Emo Girl
{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Emo Girl
| cover = Machine Gun Kelly Willow Emo Girl.png
| alt = Cover art depicting an illustration of Machine Gun Kelly (right) and Willow (left) seated against a pink watercolor background with the title written above them with hearts around it
| type = single
| artist = Machine Gun Kelly, featuring Willow
| album = Mainstream Sellout
| released = {{Start date|2022|02|04}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Pop punk
| length = 2:39
| label =
| writer = Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker, Willow Smith, Brandon Allen, Nick Long, Stephen Basil
| producer = Travis Barker
| chronology = Machine Gun Kelly
| prev_title = Thought It Was
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = Ay!
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Willow
| type = single
| prev_title = Gaslight
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Emo Girl
| year = 2022
| next_title = Purge
| next_year = 2022
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|yh_ydvIJAxg|"Emo Girl"}}}}
}}
"Emo Girl" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by Machine Gun Kelly, featuring Willow. Produced by Travis Barker, the song was released on February 4, 2022, as the second single off of Kelly's sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout, following "Papercuts".
Background
In 2021, Machine Gun Kelly had reported that he had worked on a collaboration with Willow Smith; at the time, the song had the working title of "Emo Prom".{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/machine-gun-kelly-teases-willow-collab-cherry-red-lipstick-3150084|title=Machine Gun Kelly teases Willow collab 'Cherry Red Lipstick'|website=Nme.com|date=January 30, 2022|access-date=February 6, 2022}} The song was first previewed on the January 30, 2022, on Kelly's TikTok account, by the title "Cherry Red Lipstick". By February 4, the clip had amassed 24 million views.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/machine-gun-kellys-new-song-emo-girl-featuring-willow-will-have-you-fist-pumping-in-your-old-fishnet-gloves|title=Machine Gun Kelly's new song Emo Girl featuring Willow will have you fist-pumping in your old fishnet gloves|website=Loudersound.com|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 6, 2022}} The final version of the song, now titled "Emo Girl", was released on February 4, just after Kelly had announced the song's respective album had been retitled from Born with Horns to Mainstream Sellout. The song features drumming, production, and a co-writing credit from Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who had previously collaborated with Kelly on his 2020 album Tickets to My Downfall. Barker had also previously collaborated on Willow's 2021 album Lately I Feel Everything.
Composition and themes
The song's sound was described as pop punk by multiple publications,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/machine-gun-kelly-willow-emo-girl-single-1295017/|title=Machine Gun Kelly and Willow's 'Emo Girl' is an Early 00s Nostalgia Trip|first=Emily|last=Zemler|website=Rollingstone.com|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 6, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2022/02/machine-gun-kelly-willow-emo-girl/|title=Machine Gun Kelly's 'Emo Girl' Is A Valentine for Sharpie-Colored Hearts|date=February 4, 2022|website=Spin.com|access-date=February 6, 2022}} being compared to the work of Blink-182, New Found Glory, and Bowling for Soup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/2004-called-and-even-it-doesnt-want-machine-gun-kelly-willows-emo-girl-back/|title=2004 called, and even it doesn't want Machine Gun Kelly & WILLOW's "Emo Girl" back|website=Brooklynvegan.com|access-date=February 6, 2022}} As such, many also noted that it sounded like it could have been released in 2000's rock music scene.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/02/machine-gun-kelly-and-willows-song-emo-girl-will-take-you-back-to-2002.html|title=Machine Gun Kelly and Willow's song 'Emo Girl' will take you back to 2002|date=February 4, 2022|website=Cleveland.com|access-date=February 6, 2022}} The track opens with a soundbite of Kelly's fiancé Megan Fox stating that she is a god, followed immediately by a "pop punk guitar riff".{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2175010/oh-boy-machine-gun-kelly-willow-smith-made-a-song-called-emo-girl/music/|title="Emo Girl": Machine Gun Kelly & WILLOW's Mall-Punk Salvo|website=Stereogum.com|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 6, 2022}} The soundbite comes from the 2009 film Jennifer's Body.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/machine-gun-kelly-willow-travis-barker-emo-girl|title=Machine Gun Kelly, Willow, and Travis Barker Link Up for New Track "Emo Girl"|website=Complex.com|access-date=February 6, 2022}} The song then moves into lyrics that were described by Loudwire as a "laundry list of emo tropes" and as a mix between Blink 182's "The Rock Show" and Type O Negative's "Black No. 1".{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/machine-gun-willow-emo-girl-song-lyrics/|title=Machine Gun Kelly Teams With Willow Smith on New Song 'Emo Girl'|author=Joe DiVita|website=Loudwire.com|access-date=February 6, 2022}} The song even references Blink-182 lyrically, with Willow singing about "bleeding on your Blink tee". Rolling Stone described the song musically as a mix between Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi" and Good Charlotte's "Riot Girl".
Reception
Billboard praised the song as being a good example of how Machine Gun Kelly and Willow had successfully rebranded themselves as part of the 2020s pop punk revival, stating that the song "functions as a summit of artists hoisting up their rock cred in joyful unison".{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/first-stream-nicki-minaj-lil-baby-mitski-machine-gun-kelly-1235027383/|title=First Stream: New Music From Nicki Minaj & Lil Baby, Mitski, Machine Gun Kelly and More|first=Jason|last=Lipshutz|website=Billboard.com|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 6, 2022}} NME called it a stand out song on Mainstream Sellout, praising Baker and Smith's chemistry, saying they bounce off each other.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/machine-gun-kelly-mainstream-sellout-review-3188712|title=Machine Gun Kelly – 'Mainstream Sellout' review: pop-punk revival rolls on|website=NME|last=Shutler|first=Ali|date=March 25, 2022|access-date=April 3, 2022}} Clash said it has bucketloads of charm.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/machine-gun-kelly-mainstream-sellout|title=Mainstream Sellout|website=Clash|last=Swingle|first=Emily|date=March 24, 2022|access-date=April 3, 2022}} Rolling Stone called it a "gleefully derivative" song that shows that "when Kelly reins in his yelp tiks, the buzzsaw bubblegum sticks".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-machine-gun-kelly-mainstream-sellout-1324683/|title=Review: Machine Gun Kelly's 'Mainstream Sellout'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Aaron|first=Charles|author-link=Charles Aaron|date=March 28, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}} Other publications were more critical about the song's lack of originality. Loudwire found the lyrics to "pander[ing] to scenesters",{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/machine-gun-willow-emo-girl-song-lyrics/|title=Machine Gun Kelly Teams With Willow Smith on New Song 'Emo Girl'|website=Loudwire|last=DiVita|first=Joe|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}} while The Daily Californian complained of its "vapid lyricism and repetitive chorus."{{cite web|url=https://www.dailycal.org/2022/03/29/machine-gun-kelly-falls-flat-on-banal-mainstream-sellout/|title=Machine Gun Kelly falls flat on banal 'Mainstream Sellout'|website=The Daily Californian|last=Harvey|first=Lauren|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2022}} Wall of Sound felt that despite its "highly infectious melody", the song was ultimately annoying.{{cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2022/03/25/machine-gun-kelly-mainstream-sellout-album-review/|title=Machine Gun Kelly – Mainstream Sellout (Album Review)|website=Wall of Sound|last=May|first=Tamara|date=March 25, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}} BrooklynVegan called it "a thoughtless, generic song that even a C-list pop punk band would've left on the cutting room floor in the mid 2000s."{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/machine-gun-kelly-review-pop-punks-mainstream-sellout-doubles-down-on-new-lp/|title=Machine Gun Kelly review – pop punk's 'Mainstream Sellout' doubles down on new LP|website=BrooklynVegan|last=Sacher|first=Aaron|date=March 28, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}} Far Out Magazine called it terrible but admitted that it is still catchy.{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/machine-gun-kelly-bring-me-the-horizon-team-up/|title=Machine Gun Kelly and Bring Me the Horizon team up for the genuinely terrible song 'maybe'|website=Far Out Magazine|last=McStarkey|first=Mike|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=April 2, 2022}} Pitchfork felt that it is too "serious to laugh at itself and too absurd to take seriously."{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/machine-gun-kelly-mainstream-sellout/|title=Machine Gun Kelly: Mainstream Sellout Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Gordon|first=Arielle|date=April 2, 2022|access-date=April 2, 2022}} Sputnikmusic called Smith the best part of the song, stating that unlike Baker she can actually sing.{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/84611/Machine-Gun-Kelly-Mainstream-Sellout/|title=Review Machine Gun Kelly - Mainstream Sellout|website=Sputnikmusic|last=L.|first=Jesper|date=March 26, 2022|access-date=April 3, 2022}}
Personnel
- Machine Gun Kelly – vocals, songwriting
- Travis Barker – drums, production, songwriting
- Willow Smith – vocals, songwriting
- Brandon Allen – production, songwriting
- Nick Long – bass, songwriting
- Stephen Basil – guitars, songwriting
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Emo Girl" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 14 February 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1667|page=4|date=February 14, 2022}}
| 78 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders|49|artist=Machine Gun Kelly & Willow|song=Emo Girl|rowheader=true|access-date=March 6, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Canada|64|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|access-date=April 5, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadarock|38|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|access-date=March 15, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|29|year=2022|week=15|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 19, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Czechdigital|56|year=2022|week=13|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|91|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|access-date=February 15, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|71|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|38|year=2022|week=8|rowheader=true|access-date=February 19, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2022-02-11|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=February 14, 2022|access-date=February 12, 2022}}
| 11 |
| scope="row"| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100){{cite web|url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D|title=ČNS IFPI|publisher=IFPI ČR|id=Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202213 into search.|access-date=April 4, 2022}}
| 56 |
| scope="row"| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215?dspy=2022&dspp=6|title=Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 6|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=February 11, 2022}}
| 15 |
| {{single chart|UK|52|date=20220211|rowheader=true|access-date=February 11, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|77|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|access-date=February 15, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|21|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 6, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|9|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|access-date=February 15, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|45|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|rowheader=true|access-date=March 1, 2022}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Emo Girl" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-rock-songs/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 5, 2022}}
| 33 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Emo Girl"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|title=Emo Girl|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2022|access-date=October 8, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region= United States|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|title=Emo Girl|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|access-date=August 31, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for "Emo Girl" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| rowspan="2"| February 4, 2022 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | {{hlist|Bad Boy|Interscope}} | {{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1BnZXtDOHSW7tx72fPAhyA|title=emo girl (feat. Willow)|date=February 4, 2022 |via=Spotify|access-date=February 5, 2022}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Italy |
| scope="row"| United States
| February 15, 2022 | Interscope |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Machine Gun Kelly}}
{{Willow Smith}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Machine Gun Kelly (musician) songs
Category:Bad Boy Records singles
Category:Interscope Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Travis Barker