Cheerleader (Porter Robinson song)
"Cheerleader" is a song recorded by the American electronic music producer Porter Robinson for his third studio album, Smile! :D (2024). An electropop and synth-pop song, its lyrics, written by Robinson, deal with parasocial relationships. "Cheerleader" was released on March 20, 2024, through Mom + Pop, as the lead single from Smile! :D. For his first solo release in two years, Robinson wanted to create something that people would enjoy "without context".[1] It was accompanied by a music video where Robinson enters a virtual reality.
| "Cheerleader" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Porter Robinson | ||||
| from the album Smile! :D | ||||
| Released | March 20, 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:57 | |||
| Label | Mom + Pop | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Porter Robinson | |||
| Producer(s) | Porter Robinson | |||
| Porter Robinson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Multiple critics highlighted the contrast between the song's melody and lyrics, further noting its influence from emo. The song peaked at number 12 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs.
Background and composition
edit"Cheerleader" was Porter Robinson's first solo release in two years. It was one of the first songs that Robinson wrote for his new musical era.[2] On writing the song, he said in a press release that he wanted to create something "that people could love with zero context – just instantaneous, universal, explosive connection".[1] The lyrics depict the convoluted, parasocial relationship between musicians and their fans, one example being the line "She's got hearts in her eyes / Saying, 'Boy, you better watch the time / Cause if you're not mine I'd rather see you burned alive".[3][4] The song features Robinson's own vocals, which Robin Murray of Clash described as "scintillating".[2]
An electropop[5] and synth-pop song,[6] multiple critics noted the contrast between its melody and lyrics.[7][8] Gillian Telling of People wrote that "Cheerleader" is "more of a pop anthem with emo undertones", contrasting with Robinson's previous works; Telling said Robinson was "reinventing his sound".[9] Similarly, Cleber Facchi of Música Instantânea felt that the song shows Robinson having a "completely distinct approach" when compared to his previous releases due to its emo sound.[10] Colin Joyce of Pitchfork said that the track resembled the emo pop of Metro Station and the post-hyperpop of Glaive and Aldn.[8] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard described it as "a synth-pop shot of adrenaline, with buzzing melodies and instrumental pile-ups that will leave you dizzy",[6] while Dan Harrison of Dork noted the song's "bouncy synths and earworm melodies".[7] Robin Murray of Clash and Liberty Dunworth of NME described it as "explosive".[2][3] Paul Simpson of AllMusic described the verses as resembling Phoenix's indie pop and the chorus as "soaring, anthemic [and] spiked with punchy breakbeats".[11]
Release and reception
edit"Cheerleader" was released on March 20, 2024, through Mom + Pop, as the lead single from Robinson's third studio album, Smile! :D.[1][7] The song was accompanied by a music video directed by Hugh Mulhern and creative-directed by Bradley & Pablo,[9][2] where Robinson enters a virtual reality.[3][1] Harrison described "Cheerleader" as a highlight from the album due to its blend of depth and accessibility.[7] Lipshutz praised that Robinson had created "the complete opposite of background noise".[6] Matthew Kim of The Line of Best Fit wrote that the song "has the most euphoric hook of the year".[12] A Clash reviewer described it as "anthemic".[13] The song peaked at number 12 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs.[14] It is also featured in the soundtrack of the video game EA Sports FC 25 (2024).[15]
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[14] | 12 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Armstrong, Megan (March 20, 2024). "Porter Robinson can't escape a squad of obsessed dolls in his 'Cheerleader' video". Uproxx. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Murray, Robin (March 21, 2024). "Porter Robinson shares pop mission statement 'Cheerleader'". Clash. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dunworth, Liberty (March 26, 2024). "Listen to Porter Robinson's explosive new single 'Cheerleader'". NME. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Partridge, Ken (March 21, 2024). "Porter Robinson examines the complexities of fan-artist relationships on new song 'Cheerleader'". Genius. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Seip, Nick (July 29, 2024). "Porter Robinson Smile! :D review: Sincere and unvarnished". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lipshutz, Jason (March 25, 2024). "Florrie's resilient 'The Lost Ones' and 4 more cool new pop songs this week". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Harrison, Dan (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Dork. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Joyce, Colin (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson: Smile! :D album review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Telling, Gillian (March 20, 2024). "EDM superstar Porter Robinson is going pop! Listen to his first single 'Cheerleader'". People. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Facchi, Cleber (March 25, 2024). "Porter Robinson abre passagem para nova fase na carreira com 'Cheerleader'" [Porter Robinson opens the way to a new phase in his career with 'Cheerleader']. Música Instantânea (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Simpson, Paul. "Smile! :D review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Kim, Matthew (July 26, 2024). "Smile! :D is Porter Robinson's most unflinching work yet". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Clash. July 29, 2024. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Porter Robinson Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "EA Sports FC 25 – official soundtrack". Electronic Arts. September 16, 2024. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.