Kill Em With Kindness is a song recorded by American pop singer Selena Gomez, for her sophomore album as a single artist, Revival. The song is about using peaceful actions and through peace fight and overcome our everyday obstacles and limitations.
Audio[]
Spotify[]
Spotify (Remixes)[]
Youtube[]
Youtube (Acoustic Version)[]
Critical reception[]
Tim Sendra of AllMusic picked it as a highlight from the album, remarking that "Gomez sounds most at home."[1] Elysa Gardner of USA Today selected it one of the tracks to download and named it a "groove-driven, electro-savvy track."[2] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine noted that though it "lack of originality," the song is yet a standout.[3] James Reed of Boston Globe called it a "dance-floor catnip,"[4] while Dave Hanratty of Drowned In Sound named it a "laser-focused sugar rush," adding that "Gomez succeeds in laying down a winning pop gauntlet."[5] Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times noted that "what’s remarkable is how steadied she seems by such a facile conviction."[6] Katharine St. Asaph of Time labelled it "au corant", which according to him "stirs a tropical-house breeze not dissimilar from Justin Bieber's recent 'What Do You Mean?'."[7] Jia Tolentino of Spin wrote that the track works for addressing the viewing public, calling it a "hustling little posi-heater."[8] Lindsay Haddox of Music Times was positive, calling it "a very simple song but it's very catchy and fun. [...] [I]t's upbeat and has a fun chorus that makes you just want to dance, which is something the radio is full of these days. Another plus, it sends such a positive message out so that would be nice to see playing on the radio."[9] Mike Wass of Idolator referred to it as a "triple threat’s measured missive to haters," noting that the message "is a powerful stance in the age of online-bullying, Twitter beefs and messy open letters."[10]
Music video[]
The music video was released on Vevo on June 6, 2016. It was directed by Emil Nava and shot in black-and-white.[11] It starts with the singer in a photoshoot set,[12] "wearing a slinky, satin slip with a drape-y robe falling off of her shoulders as she smolders on a stool in front of a gray backdrop."[13] The scenes are intercepted with "dramatic shots of bullets and blood-dripped flowers flash across the frame."[11] The video also features several dancers performing interpretive moves,[12] and later "Gomez begins to shed layers of her clothing, at one point wearing just a corset and underwear."[13]
Billboard Staff called it "artful",[14] while Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone named it "dramatic".[11] Gabriella Salking of V went on to call it "intimate and sultry."[12] Some critics compared the video to hair commercials.[15][16]
The video surpassed 100 million views after only 40 days from its release, making it Gomez's fastest video to do so.
Gallery[]
Behind the scenes[]
Credits and personnel[]
- Recording
- Recorded at Rock Mafia Studios, Los Angeles, California
- Mixed at Mixstar Studios, Virginia Beach
- Personnel
|
|
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[17]
Live performances[]
- Gomez performed the song as part of her setlist at Jingle Ball Tour 2015. "Kill Em with Kindness" is included on the encore of her Revival Tour.
- In July 2016, Gomez appeared in an advertisement for American telecommunications company Verizon, entitled "Play It Again". The advertisement features Gomez dancing around a fan, who is using his data to stream "Kill Em with Kindness". She follows him around throughout the day, including inside a locker room, walking down the street, in a laundromat and in a diner. Every time the song ends, Gomez tells him to "play it again".
- An acoustic version of "Kill Em with Kindness" appears on the soundtrack to Gomez's Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (2017).
Charts[]
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 33 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 32 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders) | 20 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia) | 2 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 14 |
| Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100) | 16 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 13 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 34 |
| France (SNEP) | 149 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 39 |
| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) | 7 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 23 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 25 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 37 |
| Latvia (Latvijas Top 40) | 19 |
| Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20) | 13 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 36 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 28 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 33 |
| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) | 10 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 27 |
| Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) | 49 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 16 |
| Scotland (Official Charts Company) | 23 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 38 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 18 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 35 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 39 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 15 |
Lyrics[]
The world can be a nasty place
You know it, I know it, yeah
We don't have to fall from grace
Put down the weapons you fight with
And kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em, kill 'em, kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead now
We're running out of time
Chasing the lies
Every day a small piece of you dies
Always somebody
You're willing to fight, to be right
Your lies are bullets
Your mouth's a gun
And no war in anger
Was ever won
Put out the fire before igniting
Next time you're fighting
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em, kill 'em, kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead now
Go ahead, go ahead now
Go ahead, go ahead now
Your lies are bullets
Your mouth's a gun
And no war in anger
Was ever won
Put out the fire before igniting
Next time you're fighting
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em, kill 'em, kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Kill 'em with kindness
Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead now
Go ahead, go ahead now
Go ahead, go ahead now
Go ahead, go ahead now
References[]
- ↑ Sendra, Tim. "Revival – Selena Gomez – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". All Media Network. http://www.allmusic.com/album/revival-mw0002877757. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ↑ Gardner, Elysa (October 9, 2015). "Album of the week: A cooler, groovier, Selena Gomez emerges on 'Revival.'". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/10/09/album-of-the-week-selena-gomez-revival/73476420/. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedslant - ↑ Reed, James (October 9, 2015). "Selena Gomez takes the reins on ‘Revival’". Boston Globe. http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/10/08/album-review-selena-gomez-revival/U1bO3Hl0ynHluIQnCvp9vN/story.html. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ↑ Hanratty, Dave (October 15, 2016). "Album Review: Selena Gomez – Revival / Releases / Drowned In Sound". Drowned In Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19064/reviews/4149483. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedlatimes - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedtimereview - ↑ Tolentino, Jia (October 13, 2015). "Review: Selena Gomez Is Center Stage at Last on ‘Revival’". Spin. http://www.spin.com/2015/10/review-selena-gomez-revival/. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ↑ Haddox, Lindsay (October 12, 2015). "Selena Gomez 'Revival' Album Review: Junk Mail". Music Times. http://www.musictimes.com/articles/50592/20151012/selena-gomez-revival-album-review-junk-mail.htm. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedidolatorreview - ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Reed, Ryan (June 6, 2016). "Selena Gomez Goes Vogue in 'Kill Em With Kindness' Video". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/selena-gomez-goes-vogue-on-kill-em-with-kindness-video-20160606. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Salkin, Gabriella (June 7, 2016). "Watch Selena Gomez "Kill Em With Kindness" In New Video". V. http://vmagazine.com/article/selena-gomez-kill-em-music-video/. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 AOL.com Editors (June 6, 2016). "Selena Gomez debuts music video for 'Kill Em With Kindness'". http://www.aol.com/article/2016/06/06/selena-gomez-kill-em-with-kindness-music-video/21390349/. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ Billboard Staff (June 6, 2016). "Watch Selena Gomez's New Black and White Video for 'Kill Em With Kindness'". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7393655/selena-gomez-kill-em-with-kindness-video-watch. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ Warwick, Charlotte (June 7, 2016). "Selena Gomez Looks Like An Actual Victoria’s Secret Model In Her Amazing Kill Em With Kindness Music Video". MTV UK. http://www.mtv.co.uk/selena-gomez/news/selena-gomez-kill-em-with-kindness-music-video. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ↑ Morris, Jessie (June 6, 2016). "Selena Gomez Debuts Stark and Sexy Video for "Kill Em With Kindness"". Complex. http://www.complex.com/music/2016/06/selena-gomez-kill-em-with-kindness-video. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ↑ Template:Cite AV media notes
| Revival | |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2015 • Interscope Records | |
| Songs | |
| Released | Body Heat • Camouflage • Cologne • Good for You • Hands To Myself • Kill Em With Kindness • Me & My Girls • Me & The Rhythm • Nobody • Outta My Hands (Loco) • Perfect • Revival • Rise • Same Old Love • Sober • Survivors |
| Unreleased | Expressing Myself • Girl Crush • Great Escape • Nasty • Out Of My Head • Unfamiliar • Unstoppable • Wild Love • Hope For Love |
| Artists | |
| ASAP Rocky • Selena Gomez | |
| Tour | |
| Revival Tour | |