The Hate U Give (film)
2018 film by George Tillman, Jr.
The Hate U Give is a 2018 American coming-of-age teen drama film produced and directed by George Tillman Jr. from a screenplay by Audrey Wells (who died the day before the film's release), based on the 2017 young adult novel of the same name by Angie Thomas. The film was produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Robert Teitel and Tillman Jr., and stars Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Lamar Johnson, KJ Apa, Sabrina Carpenter, Common, and Anthony Mackie, and follows the fallout after a high school student witnesses a police shooting.
The project was announced on March 23, 2016, and casting took place during August and September 2017. Principal photography began on September 12, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. On February 5, 2018, it was announced that Kian Lawley's role was recast after a video of his use of racially offensive slurs resurfaced. A month later, it was announced that Lawley had been replaced by Apa.
"The Hate U Give" premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2018, and was released in the United States on October 5, 2018, by 20th Century Fox. The film grossed $34.9 million worldwide against its $23 million budget and received acclaim from critics, with many praising the performances (particularly Stenberg and Hornsby), Wells' screenplay, and Tillman Jr.'s direction. The film was nominated for and won numerous accolades, including Stenberg's winning of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and being nominated for a Critics' Choice Award.
Plot.
Starr Carter is a 16-year-old African-American girl who lives in the predominantly black neighborhood of Garden Heights and attends a predominantly white private school called Williamson Prep.
After a firearm is discharged at a party Starr is attending, she is driven home by her best friend, Khalil. They are stopped by a police officer for failing to signal at a lane change. The officer in question, Brian MacIntosh Jr., barks orders at Khalil. Khalil disagrees with MacIntosh, who instructs him to exit the car.
While outside the car, MacIntosh retrieves Khalil's driver’s license and instructs him to keep his hands on the roof. Instead, Khalil reaches through the driver side window and pulls out a hairbrush, MacIntosh incorrectly assumes he pulled out a gun and shoots Khalil, killing him. When Starr is cuffed and taken into custody, she is able to get MacIntosh's badge number: 115.
While MacIntosh is placed on administrative leave, the killing becomes a national news story and causes a town-wide protest against what is believed to be an example of racial injustice. Starr's identity as the witness is initially kept secret from everyone outside her family; this leaves her friends, Hailey Grant and Maya Yang, and her boyfriend, Chris – who all attend Williamson Prep – unaware of her connection to the killing.
Starr agrees to be interviewed on television and to testify in front of a grand jury. While defending Khalil's character during her interview, in which her identity is hidden, she names the King Lords, the gang that is the true scourge of her neighborhood. The gang retaliates by threatening Starr and her family, forcing them to move in with her Uncle Carlos, her mom's brother, who is a police detective.
Carlos was a father figure to Starr when her father, Maverick, spent three years in prison for a crime he confessed to. Following his release, Maverick left the gang and became the owner of the Garden Heights grocery store where Starr and her half-brother Seven work. Maverick was only allowed to leave the King Lords because his false confession to the crime kept gang leader King from being locked up. King, who is widely feared, now lives with Seven's mother Iesha, as well as Seven's half-sister Kenya, who is friends with Starr, and Kenya's younger sister Lyric.
After a grand jury does not indict MacIntosh, Garden Heights erupts into both peaceful protests and warlike riots. In reaction to the decision, Starr takes an increasingly public role, including speaking out during the protests. Her increasing identification with the people of Garden Heights causes tension with her school friends, especially between her and Chris. Starr and Maya start standing up to Hailey's racist comments, breaking up their friendship, while Chris remains supportive of Starr.
Starr and Seven get trapped in Maverick's grocery store, which is fire-bombed by King and his gang. The two escape with the help of Maverick and other Garden Heights business owners. The community stands up against King, who goes to jail. Starr promises to keep Khalil's memory alive and to continue her advocacy against police violence by "any means necessary".
Production.
Development.
On March 23, 2016, it was announced that Amandla Stenberg would star as Starr Carter in the film, based on the novel "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas. George Tillman Jr. would direct, from a screenplay by Audrey Wells, while producers would be Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey through State Street Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment. On August 1, 2017, Russell Hornsby and Lamar Johnson were cast in the film to play Maverick Carter, Starr's father, and Seven Carter, Starr's brother, respectively. On August 3, Regina Hall was added as Lisa Carter, Starr's mother, and on August 15, Algee Smith also joined, to play Khalil, Starr's childhood best friend. On August 22, it was reported that Common had been cast as Starr's uncle, a police officer.
On August 23, 2017, Issa Rae was cast in the film to play April, the social activist who encourages Starr to speak out publicly. On August 24, Sabrina Carpenter was added as well, playing Hailey, one of Starr's high school friends. On September 12, Anthony Mackie and Kian Lawley joined the film to play the local drug dealer King, and Starr's boyfriend, Chris, respectively until on February 5, 2018, it was announced that Lawley had been fired from the film due to a resurfaced video showing Lawley using racially offensive slurs, resulting in his role being recast and his scenes reshot. On April 3, 2018, it was announced that KJ Apa would replace Lawley.
Filming.
Principal photography on the film began on September 12, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. and wrapped on November 4, 2017. Reshoots were shot along with the KJ Apa's scenes in April 2018.
Release.
"The Hate U Give" began a limited release in the United States on October 5, 2018, before a scheduled expansion the following week, and then a wide release on October 19, the day it opened worldwide. It was previously scheduled to go directly into wide release on the 19th.
The day prior to the film's release, screenwriter Audrey Wells died from cancer at the age of 58. 20th Century Fox released a statement saying, "We are simply heartbroken. Audrey's was a voice of empowerment and courage, and her words will live on through the strong, determined female characters she brought to life. Our thoughts are with Brian, Tatiana, and all of Audrey's family and friends at this difficult time."
Home media.
"The Hate U Give" was released on digital download on January 8, 2019, and on DVD/Blu-Ray on January 22, 2019.
Reception.
Box office.
"The Hate U Give" grossed $29.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $5.2 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $34.9 million. When Disney acquired Fox, "The Hollywood Reporter" stated that the film had lost Fox a total of $30–40 million due to its $23 million production budget and $30 million spent on marketing.
In its limited opening weekend, "The Hate U Give" made $512,035 from 36 theaters, for an average of $14,233 per venue, finishing 13th. Playing in a total of 248 theaters the following weekend, the film made $1.8 million, finishing ninth. The film was projected to gross $7–9 million when it expanded to 2,303 theaters on October 19. It made $2.5 million on its first day of wide release, including $300,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to gross $7.5 million over the weekend, finishing sixth at the box office. It fell 33% to $5.1 million the following weekend, remaining in sixth.
Critical response.
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, and an average rating of . The website's critical consensus reads, "Led by a breakout turn from Amandla Stenberg, the hard-hitting "The Hate U Give" emphatically proves the YA genre has room for much more than magic and romance." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 88% positive score and a 74% "definite recommend".
Writing for "Rolling Stone", Peter Travers gave the film four out of five stars, calling it an "exceptional adaptation", and writing, "It is impossible to over-praise Stenberg's incandescent performance, a gathering storm that grows in ferocity and feeling with each scene. Stenberg nails every nuance of a role that keeps throwing challenges at her, none more devastating than when it becomes impossible for Starr to remain stuck in neutral." Scott Mendelson, writing for "Forbes", stated that the film deserved to be an Academy Awards frontrunner for its screenplay, Stenberg and Russell Hornsby's performances, and the picture itself, saying it "belongs among the final list of would-be Best Picture nominees."
Keith Watson of "Slant Magazine", however, gave the film two out of four stars, writing, "Given its intensely relevant subject matter, the film can't help but churn up a lot of raw emotions—and the allusions to Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, and Emmett Till are reminders of the real-life sorrow that birthed this film—but Tillman's anonymous direction is content merely to illustrate the screenplay without ever bringing it to life. Even scenes that are meant to be tinged with menace and danger—run-ins with a local gang, a shooting at a party—feel about as raw as an episode of """. The film was also criticized by some female African-American critics as well, including Soraya Nadia McDonald of "Andscape", who said that "In dealing with all of it, the book character finds her confidence and her voice. But the movie version of "The Hate U Give" leaves me unsure that its makers ever found theirs."
References.
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Steph Jones
American songwriter
Steph Jones (born September 6, 1987) is an American songwriter and vocal producer based in Nashville, TN. She has written songs performed by artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, BLɅϽKPIИK, Kelsea Ballerini, JADE, Florence + The Machine, Celine Dion, Keith Urban, Teddy Swims, Madi Diaz, and more.
Career.
Steph Jones recently co-wrote Sabrina Carpenter's 5× platinum song "Espresso", the lead single from her sixth studio album, "Short n' Sweet", alongside co-writers Amy Allen and Julian Bunetta.  "Espresso" is nominated for both Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2025 Grammy's and is Spotify's 3rd fastest song to hit 1 Billion streams. It was Billboard's #1 Global Song of the Summer for 2024, as well as reaching #1 on Pop Airplay and #3 on the Hot 100 Charts. Steph Jones has co-written with Sabrina Carpenter over many albums, including songs "Nonsense", "Bet U Wanna", "Bad for Business" and "Things I Wish You Said" from Carpenter's fifth studio album, "Emails I Can't Send", as well as "Sue Me", "Buy Me Presents", "Let Me Move You" (from the Netflix film "Work It"), and more.
Jones also co-wrote Jade Thirwall's debut single "Angel Of My Dreams" which charted Top 10 on UK Singles Chart. Other notable works include Selena Gomez's "People You Know", BLACKPINK's "Love to Hate Me", Amber Mark's "Competition,"  Latto ft LU KALA "Lottery", Teddy Swims "Growing Up is Getting Old", and "Call Me Cruella" by Florence + The Machine (for Disney's GRAMMY-nominated Original Motion Picture soundtrack ‘Cruella’).
Jones has also had success as a songwriter in the country music space, with Kelsea Ballerini's #1 Country Radio song "Hole In The Bottle", Tenille Townes "When's It Gonna Happen" and "Girl Who Didn't Care," Little Big Town's "Over Drinking" (from their GRAMMY-nominated album ‘Nightfall’), Keith Urban's "Polaroid," as well as Shania Twain and BRELAND's "Boots Don't" (from "").
References.
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Sabrina Carpenter
American singer and actress (born 1999)
Sabrina Annlynn Carpenter (born May 11, 1999) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained prominence starring on the Disney Channel series "Girl Meets World" (2014–2017), and signed with the Disney-owned Hollywood Records. She released her debut single, "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" in 2014, followed by the studio albums "Eyes Wide Open" (2015), "Evolution" (2016), ' (2018), and ' (2019).
Carpenter moved to Island Records in 2021 and released her fifth studio album, "Emails I Can't Send" (2022) which was supported by the singles "Nonsense" and "Feather". Her sixth studio album, "Short n' Sweet" (2024), debuted atop the "Billboard" 200, produced the top-three Hot 100 singles "Espresso", "Please Please Please" and "Taste", and also earned two Grammy Awards.
Carpenter has appeared in films, including "Adventures in Babysitting" (2016), "The Hate U Give" (2018), "The Short History of the Long Road" (2019), "Clouds" (2020), and "Emergency" (2022). She has also starred in the Netflix films "Tall Girl" (2019), "Tall Girl 2" (2022), and "Work It" (2020), the latter of which she executive-produced. On Broadway, she played Cady Heron in the musical "Mean Girls" (2020).
Early life.
Sabrina Annlynn Carpenter was born on May 11, 1999, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, to David and Elizabeth Carpenter, and raised in East Greenville. She has three older sisters and was homeschooled. She is a niece of actress Nancy Cartwright. Around the age of 10, she began posting videos on YouTube of herself singing Christina Aguilera and Adele songs. Her father built a recording studio for her to fuel her passion for music. In 2009, she placed third in a singing contest "The Next Miley Cyrus Project", run by Miley Cyrus.
Career.
2011–2014: Breakthrough with Disney.
Carpenter's first acting role was in 2011 in a guest role on the NBC drama series '. Around the same time, she performed as part of the Hunan Broadcasting System's "Gold Mango Audience Festival" program in China, singing "Something's Got a Hold on Me". In the summer of 2012, Carpenter had a recurring role in the Fox sitcom "The Goodwin Games". She appeared in "Horns" (2013) and recorded "Smile" for the compilation album ', inspired by the "Disney Fairies" film series; the song charted on Radio Disney. She had a recurring role as Princess Vivian in "Sofia the First", for which she performed the song "All You Need" with Ariel Winter.
In January 2013, Carpenter was cast in a Disney Channel series "Girl Meets World", a spin-off of "Boy Meets World", as Maya Hart. The show consisted of 72 episodes, and concluded on January 20, 2017. Carpenter recorded the show's theme song alongside her co-star Rowan Blanchard. From 2010 to 2013, Carpenter released various independent promotional singles before signing a five-album deal with Disney label Hollywood Records in 2014.
In March 2014, Carpenter released her debut single, "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying", which was co-written by Meghan Trainor. The single received positive reviews and titled her debut EP of the same name that was released in April 2014. In July 2014, Carpenter contributed lead vocals to the "Disney Channel Circle of Stars" cover version of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?". She recorded "Stand Out" for the Disney Channel movie, "How to Build a Better Boy", which premiered in August 2014. She released her first Christmas single, "Silver Nights", that same year.
2015–2017: "Eyes Wide Open" and "Evolution".
In January 2015, Carpenter released "We'll Be the Stars". It served as the lead single for her debut studio album "Eyes Wide Open", which was released on April 14, 2015, and peaked at number 43 on the "Billboard" 200. The album is primarily a teen pop album with elements of folk-pop. According to "Billboard", it sold over 12,000 copies in its first week. Upon release, the album received positive reviews and went on to win two Radio Disney Music Awards. The album was followed with a second single, "Eyes Wide Open". In August, Carpenter performed at the D23 Expo. In December, Carpenter released her second Christmas single, "Christmas The Whole Year Round".
In February 2016, Carpenter released the standalone single titled "Smoke and Fire". She performed the song at the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards. In June 2016, Carpenter starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie "Adventures in Babysitting" (2016) alongside Sofia Carson. For the film, the two performed the theme track, "Wildside", together. Later that year, she appeared in a Pasadena Playhouse production of "Peter Pan and Tinker Bell: A Pirate's Christmas". In August, Carpenter headlined the Bethlehem's Musikfest festival. She began voicing Melissa Chase on "Milo Murphy's Law".
In October 2016, Carpenter released her second studio album, "Evolution" which debuted on the "Billboard" 200 at number 28, selling 13,000 copies in its first week. The album produced two singles including "On Purpose" and "Thumbs" with the former being nominated for a Radio Disney Music Award, and the latter peaking at number one on "Billboard"'s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Two promotional singles were released from the album including "All We Have Is Love" and "Run and Hide". Carpenter performed "Thumbs" on "The Today Show" and "The Late Late Show with James Corden". She embarked on her first headlining concert tour, the Evolution Tour, in autumn of 2016.
In March 2017, Carpenter performed the theme song for the Disney Channel show "Andi Mack". In May, Carpenter featured on the single "Hands" with The Vamps and Mike Perry. In July, Carpenter released the single "Why", which received positive reviews, and peaked at number 21 on the "Billboard" Bubbling Under Hot 100, becoming her second entry on the chart. It was nominated for a Radio Disney Music Award. In the summer of that year, Carpenter embarked on her second headlining concert tour, the De-Tour. She opened for Ariana Grande on her Dangerous Woman Tour in São Paulo.
In December, Carpenter released a cover of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". That same year, she released covers of "Sign of the Times" and "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" with British singer Jasmine Thompson and violinist Lindsey Stirling respectively.
2018–2020: "Singular" and films.
In March 2018, Carpenter released the song "Alien" with English DJ Jonas Blue. The song reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart and number 12 on the US Dance/Electronic Songs chart. The duo performed it on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". In May, Carpenter was included in "Nylon" magazine's "25 Gen Z'ers Changing The World". In September, Carpenter appeared in "The Hate U Give" (2018), based on the novel of the same name.
On November 9, 2018, Carpenter released her third studio album, "", which received positive reviews. Set to be released as one album, Carpenter announced that the album would be split into two acts with second act set for release in early 2019. The album garnered two singles, "Almost Love" and "Sue Me", which both reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart. Two promotional singles preceded the album: "Paris" and "Bad Time". Carpenter promoted the album on "The Today Show", as well as "Live with Kelly and Ryan".
In March 2019, Carpenter embarked on her third headlining concert tour, the Singular Tour. That month, Carpenter featured on Alan Walker's single, "On My Way", alongside Farruko. In June 2019, she starred in the drama film "The Short History of the Long Road". The film had had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released by FilmRise. It received positive reviews with Carpenter's role being praised.
On July 19, 2019, Carpenter released her fourth studio album, "". The album received positive reviews upon release and found Carpenter exploring more personal topics than her previous works, including themes of anxiety and self-reflection. Three singles were released for the album including "Pushing 20", "Exhale" and "In My Bed". To promote the album, she performed on "Good Morning America"'s Summer Concert Series and released a promotional single titled "I'm Fakin" ahead of the album's release. In September 2019, Carpenter appeared in the Netflix film "Tall Girl". She was cast in an adaptation of "The Distance From Me to You".
In February 2020, Carpenter released an R&B single titled "Honeymoon Fades" which was received positively by critics. A month later, she made her Broadway debut in "Mean Girls". The show closed mid-month due to the COVID-19 pandemic closing Broadway and never reopened. In May 2020, she performed "Your Mother and Mine" on the ABC broadcast television special, "The Disney Family Singalong Volume II". She had a recurring role in "Royalties" for which she performed "Perfect Song" for the soundtrack.
In July 2020, Carpenter released the song, "Let Me Move You", for the Netflix film "Work It", in which she starred and executive produced. Her role received generally positive reviews. The film's soundtrack featured Zara Larsson's "Wow", which led to Carpenter featuring on the remix of the song, released in September of that year. In October, Carpenter starred in the Disney+ film "Clouds", based on the life of Zach Sobiech. She contributed to the film's soundtrack. In December 2020, Carpenter was listed under "Forbes"' 30 Under 30 list in the Hollywood and entertainment category.
2021–2023: "Emails I Can't Send".
In January 2021, Carpenter announced that she had signed with Universal Music Group's Island Records. She released her first single under the label, "Skin", on January 22, 2021. The song peaked at number 48 and 33 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and the "Billboard" Global 200, becoming her first entry on both charts. Carpenter performed the song on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" and at the 32nd annual GLAAD Media Awards. In September, she appeared in the third volume of Prime Video's "Savage X Fenty Show". On September 9, 2021, Carpenter released "Skinny Dipping", the lead single from her then-forthcoming fifth studio album. She released "Fast Times" on February 18, 2022, as a follow-up single. That same month, she appeared in "Tall Girl 2". In May 2022, Carpenter appeared in Amazon Studios' film "Emergency" which had premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival that January.
On July 15, 2022, Carpenter released her fifth studio album, "Emails I Can't Send", which debuted and peaked at number 23 on the "Billboard" 200 with 18,000 album equivalent units sold. The album was further promoted with the singles: "Vicious" "Because I Liked a Boy", and "Nonsense". The Emails I Can't Send Tour began in September of that year. "Nonsense", the album's fifth single, went viral on TikTok due to Carpenter performing newly improvised sexually suggestive outros for the song on tour. The song peaked at number 56 on the Hot 100, was certified Platinum by the RIAA, and reached the top-10 on the US Pop Airplay chart.
In March 2023, Carpenter released a deluxe edition of "Emails I Can't Send". One of the bonus tracks, "Feather", became the final single in August 2023, peaking at number one on the US Pop Songs chart and number 21 on the "Billboard" Hot 100. She performed the song at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show and at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. The song’s music video, released in October 2023, drew polarized reactions due to its violent imagery and was filmed at the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Brooklyn, New York. The pastor apologized for allowing the shoot, unaware of the content. Carpenter responded, stating advance permission was granted and noting, “Jesus was a carpenter.” Bishop Robert J. Brennan relieved the pastor of his duties and held a Mass of reparation to restore the church's sanctity. The investigation into the priest who granted permission uncovered evidence that led to the indictment of New York City mayor Eric Adams.
Carpenter was the opening act for the Eras Tour by Taylor Swift for a number of its Latin American, Australian and Singaporean shows throughout 2023 and 2024. She released a cover of Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" as a Spotify special and said that opening for Swift was a "childhood dream come true". Carpenter described her experience at the Eras Tour as "unlike any crowd I've ever played to before". On November 17, 2023, Carpenter released a Christmas-themed EP, "Fruitcake", featuring "A Nonsense Christmas" which was released a year earlier.
2024–present: "Short n' Sweet".
In March 2024, Carpenter featured on Norwegian singer-songwriter Girl in Red's single "You Need Me Now?". On April 11, Carpenter released the single "Espresso", and performed at the 23rd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival the following day. "Espresso" topped the "Billboard" Global 200, peaked at number three on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart and went on to win the MTV Video Music Award for Song of the Year. At the end of the year, "Espresso" became the second most streamed song of the year on Spotify at 1.6 billion. Carpenter followed with a second single, "Please Please Please" on June 6, 2024, which became her second global chart-topper and her first US Hot 100 number one single. With these songs, she became the first female artist to hold the number one and two positions on the UK singles chart for three weeks in a row.
Carpenter released her sixth studio album, "Short n' Sweet", on August 23, debuting at number one the Billboard 200 with 362,000 units sold in its first week. All tracks charted in the top 50 of the Hot 100. At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Carpenter earned six nominations, including Best New Artist, while the album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year. It won Best Pop Vocal Album, and "Espresso" won Best Pop Solo Performance. The third single, "Taste," debuted at number two on the Hot 100, making Carpenter the first act since The Beatles to chart their first three top-five hits within a single week. The first three singles stayed in the top ten for seven consecutive weeks, a record for any female artist. Carpenter also became the first artist in 71 years to spend 20 weeks atop the UK singles chart in a calendar year, with "Taste" as the longest-running UK number one of 2024. A deluxe version, featuring five additional tracks including a duet of "Please Please Please" with Dolly Parton, was released on February 14, 2025.
In September 2024, Carpenter appeared on Christina Aguilera's live Spotify-exclusive special celebrating the 25th anniversary of Aguilera's self-titled debut album, duetting on "What a Girl Wants", which was later nominated for a Webby Award. That month, she embarked on the Short n' Sweet Tour, her first arena tour. Carpenter produced and starred in a Netflix holiday special, "A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter", released on December 6 and featuring duets with Chappell Roan, Tyla, and Shania Twain, among others.
Artistry.
Influences.
Carpenter named R&B as a genre that often influences her work. She cited Christina Aguilera and Rihanna as her biggest musical influences. Carpenter stated that Aguilera's 2002 song "Beautiful" helped her "showcase and develop [her] own voice", citing Aguilera's vocals as an inspiration. She has also named Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Etta James as early musical influences, she cited Beyoncé as her genre-bending influence, and cited Taylor Swift and Lorde as her songwriting influences. She claimed that Swift's live performances and work ethic have inspired her. In an interview with "Rolling Stone", Carpenter said Madonna, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and Aguilera were some of the artists who introduced her to pop music. In 2018, Carpenter stated, that she admired Ariana Grande. Carpenter's music and image have often been compared to Grande's in the media.
Musical styles.
Early in her career, Carpenter was described as a "teen pop singer". Later on in her career, Carpenter began to embrace pop music, with "I.D." writer Barry Pierce noting that after the release of "Emails I Can't Send", she "can rightfully claim the title of fully fledged popstar". "Variety" writer Thania Garcia noted that while Carpenter was "considered a Disney princess for years, her transition from child actor to pop star [...] has been slow, steady and intentional". Carpenter felt that her transition from a Disney-star was hard, with Pierce noting that she has since had more autonomy over her work. Carpenter noted in an interview with "Vogue" that her "prior music put forth a facet of herself that she didn't feel was authentic at the time". Her stage presence has also been praised with "Vogue" writer Chelsea Sarabia noting that "as an artist and performer, [Carpenter] wields the full range of human expression as if it were an instrument of its own".
Carpenter's albums contain elements of folk pop, acoustic, country, electropop and house music. Her albums post-"" have delved into styles such as dance-pop, trap, hip-hop, and R&B. On her sound, Carpenter noted that her music has "elements of everything". In an interview with "Variety" in 2024, Carpenter noted that she felt separated from her albums pre-"Emails I Can't Send", noting that it was "largely due to the shift in who I am as a person and as an artist, pre-pandemic and post-pandemic". Alex Hopper of "American Songwriter" remarked storytelling as a motif of Carpenter's songs. Carpenter's voice has been described as a soprano.
Songwriting.
Carpenter has co-written most of her songs, with sole lyricist credits for two tracks on "Emails I Can't Send"; she has stated in interviews that she is the main songwriter on her songs. Her preferred songwriting process is to start writing by deciding the song's title and building on from there, documenting her life experiences confessionally. Producer Jack Antonoff, who collaborated with Carpenter on the production of her sixth album "Short n' Sweet", commended the way she weaved humor into her music and her songwriting voice. Antonoff mentioned that he worked solely on the music of "Sharpest Tool" with Carpenter handling the lyrics. Of "Emails I Can't Send", Carpenter said "I would hope that if someone had never listened to my music before, and they listened to this album, they would leave it feeling like they know me better as a person."
Carpenter also worked on the compositions of some of her songs, including "Espresso" and "Please Please Please". She also performs her own musical accompaniment, with musical knowledge of the piano, bass, ukulele, guitar, and drums. She played the guitar during her set on the Short n' Sweet tour, and played the piano and electric guitar during her Coachella set in 2024.
Other ventures.
Activism and philanthropy.
Throughout her career, Carpenter has actively supported charitable organizations. In 2016, Carpenter became an ambassador for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation and visited children's hospitals across the country on their behalf. That same year, for the release of her single "Smoke and Fire", Carpenter released merchandise with proceeds going towards American Red Cross's 2Steps2Minutes campaign which brought awareness to fire safety.
In 2017, Carpenter performed at the We Day California event. That same year, Carpenter partnered with DoSomething's Love Letters Challenge, aimed to combat isolation for senior citizens. Throughout her career, Carpenter has been an avid supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, and in 2018, she participated in writing a love letter to the community for "Billboard". She noted that "When [fans] come to my shows with pride flags, screaming the lyrics at the top of [their] lungs, I hope [they] feel an overwhelming rush of love and safety." In April 2020, Carpenter appeared in a charity version of "If the World Was Ending", which supported Doctors Without Borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June 2024, Carpenter announced she was partnering with the nonprofit PLUS1 on her Short n' Sweet Tour to create the Sabrina Carpenter Fund, dedicated to supporting the "well-being of people and animals", focusing on "mental health, animal welfare, and support for the LGBTQ+ community". Later that month, it was also announced that her espresso-fl


You Give Love a Bad Name
1986 single by Bon Jovi
"You Give Love a Bad Name" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, released as the first single from their 1986 album "Slippery When Wet". Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child about a woman who has jilted her lover, the song reached No. 1 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 on November 29, 1986, and became the band's first number-one hit. In 2007, the song re-entered the charts at No. 29 after Blake Lewis performed it on "American Idol". Despite the lyrics of the chorus, the song should not be confused with "Shot Through the Heart", an unrelated song from Bon Jovi's 1984 self-titled debut album.
Composition.
The chorus tune of "You Give Love a Bad Name" was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler under the title "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" with different lyrics commissioned by its producer Jim Steinman. Dissatisfied with its success in the US and the UK (which he attributed to reticence on the part of her label in promoting it), Desmond Child re-wrote the song with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.
Upon the release of the Ava Max song "Kings & Queens" in 2020, comparisons were drawn with that song, "You Give Love a Bad Name", and Bonnie Tyler's "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)", and reviews highlighted Desmond Child's credit as a songwriter for "Kings & Queens".
Reception.
"Cash Box" called it a "jackhammer single" that could push Bon Jovi to massive success and said that "Jon Bon Jovi’s grinding vocal and the anthemic production spell A-O-R." "Billboard" called it "hard rock, raspy and aggressive." In a retrospective analysis, Chris Molanphy expressed his disgust at the song, calling its lyrics "sub-Meat Loaf" (Meat Loaf being best known for his work with Steinman). However, he did credit it for introducing the genre of hair metal to the mainstream. He also noted in another commentary how the song shared many similarities with Steinman's songs due to Child's involvement, saying "Steinman might as well have [produced it]", due to Child using devices such as its verbose title and anthemic chorus, likening it to "'Bat Out of Hell' infused with Aqua Net". It was placed at No. 20 on VH1's list of the "100 Best Hard Rock Songs".
Music video.
The music video for the song used all-color concert footage (the only all-color video song from "Slippery When Wet") and photogenic shots primarily of Jon Bon Jovi, as well as other band members in concert. This video was filmed at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Bon Jovi was now being managed by Doc McGhee, who realized that Bon Jovi needed a video for MTV. Doc hired video director Wayne Isham, who had directed videos for Doc's other band, Mötley Crüe. The two bands were competitive with each other and Mötley Crüe felt betrayed that Wayne would direct one of Bon Jovi's videos. Wayne had the band's name painted on the stage and made sure that the band did not see it until they began shooting. Bon Jovi had been opening for 38 Special but became a headlining act after the video debuted.
Charts.
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References.
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I Blame Myself
"I Blame Myself" is a song by American singer Sky Ferreira from her debut studio album, "Night Time, My Time" (2013). It was released in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2014, by Capitol Records as the second single from the record. The song was written and produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and Justin Raisen, with additional songwriting provided by Ferreira, Daniel Nigro, and Jordan Benik. "I Blame Myself" is an electropop and synth-pop song, in which Ferreira acknowledges that she is responsible for her public image.
Contemporary music critics commended "I Blame Myself" in their reviews of "Night Time, My Time", and placed particular praise on its production. An accompanying music video for the track was filmed in Compton, California, and directed by Grant Singer; it was premiered through Ssense on April 16, 2014. It depicts Ferreira as a gang leader, who is called in to settle a conflict between rivaling groups. She has performed the track on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in April 2014.
Background.
In February 2014, it was reported that "Boys" would be serviced as the second single from "Night Time, My Time", following its lead single "You're Not the One" which had been premiered in September 2013. However, Capitol Records instead released the song as a free digital download in the United Kingdom on March 1, preceding the launch of "Night Time, My Time" in the country. "I Blame Myself" was confirmed as the official second single from the record in April, while Ferreira was filming its accompanying music video.
"I Blame Myself" was written and produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and Justin Raisen, with additional songwriting provided by Ferreira, Daniel Nigro, and Jordan Benik. Rechtshaid and Raisen additionally collaborated for the drums. Individually, Rechshaid contributed vocal production, while Raisen was responsible for recording, Pro Tools engineering, additional vocals, synthesizers, and mixing. Mereki Beach provided additional vocals for the track, while Jeremiah Raisen assisted during its production.
Ferreira commented that she had co-written the track during summer 2013; she sings "10 years old without a voice / I feel like nothing's really changed / Now I'm just a little older" during the second verse, which she revealed was inspired by a two-year period in which she did not speak because she felt like she had had nothing to offer.
Composition.
Drawing from electropop and synth-pop music, "I Blame Myself" incorporates minimalist production elements with styles commonly seen in new wave music. Distinguished as the "poppiest" track from "Night Time, My Time", its lyrics see Ferreira accepting that her behavior contributes to the public image she is given by the media; during the chorus, she states "I just want you to realize I blame myself for my reputation." "I Blame Myself" was assumed to have been inspired by the "anthemic pop fizz" from her breakthrough single "Everything Is Embarrassing" from her second extended play "Ghost" (2012). Jenn Pelly from "Pitchfork" implied that "I Blame Myself" referenced the struggles Ferreira faced while creating her long-delayed debut studio album; Pelly suggested that the track was inspired by her frequent conflicts with her record label during production of the project, and added that it "lays out the emotional core" of her process. Jillian Mapes from the same publication assumed that Ferreira crafted the song in response to being labeled a "socialite [and] Forever 21 model" and receiving criticism after her drug arrest in September 2013, which she expected would highlight that her side projects "have nothing to do with the kind of songs Ferreira writes these days". "I Blame Myself", in addition to the tracks "24 Hours" and "Love in Stereo", blend "tenderized vocal hooks [and] chiming synth melodies", which reminded Lauren Martin from "Fact" of 1980s music. With his similar observation, Dan Keenan from "Impact" noted that the "chiming synths" that Martin recognized developed into the "undeniably cathartic" refrain.
Critical reception.
"I Blame Myself" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Writing for "The A.V. Club", Annie Zaleski called the track the "most stunning song" from "Night Time, My Time"; she commended Ferreira's "confident" vocal delivery and the "strident tone" of the recording, which Zaleski felt was "deeply affecting." Dan Keenan from "Impact" felt that its lyrics showcased that pop music is not always equivalent with insincerity. Writing for "Pitchfork", Carrie Battan felt that "I Blame Myself" sounded like "an uptempo beast" that deserved to be successful. Jordan Sargent from "Spin" felt that "I Blame Myself" positively exemplified a "darkness" among the stand-out tracks from the record, which he credited to having her adolescence "drained away by airplane flights, photo shoots, and useless recording sessions". "The New York Times"' Jon Caramanica was unsure why Ferreira "[painted] such a dark picture of herself" with the lyrics, and felt that the self-punishment was unnecessary given the strength of "I Blame Myself" and "Night Time, My Time" overall. John Preston from "Polari" believed that the track was a worthy substitute for fans that "mourn the overall departure" of the mainstream pop sound of Ferreira's 2010 single "One", and raved that it was an example of "airy and gleaming brilliance".
Two critics from "Pitchfork" reviewed "I Blame Myself" separately from "Night Time, My Time". Jenn Pelly ranked the track as the twelfth-best song released in 2013. She spoke favorably of its lyrical content, commending the chorus lyrics "How could you know what it feels like to fight the hounds of hell?" and "You think you know me so well" for painting Ferreira as an exemplar for "bullied high school weirdos", and appreciating that the lines "I know it's not your fault / That you don't understand / I blame myself" for acknowledging her own wrongdoings with the intention of starting anew. Jillian Mapes complimented the "bluntness" that was delivered throughout the song, and suggested that the track had "anthem potential". She praised the verses for verbalizing self-confidence issues that are often associated with young women, with particular acclaim being placed on the lines "I'm just a face without a choice / Trust you'd never like to guess what I think above the shoulders." She concluded her review by noting that the song should be recognized as a "declaration of force [and] a song about the power of vulnerability" rather than confusing it for an "admission of weakness".
Music video.
An accompanying music video for "I Blame Myself" was filmed in Compton, California, and directed by Grant Singer. During an interview with Idolator, Ferreira commented that "I can't really give too many details about it yet, but I shot it in L.A. with Grant Singer, who does all my other videos. And my family's in it." A 15-second preview of the project was released on April 14, 2014, while the final product was premiered through the online retailer Ssense on April 16, 2014. It was the first of several "shoppable" music videos released through the retailer, in partnership with London magazine "System". The clip was inspired by the visuals for 1990s hip hop music and the catalog of Michael Jackson, which Ferreira revealed "inspire me and played a big part of my childhood."
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"Would you feel more at ease if I danced with a bunch [of] blond white boys at a mall? Should I consciously only cast white dancers for now on? If I'm racist does that mean you're pro-segregation?! I'm from LA & shot the video there. I referenced 90s hip-hop videos and Michael Jackson because both of those things inspire me & played a big part of my childhood."
— Ferreira responding to the allegations of racism for the music video of "I Blame Myself".
The video depicts an ongoing conflict between gangs, which Ferreira attempts to remedy upon her arrival; she is eventually taken in for questioning by law enforcement, although she resists her arrest and later escapes from jail. She commented that its concept was inspired by real events, and elaborated that "people always ask me questions about certain things, and it's kind of like my response." Jeremy Gordon from "Pitchfork" interpreted Ferreira's commentary to be referencing her arrest in September 2013, in which she was charged with possession of ecstasy. Ferreira was criticized on social media networks for allegedly objectifying African-American people in the music video, with whom she was seen dancing with during several scenes interspersed throughout the clip. On her Facebook account, Ferreira commented that "I never have and never will look at any human being as a prop" and criticized false assumptions of the "rich little white girl exploiting the black people and the ghetto".
Live performances.
Having appeared as the musical guest that evening, Ferreira performed "I Blame Myself" on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on April 5, 2014. She was dressed in a sequined blazer, a white shirt, black shorts, a black tie, and sunglasses. Ferreira stood in place while singing the track; the onstage visuals consisted of several blue and red strobe lights. Having taken place before the music video was made publicly available, she revealed that the visuals for the song had been filmed and would be released shortly.
Credits and personnel.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of "Night Time, My Time".
Personnel.
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References.
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Greater (song)
"Greater" is the second single by contemporary Christian music band MercyMe for their eighth studio album, "Welcome to the New" (2014). It was released as a single on June 20, 2014. The song peaked at No. 2 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, blocked from the top by "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United. It was their record-extending twelfth Christian Airplay chart topper. It lasted 49 weeks on the overall chart. It also peaked at No. 14 on the "Billboard" Bubbling Under Hot 100. The song is played in a D major key, and 116 beats per minute.
The song also appears in the compilation album, "WOW Hits 2016".
Background.
"Greater" was released on June 20, 2014 as the second single from their eighth studio album "Welcome to the New". Bart Millard, the band's frontman, revealed the meaning of the song in an interview with "NewReleaseToday", "My kids have memorized the album already. Nothing warms your heart more than to hear your kids sing this message. The thing with 'Greater' is that my middle son Charlie is a lot like me. In fact, I went through a lot of grief counseling these past few years. My grief counselor said if I ever want to know what I'm like when in a healthy family to watch Charlie. One day I was trying to tell my son, because he has a stuttering problem, we were talking, and I said, "Buddy, people may make fun of you, but you have something inside of you that is telling you that you're something different, that you're stronger than that and that you're beautiful. We were at church one day and some kids made of him and he was kind of down. I told him, 'You know what I've told you. That's not them. The enemy may be using them, but these kids are good kids. They're not coming after you, it's just the enemy is taking shots at you. He's taking shots at you because you're something special and he's afraid of something you may do. I've always told him to set his mind on things above, and he started singing this song, 'You are holy, righteous and redeemed.' I just started bawling. From time to time I can hear him singing this song in the house and I've thought that's the reason to make a record."
Composition.
"Greater" is an CCM, Worship and Pop Rock track with Amerciana, folk and country elements and some acoustic elements, which has a "campfire sing-along" vibe, and this takes a cue from Rend Collective's music. It is originally in the key of D major, with a tempo of 116 beats per minute. Written in common time, Millard's vocal range spans from D3 to B4 during the song. Commercial performance
"Greater" spent 16 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian Airplay chart, and peaked at No. 2 on both the Christian Digital Songs chart and the Christian Songs chart. It also appeared on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at No. 14 and Heatseekers Songs chart at No. 21.
Music video.
The lyric video of "Greater" was published on YouTube on July 11, 2014. As of March 2019, the video has received more than 40 million views. The official music video of "Greater" was released on November 21, 2014, through YouTube.
Charts.
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Lonely Is the Night (Air Supply song)
1986 single by Air Supply
"Lonely Is the Night" is a song by Australian-British band Air Supply, released in 1986, as the lead single from their ninth studio album, "Hearts in Motion" (1986). The ballad was written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren, while John Boylan produced it. "Lonely Is the Night" was a minor success in the United States, reaching number 76 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 but found better success on the Adult Contemporary chart, reaching at number 12.
Composition and lyrics.
"Lonely Is the Night" was written by Albert Hammond with songwriter Diane Warren, while production was done by John Boylan. Lyrically, the song talks about the difficulty of dealing with a long-distance relationship. In the beginning, Russell Hitchcock sings that he thought he'd live well without his girlfriend, "Really thought that I could live without you, Really thought that I could make it on my own," he sings. However, he realizes that he's lost without the one he loves, "Now I'm so lost without you, now you're not here and now I know." In the chorus, he sings about how difficult it is to spend the night away from his love. "Lonely is the night when I'm not with you, lonely is the night ain't no light shining through, till you're in my arms till you're here by my side, lonely am I."
Release and reception.
"Lonely Is the Night" was released as the first single from Air Supply's ninth studio album, "Hearts in Motion" (1986). The song was affiliated with the grand opening of Nancy's Golden Needle store in Evansville, Indiana in the fall of 1986. The song was later included on their compilation "Ultimate Collection", released in 2000. Later, the song was included on 2002's "Best of Air Supply". In 2004, the song was included on the compilation "Platinum & Gold Collection", while in 2005, "Lonely Is the Night" was the opening song of the second disc of their compilation, "".
Finally, the song made the cut on their 2006 compilation "Collections", on their 2007 compilation "The Best of Air Supply: Ones That You Love" and on their 2009 compilation, "The Collection". While reviewing the compilation "The Collection", Jason Lymangrover of AllMusic referred to the song as "obscure."
Despite the song's popularity outside North America, the band did not include this song on their setlists on subsequent tours after their appearance at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in 1987.
Chart performance.
In the United States, "Lonely Is the Night" spent 8 weeks on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 76, in 1986. To date, "Lonely Is the Night" is both the lowest-charting single from the band as well as the band's most recent song to reach the "Billboard" Hot 100. On the Adult Contemporary chart, the song fared better, peaking at number 12, and remaining on the chart for eleven weeks.
Music video.
The song's official video, which features the duo and their band performing the song in front of a crowd, was filmed at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, during the band's United States leg of their Hearts in Motion tour. However, the brief close-up shots of their then-touring drummer Ralph Cooper were filmed at The Forum in a separate concert.
In addition to Lonely Is the Night, the music video of "One More Chance" also used the same stage design and venue.
References.
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Beat of My Heart
2005 single by Hilary Duff
"Beat of My Heart" is a song by American actress and singer Hilary Duff from her first compilation album "Most Wanted" (2005). She co-wrote the track with its producers Dead Executives, a record production team consisting of Jason Epperson, Joel and Benji Madden. Along with the three other new songs on "Most Wanted", "Beat of My Heart" was crafted with the intention of having a "totally different sound" from Duff's previous material. It is an up-tempo new wave-inspired electropop song that incorporates elements of bubblegum pop in its production. Lyrically, "Beat of My Heart" can be interpreted in many ways. For Duff, it tells the story of a woman "com[ing] out of her shell again" after a bad break-up.
Following the success of previous single, "Wake Up", "Beat of My Heart" was issued as the second international single from "Most Wanted". It was released in Australia by Festival Mushroom Records on December 11, 2005, and in several European countries on March 6, 2006, by Angel Records. The single achieved moderate commercial success, charting in four countries. Its highest position was in Italy, where it peaked at number eight. It reached the top 20 in Australia and Spain, and secured a position towards the lower end of the chart in Switzerland. Critical reception of "Beat of My Heart" was generally mixed, with some critics pointing out its repetitive and childish nature, while others commended it for its sound.
The accompanying music video for "Beat of My Heart" was directed by Phil Harder. The music video, which paid homage to Bond girls, debuted a "more mature" image of Duff. It emulates the title sequences of James Bond films from the 1960s to 2000s, high-tech 3D designs. Duff has performed "Beat of My Heart" live on all of her concert tours since its inception. A pre-recorded performance of the song was played during the 2006 edition of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve", which would later become a regular feature during future editions of the program.
Background and development.
On May 20, 2005, MTV News reported that Hilary Duff would be releasing a new album in August, comprising previously released tracks and four new recordings. The following month, in an interview with MTV News, Duff said that she had been working with brothers Joel and Benji Madden, of the American rock band Good Charlotte, and Jason Epperson (together known under the production name the Dead Executives) to write and produce new songs for the compilation. She said that " ... they're three of my favorite songs I've ever done. ... It was really fun being in the studio with them." Described by Duff as the first time when "all the responsibility was on [her]", she went into the recording studio without the guidance of her record label or management.
According to Duff, she did not tell anyone at her record label that she was working with the Dead Executives. Joel, whom Duff had been dating at the time, was aware that she needed new material for a compilation album, and knew that she wanted a "totally different sound". Together, the Dead Executives went into the recording studio and worked on new music for Duff, before bringing her into the studio to collectively work on them. Duff described working with them as pleasant, and the music as a new milestone in her career, stating that working with "people you're close with makes a world of difference when you're recording and being creative." At the same time, Duff was also nervous about how her fans would react to the new music. Duff recorded four tracks for the album, three of which were co-written and produced with the Dead Executives.
For Duff, who stated that the song can be interpreted in many ways, "Beat of My Heart" tells the story of a heterosexual relationship, in which the woman was in love with the man, but he was not "as into her as she was him". After the couple broke up, she found herself in a place where she "wasn't herself". She then "comes out of her shell again", which Duff described as: "Coming out again, dancing again, smiling again, having fun and seeing everything in a brighter light." The Dead Executives were instrumental in the instrumentation of "Beat of My Heart", performing on the bass and guitars. They also mixed and engineered the song; the latter was also conducted by Todd Parker and Grant Conway and assisted by Allan Hessler. It was mixed and recorded at the Foxy Studio in Los Angeles, California. The drums featured on the track was performed by Dean Butterworth while Monique Powell and The Fruit performed backing vocals. The song was then mastered by Joe Gastwirt.
Composition.
"Beat of My Heart" is an up-tempo new wave-inspired electropop song that incorporates elements of bubblegum pop and dance music in its production. It contains a "soft electronic pop" sound and has the heart beat sound as its base, as well as guitar strums at a "feverish pace" throughout the song. Spence D. of IGN described "Beat of My Heart" as a "glorious uninhibited slab of Euro pop as filtered through the vocal chords of a warm-blooded American girl."
"Beat of My Heart" opens with the sound of a beating heart. In the pre-chorus, Duff's vocals are made distant by the song's use of guitars and synth keyboards. She sings that she is going to follow her own interests: "To the beat of my / To the beat of my / To the beat of my heart". In the first verse, a disinterested Duff sings that she is eager to speak her mind and "yield to her every desire". In the chorus, she sings that her confidence has strained her relationships with her friends. In the second verse, she sings of being over her depression. An "angry guitar" and a "goth piano" interrupts the song in its bridge. Duff sings that she is only listening to herself from now on. According to Chuck Taylor of "Billboard" magazine, the line "beat of my heart" is repeated forty-four times in the song.
Critical response.
"Beat of My Heart" received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Pam Avoledo of Blogcritics wrote that Duff sounds like she is bored and "going through the motions" on the song. She further stated that Duff has "lost her sauciness and ironically, her spunk" in the song. Avoledo concluded her review by calling "the bland electro pop" song an "insult to the genre. It's like spilling ramen on a Vivenne Westwood evening gown." A reviewer from CBBC Newsround commented that the song is so repetitive that you will feel like "you've listened to it 20 times after just one play". The reviewer praised the heartbeat present on the track, writing that it "make it a bit of a foot-tapper", but deemed the lyrics to be "meaningless". The reviewer concluded that: "You'll find yourself humming it but will be hard pushed to remember what on earth she was singing about!" Spence D. of IGN wrote that "Beat of My Heart" does not try for subtlety as it utilizes the "much overused heartbeat" for the "foundation rhythm" of the song.
A reviewer for "Billboard" noted that the song "seems to toss her back to her Disney days". They concluded that: "Pop music is always appreciated, but this is a kiddie anthem, plain and simple [...] it is hardly a contender for contemporary radio". Bill Lamb of About.com found the song, along with "Break My Heart", to be "disappointing cookie cutter copies" of Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi". He stated that although the songs are "easy to listen", they "break no new ground". Gabriel Leong of MTV Asia stated that "Beat of My Heart" sounds "very much like" songs that Debbie Gibson, Tiffany Darwish and Bananarama would have recorded in 1980s, a direction that suits Duff "much better than the whole budding rock chick image she's been trying out."
Commercial performance.
"Beat of My Heart" was a moderate commercial success. The single managed to chart in four countries, reaching its highest position in Italy, where it peaked at number eight on the week ending on April 6, 2006, after debuting at number ten. In Australia, "Beat of My Heart" outperformed "Wake Up" by reaching number 13; it stayed on the chart for a total 14 weeks. The song gained lower positions in Spain, where it managed to peak inside the top twenty by reaching number 17; and in Switzerland, where it reached number 89. In 2006, "Beat of My Heart" was placed at number 90 on the Australian year-end singles chart, and at number 74 on the year-end Australian Physical Singles chart.
Promotion.
Music video.
The music video for "Beat of My Heart" was shot in Los Angeles, California on the week of September 26, 2005. It was directed by Phil Harder for Harder/Fuller Films. The video, which pays homage to Bond girls, contains "that hip sensibility" of James Bond films and presents a "more mature" image of Duff. A representative for Duff's record label said that: "She's always been a huge James Bond fan. She watched those movies with her sister growing up, and she loved the Bond girls, because they were always so stylish, and she's stylish." The music video was made available to purchase on the iTunes Store from November 2, 2005. It later made its on-air premiere on MTV's "Total Request Live" a week later, on November 9. The music video was also promoted during January 2006 on the Disney Channel as well.
The music video emulates the title sequences of Bond films from the 1960s to the 2000s, high-tech 3D designs. In the opening sequence, one of the graphics turns into a wire frame of a beating electronic heart, which "pulls out" with each beat. As the camera zooms, the heart grows in size and "weaves" to become Duff. According to MTV News, while she doesn't "take on" Pussy Galore, Plenty O'Toole, Holly Goodhead, or any other Bond girl, she becomes a "Bond girl in spirit", switching from era to era with different looks, with her hair blowing and flying around in graphic silhouettes. Instead of cutting from image to image, the shots evolve in a Bond-like style "as shapes take on different forms to reveal something else". Duff performs in silhouette, with a microphone, "where a gun would otherwise be". In another shot, her band is a silhouette. The edition of the video is matched to the beat of the song, "zapping the view in and out, until a lull in the song, when the view travels back into her eyes, through her skin and back to her beating heart."
Live performances.
Duff premiered "Beat of My Heart" as part of the set list of the Still Most Wanted Tour, which commenced on July 12, 2005, in Los Angeles. She performed “Beat of My Heart” at American Music Awards of 2005 on November 22, 2005. She co-hosted the 2006 edition of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve". A pre-recorded performance of "Beat of My Heart" was played during the program. The event also featured a live performance from Times Square by Mariah Carey—the first in the show's history. These live performances would become a regular feature during future editions of "New Year's Rockin' Eve". Duff performed the song as part of the set list of the Dignity World Tour (2007–2008).
Track listings.
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Credits and personnel.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of "Beat of My Heart" CD single.
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Charts.
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I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone
Song by Elvis Presley
"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" (sometimes called "You're Right, I'm Left, She's Gone") is a song written by Bill Taylor and Stan Kesler, and originally recorded by Elvis Presley for Sun Records.
Released as a single in April 1955 (with "Baby Let's Play House" on the opposite side), the song made it into the top 10 of U.S. "Billboard"'s C&W Best Sellers in Stores chart.
Composition.
The song was written by Bill Taylor and Stan Kesler, members of a Sun Records band called Snearly Ranch Boys.
Recording.
The commercial (released) version was recorded by Elvis in February–March 1955 at Sun Records' Studio in Memphis. The recording features Elvis on acoustic guitar and his regular sidemen Scotty Moore on electric guitar and Bill Black on bass. Both are credited on the record's label (as Scotty & Bill). Session drummer Jimmie Lott was "brought in" for this recording by Sam Phillips.
Description and critical analysis.
The song's lyrics deal with a heartbreak, but in a humorous way. The singer says to his friend that the friend was right in warning him that the girl would break his heart. But the singer still had to find out for himself if she was "the one" for him.
According to Susan M. Doll in her book "Understanding Elvis", the song "features a common characteristic of country music — the passive acceptance of the singer's fate and the subsequent melancholy it brings," as the person who sings the song "passively resigns himself to the fact" that his girl is gone.
Musically, it is a rockabilly ballad. Originally Elvis Presley recorded it in a blues arrangement, but the version that was released was "something of a novelty", which "was more in line with the commercial considerations of the day".
Mike Eder in his "Elvis Music FAQ" finds the recording too polished and too similar to other Elvis' songs of that time:
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In the case of "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone," the rough edges should perhaps have been left on. It's unwise to place the blame for this totally on Sam [Phillips], since Elvis did after all willingly work on the completed master. Yet it's almost uncanny how close this flip side sounded, mood-wise, to "You're a Heartbreaker" before it and "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" after. That "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" has more of a sparkle to it than the other two titles shouldn't be overlooked, but upon hearing the outtake, one can't help but feel that some of the life was ultimately polished out of it.
At about the one-minute mark, the song features Elvis' "trademark hiccup vocal break".
References.
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External links.
[[Category:1955 songs]]
[[Category:1955 singles]]
[[Category:Elvis Presley songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Stan Kesler]]