Genghis Khan (Miike Snow song)

File:Miike Snow Sasquatch.jpg

"Genghis Khan" was written by Miike Snow's three members, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg and Andrew Wyatt, in collaboration with Henrik Jonback, for the band's third studio album, iii (2016). While in the studio in Los Angeles, California, Karlsson had conceptualized the general melody and beats for a track when vocalist Wyatt began singing about Genghis Khan, a 13th-century Mongolian emperor. Karlsson said, "I was like get a microphone and sing it and he did and we kept it ... So 'Genghis Khan' came from his brain, it was something that went down really quickly and that's what came out."{{cite web|url=https://acidstag.com/2016/02/interview-with-miike-snow/|title=Interview with Miike Snow|publisher=Acid Stag|date=26 February 2016|last=Morawski|first=Natalia|access-date=19 March 2018}} Karlsson told The Wall Street Journal that the song started coming together after about 30 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/miike-snow-releases-third-album-1457375195|title=Miike Snow Releases Third Album|work=The Wall Street Journal|last=Jurgensen|first=John|date=7 March 2016|access-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307220007/https://www.wsj.com/articles/miike-snow-releases-third-album-1457375195|archive-date=7 March 2016}} After recording the verses and chorus, Wyatt added a "whoo-oo-oo" hook, inspired by a child he overheard singing along to Akon's vocals on Gwen Stefani's song "The Sweet Escape" (2006).

The chorus came about when Wyatt thought of himself and how he felt while in an undefined long-distance relationship with a woman he was not committing to, yet at the same time he did not want her seeing anyone else.{{cite web|url=http://notionmagazine.com/miike-snow-interview/|title=Interview: Miike Snow's Andrew Wyatt Talks Pop and Politics|work=Notion|date=15 March 2016|last=Vinti|first=Mike|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512055757/http://notionmagazine.com/miike-snow-interview/|archive-date=12 May 2016}}{{cite AV media |people= Campos, Raul |date= 20 April 2016 |title= "It's Snowing at Apogee Studios – Miike Snow, That Is!" |medium= video |url= http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2016/04/its-snowing-at-apogee-studios-miike-snow-that-is/ |access-date= 20 March 2018 |time= 52:18–53:45 |publisher= KCRW}} In an interview for Notion, he explained he felt like a "tyrant" and thought the notion of feeling the need to "have every girl" is "a little bit Genghis Khan", perceiving it as a "natural metaphor" for him. He further elaborated on the topic of tyranny in a separate interview for Nylon, "I felt that the nature of tyranny comes from that place, where you're entitled to freedom and choice and the other person has to be subjected to your scheme of things." He clarified that he is not endorsing Genghis Khan, but rather "identifying a negative property within [him]self" when referencing the emperor.{{cite web|url=https://nylon.com/articles/miike-snow-andrew-wyatt-interview|title=Miike Snow's Andrew Wyatt On Their New Album, Discovering Snapchat, And Being a Tyrannical Lover|last=Jackson|first=Noah|date=23 March 2016|work=Nylon|access-date=19 March 2018}}

"Genghis Khan" is one of two tracks on iii that were co-produced by the band and Jonback, along with "Back of the Car". While working on their previous studio album Happy to You (2012), the band focused on a uniform sound as Wyatt wanted to present a consistent character during concerts. This changed for iii as the singer put his focus on his studio efforts rather than his stage performance. He adapted his singing style based on the needs of each song throughout the album, using a "sneering tone" on "Genghis Khan".{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-miike-snow-iii-interview-20160310-story.html|title=The men of Miike Snow make pop music – but they're not pop stars|last=Wood|first=Mikael|work=Los Angeles Times|date=10 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} The track was mixed by the band and Niklas Flyckt. Flyckt utilized a Urei 1176LN limiting amplifier to emphasize the ghost notes, and a Thermionic Culture Vulture to enhance the sound without causing digital domain issues. In an interview for Electronic Musician, he noted the song has a loop with automation on the drums, and said the combination of the 1176LN and Culture Vulture played an important role in keeping the "older sound" of the drums.{{cite web|url=https://www.emusician.com/artists/making-miike-snows-album-iii|title=Miike Snow: The 'iii' Recording Sessions|last=Ware|first=Tony|work=Electronic Musician|publisher=NewBay Media|date=25 May 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}}

"Genghis Khan" premiered on Miike Snow's official YouTube channel on 3 December 2015, with a promotional video containing nine panels of vertically rotating graphics. Jackalope and Atlantic distributed it to digital retailers on the same date as the second single for iii, preceding the release of the album. The single was subsequently sent to alternative radio in the United States on 12 January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com:80/alternative/future-releases|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102184555/http://www.allaccess.com/alternative/future-releases|archive-date=2 January 2016|publisher=All Access|title=Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations|access-date=19 March 2018|url-status=live}} In 29 January 2016, Another digital release subtitled Remixes was made available. The set contains five remixes by Louis the Child, Hook n Sling, Empress Of, CID and Yacht Club. In Italy, "Genghis Khan" was serviced to contemporary hit radio on 4 March 2016.

{{Listen

| filename = Miike Snow - Genghis Khan.ogg

| title = "Genghis Khan"

| description = A sample of "Genghis Khan", showcasing its chorus with Wyatt's falsetto vocals, followed by the "Doo-oo" chant and backed by piano instrumentation.

| pos = left

}}

File:Korzhev Ivan. Chingishan. Коржев И. Чингисхан, 2008, бронза дерево камень, 241х125х114см.jpg.]]

Musically, "Genghis Khan" is an electropop song with funk and R&B flourishes.{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/miike_snow-genghis_khan|title=Miike Snow 'Genghis Khan'|work=Exclaim!|last=Hudson|first=Alex|date=3 December 2015|access-date=19 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://state.ie/album-reviews/miike-snow-iii|title=Miike Snow – iii|work=State|last=Cashin|first=Rory|date=17 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224033/http://state.ie/album-reviews/miike-snow-iii|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/69967/Miike-Snow-iii/|title=Review: Miike Snow – iii|last=K|first=Rudy|publisher=Sputnikmusic|date=4 March 2018|access-date=26 March 2018}} Instrumentation is provided by drums, a piano and a synthesizer. The piece includes layered vocal tracks and parts with "Doo-oo-doo-oo" chants, as well as an Arabian riff. Wyatt utilizes a falsetto vocal style throughout the song.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Spin critic Rachel Brodsky likened the structure of the bridge to the song "One Minute Man" (2001) by American rapper Missy Elliott.

The lyrics of "Genghis Khan" speak of a jealous protagonist not wanting to commit to a woman, but still not wanting her to be involved with anyone else. In the chorus, Wyatt compares his romantic jealousy to Mongolian emperor Genghis Khan as he sings "I get a little bit Genghis Khan / I don't want you to get it on with nobody else but me".{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2016/03/03/miike-snow-iii-ew-review/|title=Miike Snow's 'iii'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Meredith Corporation|last=Renner Brown|first=Eric|date=3 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} Wyatt said the song is "about a feeling, a spirit, a feeling of pain, of jealousy, of cruelty that we all have."{{cite AV media| people = Wyatt, Andrew| date = 2015| title = iii (Spotify Commentary)| medium = track 3| url = https://open.spotify.com/album/3X1uLJkhIubndz7WKJZnOi| access-date = 8 March 2018| time = 0:00–0:17| publisher = Spotify}} news.com.au's Mikey Cahill described the song as "Scandinavian ingenuity teamed with neurotic US therapy-talk",{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/latest-album-reviews-miike-snow-macklemore--ryan-lewis-tiga-the-cat-empire--josef-salvat/news-story/b894a8db513792a9eb5bb58a69a0d12a|title=Latest Album Reviews: Miike Snow, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Tiga, The Cat Empire & Josef Salvat|last1=Cahill|first1=Mikey|last2=Adams|first2=Cameron|last3=Wehner|first3=Cyclone|date=2 March 2016|publisher=news.com.au|access-date=19 March 2018}} and Chris Schulz of The New Zealand Herald viewed it as an "upbeat love song".{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11602715|title=Album reviews: Kendrick Lamar, Lapsley, Miike Snow|last=Schulz|first=Chris|work=The New Zealand Herald|publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment|date=10 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} musicOMH critic Ben Hogwood wrote that while the lyrics could be perceived as "too possessive", Wyatt's "sweetly-sung tones" make them appear "strangely affectionate".{{cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/miike-snow-iii|title=Miike Snow – iii|last=Hogwood|first=Ben|work=musicOMH|date=4 March 2016|access-date=12 March 2018}} Wyatt considers the "irrational jealousy and the potential for violence" of the song as "broad truths of the human experience".{{cite web|url=https://thebrag.com/miike-snow/|title=Miike Snow|last=Molloy|first=David|date=2 March 2016|work=The Brag|publisher=Seventh Street Media|access-date=19 March 2018}} He stated,

I just think people like to hear lyrics they can connect to ... I think that level of songwriting has become more common; that people really wanna hear the real shit about what's going on in your personal life ... It's kind of everywhere in pop. And a lot of what we experience in life is not positive all the time, so it's just a reality and it's one of the things that, across the board, everyone has felt.

"Genghis Khan" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. While reviewing its parent album, Derek Staples of Consequence of Sound named it an essential track and wrote, "Little more than a foot-stomper about adolescent trust issues, 'Genghis Khan' flips the legacy of the violent ruler to comedic effects."{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2016/03/album-review-miike-snow-iii/|title=Miike Snow – iii|work=Consequence of Sound|last=Staples|first=Derek|date=1 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} Clash{{'s}} Luke Winstanley described it as "outrageously catchy",{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/miike-snow-iii|title=Miike Snow – iii|work=Clash|date=15 March 2016|last=Winstanley|first=Luke|access-date=19 March 2018}} and Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic deemed it a highlight on iii.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/iii-mw0002899174|title=iii – Miike Snow|publisher=AllMusic. All Media Network|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|access-date=19 March 2018}} Noisey writer John Hill named it a "certified banger".{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/new-miike-snow-song-genghis-khan/|title=Flip Out to Miike Snow's New Song 'Genghis Khan'|publisher=Noisey. Vice Media|last=Hill|first=John|date=3 December 2015|access-date=19 March 2018}} Sean Maunier of Metro Weekly regarded it as "catchy and infectious", writing "It's about as much fun as you can have with a song about trust issues, and luckily, it never becomes too self-serious."{{cite web|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2016/03/snow-day-review-of-miike-snows-iii/|title=Snow Day: Miike Snow's iii (review)|work=Metro Weekly|last=Maunier|first=Sean|date=9 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} Emily Zemler of Relix wrote that the single "has a groovy jaunt in its step and a catchy precision to its chorus".{{cite web|url=https://www.relix.com/reviews/detail/miike_snow_iii|title=Miike Snow: iii|work=Relix|last=Zemler|first=Emily|date=4 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} Writing for PopMatters, Ryan Dieringer applauded the hook and compared its "heart" to works by Swedish band Amason, of which Winnberg is a member, writing that "Genghis Khan" exhibits "just as much heart, and twice the hook".{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/miike-snow-iii-2495446130.html|title=Miike Snow: iii|work=PopMatters|last=Dieringer|first=Ryan|date=10 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} Similarly, Lee Butler of Vue Weekly praised the "powerful hooks and extensive production" of "Genghis Khan", and the writer named it their favorite track on iii. Butler opined that Wyatt's falsetto range "allows you to forget you're singing metaphorically about the jealousy of a relationship and the Emperor of the Mongol Empire".{{cite web|url=http://www.vueweekly.com/148674-2/|title=Year in review: Top albums of 2016|work=Vue Weekly|date=29 December 2016|access-date=19 March 2018|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224135/http://www.vueweekly.com/148674-2/|archive-date=24 March 2018}}

Eric Renner Brown of Entertainment Weekly felt the band's "expertise doesn't always extend to their lyrics", defining the comparison of jealousy and a Mongolian warlord as "ill-fated". Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe felt the production of iii overcompensates for Wyatt's vocals and "poorly conceived lyrics". Capobiano concluded, "The sketchy self-loathing and creepy possessiveness of 'Genghis Khan' is transformed into ingratiating dance music for women filing restraining orders."{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/03/02/swedish-trio-miike-snow-rhythmically-aggressive-with-ephemeral-results/JS9dTuHd3ab0UzGp0cA1EN/story.html|title=Swedish trio Miike Snow is rhythmically aggressive, with ephemeral results|last=Capobianco|first=Ken|date=3 March 2016|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=19 March 2018}} DIY critic David Beech opined its pop composition showed confidence, but considered it to be "less organic, more contrived" than the band's earlier work.{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2016/03/04/miike-snow-iii-album-review|title=Album Review: Miike Snow – iii|work=DIY|last=Beech|first=David|date=4 March 2016 |access-date=12 March 2018}} Brodsky of Spin argued that "better ideas on paper manage to fall flat", asserting that "The otherwise promising 'Genghis Khan' sounds like a Gorillaz mock-child's hand-game chant before straight-up jacking Missy Elliott's 'One Minute Man' on the bridge."{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/03/review-miike-snow-iii/|title=Review: Miike Snow, 'iii'|work=Spin|publisher=Spin Media|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|date=11 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}}

Commercially, "Genghis Khan" is among Miike Snow's most successful singles.{{cn|date=September 2024}} It made its debut on the Swedish Heatseeker chart on 3 March 2016, at number nine.{{cite web|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=215&dfom=20160304|title=Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 10, 11 mars 2016|language=sv|trans-title=Weekly chart Heatseeker – Week 10, 11 March 2016|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|date=11 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325045124/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=215&dfom=20160304|archive-date=25 March 2018}} This made it the first of the band's singles to chart in their native Sweden.{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Miike+Snow|title=Discography Miike Snow|publisher=Swedischarts.com. Hung Medien|access-date=24 March 2018}} The next week, it rose to number eight, which became its peak position. In Australia, "Genghis Khan" charted for three weeks on the singles chart and peaked at number 44. In Canada, the single charted for a week at number 86 on the Canadian Hot 100 in the issue dated 26 March 2016. It also reached number 12 on Billboard{{'s}} Canada Rock. The single later received a gold certification by Music Canada on 5 October 2016, denoting sales of over 40,000 digital units.

In the United States, "Genghis Khan" debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, ranked by airplay detections, in the issue dated 26 December 2015.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-songs/2015-12-26|title=Alternative Songs (December 26, 2015)|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=24 March 2018}} It fell off the following week, and re-entered in the issue dated 9 January 2016, at number 33.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-songs/2016-01-09|title=Alternative Songs (January 9, 2016)|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=24 March 2018}} The single reached its peak position at number six on 14 May 2016. It spent a total of 22 weeks on the chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/miike-snow/chart-history/ark/|title=Miike Snow (Alternative Airplay)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=24 February 2022}} "Genghis Khan" also appeared on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, measured by airplay, sales and streaming activity. It debuted at number 45 in the 20 January 2016 issue of Billboard.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-songs/2016-01-30|title=Hot Rock Songs (January 30, 2016)|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=24 March 2018}} The song peaked at number 12 on 26 March 2016, and spent 21 weeks on the chart in total. It also appeared at number 12 on the Rock Airplay chart, in addition to placements at number 22 and 26 on Alternative Digital Songs and Rock Digital Songs, respectively.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?artist=miike%20snow&f[0]=ts_chart_artistname%3Amiike%20snow&f[1]=ss_chart_search_title%3A%2Agenghis%2A&f[2]=itm_field_chart_id%3A-&f[3]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&title=genghis&type=1&solrsort=is_chart_weeks%3Aasc|title=Chart Search|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=24 March 2018}} By the end of 2016, Billboard ranked "Genghis Khan" at number 25 on the year-end chart of Alternative Airplay, and number 35 on the year-end chart of Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/alternative-songs|title=Alternative Songs – Year-end 2016|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=24 March 2018}} The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 20 November 2020.

Ninian Doff directed the accompanying music video for "Genghis Khan".{{cite web|url=http://www.promonews.tv/videos/2016/01/13/miike-snow-genghis-khan-ninian-doff|title=Miike Snow 'Genghis Khan' by Ninian Doff|last=Velez|first=Cal|date=13 January 2016|publisher=Promo News|access-date=12 March 2018}} The concept of the video follows a James Bond-esque theme in which a villain struggles to kill his captive due to personal conflicts. In an interview for Vice{{'s}} The Creators Project, Doff explained he chose to use a villain as the protagonist due to the song itself, "I thought it was really funny and clever that [Miike Snow] managed to reference a man who was responsible for the death of about 40 million people in a happy sing along love song."{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/miike-snow/|title=Miike Snow Exposes the Private Life of a Bond Villain|publisher=Creators. Vice Media|last=Bruney|first=Gabrielle|access-date=24 March 2018}} He began thinking of "evil people falling in love" and conceived a story about an archetypal movie villain struggling with human emotions. Winnberg told Swedish magazine QX that they chose between twenty different concepts before settling on the gay romance between the villain and the spy.{{cite web|url=https://www.qx.se/livsstil/livet/30370/miike-snow-slapper-ny-singel-genghis-khan/|title=Miike Snow släpper ny singel – Genghis Khan!|work=QX|last=Ottosson|first=Philip|date=17 January 2016|language=sv|trans-title=Miike Snow releases new single – Genghis Khan!|access-date=9 July 2018}} Patrick Meller provided the video's cinematography and Supple Nam created the choreography. It was produced by Pulse Films, with Ross Hallard as editor, Rik Green as producer and Tim Gibson as production designer. The video stars Adam Jones as the villain and Edward Hayes Neary as the spy. The two actors returned in new roles in the visual for iii{{'s}} next single "My Trigger", also directed by Doff.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/08/watch-miike-snows-newest-music-video.html|title=Watch Miike Snow Go Nuclear in 'My Trigger' Video|last=King|first=Spencer|work=Paste|date=22 August 2016|access-date=24 March 2018}}

As the "Genghis Khan" video commences, the villain is holding the Bond-like spy captive in his lair. Just as he is about to push a button to kill his captive, his shift ends, leaving the spy's fate to the next work day. At home, the villain is shown to be unhappy in his marriage to his wife (Caroline O'Hara). Instead of completing his task, the villain ultimately chooses to release his captive, who then makes an attempt to escape. However, in a last minute change of heart, he voluntarily returns to his captor. The two characters then unite through a joint dance sequence, while the villain is seemingly happy for the first time in the video. The video explores themes of homosexuality, as seen by the protagonist of the story leaving his wife to start a new life with his male former captive.{{cite web|last=Kohn|first=Daniel|date=15 April 2016|title=What the Hell Happened to Miike Snow?|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/miike-snow-iii-interview-profile-2016/|access-date=24 March 2018|publisher=Noisey. Vice Media}}{{cite web|last=Salandra|first=Adam|date=31 January 2016|title=James Bond And Goldfinger Make An Adorable Couple In Miike Snow's Video For 'Genghis Khan'|url=http://www.newnownext.com/james-bond-and-goldfinger-make-an-adorable-couple-in-miike-snows-video-for-genghis-khan/01/2016/|access-date=24 March 2018|publisher=NewNowNext.com. Viacom}} The story ends with the protagonist's ex-wife vengefully spying on him and his male partner, seemingly plotting her revenge.

The video premiered on 12 January 2016 via BuzzFeed.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/01/miike-snow-genghis-khan-music-video-watch/|title=Miike Snow's Villainous New 'Genghis Khan' Video Is a Dance-Filled Delight|last=Carley|first=Brennan|work=Spin|publisher=Spin Media|date=12 January 2016|access-date=24 March 2018}} It was met with positive remarks from commentators. Zach Blumenfeld of Paste and Maunier of Metro Weekly applauded the choreography.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/01/watch-miike-snows-james-bond-inspired-music-video.html|title=Watch Miike Snow's James Bond-Inspired Music Video For 'Genghis Khan'|last=Blumenfeld|first=Zach|work=Paste|date=13 January 2016|access-date=24 March 2018}} The Daily Dot{{'s}} Gavia Baker-Whitelaw viewed it as "an excellent parody ... mimicking set design and color schemes from vintage Bond movies", and noted fan art dedicated to the video had appeared on social networking site Tumblr.{{cite web|last=Baker-Whitelaw|first=Gavia|date=3 February 2016|title=Why Tumblr is obsessed with Miike Snow's James Bond parody music video|url=https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/miike-snow-genghis-khan-fanart/|access-date=24 March 2018|work=The Daily Dot}} In 2016, the video was nominated for four UK Music Video Awards, winning for Best Pop Video (International) and Best Cinematography.{{cite web|url=http://www.promonews.tv/news/2016/09/21/uk-music-video-awards-2016-here-are-nominations|title=UK Music Video Awards 2016: here are the nominations...|date=21 September 2016|publisher=Promo News|access-date=6 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.promonews.tv/news/2016/10/21/uk-music-video-awards-2016-all-winners|title=UK Music Video Awards 2016: all the winners!|date=21 October 2016|publisher=Promo News|access-date=6 May 2018}} The clip was also nominated in the music video category at the 2017 Webby Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/sv/article/vice-is-up-for-15-webby-awards/|title=Vice Is Up for 15 Webby Awards|date=6 April 2017|work=Vice. Vice Media|access-date=24 March 2018}}

File:MS MR Austin City Limits 2013.jpg performed a live cover of "Genghis Khan" in 2016.]]

Miike Snow performed "Genghis Khan" with added horn instrumentation alongside previous single "Heart Is Full" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in March 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/03/miike-snow-iii-heart-is-full-genghis-khan-jimmy-kimmel-live-video/|title=Miike Snow Perform Brassy Versions of 'Heart Is Full' and 'Genghis Khan' on 'Kimmel'|last=Grebey|first=James|date=2 March 2016|work=Spin|publisher=Spin Media|access-date=24 March 2018}} On 7 March 2016, the band performed the song at Paste Studio in New York City for music magazine Paste.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/04/miike-snow-genghis-khan.html|title=Miike Snow – Genghis Khan|work=Paste|last=Robinson|first=Raz|date=4 April 2016|access-date=24 March 2018}} The performance was then uploaded to the magazine's website on 4 April. Wyatt and Winnberg performed an alternative version of the single together with "Animal" and "I Feel the Weight" at the studio of musician Jim Eno in Austin, Texas, on 16 March 2016. Winnberg created a new beat for "Genghis Khan" on the spot using a Teenage Engineering OP-1 keyboard.{{cite web|url=http://www.public-hifi.com/2016-jim-eno-spotify-sessions/|title=2016 Spotify Sessions Are Coming: But First, a Recap!|date=31 May 2016|publisher=Public Hi-Fi|access-date=24 March 2018|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203041/http://www.public-hifi.com/2016-jim-eno-spotify-sessions/|url-status=dead}} The audio recording was subsequently released as part of the Spotify Sessions EP on streaming service Spotify.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7mqNAKmDhYPSA1NrvIG0wv|title=Miike Snow – Spotify Sessions|publisher=Spotify|access-date=24 March 2018}} On 18 April 2016, Miike Snow included "Genghis Khan" in a live set at Apogee Studios for radio station KCRW. The set aired on the station's radio program Morning Becomes Eclectic on 3 May. The band also performed the single on the iii World Tour in North America and Europe throughout 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/back-to-rockville/article93045692.html|title=Despite its energy, Miike Snow can't replicate its perfect pop at the Midland|work=The Kansas City Star|last=Brownlee|first=Bill|date=1 August 2016|access-date=24 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/863688?programid=4564|title=Miike Snow på Bråvallafestivalen|date=16 February 2017|publisher=Sveriges Radio|access-date=24 March 2018|language=sv}}

On 29 April 2016, American duo MS MR covered "Genghis Khan" for Australian radio station Triple J's segment Like a Version.{{cite web|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/ms-mr-get-little-bit-genghis-khan-like-version/|title=MS MR Get A Little Bit Genghis Khan For Like A Version|last=Wilson|first=Zandra|date=29 April 2016|work=Music Feeds|access-date=24 March 2018}} This rendition begins with a rhythm-less intro, followed by a keyboard and synth-based beat for the remainder of the song. The cover is included on the compilation album Like a Version 12 (2016).{{cite web|url=https://shop.abc.net.au/triple-j-like-a-version-12-2cd|title=triple j – Like A Version 12|publisher=ABC Music|access-date=24 March 2018}}

• Digital download

1. "Genghis Khan" – 3:32

• Digital EP – Remixes

1. "Genghis Khan" (Louis the Child remix) – 3:16
2. "Genghis Khan" (Hook n Sling remix) – 4:32
3. "Genghis Khan" (Empress Of remix) – 3:08
4. "Genghis Khan" (CID remix) – 4:15
5. "Genghis Khan" (Yacht Club remix) – 4:17

Credits are adapted from the iii liner notes.{{cite AV media notes

| title = iii

| title-link = iii (Miike Snow album)

| others = Miike Snow

| year = 2016

| publisher = Downtown, Atlantic

}}

• Christian Karlsson – songwriting
• Pontus Winnberg – songwriting
• Andrew Wyatt – songwriting, piano
• Henrik Jonback – songwriting, production, piano
• Miike Snow – production, engineering, mixing
• Nisse Törnqvist – drums
• Pierre Riddez – assistant engineering
• Niklas Flyckt – mixing
• Kevin Grainger – mastering

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Miike Snow

|title=Genghis Khan|certyear=2016|relyear=2016|certmonth=10|access-date=19 March 2018|refname=cert can}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Miike Snow|title=Genghis Khan|relyear=2015|certyear=2020|access-date=20 November 2020|refname=cert us}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|P_SlAzsXa7E|Official music video}}

{{Miike Snow}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2015 singles

Category:2015 songs

Category:Miike Snow songs

Category:Songs written by Christian Karlsson (DJ)

Category:Songs written by Pontus Winnberg

Category:Songs written by Andrew Wyatt

Category:Song recordings produced by Bloodshy & Avant

Category:Song recordings produced by Henrik Jonback

Category:Songs about Genghis Khan

Category:Music videos directed by Ninian Doff