Chemical (Post Malone song)

"Chemical" is a song by American rapper and singer Post Malone. It was released through Republic and Mercury Records as the lead single from his fifth studio album, Austin, on April 14, 2023. The song was produced by Malone himself, Andrew Watt, and Louis Bell, and the three wrote it alongside Billy Walsh. One week after its release, the song appeared as the last track on Malone's first compilation album, The Diamond Collection, which was released to celebrate him becoming the artist with the most diamond-certified singles by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), although the song was not certified at the time of the album's release.

"Chemical"
Single by Post Malone
from the album Austin
ReleasedApril 14, 2023 (2023-04-14)
StudioJune Audio (Provo)
Genre
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Post Malone singles chronology
"I Like You (A Happier Song)"
(2022)		 "Chemical"
(2023)		 "Mourning"
(2023)
Music video
"Chemical" on YouTube

Background

In an early 2022 interview with Billboard ahead of the release of his fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache (2022), Malone expressed plans to rebuild his artistic vision, even if that meant to compromise commercial success.[1] "Chemical" marks his first release as a lead artist since the album.[2] On April 12, 2023, Malone posted a clip of him listening to the song on his social media and announced the release.[3]

Composition

"Chemical" is a pop rock and synth-pop song that sees Malone return to his trademark sound,[4][5] while the song is also accompanied by an acoustic "folk-based" guitar and "contemporary pop elements".[6] It includes a "bright and catchy" chorus, which was described as a "contrast" to his previous moodier offerings. Despite the upbeat vibe of the chorus, the lyrical content was viewed as "on-brand" for Malone,[7] as he opens up about his inability to let go of a seemingly toxic relationship,[6] akin to an addiction.[8]

Music video

The accompanying official music video for "Chemical", directed by Alfred Marroquin, was released on April 14, 2023.[9] It sees Malone in different locations, including him smoking in a car like he says in the song as well as him dancing in front of a beach, desert, lightning, and cloud backdrop. In the beginning of the video he briefly walks by a nighttime backdrop. The same backdrop can be seen at the very end of the video as he's seen sitting on top of a vehicle. In the beginning of the video and towards the middle of it, someone from behind the scenes can be seen pushing the backdrops, making way for a different backdrop. Malone also posted a lyric video, in which different angles are shown. The quality of the lyric video was reduced to create a retro effect.[10]

Charts
Chart performance for "Chemical"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 13
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 15
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 8
Canada AC (Billboard)[16] 26
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[17] 3
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[18] 5
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[19] 1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 16
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 44
Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 24
Global 200 (Billboard)[23] 16
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[24] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[25] 12
Italy (FIMI)[26] 93
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[27] 5
Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)[28] 3
Lithuania (AGATA)[29] 44
Luxembourg (Billboard)[30] 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 15
Norway (VG-lista)[34] 10
Portugal (AFP)[35] 52
Singapore (RIAS)[36] 30
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[37] 8
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38] 42
South Korea BGM (Circle)[39] 82
South Korea Download (Circle)[40] 108
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 21
UK Singles (OCC)[43] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[44] 13
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[45] 16
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 8
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 6
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[48] 25
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[49] 21
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[50] 96

Certifications
Certifications for "Chemical"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[51] Gold 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[52] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
"Chemical" release history
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various April 14, 2023
[3]
United States April 17, 2023
[54]
April 18, 2023
[55]

References
  1. Havens, Lyndsey (January 26, 2022). "Post Malone Is Done Compromising: The Superstar Gets Real At His Mountain Hideaway". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  2. Devin (April 13, 2023). "Post Malone Drops New Song 'Chemical'". Rap-Up. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  3. Schube, Will (April 13, 2023). "Post Malone Teases New Song 'Chemical,' Shares Release Date". uDiscover. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  4. Navjosh (April 13, 2023). "Post Malone Returns with New Single 'Chemical': Listen". HipHopNMore. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  5. Deville, Chris (July 14, 2023). "Post Malone – "Overdrive"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  6. Caraan, Sophie (April 14, 2023). "Post Malone Delivers New Single "Chemical"". Hypebeast. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  7. Rouhani, Neena (April 14, 2023). "Post Malone Switches Things Up With New Pop Single 'Chemical': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  8. Grant, Noah (April 14, 2023). "Post Malone Is Addicted To A Lover In "Chemical": Listen". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  9. Dionne, Zach (April 14, 2023). "Post Malone Releases New Song and Video "Chemical"". Complex. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  10. Kreps, Daniel (April 14, 2023). "Post Malone Drops New Single 'Chemical,' First New Music of 2023". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  12. "Post Malone – Chemical" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  13. "Post Malone – Chemical" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  14. "Post Malone – Chemical" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  15. "Post Malone Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  16. "Post Malone Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  17. "Post Malone Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  18. "Post Malone Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  19. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202332 into search. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  20. "Post Malone – Chemical". Tracklisten. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  21. "Post Malone: Chemical" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  22. "Post Malone – Chemical" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  23. "Post Malone Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  24. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  25. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  26. "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 31" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  27. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of April 26, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  28. "Latvijas radio stacijās spēlētākās dziesmas TOP 31. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  29. "2023 16-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  30. "Post Malone Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  32. "Post Malone – Chemical" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  33. "Post Malone – Chemical". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  34. "Post Malone – Chemical". VG-lista. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  35. "Post Malone – Chemical". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  36. "RIAS Top Charts Week 16 (14 - 20 Apr 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  37. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202325 into search. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  38. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202316 into search. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  39. "BGM Chart – Week 15 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  40. "Download Chart – Week 15 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  41. "Post Malone – Chemical". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  42. "Post Malone – Chemical". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  43. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  44. "Post Malone Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  45. "Post Malone Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  46. "Post Malone Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  47. "Post Malone Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  48. "Post Malone Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  49. "Post Malone Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  50. "Post Malone Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  51. "Italian single certifications – Post Malone – Chemical" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  52. "New Zealand single certifications – Post Malone – Chemical". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  53. "British single certifications – Post Malone – Chemical". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  54. "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  55. "Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.