"Lithonia" is a song by American rapper Childish Gambino. It was released as the lead single from his fifth and final studio album Bando Stone & the New World on July 2, 2024.[3] It is a guitar-driven rock song named after Lithonia, Georgia.
| "Lithonia" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Childish Gambino | ||||
| from the album Bando Stone & the New World | ||||
| Released | July 2, 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:59 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Childish Gambino singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Lithonia" on YouTube | ||||
Music video
editThe official music video for the song was directed by Jack Begert and released on July 22, 2024. The video features Gambino singing the song as the frontman of a band (featuring his long-time collaborator and the song's co-writer Ludwig Göransson on guitar and actor Alex Wolff on drums) in someone's house, and the band members and crowd members begin to pour with sweat as their eyes get more intense and bloodshot. The song is abruptly halted halfway through by a jump scare as Gambino suddenly screams when his eyes burst from his head, covering a young woman in the crowd (played by Suzanna Son) in blood; she screams and runs outside, at which point the scene cuts to her running through a forest as an eyeless Gambino chases her. Her screams can be heard in the distance as an aerial shot of the forest ends the video.[4][5]
Reception
editThe single was well-received upon release and was praised mostly for its rock-based production and Glover's vocal delivery.[6] Abby Jones of Stereogum described the song as "dramatic" and "rock-heavy".[7]
Shortly after its release, the single became part of a viral Dungeons & Dragons meme on TikTok, describing the heroic sacrifice of a comic relief character named Fartbuckle. Moises Taveras of Kotaku called the original video "epic," writing, "Gambino [...] definitely did not write a song about a goblin named Fartbuckle, but someone made a video so good that it almost feels like he did."[8] In response, Glover himself uploaded a short animation referencing the meme and the original video's pen-and-paper aesthetic.[9]
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 85 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 91 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[12] | 14 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[13] | 88 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 69 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] | 11 |
References
edit- ^ Mier, Tomás (July 2, 2024). "Childish Gambino Previews 'Bando Stone & the New World' LP With 'Lithonia'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Griffin, Marc (July 2, 2024). "Childish Gambino Returns With Lead Single, "Lithonia," From Last Album". VIBE.com. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Siroky, Mary (July 2, 2024). "Childish Gambino Unveils New Single "Lithonia": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (July 22, 2024). "Watch Childish Gambino's Intense New "Lithonia" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (July 22, 2024). "Childish Gambino's 'Lithonia' Video Ends With a Gory Twist". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (July 2, 2024). "Childish Gambino Announces Release Date for Final Album Bando Stone & the New World, Releases First Single 'Lithonia'". Variety. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Abby (July 2, 2024). "Childish Gambino – "Lithonia"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Taveras, Moises (July 30, 2024). "TikTok Has Been Mourning A Goblin Named Fartbuckle And It's As Odd As It Sounds". Kotaku. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Donald Glover on TikTok
- ^ "Childish Gambino Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Childish Gambino Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Childish Gambino Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
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