"Escapism"
Single by Raye featuring 070 Shake
from the album My 21st Century Blues
Released12 October 2022 (2022-10-12)
Genre
Length4:32
LabelHuman Re Sources
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Sabath
Raye singles chronology
"Black Mascara"
(2022)		 "Escapism" / "The Thrill Is Gone"
(2022)		 "Ice Cream Man"
(2023)
070 Shake singles chronology
"Danielle (Smile on My Face)"
(2022)		 "Escapism"
(2022)
Music video
"Escapism" on YouTube

"Escapism" is a song by British singer and songwriter Raye featuring American rapper 070 Shake. It was released independently on 12 October 2022 as the third single from her debut album My 21st Century Blues (2023) as a double A-side with "The Thrill Is Gone".[4][5] It was co-written by Raye, 070 Shake and Mike Sabath, with Sabath handling production. "Escapism" is an uptempo R&B, electropop and hip hop song with lyrics speaking of escaping from reality and dealing with heartbreak.

"Escapism" is considered as Raye's breakout single as a solo artist. It gained attraction on TikTok in 2022 and became her first number-one single in the UK and has been certified platinum by the BPI. It also topped the charts in Ireland, and Denmark and entered the top ten of the charts in twenty four countries, and has been certified gold, platinum or higher in over twelfth regions. It also became both Raye's and 070 Shake's first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 22.

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Raye and Otis Dominique, depicts the singer turning to "partying, drinking and drugs to escape her emotions and numb her feelings" after breaking up with her boyfriend. Raye has performed the song live on Later with Jools Holland and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It won "Best Social Trended Song" at the Global Awards, "Best Contemporary Song" at the Ivor Novello Awards, and was nominated for "Best Independent Track" and "Best Independent Video" at the AIM Independent Music Awards. It received a nomination for "Best British Pop Single" at the Popjustice £20 Music Award Show.

Composition and lyrics

"Escapism" incorporates trip hop in its production.[6] Raye stated that she "love[s] how rebellious" "Escapism" is for disregarding "the standard" of "pop music structure", particularly being "longer than three minutes and twenty seconds".[5]

The song depicts Raye in a post-breakup spree of unhealthy coping mechanisms, engaging in hookups, drugs, and alcohol.[7] Raye explained that the song is about escaping from reality and dealing with heartbreak.[6][8] In an interview with Clash, Raye revealed that she wrote the song in a log cabin in Utah: "Me and a friend hired a car, and drove up there, in the middle of winter, through the snow and everything! 'Escapism' is a story about running away from everything as fast as you can. The lyrics are about just leaving everyone on read, and going out on your own. It came from a messy time, but as humans, we just have to keep surviving!"[9]

The song is written in the key of E minor with a key change to C minor and a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[10]

Critical reception

Amit Vaidya of Rolling Stone India named "Escapism" one of the Best International Songs of 2022. They added how "Escapism" showcases Raye's "journey to achieving her musical freedom", and how "Escapism" "perfectly captures the angst and the aura of the singer – a vocal shape-shifter who now is the boss and we just love it!"[11]

"Escapism" won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song at The Ivors in London on Thursday 18th May 2023.[12]

Year-end lists

Critics' rankings of "Escapism"
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard Best Songs of 2023
20
Harpsichord Zine Best Songs of 2023 1 [14]

Commercial performance

After going viral on TikTok, "Escapism" charted on the UK Singles Chart at number 31 on 25 November 2022, which marked 070 Shake's first entry on the chart.[15] The feat marked the singer's first charting solo single since Raye became an independent artist in 2021. The following week, the song ascended to number six, becoming Raye's first single as a solo artist to reach the top ten in the UK.[5] On 9 December, "Escapism" climbed to number two, becoming Raye's highest-charting single to date, passing her collaborations "You Don't Know Me" with Jax Jones (2016) and "Bed" with Joel Corry and David Guetta (2021).[15] Following the Christmas period, "Escapism" ascended to number one on the UK Singles Chart in January 2023, marking both Raye and 070 Shake's first chart-topping single of their careers.[16]

In the United States, "Escapism" became both artists' first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 22.[17] In Canada, "Escapism" became Raye's first charting single as a lead artist of her career on the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number nine on the chart dated 21 January 2023.[18]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on 9 November 2022,[7] directed by Raye and Otis Dominique. It reflects the song's lyrics, with Raye turning to "partying, drinking and drugs to escape her emotions and numb her feelings" after breaking up with her boyfriend. The video makes use of point-of-view cameras.[7] In an interview with Shots, Raye mentioned "we worked really hard to create an honest depiction of where I was at that time in my life. It was fun and wild. We shot it over a couple of days and wore point-of-view cameras during a wild night out at many different clubs. I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and I ran 150 meters in 5-inch heels. We really took it there!"[19]

Live performances

On 15 October 2022, Raye performed "Escapism" live for the first time on Later with Jools Holland.[20] In December 2022, the singer released a live performance recorded at Metropolis Studios in London.[21] On 13 February 2023, Raye made her US network television debut performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[22] On 26 September 2023, Raye performed a live version of "Escapism" at the Royal Albert Hall, London accompanied by the Heritage Orchestra and the Flames Collective gospel choir with Anna Lapwood on the venue's organ.[23][24]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Escapism"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[89] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[90] Platinum 30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[91] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[92] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[93] Gold 100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[94] Gold 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[95] Platinum 30,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[96] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[97] 2× Platinum 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[98] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[99] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[100] Platinum 1,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[101] 2× Platinum 4,000,000†
Sweden (GLF)[102] Gold 4,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Escapism"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various 12 October 2022 Original Human Re Sources [103]
25 November 2022 Sped up [104]
30 November 2022 Live at Metropolis [105]
7 December 2022 Slowed down [106]
United States 9 January 2023 Original
[107]

References

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  2. ↑ Griffiths, George (4 January 2023). "Raye on Escapism.'s rise on the Official Singles Chart and the possibility of her first Number 1: "This is proof, let your artists decide what's best for them"". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Notion Now: Hope Tala, Stormzy & The 1975". Notion. 14 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
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  6. 1 2 Magnocavallo, Fabio (17 October 2022). "Raye". Euphoria. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
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