Papercuts (Machine Gun Kelly song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Papercuts

| cover = Machine Gun Kelly - Papercuts.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Machine Gun Kelly

| album = Mainstream Sellout

| released = {{Start date|2021|08|11}}

| recorded = 2021

| studio =

| genre =

{{flatlist|

}}

| length = 3:01

| label =

| writer =

Colson Baker
Travis Barker
Nick Long

| producer =

Travis Barker
Nick Long

| prev_title = Love Race

| prev_year = 2021

| next_title = Thought It Was

| next_year = 2022

}}

"Papercuts" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly, released on August 11, 2021, as the first single from his sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout (2022). The song features drumming and production from collaborator Travis Barker.

Background

"Papercuts" is the lead single for Machine Gun Kelly's sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout, originally planned to be named Born With Horns at the time of the single's release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-machine-gun-kelly-and-travis-barker-team-up-in-video-for-new-single-papercuts-3017369|title=Watch Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker team up in video for new single 'Papercuts'|website=NME|date=August 12, 2021}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/machine-gun-kelly-born-with-horns-papercuts-video-1210627/|title=Machine Gun Kelly Previews Album With New 'Papercuts' Video|first1=Althea|last1=Legaspi|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 12, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=February 4, 2022 |title=Machine Gun Kelly Shares New Single "Emo Girl" ft. Willow; Reveals Mainstream Sellout Release Date |work=HipHopNMore |url=https://hiphop-n-more.com/2022/02/machine-gun-kelly-new-single-emo-girl-ft-willow-mainstream-sellout-album-release-date/ |access-date=February 4, 2022}} Much like Kelly's prior album, Tickets to My Downfall, the song features Travis Barker on drums and as a music producer. The song was first released on August 11, 2021, though Kelly had released a small teaser of the track in the week prior to the song and album's reveal.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/machine-gun-kelly-new-album-born-with-horns/|title=Machine Gun Kelly Announces New Album 'Born With Horns'|website=Loudwire}}

A music video, directed by Cole Bennett, was released concurrently with the full track.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/machine-gun-kelly-new-single-papercuts-listen-3016923|title=Machine Gun Kelly teases new single 'Papercuts', arriving tonight|website=NME|date=August 11, 2021}} The video was the first Bennett has ever directed for a rock music video, and was the culmination of himself and Kelly planning on working together over the course of a three-year period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/heres-how-machine-gun-kellys-papercuts-video-was-made/|title=Machine Gun Kelly gets pulled over by police in making-of papercuts video|website=Kerrang!}} Both Kelly and Bennett were very happy with the process and end product, despite that fact the shooting had initially been shut down by the police due the bizarre imagery catching the attention of the police, who in turn shut it down due to the traffic violations involved, including driving a motorcycle without a helmet, and driving cars without seatbelts. The video contains alternating shots of Kelly and Barker performing the song, and surrealist imagery such as Kelly walking around in a bald cap and revealing outfit, having black-dyed eggs thrown at him, and playing an oversized guitar.

During a live televised performance at the 2021 VMA awards, Kelly including a rap verse towards the end of the song, the alternate rendition became a favorite amongst fans, as of July 2022, the performance has over 2.6 million views and 69k likes.{{Citation |title=Machine Gun Kelly - papercuts (VMAs) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2nKBuMDzbM |language=en |access-date=2022-07-25}} A studio recorded version including the alternate rap verse was included in the main release of the Mainstream Sellout album, under the name "papercuts - album edit".

A live version of the song was featured in the Life in Pink deluxe version of the Mainstream Sellout album, titled "papercuts - live from redrocks". The song was recorded live throughout the duration of the songs performance at the Mainstream Sellout Tour in the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Themes and composition

Multiple publications noted that "Papercuts" sounded to move even further into the rock sound than the material from his 2020 pop punk album Tickets to My Downfall. Loudwire noted that the song had more of a grunge sound to it, mixed with the material that Green Day and Weezer released in the 1990s.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/machine-gun-kelly-papercuts-lyrics/|title=Machine Gun Kelly Shows Off His New Look in 'Papercuts' Video|website=Loudwire}} Vulture described it as "straight up rock" with "90's inspired guitar riffs".{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/08/machine-gun-kelly-papercuts-video.html|title=Machine Gun Kelly Rocks Even Harder on New Single 'papercuts'|first=Justin|last=Curto|date=August 12, 2021|website=Vulture}} Guitar World likened the sound of the track to emo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/machine-gun-kelly-papercuts|title=Machine Gun Kelly reunites with Travis Barker for angsty, Whammy-heavy new single, Papercuts|first=Sam Roche 12|last=August 2021|date=August 12, 2021|website=guitarworld}}

The song opens with an acoustic guitar intro, before intensifying into distorted power chords into the chorus. The track also ends with a guitar solo using a Digitech Whammy pedal as well. Lyrically, publications interpreted it to be about Kelly exploring his personal struggles with fame{{Cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2021/08/12/mgk-travis-barker-drop-papercuts-born-with-horns/|title=MGK & Travis Barker Drop Latest Collab Hit 'Papercuts'|first=Paul 'Browny'|last=Brown|date=August 12, 2021|website=Wall Of Sound}} and bad habits such as drug use.

"Papercuts" has been described as rock,{{cite web |last1= Hill|first1= Madi|title= Machine Gun Kelly Releases 'Papercuts,' The First Single From Sixth Album!|url= https://thehoneypop.com/2021/08/17/machine-gun-kelly-releases-papercuts-the-first-single-from-sixth-album/|website= The Honey Pop|access-date=9 November 2021|date=17 August 2021}} punk rock,{{cite web |last1= Harris|first1= Emily|title= Machine Gun Kelly, 'Papercuts' – Single Review ★★★★|url= https://www.gsgmedia.co/machine-gun-kelly-papercuts|website= |access-date=9 November 2021|date=13 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1= Willis|first1= Collin|title= Machine Gun Kelly Shows Us His Papercuts With New Single|url= https://musicdaily.app/machine-gun-kelly-shows-us-his-papercuts-with-new-single/|website= |access-date=9 November 2021|date=16 August 2021}} alternative rock,{{cite web|title= Machine Gun Kelly Goes Full Rock On New Single 'Papercuts'|url= https://www.spin.com/2021/08/machine-gun-kelly-goes-full-rock-on-new-single-papercuts/|website= Spin|access-date=9 November 2021|date=12 August 2021}} grunge-pop,{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=We're Sorry To Report That Machine Gun Kelly's New Song "papercuts" Is Pretty Good |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2157181/were-sorry-to-report-that-machine-gun-kellys-new-song-papercuts-is-pretty-good/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=22 August 2021|date=}}{{cite web |last1= Sacher|first1= Andrew|title= Machine Gun Kelly shares "papercuts" off new album with Travis Barker, 'born with horns'|url= https://www.brooklynvegan.com/machine-gun-kelly-shares-papercuts-off-new-album-with-travis-barker-born-with-horns/|website= Brooklyn Vegan|access-date=9 November 2021|date=12 August 2021}} pop punk and grunge.

Reception

Music website Stereogum praised the track for being "pretty good", concluding that while they were surprised by Baker's move into alt-rock, that ultimately "a good song is a good song". Wall of Sound called it Baker's most mature song to date.{{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=April 3, 2022}} Other publications were more critical of the track; BrooklynVegan felt it ripped off "Where Is My Mind?" by Pixies,{{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}} while both Pitchfork and Sputnikmusic felt it was too similar to Green Day, specifically their song "Brain Stew".{{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://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=March 31, 2022}}

Personnel

Machine Gun Kelly – vocals, guitars, songwriting
Travis Barker – drums, production, songwriting
Nick Long - guitar, songwriting

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA){{cite magazine\|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 August 2021\|magazine=The ARIA Report\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|issue=1642\|page=4\|date=August 23, 2021}} \| 73
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Papercuts" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Canada\|57\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 24, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardglobal200\|99\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 24, 2021}}
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=August 21, 2021}} \| 90
scope="row"\| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-09-17\|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=August 23, 2021\|access-date=August 21, 2021}} \| 18
{{single chart\|UK\|74\|date=20210820\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 20, 2021}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|34\|date=20210820\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 20, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|14\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=October 26, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|79\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 24, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrocksongs\|9\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 24, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrockairplay\|34\|artist=Machine Gun Kelly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 16, 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Year-end chart performance for "Papercuts" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/hot-rock-songs/\|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 2, 2021}} \| 66

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

|+Year-end chart performance for "Papercuts"

! scope="col"| Chart (2021)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/hot-rock-songs/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 66

References

Category:2021 singles

Category:2021 songs

Category:Grunge songs

Category:Machine Gun Kelly (musician) songs

Category:Songs written by Machine Gun Kelly (musician)