Sirens (Travis Scott song)
{{Short description|2023 song by Travis Scott}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Sirens
| type = song
| artist = Travis Scott
| album = Utopia
| released = July 28, 2023
| recorded = 2022
| genre = Progressive hip hop
| length = 3:24
| label = {{hlist|Cactus Jack|Epic}}
| writer = {{hlist|Jacques Webster|Noah Goldstein|Josiah Sherman|Evan Mast|John Fannon|Keith Kabwe|Isaac Mpofu|Jahaan Sweet}}
| producer = {{hlist|Travis Scott|Goldstein ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})|Buddy Ross ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})|E*vax ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})|John Mayer ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})|WondaGurl ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})}}
| misc = {{External music video|type=song|{{YouTube|6gUiQ8CqLcY|"Sirens"}}}}
}}
"Sirens" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott from his fourth studio album Utopia (2023). The song was produced by Scott, with additional production from Noah Goldstein, Buddy Ross, E*vax, John Mayer and WondaGurl. The song ends with vocals from Canadian rapper Drake, leading into the next song on the album in which he is officially featured on, "Meltdown".
Composition
The song contains samples of "Explorer Suite" by New England{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=Craig |title=Travis Scott Is Raging Into Oblivion |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/08/travis-scott-utopia-circus-maximus-review.html |website=Vulture |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=August 2, 2023}} and "Nsunka Lwendo" by Amanaz.{{cite web |title=How Travis Scott flipped "Nsunka Lwendo" to make "Sirens" is crazy 🤯🤯🤯 Zamrock is an interesting sound that we need to utilize more. |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/230263885652858/posts/670455008300408/ |website=Facebook |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=July 29, 2023}} It uses a distorted beat, which has been noted as influenced by Kanye West,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/utopia-mw0004054424|title=Utopia - Travis Scott|website=AllMusic|last=Staff|first=Tivo|date=August 17, 2023|access-date=8 September 2023}} as well as drums that "seemingly take inspiration from" dappankuthu music and "muddled" strings.{{cite web |last1=A. |first1=Aron |title=Travis Scott "Utopia" Review |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/700025-travis-scott-utopia-review |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=August 2, 2023}}
Critical reception
The song received generally mixed reviews. Robin Murray of Clash wrote, 'SIRENS' is incredible, a true anthem whose rapid flow shows Travis at his most technically gifted. Intense and unrelenting, it feels built for wide open spaces".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/travis-scott-utopia/|title=Travis Scott – Utopia|magazine=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=8 September 2023|archive-date=July 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728090806/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/travis-scott-utopia/|url-status=live}} In an album review, Thomas Galindo of American Songwriter stated "And, while Scott's raps have never been the most substantive or introspective, the chemistry he finds with the immensely impressive production allows him to fit his voice perfectly into the pockets of his beats," citing "Sirens" as one of the songs that best display this quality.{{Cite magazine |last=Galindo |first=Thomas |date=2023-07-29 |title=Review: Travis Scott's Return on 'Utopia' is Everything Rap Needed, and Then Some|url=https://americansongwriter.com/review-travis-scotts-return-on-utopia/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |magazine=American Songwriter |language=en-US |archive-date=July 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730045504/https://americansongwriter.com/review-travis-scotts-return-on-utopia/ |url-status=live }} Aron A. of HotNewHipHop commented the song "feels like a psychedelic and exhilarating ride through the interstate at 100 MPH."
Nathan Evans of NME stated that Utopia "rivals OutKast's Stankonia for how it devours genres and settings into his world", before writing "But Scott sounds maddened by the pursuit of finding that vague world" and that it is reflected in how "he puts himself in the throes of" the "cacophonous Zamrock of 'Sirens'".{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Nathan |date=2023-07-31 |title=Travis Scott - 'Utopia' review: lofty concept, shaky execution |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/travis-scott-utopia-review-tracklist-lyrics-credits-3475580 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Complex's Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo picked "Sirens" (along with "God's Country") as the "biggest skip" of Utopia, while Mike Destefano described it to be "a bit jarring at full volume, which is certainly intentional, but not the most inviting thing to listen to multiple times over."{{cite web |last1=McKinney |first1=Jessica |last2=Caraballo |first2=Ecleen Luzmila |last3=Skelton |first3=Eric |last4=Rose |first4=Jordan |last5=Breskin |first5=Stefan |last6=Destefano |first6=Mike |last7=Felderstein |first7=Ben |title=First Impressions Of Travis Scott's New Album 'Utopia' |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/first-impressions-travis-scott-utopia-review |website=Complex |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=July 28, 2023}} Vivian Medithi of HipHopDX said the song sounds like a "Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho reject".{{Cite web |last=Medithi |first=Vivian |date=2023-07-30 |title='Utopia' Is More Boring Than Travis Scott |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/travis-scott-utopia-album-review |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}} Andre Gee of Rolling Stone wrote "On 'Sirens,' he rhymes 'detail' with 'de-vail,' 'he-ail, 'pee-pail' and 'festie-vee-ail,' which he follows up with the (more sophisticated?) 'festie-vee-awl.' It might be million-dollar production, but it's not million-dollar rap."{{cite magazine |last1=Gee |first1=Andre |title=Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Is an Empty Paradise |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/travis-scott-utopia-review-1234797544/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=July 31, 2023}}
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard placed "Sirens" at number 12 in her ranking of the songs from Utopia.{{cite magazine |last1=Cummings-Grady |first1=Mackenzie |title=Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Album: All 19 Songs Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/travis-scotts-utopia-album-songs-ranked-1235381047/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=July 28, 2023}}
Music video
The music video was released as one of the segments of Travis Scott's film Circus Maximus.{{cite web |last1=Saponara |first1=Michael |title=Travis Scott Drops Cinematic 'Sirens' Video As 'Circus Maximus' Movie Arrives On YouTube |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/travis-scott-sirens-circus-maximus-movie |website=HipHopDX |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=August 15, 2023}} Directed by Catalan company Canada, it features Scott participating in building a human tower (or "castell") to escape the underground.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=Travis Scott publica 'Sirens': 'casteller' por un día |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/ocio-y-cultura/20230816/travis-scott-sirens-casteller-videoclip-dv-91001230 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.elperiodico.com |language=es}} The music video was mainly filmed in Tarragona, Spain, as well as in Barcelona, Terrassa, and Montcada i Reixac{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=El Hospital del Tórax, plató de un videoclip de un rapero norteamericano |url=https://monterrassa.cat/es/cultura-es/hospital-torax-plato-videoclip-rapero-norteamericano-355244/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=MónTerrassa |language=es}} and features the castells associations Castellers de Vilafranca, Castellers de Mediona, Nois de la Torre, Xiquets de Tarragona and Xiquets del Serrall.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-29 |title=El rapero Travis Scott ficha a los Castellers de Vilafranca para su nuevo videoclip |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/gente/20230729/9141521/rapero-travis-scott-ficha-castellers-vilafranca-nuevo-videoclip.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Sirens"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Travis Scott|title=Sirens|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=October 24, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|artist=Travis Scott|title=Sirens|type=single|award=Gold|region=Canada}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|artist=Travis Scott|title=Sirens|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=November 27, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}