Birth in Reverse

{{Infobox song

| name = Birth in Reverse

| cover = St Vincent - Birth in Reverse single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| released = {{start date|2013|12|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/birth-in-reverse-mw0002603051|title=Birth In Reverse – St. Vincent – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=May 20, 2014}}

| recorded = 2013

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Dance-rock{{cite web |title=St. Vincent just keeps getting better |url=https://brandeishoot.com/2014/03/21/st-vincent-just-keeps-getting-better/ |website=The Brandeis Hoot |access-date=15 May 2023}}

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=15}}

| label = {{hlist|Loma Vista|Republic}}

| writer = Annie Clark

| producer = John Congleton

| prev_title = Krokodil

| prev_year = 2012

| next_title = Digital Witness

| next_year = 2014

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|0c5BhXdVBqw|"Birth in Reverse"}}}}

}}

"Birth in Reverse" is a song written and performed by St. Vincent, issued as the lead single from her fourth album, St. Vincent. A video featuring the audio was released on {{start date|2013|12|9}}, one day prior to the single's official release.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c5BhXdVBqw|title=St. Vincent – Birth In Reverse (OFFICIAL AUDIO)|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 20, 2014}} A music video was released on December 16, 2014. On {{start date|2014|5|17}}, St. Vincent performed the song on the season finale of Saturday Night Live.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6092019/snl-season-finale-recap-jay-z-and-solange-elevator-fight-mocked-st-vincent|title=Jay Z, Solange Fight Mocked, St. Vincent Stuns with New Songs During 'Saturday Night Live' Season Finale|magazine=Billboard|date=May 18, 2014|accessdate=May 20, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/05/st-vincent-snl-andy-samberg-jay-z-solange-video/|title=Watch St. Vincent's Bewitching 'SNL' Performance – Music News|work=Spin|last=Joyce|first=Colin|date=May 18, 2014|accessdate=May 20, 2014}}

Music video

The music video for "Birth in Reverse" was directed by Willo Perron, who was also the creative director for artwork surrounding St. Vincent. The video shows Annie Clark dancing and playing guitar along to the song against a starry background.{{cite web| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/st-vincent-shares-birth-in-reverse-video-20141217 |publisher=Rolling Stone |first=Bryan |last=Reed |title=St. Vincent Rips Galaxy-Spanning Guitar Solo in 'Birth in Reverse' Video |date=December 17, 2014 |accessdate=December 20, 2014}}

Critical reception

The song has received critical acclaim from critics. Devon Maloney of Pitchfork called the song "vibrant",{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16428-birth-in-reverse|title=St. Vincent: "Birth in Reverse" – Tracks|work=Pitchfork|last=Maloney|first=Devon|date=December 9, 2013|accessdate=May 20, 2014}} while Robin Smith of PopMatters commented that the song was "meant to be understood" and complimented the song's "space-fabric-ripping guitar".{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/179426-st.-vincent-st.-vincent|title=St. Vincent: St. Vincent|work=PopMatters|last=Smith|first=Robin|date=25 February 2014|accessdate=May 20, 2014}} "Birth in Reverse" placed 56th on The Village Voice{{'}}s 2014 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2014/ |title=The Village Voice's 42nd Pazz & Jop Music Critics' Poll: The Last Word on the Year in Music |website=The Village Voice |access-date=February 15, 2015}}