Mother (Meghan Trainor song)
{{Featured article}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Mother
| cover = Meghan Trainor - Mother.png
| alt = A blonde woman, spotlit, posing for a picture. The text "Meghan Trainor Mother" stands above her.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Meghan Trainor
| album = Takin' It Back (Deluxe)
| released = {{start date|2023|3|27}}
| genre = Pop
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=27}}
| label = Epic
| writer =
- Meghan Trainor
- Sean Douglas
- Gian Stone
- Justin Trainor
- Pat Ballard{{efn|Pat Ballard is credited as he wrote "Mr. Sandman".{{cite web |title=Pat Ballard Dies; a Song Writer, 61; Author of 'Mr. Sandman,' 'So Beats My Heart for You' uWrote Radio Scripts |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/10/28/archives/pat-ballard-dies-a-song-writer-61-author-of-mr-sandman-so-beats-my.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725091552/https://www.nytimes.com/1960/10/28/archives/pat-ballard-dies-a-song-writer-61-author-of-mr-sandman-so-beats-my.html |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |date=October 28, 1960 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}|name=fn1}}
| producer =
- Gian Stone
- Justin Trainor
| chronology = Meghan Trainor
| prev_title = Made You Look
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = Alright
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|9coyY-SPIXU|"Mother"}}}}
}}
"Mother" is a song by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from the deluxe edition of her fifth major-label studio album, Takin' It Back (2022). She co-wrote the song with Sean Douglas and its producers, Gian Stone and her brother Justin. Epic Records released it to US hot adult contemporary radio stations as the deluxe edition's lead single on March 27, 2023. A pop song with doo-wop influences, it interpolates the Chordettes' single "Mr. Sandman". Inspired by men who said Trainor's pregnancy would end her career, the song is about women's empowerment; in its lyrics, she asks the male subject to stop mansplaining and to listen to her.
Critics were favorable of its musical composition, but they criticized Trainor for calling herself {{Wikt-lang|en|mother}}, usually an African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) slang term also adopted by the LGBTQ community. The song reached the top 30 on national record charts in Belgium, Ireland, Suriname, and the United Kingdom. Charm La'Donna directed and choreographed the music video for it, which stars Kris Jenner. The latter dons a platinum blonde bob and appears in a white silk gown in a scene which channels Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" and later with Trainor in matching black gowns. The video received praise for the fashion choices; critics described it as glamorous. Trainor performed "Mother" on The Today Show and Capital's Summertime Ball and included it on the set list of her 2024 concert tour, the Timeless Tour.
Background and release
File:Gian Stone.jpg (pictured in 2020) produced and co-wrote "Mother".|alt=A man playing keyboards]]
After her song "Title" attained viral popularity on video-sharing service TikTok in 2021, Meghan Trainor announced her intention to pivot to its doo-wop sound on her fifth major-label studio album.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Brian |title=Meghan Trainor Reveals How She's Taking It Back for Upcoming Album |url=https://popculture.com/music/news/meghan-trainor-reveals-taking-it-back-upcoming-album-exclusive/ |website=PopCulture.com |access-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513003131/https://popculture.com/music/news/meghan-trainor-reveals-taking-it-back-upcoming-album-exclusive/ |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |date=May 12, 2022 |url-status=live}} The platform was highly influential on her creative process, and she began writing material that would resonate with audiences on it.{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Tionah |title=Meghan Trainor Shares Advice for New Moms and Talks 'Made You Look' Success |url=https://www.etonline.com/meghan-trainor-shares-advice-for-new-moms-and-talks-made-you-look-success-exclusive-194785 |website=Entertainment Tonight |access-date=February 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121062254/https://www.etonline.com/meghan-trainor-shares-advice-for-new-moms-and-talks-made-you-look-success-exclusive-194785 |archive-date=November 21, 2022 |date=November 20, 2022 |url-status=live}} Trainor gained popularity on TikTok while regularly sharing clips and other content with influencer Chris Olsen.{{cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |title=How Chris Olsen Became the Music World's Favorite TikTok Personality |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/chris-olsen-tiktok-meghan-trainor-1234649107/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220193105/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/chris-olsen-tiktok-meghan-trainor-1234649107/ |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |date=December 20, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}} Takin' It Back (2022) included the single "Made You Look", which went viral on TikTok.{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |title=Trending Up: Rihanna and Meghan Trainor Make Two Very Different Pop Comebacks |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/rihanna-lift-me-up-meghan-trainor-made-you-look-trending-up-1235165182/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 3, 2022 |date=November 2, 2022 |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112182603/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/rihanna-lift-me-up-meghan-trainor-made-you-look-trending-up-1235165182/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Wert |first=Nicole |title=Meghan Trainor 'Forces' Her Brother to Do TikTok Trend to Her Song |url=https://parade.com/news/meghan-trainor-brother-made-you-look-tiktok-trend-video |magazine=Parade |access-date=November 26, 2022 |date=November 10, 2022 |archive-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126201506/https://parade.com/news/meghan-trainor-brother-made-you-look-tiktok-trend-video |url-status=live }} It became Trainor's first song since 2016 to enter the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |title=Meghan Trainor Chart History (Hot 100) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Meghan-Trainor/chart-history/HSI |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031200806/https://www.billboard.com/artist/meghan-trainor/chart-history/hsi/ |url-status=live }} and reached the top 10 in several other countries.{{cite web |last=Griffiths |first=George |title=Taylor Swift on Track for Third Week at Number 1 with 'Anti-Hero' |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/taylor-swift-on-track-for-third-week-at-number-1-with-anti-hero__37751/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=November 22, 2022 |date=November 6, 2022 |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122074724/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/taylor-swift-on-track-for-third-week-at-number-1-with-anti-hero__37751/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Meghan Trainor – Made You Look |url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Meghan+Trainor&titel=Made+You+Look&cat=s |publisher=ARIA Top 50 Singles |access-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102161143/https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Meghan+Trainor&titel=Made+You+Look&cat=s |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Meghan Trainor – Made You Look |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Meghan+Trainor&titel=Made+You+Look&cat=s |publisher=Top 40 Singles |access-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102161142/https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Meghan+Trainor&titel=Made+You+Look&cat=s |url-status=live }}
Trainor wrote "Mother", the follow-up single, at the "last second".{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK-VpyhjBwo|title=Workin' on the 'Mother' Music Video with Charm La'Donna|via=YouTube|first=Meghan|last=Trainor|author-link=Meghan Trainor|date=March 16, 2023|access-date=April 26, 2023|url-status=live|time=20:22|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331145024/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK-VpyhjBwo&playnext=1&list=RDaK-VpyhjBwo}} She stated that the song was influenced by "silly men" that told her "that having a baby would end [her] career."{{cite magazine |last=Caplan |first=Anna Lazarus |title=Meghan Trainor Wrote 'Mother' in Response to 'Silly Men' Saying Having a Baby Would 'End Her Career' |url=https://people.com/music/meghan-trainor-says-she-wrote-mother-in-response-to-silly-men/ |magazine=People |access-date=April 26, 2023 |date=March 21, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324012451/https://people.com/music/meghan-trainor-says-she-wrote-mother-in-response-to-silly-men/ }} Trainor wanted to create an upbeat and danceable four on the floor song and came up with the lines "I am your mother, bitch/ You listen to me, bitch/ Stop all that mansplainin'/ No one's listenin, bitch" while getting makeup done. She sang the song for her brother Ryan, who disliked it. Trainor recorded 60 different vocals for "Mother", and her brother Justin made a sub-bass for it, after which Ryan said "I hear it now" and could not prevent himself from singing the song repeatedly. Gian Stone produced the song with Justin the following day, and he helped Trainor write the verses alongside songwriter Sean Douglas.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ07h2POCco|title=Workin' on It Ft. Gian Stone|via=YouTube|first=Meghan|last=Trainor|author-link=Meghan Trainor|date=March 29, 2023|access-date=April 26, 2023|url-status=live|time=31:57|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331144815/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ07h2POCco&list=PLP1JRUJcgNLUM3g_k5R8tUHTGMipvhrg7}}
On March 1, 2023, Trainor shared a clip of herself dancing to "Mother" with Olsen and her husband, Daryl Sabara, revealing part of its lyrics.{{cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Rebekah |title=Meghan Trainor Kicks Off 'The Mother Era' by Teasing Her Catchy New Song |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-03-01-meghan-trainor-kicks-off-the-mother-era-by-teasing-her-catchy-new-song/ |publisher=iHeartRadio |access-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302045517/https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-03-01-meghan-trainor-kicks-off-the-mother-era-by-teasing-her-catchy-new-song/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |date=March 2, 2023 |url-status=live}} The snippet garnered criticism from online critics, who accused her of making music solely to go viral on TikTok.{{cite web |last=Ashcraft |first=Kady Ruth |title=I Am Very Endeared to Meghan Trainor and Her Bad Music. But 'Mother' Is Too Much. |url=https://jezebel.com/i-am-very-endeared-to-meghan-trainor-and-her-bad-music-1850184278 |work=Jezebel |access-date=March 6, 2023 |date=March 4, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304010741/https://jezebel.com/i-am-very-endeared-to-meghan-trainor-and-her-bad-music-1850184278 }}{{cite web |title=Zara Larsson Defends Meghan Trainor: 'She Didn't Create This for TikTok, TikTok Was Created for Meghan' |agency=Bang Showbiz |url=https://uk.style.yahoo.com/zara-larsson-defends-meghan-trainor-120000116.html |publisher=Yahoo! Life |access-date=March 6, 2023 |date=March 3, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420175651/https://uk.style.yahoo.com/zara-larsson-defends-meghan-trainor-120000116.html }} Trainor announced the song when she was 21 weeks pregnant, following the announcement of her first book, also themed around motherhood, called Dear Future Mama.{{cite news |last=Najib |first=Shafiq |title=Meghan Trainor Sings and Dances to New Song 'Mother' with Son Riley |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/meghan-trainor-sings-dances-new-song-mother-son/story?id=97609620 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=March 6, 2023 |date=March 4, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305080117/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/meghan-trainor-sings-dances-new-song-mother-son/story?id=97609620 }}{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Meghan Trainor 'Crying Happy Tears' as 'Made You Look' Tops Adult Pop Airplay Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/meghan-trainor-made-you-look-number-one-adult-pop-airplay-chart-1235256383/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 1, 2023 |date=February 18, 2023 |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218190211/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/meghan-trainor-made-you-look-number-one-adult-pop-airplay-chart-1235256383/ |url-status=live }} It was promoted with a YouTube Shorts campaign.{{Cite web |title=Meghan Trainor Is 'Mother' |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/meghan-trainor-is-mother/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |publisher=YouTube |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331144317/https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/meghan-trainor-is-mother/ |url-status=live }} "Mother" was serviced to hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States as the lead single from the deluxe edition of Takin' It Back on March 27. The song was sent for radio airplay in Italy on April 7, 2023. Its radio edit was released for digital download on April 12. On May 12, 2023, an extended play featuring remixes of "Mother" was released. In 2024, she performed the song for The Today Show{{'}}s Citi concert series and Capital's Summertime Ball.{{cite web |title=See Meghan Trainor Perform Viral Hit 'Mother' on Today |url=https://www.today.com/video/meghan-trainor-performs-mother-on-today-212495941593 |website=Today |access-date=June 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607225836/https://www.today.com/video/meghan-trainor-performs-mother-on-today-212495941593 |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |date=June 7, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Prance |first=Sam |title=The Full Setlist for Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard 2024 |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/news/capital-summertime-ball-setlist-songs-2024/ |publisher=Capital FM |access-date=June 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616155256/https://www.capitalfm.com/news/capital-summertime-ball-setlist-songs-2024/ |archive-date=June 16, 2024 |date=June 16, 2024 |url-status=live}} It was included as the opener on the set list of Trainor's 2024 concert tour, the Timeless Tour.{{cite web |last=Swift |first=Megan |title=Meghan Trainor Is All About the Bass — and Family — in Spirited Pittsburgh Show |url=https://triblive.com/aande/music/meghan-trainor-is-all-about-the-bass-and-family-during-spirited-pittsburgh-show/ |website=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |access-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907151423/https://triblive.com/aande/music/meghan-trainor-is-all-about-the-bass-and-family-during-spirited-pittsburgh-show/ |archive-date=September 7, 2024 |date=September 7, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Bradley |first=Josh |title=Review: In Tampa, Meghan Trainor and Her Dance Troupe Make It Look Easy |url=https://www.cltampa.com/music/review-in-tampa-meghan-trainor-and-her-dance-troupe-make-it-look-easy-18510099 |website=Creative Loafing |access-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903180122/https://www.cltampa.com/music/review-in-tampa-meghan-trainor-and-her-dance-troupe-make-it-look-easy-18510099 |archive-date=September 3, 2024 |date=September 3, 2024 |url-status=live}}
Composition and lyrics
"Mother" is two minutes and 27 seconds long.{{cite web |title='Mother' by Meghan Trainor |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/mother/1673849626?i=1673849638 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |access-date=April 26, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408193037/https://music.apple.com/us/album/mother/1673849626?i=1673849638 }} Stone and Justin produced and programmed the song, and the latter handled the engineering. Stone plays electric guitar and bass, Trainor and Douglas play keyboards, and Tristan Hurd plays trumpet. Jeremie Inhaber mixed the song, and Randy Merrill mastered it at Sterling Sound in New York City.
{{Listen
| filename = Meghan Trainor - Mother.ogg
| title = "Mother"
| pos= right
| description = Trainor claimed she recorded 60 different vocals for "Mother". It interpolates the Chordettes' 1954 single "Mr. Sandman" during the post-chorus.
}}
Musically, "Mother" is a pop song with influences of doo-wop. The song opens with a man vocalizing: "the fact that Meghan Trainor is literally mother right now". It interpolates the Chordettes' 1954 single "Mr. Sandman" during the post-chorus, as Trainor uses the melody while singing the lyric "You just a bum bum bum".
"Mother" is about women's empowerment. In the song, Trainor proclaims that she is the subject's mother and that he should pay attention to what she says. She asks him to quit mansplaining and mocks him for the inability to bear children: "You with your God complex, but you can't even make life, bitch." In other lyrics, Trainor praises her partner's non-controlling nature and ability to satisfy her, and she encourages the man she is addressing to learn from him: "Y'all need a master class from my man / Learn how to satisfy like he can / Ain't tryna control me and own me / Like an old man on C-SPAN."
Reception
Critics were favorable of the song's musical composition. Rolling Stone{{'}}s Tomás Mier compared the foppish lyricism of "Mother" to the colorful imagery featured in Trainor's songs "Made You Look" and "Don't I Make It Look Easy". Rachel DeSantis of People described "Mother" as "a retro, doo-wop-inspired bop", Carly Silva of Parade called it a "pop anthem", and Glamour described it as a "catchy ear-worm tune". Sydney Brasil of Exclaim! thought the song was catchy but criticized its lyrics. Writing for Vulture, Wolfgang Ruth predicted that the "bop" would be the first song lipsynced to in RuPaul's Drag Race{{'}}s next season and thought Trainor victoriously careened into her latest gimmick: "Meghan Trainor is not Mother. But her commitment to the bit sort of is." Some reviewers criticized Trainor for calling herself mother, usually an African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) slang term also adopted by the LGBTQ community.{{cite web |last=Kesslen |first=Ben |title=Gone Are 'Daddy' Days. These Are 'Mother' Times. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/13/style/mother-internet-slang-lgbtq.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513100344/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/13/style/mother-internet-slang-lgbtq.html |archive-date=May 13, 2023 |date=May 13, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} Jezebel{{'}}s Kady Ruth Ashcraft wrote: "Meghan Trainor is not mother. That sort of honorarium requires much, much better music", and she criticized her for bestowing the title upon herself instead of having it assigned to her by music fans. Brasil believed its righteous intention of "taking down entitled men" was ruined by Trainor's use of the word: "If anybody is 'mother,' it's definitely not a rich straight woman".{{Cite web |last=Brasil |first=Sydney |date=March 10, 2023 |title=Meghan Trainor's 'Mother' Music Video Is Giving Us Mommy Issues |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/meghan_trainors_mother_music_video_is_giving_us_mommy_issues |work=Exclaim! |access-date=May 14, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317114042/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/meghan_trainors_mother_music_video_is_giving_us_mommy_issues |archive-date=March 17, 2023}} In a May 2023 New York Times article, actress Michaela Jaé Rodriguez approved of it: "it's right for her, and she can use it in any way she wants to", but she noted that other people's perception may differ.
"Mother" experienced TikTok virality, but unlike "Made You Look", this did not translate into popularity on streaming services.{{cite web |last=Maheshwari |first=Sapna |title=TikTok Is Our DJ Now. It's Playing a Lot of Meghan Trainor. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/business/meghan-trainor-made-you-look-tiktok.html/ |website=The New York Times |access-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624093251/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/business/meghan-trainor-made-you-look-tiktok.html/ |archive-date=June 24, 2023 |date=June 24, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} In the United States, "Mother" charted at number 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 issued dated April 1, 2023. The song reached number 83 on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for the same date. It became Trainor's eighth single to reach the top 40 in the United Kingdom, debuting at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart dated March 23, 2023, and peaking at number 22 in its fourth week.{{cite web |last=Griffiths |first=George |title=Miley Cyrus's 'Flowers' Bloom for Landmark 10th Week at Number 1 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/miley-cyruss-flowers-bloom-for-landmark-10th-week-at-number-1__38865/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=April 24, 2023 |date=March 24, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331194501/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/miley-cyruss-flowers-bloom-for-landmark-10th-week-at-number-1__38865/ }} "Mother" received a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry. In Australia, the song charted at number 49. It reached number eight on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart. "Mother" became Trainor's fourth entry on the Billboard Global 200, debuting at number 196. Elsewhere, the song peaked at number 1 on Sweden's Heatseeker chart, number 2 on the Netherlands's Single Tip chart, number 19 on Japan Hot Overseas, number 23 in Ireland, number 28 in Belgium, number 34 on Canada's CHR/Top 40 chart, number 35 in Suriname,{{cite web|url=https://nationaletop40.sr/top-40-13-april-tot-20-april-2023/|title=Nationale Top 40 Suriname - De Top 40 Lijst Voor 13 – 20 April 2023 |publisher=Nationale Top 40 Suriname|date=April 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413181505/https://nationaletop40.sr/top-40-13-april-tot-20-april-2023/|archive-date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023}} and number 167 on the South Korean Download chart.
Music video
File:Kris Jenner shot by Jim Jordan at White Cross Studios (cropped).jpg (pictured in 2014) stars in the music video for "Mother".|alt=A woman in a white suit with a light smile, supporting herself with her left hand]]
Charm La'Donna directed and choreographed the music video for "Mother", which was released on March 10, 2023.{{cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |title=Kris Jenner Is Literally 'Mother' in Meghan Trainor's New Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/meghan-trainor-mother-kris-jenner-video-1234694348/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=March 12, 2023 |date=March 10, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310195003/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/meghan-trainor-mother-kris-jenner-video-1234694348/ |url-access=subscription}} Kris Jenner stars in the video; Trainor stated regarding the casting choice: "I jokingly one day was like, 'What if I got the mother of all mothers, like the queen of mothers, to be in this music video, singing the lyrics?'" Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian promoted the visual on Instagram following its release, and the former stated: "that is [Jenner] living her best life and being such a star. This is where my mom thrives. She loves to be the center of attention and she's a little ham and I love it."{{cite magazine |last=Bowenbank |first=Starr |title=Khloé Kardashian Says Mom Kris Jenner Was 'Living Her Best Life' Starring in Meghan Trainor's 'Mother' Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/khloe-kardashian-kris-jenner-meghan-trainor-mother-video-1235299018/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=April 6, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413194754/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/khloe-kardashian-kris-jenner-meghan-trainor-mother-video-1235299018/ }} A blooper video featuring Trainor and Jenner performing unchoreographed dances and posing for funny pictures was released on April 21, 2023, in which Trainor describes the shoot as the best day of her life second only to the birth of her son.{{cite magazine |last=Bowenbank |first=Starr |title=Meghan Trainor Shows Off Her Baby No. 2 Sonogram Photo in 'Mother' Blooper Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/meghan-trainor-mother-blooper-video-watch-1235312960/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=April 21, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422182210/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/meghan-trainor-mother-blooper-video-watch-1235312960/ }}
The video opens with a title card in all caps and bright lights which reads "Meghan Trainor is literally mother".{{cite web |last=Ruth |first=Wolfgang |title=It's 'Mother' vs. 'Mother' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/meghan-trainor-mother-music-video-features-kris-jenner.html |website=Vulture |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=March 10, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328195612/https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/meghan-trainor-mother-music-video-features-kris-jenner.html |url-access=limited }} Jenner appears in a Cult Gaia white silk gown with puff sleeves and a platinum blonde bob,{{cite news |last1=Hines |first1=Morgan |last2=Ushe |first2=Naledi |title=Ultimate Mom Kris Jenner Takes Center Stage in Meghan Trainor's 'Mother' Music Video |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/10/kris-jenner-stars-meghan-trainor-new-music-video-mother/11445821002/ |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=March 10, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323162928/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/10/kris-jenner-stars-meghan-trainor-new-music-video-mother/11445821002/ }} surrounded by dancers in suits who channel a scene from Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" (1953).{{cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |title=Kris Jenner Is the Ultimate 'Mother' in Meghan Trainor's New Music Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/meghan-trainor-mother-video-kris-jenner-1235284054/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=March 10, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310232241/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/meghan-trainor-mother-video-kris-jenner-1235284054/ }} In some scenes, the dancers spin her around and fan her with feathers. Trainor and Jenner appear together in matching floor-length velvet black gowns with gloves by Christian Siriano in subsequent scenes.{{cite magazine |last=Silva |first=Carly |title=See Kris Jenner Steal the Show in Meghan Trainor's 'Mother' Music Video |url=https://parade.com/news/kris-jenner-stars-meghan-trainor-mother-music-video-youtube-watch |magazine=Parade |access-date=April 9, 2023 |date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409193538/https://parade.com/news/kris-jenner-stars-meghan-trainor-mother-music-video-youtube-watch |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |title=The Kardashian Kids React to Kris Jenner's Epic Performance in Meghan Trainor's Video |url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/kris-jenner-meghan-trainor-music-video |magazine=Glamour |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=March 13, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404022527/https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/kris-jenner-meghan-trainor-music-video }} Trainor shows off sonogram images from her second pregnancy, and Jenner closes the video as she winks while sipping a cup of tea.{{cite magazine |last=DeSantis |first=Rachel |title=Kris Jenner Goes Retro Glam for Meghan Trainor's 'Mother' Video as Khloé Kardashian Asks to Be 'Sisters' |url=https://people.com/music/kris-jenner-goes-retro-glam-for-meghan-trainor-mother-video/ |magazine=People |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=March 10, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321213600/https://people.com/music/kris-jenner-goes-retro-glam-for-meghan-trainor-mother-video/ }}
Ruth believed the video was "feature-film-quality", and though he initially thought "pop music is dead" upon hearing the song, the video changed his mind: "This is camp to the highest degree. It's Mother at its most narcissistic." Critics praised the fashion choices: Silva and DeSantis described Jenner's look in the white gown as "glam", and Glamour thought it was "the most glamorous incarnation of the trademark Kardashian style". Writing for the GMA Network, Jansen Ramos believed Trainor delivered "one of her most iconic videos yet" and displayed "ultimate Hollywood glam".{{cite web |last=Ramos |first=Jansen |title=Kris Jenner Stars in the Music Video for Meghan Trainor's 'Mother' |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/99893/kris-jenner-stars-in-the-music-video-for-meghan-trainors-mother/story |publisher=GMA Network |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=March 31, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331123517/https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/99893/kris-jenner-stars-in-the-music-video-for-meghan-trainors-mother/story }}{{cite web |title=Kris Jenner Stars in Meghan Trainor's New Music Video 'Mother' |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/14/23/kris-jenner-stars-in-meghan-trainors-new-mv-mother |publisher=ABS-CBN |access-date=April 25, 2023 |date=March 14, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330195543/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/14/23/kris-jenner-stars-in-meghan-trainors-new-mv-mother }} Billboard{{'}}s Starr Bowenbank thought its blooper reel looked "just as fun as the final cut".
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Takin' It Back (Deluxe).{{cite AV media notes|title=Takin' It Back (Deluxe)|others=Meghan Trainor|year=2023|author=Epic Records}}
- Gian Stone – producer, songwriter, programming, electric guitar, bass
- Justin Trainor – producer, songwriter, engineer, programming
- Meghan Trainor – songwriter, keyboards
- Sean Douglas – songwriter, keyboards
- Pat Ballard – songwriter{{efn|name=fn1}}
- Tristan Hurd – trumpet
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Jeremie Inhaber – mixing
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Mother"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Meghan Trainor|title=Mother|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=December 13, 2024|refname="MC"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Meghan Trainor|title=Mother|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=June 14, 2024|id=4375-3960-1|refname="BPI"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Meghan Trainor}}
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Category:Songs with feminist themes
Category:Songs written by Meghan Trainor
Category:Songs written by Pat Ballard