DayWalker (song)

"DayWalker"
Single by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Corpse Husband
ReleasedMarch 12, 2021 (2021-03-12)
Genre
Length2:17
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Colson Baker
  • Corpse Husband
Producer(s)
  • Machine Gun Kelly
  • BazeXX
  • SlimXX
Machine Gun Kelly singles chronology
"Acting Like That"
(2020) 		"DayWalker"
(2021) 		"Love Race"
(2021)
Corpse Husband singles chronology
"Agoraphobic"
(2020) 		"DayWalker"
(2021) 		"Hot Demon Bitches Near U!!!"
(2021)
Music video
"DayWalker" on YouTube

"DayWalker" (stylized as "DAYWALKER!") is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly featuring fellow American musician and YouTuber Corpse Husband that was released on March 12, 2021. It is a trap metal and techno-punk song produced by Kelly, BazeXX, and SlimXX with additional writing credit by Corpse Husband. Music video co-directed by Kelly and Sam Cahill was published on March 18, and it features Kelly fighting with another man and Valkyrae portraying Corpse Husband. The song garnered commendable success despite being censored on several platforms & playlisting, charting at number 53 in the UK, and 88 in the US, becoming Corpse's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background and composition

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In December 2020, Corpse Husband offhandedly announced the collaboration on Twitter, writing "song w/ MGK is so crazy".[1] On March 9, 2021, Corpse confirmed the song's release on March 12, and showcased its cover art and title.[2][3] "DayWalker" was written by Corpse Husband, Machine Gun Kelly, Stephen Basil, and Brandon Allen, when the latter three produced the track.[4] The song has been described by critics as techno-punk and trap metal.[5][6] It is a revenge song containing horrorcore elements that spans for two minutes and seventeen seconds.[5] In the song, both acts detail how they will violently get revenge on those who have done them wrong.[7] Corpse uses menacing vocals on his verse.[5]

Reception

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Writing for Rolling Stone Althea Legaspi called "DayWalker" verses "vampiric" and "bloodthirsty".[7] Gil Kaufman of Billboard described Corpse's vocals as "rumbling" and "rage whispering".[5]

In the United States, "DayWalker" debuted at number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 on week ending March 27, 2021, becoming Kelly's twelfth and Corpse's first ever entry on the chart.[8] It also debuted at number nine on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, becoming Kelly's eighth top-ten single on the chart, and Corpse's first.[9] It peaked at number eight next week.[10] In Canada it became Kelly's seventeenth entry, while being Corpse's first, charting at number 62, and spending two weeks on the chart.[11] It also debuted at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Kelly's sixth entry on the chart, and Corpse's second, charting for three weeks.[12] The track also peaked at number 19 in Hungary,[13] 70 in Ireland,[14] and at number 170 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.[15]

Music video

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American YouTuber and streamer Valkyrae portrays Corpse in the music video.

Background and production

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A music video for the song was released on March 18, 2021. It stars Machine Gun Kelly while Corpse is portrayed by his friend and frequent collaborator, American Internet personality Valkyrae.[citation needed] It was also directed by Colson Baker and Sam Cahill.[16] Prior to the video's release, Rae published many tweets linking her involvement in it. On the day of the video's release, she published a behind the scenes video on her YouTube channel, where she confirmed that Machine Gun Kelly himself wanted her to portray Corpse.[citation needed]

Synopsis and reception

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The music video is divided into six acts. First one starts out with Kelly brawling with a man. Next one depicts him in a police station's interrogation room, where he bangs a table in frustration. In the third act, Valkyrae appears in a latex suit, where she lip syncs Corpse Husband's lyrics. Fourth act depicts the song's chorus, where she spits clouds of blood on a white wall. The fifth act shows blood flowing down from a hand. The sixth and final act features close-ups to both performers' faces, with Kelly having his mouth slashed open from ear-to-ear.[5]

Billboard's Gil Kaufman called the music video "hyper, frantic visual that matches the song's hectic beat," and commented on Machine Gun Kelly's make-up from the sixth act as it was resembling the Joker.[5] Nick Reilly from NME called the video "unsettling".[16]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[4]

  • Machine Gun Kelly – vocals, production, composition, lyrics
  • Corpse Husband – vocals, lyrics
  • Stephen "BazeXX" Basil – bass, keyboards, programming, production, lyrics
  • Brandon "SlimXX" Allen – programming, production, lyrics, composition
  • Fabian Marasciullo – mixing

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "Corpse Husband: "song w/ MGK is soooooooooo crazy"". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  2. ^ Periwal, Saahil Agnelo (December 23, 2020). "Corpse Husband and Machine Gun Kelly are reportedly making music together". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Corpse Husband Announces Music Collaboration With Machine Gun Kelly". Toofab. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  4. ^ a b "DayWalker!". Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Kaufman, Gil (March 19, 2021). "Machine Gun Kelly Is a Street Fighter in Blood-Drenched 'Daywalker' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Redrup, Zach. "NEWS: Machine Gun Kelly shares new song, 'DAYWALKER!', featuring CORPSE!". Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b Legaspi, Althea (March 12, 2021). "Machine Gun Kelly Drops New Song 'Daywalker!' Featuring Corpse". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart (March 27, 2021)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  12. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Reilly, Nick (March 19, 2021). "Machine Gun Kelly teams up with YouTuber Corpse Husband on 'Daywalker!' video". NME. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "2021 12-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. March 26, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  18. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  20. ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  21. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
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