"Love Race" is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly featuring fellow American musician Kellin Quinn of the band Sleeping with Sirens, released through Bad Boy and Interscope on April 29, 2021. In collaboration with frequent collaborator Travis Barker, "Love Race" was later included on the European and Japanese editions of Kelly's sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout (2022).

"Love Race"
Single by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Kellin Quinn
ReleasedApril 29, 2021 (2021-04-29)
Recorded2021
GenrePop-punk[1][2][3]
Length3:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Travis Barker
  • Jared Gutstadt
  • Jeff Peters
Machine Gun Kelly singles chronology
"DayWalker"
(2021)
"Love Race"
(2021)
"Papercuts"
(2021)
Kellin Quinn singles chronology
"Wrong"
(2021)
"Love Race"
(2021)
Music video
"Love Race" on YouTube

Background and recording

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The song was released on April 29, 2021.[4] The song features drumming by Travis Barker, who had previously drummed on Kelly's 2020 pop punk album Tickets to My Downfall. Barker also provided production on the track,[5] while Jared Gutstadt and Jeff Peters of Audio Chateau helped write the song.[6] The song also received an unexplained writing credit to Matthew Thiessen of the rock band Relient K.[6] The song features vocals from Kellin Quinn of the rock band Sleeping with Sirens.[7] The song was the third collaboration between Kelly and Quinn, the prior being a remix of Rise Against's single "Swing Life Away".[5] Kelly noted that he improvised his lyrics for the song and had his parts done in five minutes.

Themes and composition

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Publications generally described the song as pop punk and similar in nature to the material found in Kelly's Tickets to My Downfall (2020) album.[1][2] Guitar World described the song as having a "syncopated, reverb-heavy guitar line" in the song's verses that eventually builds into chorus of powerchord guitars and vocal hooks.[1] The song features alternating lower pitched hoarse vocals by Kelly, and higher pitched vocals by Quinn, with the song's second half containing segments of them singing concurrently.[8]

Reception

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Both Billboard and Guitar World publications highlighted the song as a standout single release in its release week.[2][3] Exclaim! noted that Baker's voice was less grating next to Quinn's voice, but noted that "the whole thing goes down surprisingly smooth".[9]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[10]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b c April 2021, Sam Roche 29. "Machine Gun Kelly recruits Kellin Quinn and Travis Barker for infectious new single, Love Race". Guitar World.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c Astley-Brown, Michael; Maxwell, Jackson; Owen, Matt; April 2021, Sam Roche 29. "From funky wah workouts to pop-punk reinventions: here are this week's essential guitar tracks". guitarworld.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "First Stream: New Music From Billie Eilish, DJ Khaled, The Kid LAROI & Miley Cyrus and More". www.billboard.com. April 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Listen to Machine Gun Kelly's fierce new track 'Love Race'". April 29, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Machine Gun Kelly Surprises With Brand New Song "Love Race" Featuring Kellin Quinn". Music Mayhem Magazine. April 29, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Machine Gun Kelly Drops New Song "Love Race" f/ Travis Barker and Kellin Quinn". Complex.
  7. ^ Shaffer, Claire (April 29, 2021). "Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker Team Up for 'Love Race'".
  8. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Taps Travis Barker + Kellin Quinn on New Song". Loudwire.
  9. ^ Hughes, Josiah (May 26, 2021). "The New Machine Gun Kelly Video Is Literally Campy". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "Love Race". Tidal. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 10 May 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1627. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 10, 2021. p. 4.
  12. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly feat. Kellin Quinn – Love Race" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  13. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 18. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  16. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  18. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  21. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  23. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  24. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
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