Ronald (song)
{{short description|2024 single by Falling in Reverse}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Ronald
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Falling in Reverse featuring Tech N9ne and Alex Terrible
| album = Popular Monster
| released = May 7, 2024
| recorded = 2023
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 3:17
| label = Epitaph
| writer =
| producer =
- Tyler Smyth
- Ronnie Radke
- Charles Kallaghan Massabo
| chronology = Falling in Reverse
| prev_title = Last Resort (Reimagined)
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = All My Life
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Tech N9ne
| type = single
| prev_title = Boomer Rang
| prev_year = 2024
| title = Ronald
| year = 2024
| next_title = Drippy Drop
| next_year = 2024
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Alex Terrible
| type = single
| prev_title = Katyusha
| prev_year = 2023
| title = Ronald
| year = 2024
| next_title = Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames (cover)
| next_year = 2024
}}
{{External music video |{{YouTube|wWoQ7PFSYlk|"Ronald"}}
}}
}}
"Ronald" is a song by American rock band Falling in Reverse, featuring American rapper Tech N9ne, and Russian singer Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail. It was released on May 7, 2024, through Epitaph Records, as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album Popular Monster.{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/falling-in-reverse-popular-monster-album/|first=Joe|last=DiVita|title=Falling In Reverse Announce First Album Since 2017, 'Popular Monster'|publisher=Loudwire|date=May 7, 2024|accessdate=May 7, 2024}}
Promotion and release
Unlike their previous singles, the band did not promote the song in advance. On May 7, 2024, the single was suddenly released under the name "Ronald" which is the real name of vocalist Ronnie Radke. The song features American rapper Tech N9ne and Slaughter to Prevail's Alex Terrible.{{cite web|url=https://knotfest.com/blogs/news/falling-in-reverse-drop-new-collab-track-ronald-featuring-tech-n9ne-and-alex-terrible|first=Ramon|last=Gonzalez|title=Falling In Reverse Drop New Collab Track, "Ronald": featuring Tech N9ne and Alex Terrible|publisher=Knotfest|date=May 7, 2024|accessdate=May 7, 2024}}
On the same day as the single's release, the band announced they would be releasing their fifth studio album called Popular Monster which was originally supposed to be released on July 26, 2024, however it got pushed back to August 16, 2024. The band also announced "The Popular MonsTour II" in the United States, alongside Dance Gavin Dance, Black Veil Brides, Tech N9ne, Jeris Johnson and Nathan James as headliners.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2024/05/08/falling-in-reverse-announce-new-album-and-tour/|first=Mandy|last=Scythe|title=Falling in Reverse Announce New Album and Tour|publisher=MetalSucks|date=May 8, 2024|accessdate=May 8, 2024}} After six years, the band also announced that they will perform outside the United States, headlining the "We Missed Ourselves Fest" in Mexico.{{cite web |accessdate=May 8, 2024 |date=May 1, 2024 |first=Miriam |language=Spanish |last=Suarez |publisher=Infobae |title=Anuncian a Falling In Reverse como headliner de We Missed Ourselves Fest: precios, fecha y cartel completo |url=https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/05/01/anuncian-a-falling-in-reverse-como-headliner-de-we-missed-ourselves-fest-precios-fecha-y-cartel-completo/}}
In 2024, "Ronald" was nominated for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards in the category Top Hard Rock Song.
Composition and lyrics
The song was written by vocalist Ronnie Radke, Tyler Smyth, All That Remains guitarist Jason Richardson, Tech N9ne and drummer Luke Holland and was composed by Ronnie Radke and Tyler Smyth. It was again produced by Tyler Smyth, Ronnie Radke and Charles Kallaghan Massabo.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Falling-in-reverse-ronald-lyrics|title=Falling in Reverse – Ronald (feat. Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible)|website=Genius|accessdate=May 7, 2024}} According to an article about the song by Fresh Flow Nation, "Ronald" dives "into the transition from innocence to the harsh realities of adult life. It's as a blunt outcry against the world's darkness, underlined by a recognition of inner demons and societal evils. This song isn't just a tune; it's a bold wake-up call to the chilling truths that surround us."{{cite web|url=https://freshflownation.com/singles/meaning-of-ronald-by-falling-in-reverse-feat-tech-n9ne-alex-terrible/|title=Meaning of 'Ronald' by 'Falling In Reverse' feat. Tech N9ne, Alex Terrible|website=Flesh Flow Nation|accessdate=May 9, 2024}}
The song makes use of deathcore influences in keeping with featured vocalist Alex Terrible's style, such as breakdowns, screaming, and death growls; Tech N9ne's verse features electronic trap production. Tech N9ne received some backlash for the lyrics "Sex change could get you caught up in death's range/He pled sane but really imitating Ed Gein", which were seen by some listeners as transphobic; he later explained on Instagram about the contrary, in which these lines were meant to raise awareness of trans individuals being murdered.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C6waqCbR5k8/ | title=Instagram }}
Commercial performance
The song entered the Top 100 of YouTube Top Songs Charts in the United States for the first time, debuting at No. 74. The music video became number one on YouTube's trending page in the United States, and already has more than 33 million streams in digital platforms.{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/falling-in-reverses-ronald-youtube-top-songs-chart/|first=Joe|last=DiVita|title=Falling In Reverse's 'Ronald' Enters YouTube Top Songs Chart for First Time|publisher=Loudwire|date=May 15, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2024}}
Music video
The music video was again directed by Jensen Noen, who is acclaimed for his work on other music videos. The music video is a continuation of the video for the single "Watch the World Burn", beginning with Ronnie Radke waking up in an ambulance and attacking the paramedics, who are wearing the same suit as in the previous video. Radke finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world, fleeing from demons and a S.W.A.T team, before appearing with Tech N9ne, who is shown to be God, and sends Radke to hell. He confronts the Devil, who is shown to be Alex Terrible; the video ends with the two fighting, without knowing who was the winner of the fight.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=157999|title=Falling In Reverse Premiere New Music Video "Ronald" - Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible Guest|website=Metal Underground|accessdate=May 8, 2024}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Genius.
Falling in Reverse
- Ronnie Radke – lead vocals, programming, producer, writer, composer, keyboards
- Max Georgiev – lead guitar
- Christian Thompson – rhythm guitar
- Luke Holland – drums, percussion, writer, composer
- Tyler Burgess – bass
Additional personnel
- Tech N9ne – guest vocals, writer
- Alex Terrible – guest vocals
- Tyler Smyth – producer, strings, additional writer, recording, mixing, mastering, programming, engineered
- Charles Kallaghan Massabo – producer, vocal producer, engineered, beat instrumental
- Jason Richardson – writer, guitar composer
Charts
Awards and nominees
| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;" |
| style="width:4%;"| Year
! style="width:40%;"| Award ! style="width:10%;"| Result ! style="width:2%;"| Ref |
|---|
| 2024
|Billboard Music Awards: Top Hard Rock Songs |{{nom}} |{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/p/billboard-music-awards/|title=Check out the 2024 BBMAs Finalists — and everything you need to know about this year's awards show — here|magazine=Billboard|date=November 25, 2024|accessdate=November 25, 2024}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Falling in Reverse}}
{{Tech N9ne}}
Category:Falling in Reverse songs