"He Said She Said"
Single by Chvrches
from the album Screen Violence
Released19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
Genre
Length3:09
LabelGlassnote
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Chvrches
Chvrches singles chronology
"Death Stranding"
(2019)		 "He Said She Said"
(2021)		 "How Not to Drown"
(2021)
Music video
"He Said She Said" on YouTube

"He Said She Said" is a song recorded, written and produced by Scottish synthpop band Chvrches. The song was released on 19 April 2021, as the lead single of their fourth studio album, Screen Violence.[3]

Background and composition

During an interview with DIY, vocalist Lauren Mayberry revealed that the band started working on their fourth studio album in February 2020.[4] About the song writing theme of the album, Mayberry said that it was about "the marriage between the stuff that's purely personal, and the stuff that’s more imagery, and narrative."[5] The group worked on the track during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. Iain Cook worked on it from Glasgow while Mayberry and Martin Doherty worked on it from Los Angeles.[6] Mayberry noted that the song was the first track that the band wrote in the project.[7]

The track was inspired by Mayberry's experiences of sexism.[8] Mayberry described the track as her "way of reckoning with things she had accepted that she knew she shouldn't have". "Being a woman is fucking exhausting and it felt better to scream it into a pop song than scream it into the void. After the past year, I think we can all relate to feeling like we're losing our minds," she continued.[6]

Release

The band teased new music with multiple cryptic and video diary posts on Instagram throughout the previous week of the track release.[9] The track premiered on BBC Radio 1's Future Sounds with Annie Mac.[10]

Critical reception

Jem Aswad of Variety described the track as "anti-mansplaining". He further commended the synth-heavy sound also noted the solid hooks and "keening" keyboards.[11] Margaret Farrell of Flood described the song as a "perfect concoction of shimmery melodies and thorny aggravation."[1] Tina Benitez-Eves of American Songwriter called it as an "empowerment" track and stated that the track "prods some of the voices that can make a women questions her part in it all", especially in the refrain: "Feel like I'm losing my mind".[2]

Music video

The video was released on 22 April 2021. It was directed by multi-disciplinary artist Scott Kiernan. It featured glitched-out visuals of the band, also a "metaphorical" and "dramatically lit" revolving door throughout the video.[12] About the use of revolving door, Kiernan explained that it was a "metaphorical to the circular nature of a manipulative power dynamic, and the looping thoughts that go along with feeling trapped in it." He further stated that the door also represented the film developing tank which was portrayed in the video. "[The film developing tank] creates 'a picture' through agitation. That agitation can be malevolent, by some controlling, dominating force as in an abusive relationship, or it can be that of a protest – a positive force to reclaim one's agency," he continued.[13] Chvrches discovered Kiernan through his short film created for American company Moog Music and were "obsessed" with the aesthetic and story telling. They also teased Kiernan as their creative director on the upcoming album.[14]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "He Said She Said"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[15] 53
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[16] 63
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[17] 20
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 37

References

  1. 1 2 Farrell, Margaret (19 April 2021). "CHVRCHES' Latest Single "He Said She Said" Is a Synthpop Head-Banger". Flood Magazine. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 Benitez-Eves, Tina (20 April 2021). "Chvrches Return with Empowering "He Said, She Said"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Yoo, Noah (19 April 2021). "Chvrches Return With New Song "He Said She Said": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Jamieson, Sarah (28 September 2020). "Ocean's Apart: CHVRCHES". DIY. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Clarke, Patrick (28 September 2020). "Chvrches discuss recording their new album in lockdown: "It feels like we're more connected"". NME. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  6. 1 2 Martoccio, Angie (19 April 2021). "Chvrches Return With 'He Said She Said'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Fuamoli, Sose (20 April 2021). "CHVRCHES open up on new influences and 'He Said She Said'". Triple J. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Curto, Justin (19 April 2021). "Chvrches Are Back With a Huge Anti-Sexist Anthem, 'He Said She Said'". Vulture. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Lavin, Will (18 April 2021). "Chvrches announce premiere of new single 'He Said She Said'". NME. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Abeyawardene, Mia (20 April 2021). "Chvrches are back with cathartic new single 'He Said She Said'". The Forty Five. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Aswad, Jem (19 April 2021). "Chvrches Drop Anti-Mansplaining New Single, 'He Said She Said'". Variety. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Rossignol, Derrick (22 April 2021). "Chvrches Get Glitched Out In A Striking New Video For 'He Said She Said'". Uproxx. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  13. ↑ Redfern, Mark (23 April 2021). "CHVRCHES Share Video for "He Said She Said"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  14. ↑ Lavin, Will (22 April 2021). "Chvrches share powerful video for new single 'He Said She Said'". NME. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202127 into search. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Chvrches Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Chvrches Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
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