"Lucky" is a song by the American singer Halsey. It was released by Columbia Records on July 26, 2024, as the lead single from the singer's upcoming fifth studio album.
| "Lucky" | ||||
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| Single by Halsey | ||||
| Released | July 26, 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:19 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Halsey singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Lucky" on YouTube | ||||
Background and release
editWhen I was five, it always felt like Britney was singing directly to me. 24 years later, these words hit different. love you forever.
In 2017 the Halsey cited "old Britney" as an inspiration for her song "Walls Could Talk".[2] In 2021, the singer shared a tweet in support of Spears, as she battled her conservatorship.[2]
From June 30, Halsey started teasing a new single with videos of her "pretending to be a Disney Channel star, posing for an imaginary tabloid at a gas station, and sipping strawberry milk for a fake Got Milk? advertisement".[2] On July 1, 2024, the singer shared a snippet of the track and revealed that it borrows melody from Britney Spears' 2000 single, "Lucky".[3] On July 17, Halsey revealed that "Lucky" would be released on July 26. She also unveiled the song's cover art, depicting a "blurry, pink close-up of [her] face, featuring Y2K-inspired sparkles".[4] On July 18, Halsey revealed that she got Spears' "blessing" to interpolate her 2000 single of the same name.[5] The singer also wrote that the music video director is "gonna make everyone flip out".[6]
Composition
editHalsey wrote "Lucky" with its producer Michael Uzowuru. The track interpolates Britney Spears' 2000 single of the same name in the chorus and Monica's 1997 song "Angel of Mine" in the production.[7] Ilana Kaplan of People described the track as a "pop-meet-R&B-tinged single".[7]
Lyrically, the song details the singer's "relationship with fame, public commentary on their health and becoming a single mom".[7] In the track, Halsey also adresses the criticism of her appearance: "And why she losin' so much weight/ I heard it's from the drugs she ate/ And I feel her but I can't relate/ Because I'd never end up in that state".[7]
Music video
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The music video for "Lucky", written by Halsey and directed by Gia Coppola, premiered on YouTube on July 26, 2024.[7] Simon Rex, an American actor, stars as the singer's love interest.[7] The "Y2K-themed" visual depicts "a young girl who appears to be a fan of Halsey" and the singer with bright pink hair "grappling with the effects of young stardom". The little girl idolizes Halsey by "learning the dance moves and applying make-up in the mirror" to escape her "tense home life".[8] Despite their celebrity status, Halsey seems to experience the same loneliness as her fan.[7] The next scenes feature the singer "becom[ing] overwhelmed by the fame, argu[ing] in a hotel room with her boyfriend and reveal[ing] their shaved head beneath her wig before getting treatment for their illness".[7] The visual ends with Halsey "symbolically" sitting on a swing set next to the young fan, who is "unaware of the full story".[9] The video also pays homage to Britney Spears' music videos for "Lucky" and "Toxic".
Spears's response
editFollowing the release of the "Lucky" music video, Britney Spears initially posted a critical message on social media, expressing her displeasure with the video. Spears felt that it misrepresented her experiences and stated she was "upset" about the depiction.[10] However, Spears deleted the post shortly after and clarified that her reaction was taken out of context and labeled the initial reports as "fake news".[11] Halsey responded by expressing her admiration for Spears and reiterated that the music video was meant to be a tribute to Spears's influence and legacy.[12]
Credits and personnel
editPersonnel
- Halsey – vocals
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | July 26, 2024 | Digital download, streaming | Columbia |
References
edit- ^ Garcia, Thania (July 18, 2024). "Halsey Says She Received Britney Spears' 'Blessing' to Sample 'Lucky' for Her New Single". Variety. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c Mier, Tomas (July 1, 2024). "Halsey to Sample Britney Spears' 'Lucky' on New Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (July 1, 2024). "Halsey Teases New Song That Interpolates Britney Spears' 'Lucky': 'These Words Hit Different'". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (July 17, 2024). "Halsey's 'Lucky' Officially Has a Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Dailey, Hannah (July 18, 2024). "Halsey Confirms She Got Britney Spears' 'Blessing' Before Sampling 'Lucky'". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ Duran, Anagricel (July 19, 2024). "Halsey says new album is "all over the place" and "full of experimentation"". NME. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kaplan, Ilana (July 26, 2024). "Halsey Shares Britney Spears-Interpolated Single 'Lucky' with Y2K-Inspired Gia Coppola-Directed Music Video — Watch!". People. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (July 26, 2024). "Halsey Is So 'Lucky' on Honest, Y2K-Referencing New Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (July 26, 2024). "Britney Spears Deletes Post Saying She's 'Upset' About Halsey's 'Lucky' Video: 'Fake News'". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (July 26, 2024). "Britney Spears Deletes Post Saying She's 'Upset' About Halsey's 'Lucky' Video: 'Fake News'". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Dailey, Hannah (July 26, 2024). "Britney Spears Deletes Post Saying She's 'Upset' About Halsey's 'Lucky' Video: 'Fake News'". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Kaplan, Ilana (July 26, 2024). "Britney Spears Deletes Post Saying She's 'Upset' About Halsey's 'Lucky' Video: 'Fake News'". People. Retrieved July 27, 2024.