"The Loneliest" is a song by Italian rock band Måneskin, released on 7 October 2022 as the third single from their third studio album Rush! (2023).[3] It debuted at number one in Italy. The song won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.

"The Loneliest"
The official cover art for "The Loneliest". The cover features the band's four members in a grassy area underneath stormy weather
Single by Måneskin
from the album Rush!
Released7 October 2022 (2022-10-07)
Genre
Length4:07
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Måneskin singles chronology
"If I Can Dream"
(2022)
"The Loneliest"
(2022)
"Gossip"
(2023)
Music video
"The Loneliest" on YouTube

Description

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The song was written by the band members with James Abrahart, Jason Evigan, Rami Yacoub and Sarah Hudson, with production by Fabrizio Ferraguzzo, during a recording session in Los Angeles, California.[4] The frontman Damiano David talked about the meaning of the song:[5]

"The song is somewhere between a love letter and a will. I wrote it at a very difficult time in my life, when I was away from home and the people I love. The idea is: what would I want to say to these people if I were to die? It talks about feelings that everyone can relate to, and we would love to understand how different people understand the lyrics. We are happy that we were able to take some time to write a lot of new music. We chose to come out with this single because it shows a side of us that people haven't seen yet and we wanted to start our new journey from here."

Guitarist Thomas Raggi defined the process of writing the music, saying that he "experimented a lot with the guitar and pedals and I used Igmo, which allowed me to write creatively and give it color," while drummer Ethan Torchio called the production process of "The Loneliest" restorative for the band.[5]

Promotion

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On 21 September 2022, Måneskin posted on their social media accounts a video featuring a letter with cursive writing, with the focus on two words: "The Loneliest". Along with the video, the band had announced that a new single from the band was set to be released in October.[6] Two days later, the band officially announced the title of the song.[3]

Critical reception

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Italian critic Mattia Marzi of Rockol wrote that "The Loneliest" sounds "hyperclassical" like a "ballad from another time" in terms of sound and narrative structure, finding the lyrics of a "disarming simplicity"; Marzi ended the review by comparing the song with the single "Supermodel", stating that "compared to the California sound and modern rock groove of 'Supermodel', here Maneskin dredges up the airy, orchestral atmospheres of ballads like 'Torna a casa'; [. ...] major pieces of their Italian journey."[7]

Gianni Poglio of Panorama described the song's strengths, finding them in the singer's "focused and effective" performance, production and musicianship, and the guitar solo, defined as "original and melodically flawless."[8] Gabriele Scorsonelli of Il Fatto Quotidiano associated the song with Guns N' Roses' "November Rain", although he noted that "Thomas's guitar solo evokes, in a reference that definitely does not pretend to become a comparison" with the U.S. group, finding it a gesture of "admiration for the historic group."[9]

Music video

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The music video for the song, filmed in the Villa Tittoni Traversi in Desio and directed by Tommaso Ottomano, was released on 13 October 2022.[10][11]

Vogue Italia's Giacomo Aricò wrote that the video has "a strong dark component from the cinematic references typical of the Gothic style," dwelling on the sequence defined as "symbolic" where "the frontman experiences a splitting between his subconscious (where we see him drowning) and reality (where he vomits water at the funeral)."[5] Alessandra De Tommasi for Vanity Fair Italia found that "this almost Burtonian dark-tinged narrative amplifies the power of the song itself" finding the direction "splendid."[12]

Commercial success

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"The Loneliest" debuted at the top of Spotify's global weekend chart after totaling more than 4 million plays.[13] After one week, the song debuted at number 53 on the same platform's weekly global chart, marking the highest new entry with 9.5 million streams.[14]

In Italy, the song debuted at number one on the FIMI Top Singles Chart, becoming the band's second single to achieve the feat.[15]

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In September 2023, the song was used in the trailer and is the theme song for the anime Onimusha.[16][17]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "The Loneliest"
Chart (2022–2023) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 24
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 1
Canada Rock (Billboard)[21] 43
Croatia (HRT)[22] 7
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[23] 8
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 22
Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista)[25] 40
France (SNEP)[26] 11
Germany (GfK)[27] 82
Global 200 (Billboard)[28] 75
Greece International (IFPI)[29] 7
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[30] 40
Hungary (Single Top 40)[31] 28
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[32] 34
Ireland (IRMA)[33] 88
Israel (Media Forest)[34] 8
Italy (FIMI)[35] 1
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[36] 4
Latvia (EHR)[37] 16
Latvia (LAIPA)[38] 7
Lithuania (AGATA)[39] 2
Luxembourg (Billboard)[40] 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 30
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[43] 38
Norway (VG-lista)[44] 37
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[45] 7
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[46] 81
Portugal (AFP)[47] 44
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[48] 5
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[49] 29
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[50] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[51] 48
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[52] 13
Turkey (Radiomonitor Türkiye)[53] 9
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[54] 40
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[55] 41
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[56] 33
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[57] 8

Year-end charts

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2022 year-end chart performance for "The Loneliest"
Chart (2022) Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[58] 137
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[59] 145
Italy (FIMI)[60] 76
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[61] 63
2023 year-end chart performance for "The Loneliest"
Chart (2023) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[62] 53
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[63] 6
France (SNEP)[64] 33
Italy (FIMI)[65] 89
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[66] 49
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[67] 100
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[68] 35

Certifications

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Certifications for "The Loneliest"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[69] Gold 15,000
Belgium (BEA)[70] Platinum 40,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[71] 2× Platinum 80,000
France (SNEP)[72] Diamond 333,333
Hungary (MAHASZ)[73] 2× Platinum 8,000
Italy (FIMI)[74] 3× Platinum 300,000
Poland (ZPAV)[75] Platinum 50,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[76] Gold 30,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[77] Gold 10,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "L'avete sentita la ballatona dei Måneskin 'The Loneliest'?". Rolling Stone Italia. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ Chad ChildersChad Childers (7 October 2022). "Maneskin Bring Wailing Guitars, Vocal Acrobatics to Power Ballad 'The Loneliest'". Loudwire. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Holden, Finlay (23 September 2022). "Måneskin have teased that a new single, 'The Loneliest', is coming soon". Dork. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  4. ^ "L'avete sentita la ballatona dei Måneskin 'The Loneliest'? | Rolling Stone Italia" (in Italian). 7 October 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Giacomo, Aricò (4 October 2022). "Maneskin, dalla location alla pioggia finta e i vestiti di Gucci: tutti i retroscena del videoclip The Loneliest". Vogue Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Måneskin announces new single dropping in October". Q102. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  7. ^ Marzi, Mattia (7 October 2022). "Con "The loneliest" i Maneskin puntano sull'iperclassico". Rockol (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. ^ Poglio, Gianni (7 October 2022). "Maneskin, 'The Loneliest': ritorno con una ballata dark". Panorama (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  9. ^ Scorsonelli, Gabriele (10 October 2022). "Maneskin, The Loneliest parte molto bene nelle classifiche (e il videoclip fa discutere): ecco di cosa parla la canzone". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  10. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (13 October 2022). "Måneskin seduces the US with style, sass and blistering rock 'n' roll: 'It's a bit of a dream'". USA Today. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  11. ^ Marchetti, Simona (14 October 2022). "Maneskin, Damiano rivela: "Nel video di The Loneliest pensavo di morire davvero"". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ^ De Tommasi, Alessandra (13 October 2022). "Måneskin, Damiano: "Nel video di The Loneliest pensavo di morire (annegato)"". Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  13. ^ Marzi, Mattia (10 October 2022). "Maneskin, come sta andando nel mondo la nuova "The loneliest"?". Rockol (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Maneskin, The Loneliest nuovo brano più ascoltato al mondo". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 8 October 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Classifiche di vendita FIMI settimana 41: thasup, ancora primo, ferma il debutto di Marco Mengoni. Måneskin in vetta tra i singoli!". All Music Italia (in Italian). 14 October 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Onimusha is coming". X (Twitter). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  17. ^ "#ONIMUSHA wouldn't be complete without a wicked theme song, and "THE LONELIEST" performed by Måneskin totally crushed it!". X (Twitter). 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Maneskin Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  22. ^ "HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1052 - Issue Date: November 7th 2022" (PDF). Hrvatska Radiotelevizija. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  23. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 5. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  24. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Måneskin: The Loneliest" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Top Singles (Week 6, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  28. ^ "Maneskin Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  29. ^ "IFPI Charts WK 41/2022". ifpi.gr. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  32. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  33. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Media Forest charts WK 3 (15.01.2023 - 21.01.2023)". Media Forest. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  35. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas: October 19, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  37. ^ "EHR TOP 40 - 03.03.2023". Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  38. ^ "Arī Latvijas straumēšanas topu ietekmē hokeja notikumi" (in Latvian). TVNET. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  39. ^ "2022 41-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Billboard Luxembourg Songs: Week of March 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  41. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 04, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  42. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  43. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  44. ^ "Singel 2022 uke 41". VG-lista. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  45. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 21.01.2023–27.01.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  46. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 20.01.2023–26.01.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  47. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  48. ^ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 11/12/2022" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 11 December 2022. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  49. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 7. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  50. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  51. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 41". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  52. ^ "Måneskin – The Loneliest". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  53. ^ @RadiomonitorTR (6 January 2023). "Radiomonitor Türkiye Uluslararası Listesi Dinlenme Adedi bazında – 1. Hafta Top10" [Radiomonitor Turkey International Chart based on number of listens – Week 1 Top 10] (Tweet). Retrieved 4 September 2024 – via Twitter.
  54. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  55. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  56. ^ "Maneskin Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  57. ^ "Maneskin Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  58. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  59. ^ "Rapports annuels 2022" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  60. ^ "Top of the Music 2022: Un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  61. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  62. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  63. ^ "Rapports annuels 2023" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  64. ^ "Top de l'année – Top Singles – 2023" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  65. ^ "Classifica annuale 2023 (dal 30.12.2022 al 28.12.2023)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  66. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  67. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  68. ^ "Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  69. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  70. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2023". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  71. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  72. ^ "French single certifications – Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  73. ^ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2024" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  74. ^ "Italian single certifications – Måneskin – The Loneliest" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  75. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter The Loneliest in the search box.
  76. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Måneskin – The Loneliest". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  77. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Loneliest')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2023.