Maybe (Machine Gun Kelly song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Maybe

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Machine Gun Kelly featuring Bring Me the Horizon

| album = Mainstream Sellout

| released = {{Start date|2022|03|16}}

| recorded = 2022

| studio =

| genre =

Pop punk{{Cite web|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/bring-me-the-horizon-have-achieved-their-first-ever-billboard-100-track-wit|title=Bring Me the Horizon Have Achieved Their First Ever Billboard 100 Track with 'Maybe'|website=Rock Sound|last=Rogers|first=Jack|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=March 30, 2022}}
post-hardcore

| length = 2:50

| label =

| writer =

| producer =

Travis Barker
Colson Baker
Nick Long

| chronology = Machine Gun Kelly

| prev_title = Ay!

| prev_year = 2022

| next_title = Make Up Sex

| next_year = 2022

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Bring Me the Horizon singles

| type = single

| prev_title = Bad Habits

| prev_year = 2022

| title = Maybe

| year = 2022

| next_title = Fallout

| next_year = 2022

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|9xht4JIOfjU|"Maybe"}}}}

}}

"Maybe" is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly. It was released on March 16, 2022, as the fourth single from his sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout. The song features performances from members of the British rock band Bring Me the Horizon.

Background

"Maybe" was first premiered on March 4, 2022, at the "Emo Nite" live event club night at Los Angeles' Avalon Hollywood venue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/listen-to-new-machine-gun-kellybring-me-the-horizon-collaboration-maybe|title=Listen to new Machine Gun Kelly/Bring Me The Horizon collaboration, Maybe|website=Metal Hammer|last=Brannigan|first=Paul|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}} The song was released as the fourth single from Machine Gun Kelly's sixth studio album on March 16, Mainstream Sellout, after "Papercuts", "Emo Girl", and "Ay!".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/news/machine-gun-kelly-unveils-bring-me-horizon-collaboration-maybe-13096/|title=Machine Gun Kelly unveils Bring Me the Horizon collaboration 'maybe' – listen|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Goggins|first=Joe|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2022/03/16/news/hear-machine-gun-kelly-bring-me-the-horizons-new-song-maybe/|title=Hear Machine Gun Kelly & Bring Me The Horizon's New Song "Maybe"|publisher=ThePRP|author=wookubus|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}} The song features members of the British rock band Bring Me the Horizon; the track is their second collaboration of 2022, following their remixed version of "Bad Habits" with Ed Sheeran.

An acoustic variation of the song was released on June 23, 2022 alongside the release of "Life in Pink Deluxe" version of the Mainstream Sellout album. As of June 6th, 2024 the official audio version is approaching 650k views and over 16k likes.{{Citation |title=Machine Gun Kelly – maybe ft. Bring Me The Horizon [acoustic] (Official Audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh53CWjsqvs |language=en |access-date=2022-07-25}}

Themes and composition

Rolling Stone described the song as "pop punk, albeit with some signature screaming from Sykes". The song features alternating vocals from Kelly and Sykes, with clean, melodic vocals throughout, and "deathcore-styled screaming" in the bridge by Sykes alone.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/machine-gun-kelly-bring-me-the-horizon-maybe-lyrics/|title=Machine Gun Kelly Officially Releases 'Maybe' Collaboration With Bring Me the Horizon|website=Loudwire|last=Childers|first=Chad|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/machine-gun-kelly-and-bring-me-the-horizon-team-up-on-new-track-maybe-3183877|title=Listen to Machine Gun Kelly and Bring Me The Horizon's new track, 'maybe'|website=NME|last=Aubrey|first=Elizabeth|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}} The song opens up with a chant of "2,3,5!" by Kelly, as he felt the typical start of "1,2,3" was boring.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/listen-machine-gun-kelly-drops-new-song-maybe-featuring-bring-me-the-horizon|title=Listen: Machine Gun Kelly drops new single, Maybe, featuring Bring Me The Horizon|website=Kerrang!|last=Carter|first=Emily|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}} BrooklynVegan, Louder Sound, Pitchfork and Wall of Sound compared the track to the sound of Paramore's song "Misery Business", a song that Kelly had covered in the past.{{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}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/machine-gun-kelly-and-oli-sykes-tease-new-song-maybe|title=Machine Gun Kelly and Oli Sykes tease new song Maybe|website=Louder Sound|last=Scarlett|first=Elizabeth|date=March 7, 2022 |access-date=April 1, 2022}}{{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}}{{Cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2022/03/17/machine-gun-kellys-bring-me-the-horizons-studio-maybe-collab-is-here/|title=Machine Gun Kelly + Bring Me The Horizon's Studio 'Maybe' Collab Is Out|publisher=Wall of Sound|last=Aarons|first=Ricky|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}} Far Out Magazine stated that the intro sounds similar to Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" and that the main guitar riff sounds similar to +44's "When Your Heart Stops Beating".{{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}} The Daily Californian described it as a combination of Everlast's "What It's Like", and AFI's "Miss Murder" and the general sound of Blink-182.{{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}} Clash compared the guitars to Linkin Park.{{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}}

Reception

Wall of Sound praised the song for being a "certainly decent track" and a "stand out on the album for alternative fans", whereas Kerrang! referred to it as a "massive banger". Clash also praised it, calling the song a "total delight". Other publications were less positive, critiquing it for its lack of originality. MetalSucks referred to it as "bland and predictable",{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2022/03/17/the-machine-gun-kelly-bring-me-the-horizon-collab-is-as-bland-and-preci-as-you-thought-itd-be/|title=The Machine Gun Kelly/Bring Me The Horizon Collab Is as Bland and Predictable As You Thought It'd Be|website=MetalSucks|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}} while BrooklynVegan complained that it was too similar to Paramore's "Misery Business", to the point of declaring they felt Kelly probably owed the band royalty payments. Far Out Magazine called it terrible and said that the intro is "cringe-inducing". Sputnikmusic said that Oli Sykes outshines Baker due to not being completely tone-deaf.{{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}} Wall of Sound's album reviewer also felt differently about the track, concluding that "expectations fell short here."{{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}}

Music video

The official music video for "Maybe" was released on March 25, 2022 and was directed by Marc Klasfeld.{{Cite web|url=https://themusicuniverse.com/machine-gun-kelly-drops-maybe-video/|title=Machine Gun Kelly drops 'Maybe' video|publisher=Music Universe|last=Iahn|first=Buddy|date=March 25, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.klbjfm.com/rock-daypop/machine-gun-kelly-releases-video-for-maybe-featuring-oli-sykes-travis-barker/|title=Machine Gun Kelly releases video for 'maybe' featuring Oli Sykes & Travis Barker|website=93.7 KLBJ|last=Daypop|first=Rock|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2022}}

The video is set and recorded inside The Shard in London, England where Machine Gun Kelly performs the song alongside Bring Me the Horizon's Oli Sykes and Blink-182's drummer and album's producer Travis Barker, as the glass from The Shard shatters around them and forms into a massive cloud over the city as the song culminates and ends.{{Cite web|url=https://www.967thewolf.net/2022/03/29/machine-gun-kelly-releases-video-for-maybe-featuring-oli-sykes-travis-barker/|title=Machine Gun Kelly releases video for 'maybe' featuring Oli Sykes & Travis Barker|website=96.7 The Wolf|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2022}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/220151980/credits|title=Credits/Maybe/Machine Gun Kelly|publisher=Tidal|date=March 18, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}}

Musicians

Colson Baker – lead vocals, composer, lyricist, guitars
Oliver Sykes – featured vocals, composer, lyricist
Lee Malia – guitars
Jordan Fish – keyboards, programming, percussion, backing vocals, composer, lyricist
Matt Kean – bass
Matt Nicholls – drums

Additional personnel

Travis Barker – producer, composer, lyricist
Omer Fedi – producer, composer, lyricist
Adam Hawkins – mixing, studio personnel
Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer, studio personnel
Nick Long – producer, co-producer, composer, lyricist
BazeXX – producer
SlimXX – producer
Stephen Basil – composer, lyricist
Brandon Allen – composer, lyricist
K Thrash – engineer, studio personnel
Henry Lunetta – assistant mixer, studio personnel
Hunter Smith – assistant mixer, studio personnel

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA){{Cite web\|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2022-03-28\|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|date=March 28, 2022\|access-date=March 25, 2022}} \| 38
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Maybe" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Austria\|40\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly & Bring Me The Horizon\|song=Maybe\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 29, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|36\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 5, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Czechdigital\|30\|year=2022\|week=13\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 4, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|68\|songid=2262510\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly & Bring Me The Horizon\|song=Maybe\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 25, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Billboardglobal200\|69\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 5, 2022}}
scope="row"\| Ireland (IRMA){{Cite web\|url=http://irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles\|title=IRMA – Irish Charts\|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association\|access-date=April 2, 2022}} \| 68
scope="row"\| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{Cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2022-03-25\|title=HOT 40 SINGLES\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=March 28, 2022\|access-date=March 25, 2022}} \| 12
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}} \| 30
{{single chart\|South Africa2\|88\|year=2022\|week=13\|rowheader=true\|access-date=June 1, 2024}}
scope="row"\| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{Cite web\|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215?dspy=2022&dspp=12\|title=Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 12\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|access-date=March 26, 2022}} \| 5
{{single chart\|UK\|39\|date=20220325\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 25, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|68\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 5, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrocksongs\|6\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 5, 2022}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for "Maybe" ! 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 2, 2022}} \| 43

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Maybe"

! 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 2, 2022}}

| 43

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|title=Maybe|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|accessdate=February 7, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Machine Gun Kelly|title=Maybe|award=Silver|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|id=16203-6886-1|access-date=August 19, 2024}}

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

References

Category:2022 singles

Category:2022 songs

Category:Machine Gun Kelly (musician) songs

Category:Bring Me the Horizon songs

Category:Songs written by Machine Gun Kelly (musician)

Category:Songs written by Oliver Sykes

Category:Songs written by Jordan Fish

Category:Songs written by Omer Fedi

Category:Song recordings produced by Travis Barker

Category:Song recordings produced by Omer Fedi

Category:Songs written by Travis Barker

Category:Post-hardcore songs