"Anxiety" is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion from her second studio album Traumazine (2022). It was produced by Go Grizzly.
| "Anxiety" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Megan Thee Stallion | |
| from the album Traumazine | |
| Released | August 12, 2022 |
| Length | 2:15 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Go Grizzly |
Composition
editOver a piano loop and yodeling sample,[1][2] Megan Thee Stallion addresses her struggles with mental health[3][4] (i.e. anxiety and post-traumatic stress),[5] reflects on an apology intended for her late mother and if she would have been proud of her,[4][6] and invokes the legacies of Marilyn Monroe, Britney Spears and Whitney Houston,[4] while admitting that "bad bitches have bad days too".[1][7]
Critical reception
editThe song was met with generally positive reviews from critics. Will Dukes of Rolling Stone wrote, "There's a lucid humanistic feel to the song—enhanced by loopy pianos and a wailing vocal sample—that makes it somehow feel both insular and grand, like the tragic rich people's plights in a Sophia Coppola flick. But along with Megan's gracious confessions that 'bad bitches have bad days, too,' there's some real talk about loss ('It's crazy how I say the same prayer to the Lord and always get surprised by who he take') that hits you right in the heart."[1] Emily Swingle of Clash wrote that Megan's name-dropping "only adds to the potency of her message; beneath the lavish lifestyle and media-trained visage, there's a tragic, seedier reality to infamy."[8] Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis praised the vocal sample, commenting that the song "makes it work".[2] Kiann-Sian Williams of NME described it as "feel-good in its own way", in that it is a "frank tune where Megan mixes a little bit of wit with her honesty to make you feel better about your own problems."[9] Pitchfork's Heven Haile gave a mixed review of the song, writing, "But even when she conveys emotionally raw thoughts, the tone of the production does not match the gravity of her words. The yodeling instrumental and upbeat piano distract from Meg's poignant musings about the apologies she'll never get to make to her late mother."[4] NPR's Shamira Ibrahim wrote in a review of Traumazine, "The more introspective tracks, like 'Anxiety,' perform a sort of sleight of hand, expertly using upbeat production to cover darker material".[10]
Live performances
editOn October 16, 2022, Megan Thee Stallion performed the song on Saturday Night Live, along with a medley of "NDA" and "Plan B".[11]
Charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Rap Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[12] | 12 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[13] | 18 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Dukes, Will (August 12, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion's 'Traumazine' Is A Multi-Faceted Mood". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (August 12, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion: Traumazine review – bruising brilliance from rap's reigning queen". The Guardian. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ Thomas, Fred (August 12, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion - Traumazine Albums, Reviews, Songs and More". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Haile, Heven (August 16, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion: Traumazine Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
- ^ Chang, Ailsa (August 12, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion gets vulnerable on hot sophomore album 'Traumazine'". NPR. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ Jones, Zoe (August 15, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion's Traumazine Is a Kaleidoscope of Pain and Gain". Consequence. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ Erickson, Steve (August 15, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion Traumazine Review: The Rapper Gets Real and Gets Even". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ Swingle, Emily (August 12, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion - Traumazine". Clash. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Kiann-Sian (August 15, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion – 'Traumazine' review: the good-time Houston Hottie lashes out". NME. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ Ibrahim, Shamira (August 19, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion resets her terms with 'Traumazine'". NPR. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ Peters, Mitchell (October 16, 2022). "Megan Thee Stallion Channels Beauty Pageant & Brings Out Full Rock Band on 'SNL': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2022.