"Play Destroy" | |
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Song by Poppy featuring Grimes | |
from the album Am I a Girl? | |
Released | October 31, 2018 |
Genre | |
Length | 3:05 |
Label | Mad Decent |
Lyricist(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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"Play Destroy" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Poppy featuring Canadian musician Grimes from the former's second studio album Am I a Girl? (2018). [1]
The collaboration was first teased in a serious of pictures on both Grimes and Poppy's social media accounts. [2] Poppy revealed that Grimes followed her on Twitter and then Poppy messaged her asking for a collaboration. [3] She confirmed that they wrote a couple of songs together, the first being about 'destroying things' and the other being about 'power', referencing Grimes' single " We Appreciate Power". [4] However, following a feud between the two singers, the song featured American singer Hana instead of Poppy. [5]
Shortly after the release of Am I a Girl?, Poppy revealed that Grimes bullied her during the making of "Play Destroy" stating:
"I was kind of bullied into submission by [Grimes] and her team of self-proclaimed feminists," she says. "We planned the song coming out months ago, and she was preventing it. I got to watch her bully songwriters into signing NDA and not taking credit for songs that they were a part of. She doesn't practice what she preaches." [6]
Before Poppy's statement, a fan praised Grimes for the collaboration on Twitter and she replied with 'meh'. [7] When responding to the allegations, Grimes said "Poppy, you dragged me into a disgusting situation and won’t stop punishing me for not wanting to be a part of it. I don’t want to work with you, you leaked the song anyway. U got what you want. Let it go.” [8] [9]
"Play Destroy" is a synth-pop, industrial metal [10] and nu-metal song. [11] Following the sound of Poppy's " X" and "Am I a Girl?" Poppy refers to these songs as "Poppymetal". [12]
Anna Gaca of Spin stated "[The song] is a game, I imagine, akin to “playing doctor,” with all its attendant potential for deviant behavior and doll mutilation". [13]
Tom Breihan of Stereogum said that Poppy and Grimes "should've been making music together forever". He continued praising the song stating "Grimes and Poppy both have freaked-out, conceptual takes on bright, gleaming pop music. It’s an incredibly strange song, and it’s also kind of amazing". [14]