels Like.[25]

The official music video debuted on May 31, 2016, also on her YouTube account.[26] The video directed by longtime collaborator Sophie Muller and was filmed at a warehouse and parking garage with varying locations at a loft space, a staircase, and a hydraulic elevator.[27][28]

Synopsis

File:Misery Video.png
Stefani's "black bob wig" look was compared to her style with the Harajuku Girls.[29]

The video opens with Stefani standing behind a counter in an abandoned warehouse.[28] Her attire consists of an outfit similar to that of Lady Liberty.[30] Various scenes of Stefani in a garden-inspired sheer dress and a "flower crown" appear, as darkened shots of her face also are shown, amongst a trio of background dancers.[29] For the song's pre-chorus, Stefani is shown in a gothic, black dress, sitting on a white couch, where she pretends to faint.[31] During the entire chorus, Stefani wears a red, flowing dress and activates a smoke machine.[29]

The second verse shows her in the garden dress, where she continually rides an elevator through the warehouse; in a separate scene, the background dancers also ride the elevator. In front of a flower wallpaper, Stefani wears a fluffy, pink dress where she gracefully falls to floor. The next chorus displays Stefani in a black bob wig, "walk[ing] effortlessly down some stairs in patent leather, thigh-high stilettos".[32] The song's bridge has Stefani wearing a black and white leotard with thigh-high silver boots, while sitting on a stool.[29] A black horse appears, alongside Stefani in a black and white-striped dress, before she slowly runs away from the horse. The song's final chorus has Stefani riding a bicycle through a brightly-lit parking garage,[31] before she returns to the smoke machine and, once again, falls to the ground as the screen fades to black.[29]

Reception

The official music video received highly favorable reviews from music critics. Seija Rankin of E! Online stated "Contrary to the song's title, this tune and the corresponding video is not actually miserable at all; it's quite upbeat."[29] Madison Vain for Entertainment Weekly applauded the visual, calling it "gorgeous" and a "high-fashion affair".[27] Matthew Scott Donnelly, writing for Pop Crush, applauded it for "turn[ing] a parking garage into [an] artist's oasis"; he also appreciated the video's "cool, sexy edge".[31]

Live performances

Stefani performed "Misery" for the first time on March 17, 2016. The performance was during a special private concert for MasterCard users in Tokyo, Japan. During the performance, Stefani wore "cropped red track pants and a red sequined cage top over a black bra" as the lyric video was displayed as the backdrop; "Misery" was followed by a performance of "Make Me Like You".[33] On her Saturday Night Live performance of "Misery", Stefani wore torn jeans and a high-waisted top, accompanied by several backup singers, including No Doubt bandmates Gabrial McNair and Stephen Bradley.[34] Stefani performed "Misery" on April 19, 2016 on The Voice. Stefani and her back-up dancers wore "colorful, tribal style ensembles" and performed using "a trippy, psychedelic lighting scheme".[35]

Credits and personnel

Management
Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of This Is What the Truth Feels Like[36]

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[37] 74
Canadian Digital Songs (Billboard)[38] 42
France (SNEP)[39] 127
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[40] 171
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[41] 11
US Digital Songs (Billboard)[42] 45

Release history

Country Date Format Label Notes
Worldwide March 11, 2016[43] Digital download Interscope Promotional single
United States May 23, 2016[7] Hot adult contemporary Official single

References

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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Gwen Stefani – Misery". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Gwen Stefani – Misery" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  40. ↑ Chart Log UK: "Update 20.02.2016". UK Singles Chart. Zobble.de. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Chart history" Billboard Digital Songs for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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