Messy (song)

{{Short description|2024 single by Lola Young}}

{{About|the Lola Young song|other songs|Messy (disambiguation){{!}}Messy}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Messy

| cover = Lola Young - Messy.png

| type = single

| artist = Lola Young

| album = This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway

| released = {{start date|2024|5|30|df=y}}

| recorded =

| genre = Soul-pop

| length = 4:44
3:20 (radio edit)

| label = Island

| writer =

  • Lola Young
  • Conor Dickinson

| producer =

| prev_title = Fuck

| prev_year = 2024

| next_title = Flicker of Light

| next_year = 2024

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|k-k2_Liofy8|"Messy"}}}}

}}

"Messy" is a song by British singer Lola Young, released on 30 May 2024 as the sixth single from her second studio album This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway (2024). It went viral on the video sharing app TikTok and became her first charting song, peaking at the top of the UK Singles Chart. Outside the United Kingdom, the song reached number one in Australia, Belgium (Flanders), Croatia, Ireland, and Israel. It also peaked within the top ten in several other countries, including Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. It peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background

Young stated in an interview with Metal Magazine:

"Messy" is an ADHD anthem, it really showcases everything I felt during my last relationship, but also it is deeper than that, as it talks about how I feel about myself in general—being too messy one day and too clean another, struggling to find that balance in myself.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Eythana |title=Lola Young – A Londoner and Her Lyrics |url=https://metalmagazine.eu/en/post/lola-young |website=Metal Magazine |access-date=20 December 2024}}

In an interview with Atwood Magazine, Young said that "Messy" had her favorite lyrics in This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway and she considered them some of her best. She also described, "It's raw, honest, and encapsulates a lot of the themes of the album. It's about embracing imperfections and finding strength in who I am, scatty or not lol."{{cite web |last1=Mosk |first1=Mitch |title="Finding my voice has been a journey of resilience": Lola Young Is Raw, Honest, Unapologetic, & Messy – and We Wouldn't Have Her Any Other Way |url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/lymw-lola-young-this-wasnt-meant-for-you-anyway-album-interview-music-feature/ |website=Atwood Magazine |access-date=20 December 2024 |date=24 October 2024}}

Composition

"Messy" is a soul-pop song.{{cite magazine |last1=Denis |first1=Kyle |last2=Lipshutz |first2=Jason |last3=Unterberger |first3=Andrew |title=Lola Young Scores the Year's Last (?) Big Viral Hit |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/lola-young-messy-trending-up-tiktok-viral-hit-1235861154/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=20 December 2024 |date=18 December 2024}} It finds Young in an increasingly angry vocal tone, as she directs sharp criticism toward a lover for certain expectations imposed on her.{{cite web |last1=Denney |first1=Brian |title=Today's Song: Lola Young's Fresh New Single "Messy" Isn't for You. Perhaps That's What Makes It So Irresistible |url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/messy-lola-young-song-review/ |website=Atwood Magazine |access-date=20 December 2024 |date=21 June 2024}} In a Variety interview, Young stated she took the demo to 64Sound in Los Angeles where she described the analog studio "like a studio in the '70s". She described the influences in the song as “It feels a bit rocky, there’s a ’90s hip-hop influence, folk music inspired the lyricism and there’s some pop too.”https://variety.com/2025/music/news/lola-young-messy-went-breakup-demo-unexpected-hit-1236279582/

Music video

In the video for the song, Young dances around a mostly empty room. She is also seen with a large birthday cake, and stands in the far away right corner of the room near the end of the video.https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2025/01/10/lola-young-messy-sarah-dattani-tucker/89586

Critical reception

Brian Denney of Atwood Magazine wrote, "'Messy' is a beautiful display of Young's gritty vocals and world-class lyrical storytelling. As a listener, it plays out as if you are watching the singer leave an angry voicemail to her lover, simply fed up with the irrationality of trying to please a partner who will never be satisfied."

Promotion

On 28 November 2024, social media personalities Jake Shane and Sofia Richie posted a clip on TikTok of them dancing to the song, with moves including finger guns and a "half-shimmy". It led to the song gaining significant popularity, achieving 3.9 million official on-demand streams in the United States, and being used in over 250,000 videos on TikTok, including one by Kylie Jenner of her lip syncing to the song.{{cite web |last1=Phillip |first1=Riann |title="It's A Big 'Messy' Moment, Innit?": Lola Young Spills On Her Viral Gen-Z Anthem, Staying Grounded & That Sofia Richie Grainge Dance |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/lola-young-messy-interview |website=Vogue |access-date=20 December 2024 |date=13 December 2024}}

Young has performed the song live on The Graham Norton Show,{{cite web |title=Lola Young - Messy (Live On The Graham Norton Show) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_g6Rm7TOxY |website=YouTube |access-date=1 February 2025}} The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,{{cite web |title=Lola Young: Messy {{!}} The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogBmPeZ73CQ |website=YouTube |access-date=1 February 2025}} Like a Version,{{cite web |title=Lola Young – 'Messy' (live for Like A Version) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6nVOfThks4 |website=YouTube |access-date=1 February 2025}} and Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.{{cite web |title=Lola Young: "Messy" {{!}} Elvis Duran Live |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nKaOUnZnhk |website=YouTube |access-date=1 February 2025}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col 2}}

=Weekly charts=

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

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Messy"

! scope="col"| Chart (2024–2025)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2025-02-03|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=3 February 2025|access-date=31 January 2025}}

| 1

{{single chart|Austria|6|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|access-date=2 April 2025}}
scope="row"| Belarus Airplay (TopHit)

| 118

{{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|access-date=16 February 2025}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|1|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|access-date=20 April 2025}}
{{single chart|Brazil2|97|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
scope="row"| Bulgaria Airplay (PROPHON){{cite news|url=https://www.prophon.org/charts/21-mar-2025|title=PROPHON – Charts|publisher=PROPHON|access-date=31 March 2025|archive-date=31 March 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250331202758/https://www.prophon.org/charts/21-mar-2025|url-status=live}}

| 6

{{single chart|Canada|7|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|3|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{single chart|CIS|9|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|songid=214026|access-date=25 April 2025|refname=CIS}}
scope="row"| Croatia International Airplay (Top lista){{cite web|url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/airplay-radio-chart-top100-03-veljace-2025/|title=Airplay Radio Chart Top100 – 03. veljače 2025.|date=3 February 2025|publisher=HRT|access-date=4 February 2025|lang=hr}}

| 1

{{single chart|Czech Republic|5|year=2025|week=15|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2025}}
{{single chart|Czechdigital|20|year=2025|week=9|rowheader=true|access-date=4 March 2025}}
scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten){{cite web|url=https://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=2&y=2025&list=t40|title=Track Top-40 Uge 2, 2025|publisher=Hitlisten|access-date=22 January 2025}}

| 8

scope="row"| Estonia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ee/weekly/20250214-20250220|title=Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Feb 20, 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=21 February 2025}}

| 3

{{single chart|Finland|32|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|access-date=18 January 2025}}
scope="row"| France (SNEP){{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=8&annee=2025&categorie=Top%20Singles|title=Top Singles (Week 8, 2025)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=French|access-date=24 February 2025}}

| 6

{{single chart|Germany|7|songid=2458271|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|access-date=10 January 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|5|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
scope="row"| Greece International (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html|title=Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 02/2025|publisher=IFPI Greece|language=el|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115084236/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html|archive-date=15 January 2025|url-status=dead}}

| 7

{{single chart|Hungary|3|year=2025|week=17|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2025}}
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|36|year=2025|week=3|rowheader=true|access-date=22 January 2025}}
scope="row"| Iceland (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|title=Tónlistinn – Lög: Streymi, spilun og sala viku 8. Birt 22. febrúar 2025 – Næst uppfært 1. mars 2025.|language=is|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=22 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222100243/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|archive-date=22 February 2025|url-status=dead}}

| 3

{{single chart|Ireland4|1|date=20250131|rowheader=true|access-date=31 January 2025}}
scope="row"| Israel International Airplay (Media Forest){{cite web|url=https://mediaforest-group.com/weekly_charts.html#!#menu2|title=Media Forest charts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129034805/https://mediaforest-group.com/weekly_charts.html#!#menu2|archive-date=January 29, 2025|publisher=Media Forest|access-date=February 3, 2025}}

| 1

scope="row"| Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/3/2025/6|title=Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 6|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=8 February 2025}}

| 32

scope="row"| Italy Airplay (EarOne){{Cite web |title=Messy - Lola Young |url=https://earone.com/song/aeed9feb68 |access-date=4 March 2025 |website=EarOne}}

| 1

scope="row"| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2025&month=03&day=10|title=Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of March 5, 2025|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=5 March 2025}}

| 18

scope="row"| Latvia (LaIPA){{cite web|url=https://sejas.tvnet.lv/8185821/latvijas-muzikas-topa-2025-gada-piektaja-nedela-domine-divi-izteikti-lideri|title=Latvijas mūzikas topa 2025. gada piektajā nedēļā dominē divi izteikti līderi|trans-title=Two clear leaders dominate the fifth week of the Latvian Music Chart 2025|language=lv|publisher={{Ill|TV Net|lv|TVNET GRUPA}}|access-date=7 February 2025|date=4 February 2025}}

| 5

scope="row"| Latvia Airplay (LaIPA)

| 1

scope="row"| Lebanon Airplay (Lebanese Top 20){{cite web|title=OLT20 – Combined Chart – Week of Sunday February 4th, 2025|url=https://www.olt20.com/Artists/Lebanese_Top_20/Lola_young#fragment-2|publisher=The Official Lebanese Top 20|access-date=8 February 2025}}

| 2

scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s3-3/|title=2025 3-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|date=17 January 2025|access-date=18 January 2025}}

| 5

scope="row"| Luxembourg (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/luxembourg-songs-hotw/2025-03-22/|title=Luxembourg Songs: Week of March 22, 2025|magazine=Billboard|access-date=18 March 2025}}

| 3

{{single chart|Dutch40|2|year=2025|week=13|rowheader=true|access-date=29 March 2025}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|4|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|access-date=18 January 2025}}
scope="row"| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2025-01-24|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=24 January 2025|access-date=24 January 2025}}

| 4

scope="row"| Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/1|title=TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: January 31st, 2025 - February 6th, 2025|magazine=TurnTable|access-date=11 February 2025|archive-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205180619/https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/1|url-status=dead}}

| 28

scope="row"| Norway (VG-lista){{cite web|url=https://topplista.no/charts/singles/2025-w05/|title=Singel 2025 uke 05|publisher=VG-lista|access-date=1 February 2025}}

| 4

scope="row"| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-airplay|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay|publisher=OLiS|language=pl|access-date=10 March 2025|type=Select week 01.03.2025–07.03.2025.}}

| 3

scope="row"| Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/single-w-streamie|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie|publisher=OLiS|language=pl|access-date=6 February 2025|type=Select week 24.01.2025–30.01.2025.}}

| 8

scope="row" | Portugal (AFP){{cite web|url=https://www.audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2025-01-15-16-50-27.pdf|title=Top 200 Singles: Semana 01 de 2025|language=pt|publisher=Audiogest.pt|access-date=18 January 2025}}

| 18

{{single chart|Romaniaradioairplay|1|year=2025|week=13|date=30 March 2025|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2025}}
{{single chart|Romaniatvairplay|8|year=2025|week=14|date=6 April 2025|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 April 2025}}
scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/weekly/20250418-20250424|title=Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Apr 24, 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=25 April 2025}}

| 14

scope="row"| San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50){{cite web |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225221309/https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare|archive-date=25 February 2025 |title=Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 25/02/2025|language=it |publisher=San Marino RTV |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=25 February 2025}}

| 1

{{single chart|Slovakia2|4|year=2025|week=12|rowheader=true|access-date=27 March 2025}}
{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|26|year=2025|week=9|rowheader=true|access-date=4 March 2025}}
scope="row"| Spain (PROMUSICAE){{cite web|url=https://www.elportaldemusica.es/single/lola-young-messy?list=top-100-canciones|title=Top 100 Canciones/PROMUSICAE|website=El Portal de Musica|access-date=March 16, 2025}}

| 53

scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2025&dspp=2|title=Veckolista Singlar, vecka 2, 2025|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=11 January 2025}}

| 8

{{single chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Lola Young|song=Messy|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2025}}
scope="row"| Thailand (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://www.officialseacharts.com/weeklychart|title=The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Thailand Chart Top 20 from 10/01/2025 to 17/01/2025|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|access-date=23 January 2025}}

| 15

scope="row"| Turkey International Airplay (Radiomonitor Türkiye){{Cite tweet|user=RadiomonitorTR|number=1905546906262274215|date=28 March 2025 |title= Radiomonitor Türkiye Uluslararası Listesi 13. Hafta Top10 |trans-title=Radiomonitor Turkey International Chart Week 13 Top10 |access-date=28 March 2025 |https://x.com/RadiomonitorTR/status/1905546906262274215|language=tr}}

| 6

scope="row"| Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)

| 109

{{single chart|UK|1|date=20250124|rowheader=true|access-date=24 January 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|14|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|27|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|5|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|2|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|4|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}
{{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|1|artist=Lola Young|rowheader=true|access-date=April 29, 2025}}

{{col 2}}

=Monthly charts=

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

|+ Monthly chart performance for "Messy"

! scope="col"| Chart (2025)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| CIS Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/global/monthly/202503|title=Top Radio Hits Global Monthly Chart: March 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=5 April 2025}}

| 29

scope="row"| Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100){{cite web|url=https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/2?weekId=2952|title=CZ – RADIO – TOP 100: Měsíc 2/2025|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|access-date=3 April 2025|language=cs}}

| 54

scope="row"| Estonia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ee/monthly/202502|title=Top Radio Hits Estonia Monthly Chart: February 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=7 March 2025}}

| 4

scope="row"| Lithuania Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/lt/monthly/202501|title=Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: January 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=8 February 2025}}

| 6

scope="row"| Romania Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ro/monthly/202503|title=Top Radio Hits Romania Monthly Chart: March 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=5 April 2025}}

| 21

scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/monthly/202503|title=Top Radio Hits Russia Monthly Chart: March 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=5 April 2025}}

| 92

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Messy"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|certyear=2025|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|id=2025-04-14|access-date=16 April 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|title=|certyear=2025|artist=|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=1 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=8 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|id=15168|access-date=19 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=20 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|source=radioscope|access-date=1 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=28 January 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=27 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|id=file_2025-03-27-11-26-28.pdf|access-date=28 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|id=lola-young-messy|access-date=3 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=1 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|id=20673-7047-1|access-date=28 February 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Lola Young|title=Messy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=15 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Greece|title=|artist=|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|certweek=07|id=20250219093051|access-date=19 February 2025}}

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

References