New Americana

"New Americana" is a midtempo alternative pop[4] and electronic pop song[5] that blends electronica and pop.[6] According to the digital sheet music published by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc., the song is composed in the key of C minor with an approximate tempo of 87 BPM and a vocal range of B♭₃-C₅.[7] The track also contains an interpolation of "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume.[8] Halsey's voice is layered on the chorus, similar to Pink Floyd's hit, "Another Brick in the Wall".[9]

In an interview with Oyster, Halsey was asked "How do you deal with the frustration of your work being misunderstood?" They replied:[10]

It's so frustrating when people don't understand the satire of 'New Americana'. They think it's this insane basic pop song, but that's the point. I wrote a song critiquing pop culture and I made it sound like a huge pop song. People are writing angry think pieces about how they don't appreciate me rhyming 'legal marijuana' with 'Biggie and Nirvana'. The whole point is for it to be a buzzworthy song. I'm making fun of current pop culture. Has anyone heard the bridge? I say: 'What kind of bubble gum have you been blowing lately?' In my other songs, I'd never say something like that. But the whole point of that lyric is me saying, 'What kind of bullshit have you been talking? What kind of vapid things have you been obsessed with lately?' Honestly though, the fact people miss the point of the song is driving me fucking insane.

Halsey has since deemed the track her worst song, elaborating that she got "burnt out" on it.[11] She no longer performs the song live.

The song charted for one week at number 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 before re-entering on the chart six weeks later at number 5, and debuting on the main Hot 100 at number 97 the week following. It has been characterized by several critics, including Billboard, USA Today, and The New York Times, as a "generational anthem" for millennials.[12][13][14] Nathan Reese of Pitchfork was unconvinced by the song's lyrics, describing the song as "plasticky" and superficial where it aimed to be inspirational. He concluded reviewing the chorus, finding it "calculated, defiant, and, ultimately, hollow".[15] In June 2017, long after the release of the song, Halsey named it as her worst song released to date. She claimed she was tired of having to always revisit the song.[16]

On September 25, 2015, the official video premiered on MTV, and was posted on Halsey's Vevo and YouTube accounts shortly after. The video's dystopian setting has been compared to that of The Hunger Games series.[17][18] The music video featured a single version of "New Americana" in which included different background vocals, a short instrumental before the bridge, and different mixing.

In August 2015, Halsey performed "New Americana" at Jimmy Kimmel Live![19] and again in October 2015 at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[20]