Victoria's Secret (song)

"Victoria's Secret" is a song by American singer-songwriter Jax. It was written by Jax with Mark Nilan and Dan Henig and produced by Jesse Siebenberg and Nilan. It was released in June 30, 2022 to all streaming platforms, after being previously teased on TikTok and performed at Governors Ball Music Festival earlier that month. The song charted internationally and was included on her debut studio album, Dear Joe, (2024).

"Victoria's Secret"
Single by Jax
from the album Dear Joe,
ReleasedJune 30, 2022 (2022-06-30)
GenrePop-punk[1]
Length2:56
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jesse Siebenberg
  • Mark Nilan
Jax singles chronology
"U Love U"
(2022)
"Victoria's Secret"
(2022)
"Cinderella Snapped"
(2023)
Lyric video
"Victoria's Secret" on YouTube

Background

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On June 8, Jax posted a video to social media in which she played a snippet of a new song she had written for a child she was babysitting:

Yesterday, I picked her up from the mall, because she was going to her first boy-girl pool party. Her and her friends went bikini shopping at Victoria's Secret. She literally got in the car, hysterically crying to me, because this one little brat said something to her that made me cringe. So, I wrote a song for her, because when I was her age, I had a lot of eating problems, and I wish someone would have said these things to me.[2]

Jax also further claimed that her intention was not to single out a specific brand, but rather to highlight the overarching conversation that needed to take place about the beauty and fashion industries.[3]

Furthermore, the song coincided with a Hulu television documentary titled Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons that premiered on July 14, 2022. Jax stated that the timing of the release was simply a "crazy coincidence".[4]

On August 18, 2022, Jax performed the song on Today.[5]

Composition

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In it, Jax calls out Victoria's Secret and its former CEO, billionaire Leslie Wexner for profiting off women's insecurities and contributing to their negative body image, singing "I know Victoria's secret/And girl, you wouldn't believe/She's an old man who lives in Ohio/Making money off of girls like me/Cashing in on body issues/Selling skin and bones with big boobs".[6]

Chart performance

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For the week ending August 6, 2022, "Victoria's Secret" debuted at number ten on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 before debuting at number 83 on the Hot 100 the following week, later rising to a peak of 35.[7] The song also peaked at number 69 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart,[8] 46 on the Canadian Hot 100,[9] 25 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart,[10] 41 on the UK Singles Chart,[11] and 109 on the Global 200.[12]

Reception

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The song has been praised by celebrities such as Jamie Otis, Rosie O'Donnell and Howie Mandel.[4] On August 11, 2022, Amy Hauk, CEO of Victoria's Secret, posted a statement to the company's Instagram account, claiming that the song resonated with her and that the company had "no excuses for the past" and that she was "committed to building a community where everyone feels seen and respected".[13] Upon seeing the post, Jax posted a video to TikTok replying that her intention was never to "take down a brand".[14][15]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Victoria's Secret"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[28] Gold 40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Neier, Hanna (September 15, 2022). ""Victoria's Secret" Singer Jax on How a Babysitting Gig Helped Catapult Her to Chart-Topper". POPSUGAR Entertainment UK.
  2. ^ "I wrote a song for the kid I babysit called Victoria's Secret". June 8, 2022. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Roberts, Andrew. "'American Idol' Alum's Victoria's Secret TikTok Song Draws Response From CEO". PopCulture.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Angermiller, Michele (August 9, 2022). "TikTok Artist Jax Calls Out Victoria's Secret for 'Making Money Off of Girls Like Me' in Hot 100-Charting Single". Variety. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "TikTok star Jax performs 'Victoria's Secret' on TODAY". Today. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  6. ^ King, Ashley (August 18, 2022). "Jax Draws Millions of TikTok Views While Responding to Victoria's Secret CEO". Digital Music News. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Jax Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1695. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 29, 2022. p. 4.
  9. ^ a b "Jax Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Hot 40 Singles". The Official NZ Music Charts. August 8, 2022. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Jax Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Wetzel, Jacalyn. "Victoria's Secret responds to viral song that's critical of how it caters to body stereotypes". Upworthy. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Aniftos, Rania. "Jax Responds to Victoria's Secret CEO's Letter About Viral Song, Calls on Fans to Share Their Experiences". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Gunn, Tamantha (August 15, 2022). "Jax Responds After Victoria's Secret CEO Issues Letter Regarding Her Viral Song About the Lingerie Brand". E! News. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  16. ^ "Jax Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Jax Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  19. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 35". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  20. ^ "Jax Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  21. ^ "Jax Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Jax Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  23. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "Digital Song Sales – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  26. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  27. ^ "Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  28. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Jax – Victoria's Secret". Music Canada. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  29. ^ "British single certifications – Jax – Victoria's Secret". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  30. ^ "American single certifications – Jax – Victoria's Secret". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 7, 2022.