Be Sweet Explained

Be Sweet
Type:single
Artist:Japanese Breakfast
Album:Jubilee
Recorded:2019
Genre:
Label:Dead Oceans
Prev Title:Head over Heels
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Posing in Bondage
Next Year:2021

"Be Sweet" is a song by American indie pop band Japanese Breakfast, released on March 2, 2021, as the lead single from their third studio album Jubilee. The band's lead vocalist Michelle Zauner co-wrote the song with Jack Tatum, the founder and lead singer of the indie rock project Wild Nothing. Zauner's bandmate, Craig Hendrix, encouraged her to compose arrangements for Jubilee; the two of them, along with Tatum, worked on the track's production.

Though the band's work previously dealt with Zauner's personal struggles with grief, "Be Sweet" saw them divert from their usual indie rock sound and lean more into a pop direction. Recorded in 2019, the song is an synth-pop, new wave, indie pop, dream pop, and funk track. The song received praise from critics, who lauded its joyful, vibrant sound. The band would release various alternative and cover versions of the song, while also performing it frequently at festivals and on television late night and talk shows.

Background, recording, and release

Japanese Breakfast's first two studio albums, Psychopomp (2016) and Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017) were recognized by music critics and listeners for reflecting the personal grief of lead singer Michelle Zauner. In the interim years between Soft Sounds and Jubilee, Zauner studied music theory and piano.[1] Craig Hendrix, her bandmate and the album's co-producer, also encouraged her to help compose the album's string and horn arrangements.[2]

Zauner commented on her efforts on the album's creation, stating "After spending the last five years writing about grief, I wanted our follow up to be about joy," and adding, "For me, a third record should feel bombastic and so I wanted to pull out all the stops for this one."[3] The band leaned into a more pop sound for "Be Sweet"; Zauner stated that Björk and Kate Bush "who are essentially pop musicians with mass appeal — but they're both really fucking weird," helped inspire the band to explore pop.[4]

Zauner co-wrote "Be Sweet" with Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing. According to Zauner, this was a result of a meeting instigated by their label Dead Oceans who made them collaborate on a song.[5] Jubilees album notes credit Zauner, Hendrix, and Tatum are credited as producers for the song.[6] Hendrix handled much of the album's drumming and production. Jubilee was recorded in 2019 and slated for release in 2020. The album's release was eventually postponed to 2021, with the delay attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] In January 2021, the band then tweeted "LP3 coming", teasing the album's release.[7]

The song was released as Jubilees lead single on March 2, 2021, through Dead Oceans. The record label simultaneously announced the album's release date for June 4 later that year.[8] "Be Sweet" is the second track on Jubilee; Zauner stated that while "Paprika" was planned to be the album's opening track, only a track like "Be Sweet" could follow it up, stating "that's the sort of sucker punch, this real in-your-face pop number."[9]

Composition

"Be Sweet" has been described as synth-pop, new wave,[10] indie pop,[11] dream pop,[12] and funk.[10] The song leaned away from the band's indie rock sound and into a more pop direction.[4] Zauner admitted she was anxious about how the pop sound of "Be Sweet" would be received, telling Rolling Stone, "I really worried that everyone was going to get mad at me and think I was, like, going full-on pop." She further stated that the song is "obviously [the band's] poppiest" and most "radio-ready", but maintained that "the rest of the songs [on ''Jubilee''] are really wacky and weird."[4] The song features "light synths and shuffling percussion" in its production.[13] The track's opening line, "Tell the men I'm coming" was inspired by the title of the author Raymond Carver's short story "Tell The Women We're Going."[5]

Reception

The track received positive reviews by music critics, with many noting it featuring a joyful sound hearkening back to the sound of 1980s pop music. In his review of Jubilee, Will Richards of NME praised "Be Sweet", calling it "a superbly catchy, '80s-indebted pop smash" with a "triumphant chorus."[14] Ian Carlos Campbell of The Verge called the song "summer-y and eminently danceable." Quinn Moreland of Pitchfork wrote that "Be Sweet" is a "touch of pop extravagance à la Kate Bush, one of Zauner's main influences; the extended, windswept indie-guitar-hero moment we've come to expect in the genre, that feels somehow indebted to Nels Cline. Through it all, she emanates an outward electricity and deep interiority."[2] Writing for the same publication, Cat Zhang commented that the song is "more buoyant and colorful than most of [Zauner's] previous music."[15] She felt that the song "rattles with energy, trading previous influences like shoegaze and Pacific Northwest indie rock for danceable '80s synth-pop."[15]

Live performances

Japanese Breakfast performed "Be Sweet" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March 2021, shortly after the single's release.[16] The performance was filmed at the National Sawdust in Brooklyn, New York City.[17] The band also performed "Jimmy Fallon Big!" from Soft Sounds, with Fallon himself explaining the song's background prior to the bonus performance.[16] [17] The performance of "Be Sweet" on The Tonight Show received a Libera Awards nomination for Best Live/Livestream Act.[18]

Coinciding with the album's release in June 2021, the band performed "Be Sweet", as well as "Kokomo, IN" and "Tactics" on CBS This Mornings "Saturday Sessions" segment.[19] The band continued to perform the song on television in 2022; in January, they performed it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[20] April saw the band perform the song on The Kelly Clarkson Show.[21] Later that May, as musical guests for the season 47 finale of Saturday Night Live, the band performed "Be Sweet" and "Paprika".[22] Stephen Thompson from NPR ranked Japanese Breakfast number 11 out of the 21 musical guest performances during the season.[23]

The band also performed the song during their Jubilee Tour, which began on August 7, 2021, and continued through 2022.[24] [25] They performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July 2022, with a "Be Sweet Lager" beer made available at the festival.[26] The persimmon-flavored beer was made in collaboration with Goose Island; persimmons served as the main visual motif for Jubilee and featured prominently on the album's cover art.[26] The beer's proceeds benefited Heart of Dinner, an organization that aims to combat food insecurity within New York's elderly Asian American community.[26]

For their August 6, 2022 performance Pentaport Rock Festival in Incheon, South Korea, the band performed a Korean-language cover version of the song with vocals from So!YoON! of Se So Neon.[25] [27] Their October performance at the Hackney Church venue in London was given a lukewarm review by Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian, although D'Souza specified "Be Sweet" as one of the songs to "fare better" during the performance.

Cover and alternate versions

In June 2021, the band released a Simlish cover during the rollout of Cottage Living, an expansion pack for The Sims 4.[28] [29] In October, Japanese Breakfast released Live at Electric Lady, an eight-track live EP. Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, the EP featured a live version of "Be Sweet".[30] The following March, the band released a "Spotify Singles" version of the song.[31] This version included a "disco beat and call-and-response vocals." In preparation for the band's live performance in South Korea, a Korean-language cover version was released on July 20, 2022.[32] [27] Zauner received help from Yaeji on the translation over a year prior. So!YoON! of Se So Neon provided the vocals for the cover, with Zauner calling her one of her favorite indie artists in Seoul.

Music videos

"Be Sweet" was released accompanied by a music video starring Zauner and Missy of Mannequin Pussy.[15] Directed by Zauner, the video features the two as X-Files-inspired agents investigating the paranormal.[15] [8] The Simlish cover version released a music video, featuring Zauner singing to a herd of cows while dressed in gingham and a big sunhat.[33] A music video was also released for the Korean cover. Animated by Mary Vertulfo, it featured a "stylish, neon-lit [visualizer of Zauner and So!YoOn!] driving".[27]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Be Sweet"! Chart (2021)! Peak
position

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Be Sweet"! Chart (2021)! Peak
position
US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[34] 6

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ryan. Leas. Japanese Breakfast – "Be Sweet". Stereogum. March 2, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220411124849/https://www.stereogum.com/2117805/japanese-breakfast-be-sweet-jubilee/music/. April 11, 2022. live.
  2. Web site: Quinn. Moreland. Japanese Breakfast Is Working the Pain Away. Pitchfork. March 8, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126173713/https://pitchfork.com/features/profile/japanese-breakfast-interview-jubilee-crying-in-h-mart/. January 26, 2022. live.
  3. Web site: Sam. Moore. Japanese Breakfast announces new album 'Jubilee' and shares 'Be Sweet'. NME. March 2, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126113930/https://www.nme.com/news/music/japanese-breakfast-announces-new-album-jubilee-and-shares-be-sweet-2892275?amp. January 26, 2022. live.
  4. Angie. Martoccio. Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner on Making Her Brightest Record Yet. Rolling Stone. June 4, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091534/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/japanese-breakfast-jubilee-interview-1168141/. February 24, 2023. live.
  5. Shervin. Lainez. Japanese Breakfast – The Under the Radar Cover Story. Under The Radar. December 21, 2021. August 21, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240602194849/https://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/japanese_breakfast_the_under_the_radar_cover_story/. June 2, 2024. live.
  6. Jubilee. Japanese Breakfast. Dead Oceans. 2021. DOC225. liner notes.
  7. Web site: Eddy. Lim. Japanese Breakfast confirms third album is on the way. NME. January 7, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091534/https://www.nme.com/news/music/japanese-breakfast-confirms-third-album-is-on-the-way-2850893. February 24, 2023. live.
  8. Web site: Allison. Hussey. Japanese Breakfast Announces New Album Jubilee, Shares Video for New Song "Be Sweet": Watch. Pitchfork. March 2, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126113929/https://pitchfork.com/news/japanese-breakfast-announces-new-album-jubilee-shares-video-for-new-song-be-sweet-watch/. January 26, 2022. live.
  9. Web site: Kira. Grunenberg. How Japanese Breakfast Builds An Album, Sound By Sound. NPR. June 3, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220530021453/https://www.npr.org/2021/06/03/1002540913/how-japanese-breakfast-builds-an-album-sound-by-sound. May 30, 2022. live.
  10. Charles. Lyons-Burt. Review: With Jubilee, Japanese Breakfast Embraces Life with Surprising Exuberance. Slant Magazine. May 29, 2021. August 21, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230418052124/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-with-jubilee-japanese-breakfast-embraces-life-with-surprising-exuberance/. April 18, 2023. live.
  11. Watch Japanese Breakfast's Energetic Performance of 'Be Sweet' on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'. Rock Cellar Magazine. March 2, 2021. August 21, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502223231/https://rockcellarmagazine.com/japanese-breakfast-be-sweet-tonight-show-jimmy-fallon/. May 2, 2024. live.
  12. Web site: Bop Shop: Songs From Japanese Breakfast, Ethel Cain, Jessie Ware, And More. MTV. July 22, 2022. May 2, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20220722155810/https://www.mtv.com/news/by5vwq/bop-shop-japanese-breakfast-ethel-cain-jessie-ware. July 22, 2022. dead.
  13. Web site: Carys. Anderson. Japanese Breakfast Covers Bon Iver's "Skinny Love": Stream. Consequence. March 30, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091536/https://consequence.net/2022/03/japanese-breakfast-bon-iver-skinny-love-cover-stream/. February 24, 2023. live.
  14. Web site: Will. Richards. Japanese Breakfast – 'Jubilee' review: indie rocker's bold statement of ambition. NME. June 3, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126113956/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/japanese-breakfast-jubilee-review-2952554. January 26, 2022. live.
  15. Web site: Cat. Zhang. Japanese Breakfast: "Be Sweet" Track Review. Pitchfork. March 2, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220215160932/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/japanese-breakfast-be-sweet/. February 15, 2022. live.
  16. David. Renshaw. Watch Japanese Breakfast perform "Be Sweet" on Jimmy Fallon. The Fader. March 16, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220411124957/https://www.thefader.com/2021/03/16/japanese-breakfast-be-sweet-jimmy-fallon. April 11, 2022. live.
  17. Jon. Blistein. Japanese Breakfast Deliver Slick 'Be Sweet' on 'Fallon'. Rolling Stone. March 16, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220411124849/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/japanese-breakfast-be-sweet-tonight-show-1142574/. April 11, 2022. live.
  18. Jem. Aswad. Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees. Variety. March 23, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220325195516/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/japanese-breakfast-indie-a2im-2022-libera-awards-1235212419/. March 25, 2022. live.
  19. Daniel. Kreps. See Japanese Breakfast Perform 'Jubilee' Songs on 'CBS This Morning'. Rolling Stone. June 5, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607062107/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/japanese-breakfast-jubilee-cbs-this-morning-1179077/. June 7, 2021. live.
  20. Web site: Ali. Shutler. Watch Japanese Breakfast perform 'Be Sweet' on 'Ellen'. NME. January 29, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091535/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-japanese-breakfast-perform-be-sweet-on-ellen-3149490. February 24, 2023. live.
  21. Emily. Zemler. Watch Japanese Breakfast Perform Buoyant 'Be Sweet' on 'Kelly Clarkson'. Rolling Stone. April 28, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091534/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/japanese-breakfast-be-sweet-kelly-clarkson-1344014/. February 24, 2023. live.
  22. Mitchell. Peters. Japanese Breakfast Performs 'Be Sweet' and 'Paprika' on 'SNL' Season Finale: Watch. Billboard. May 22, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220522214237/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/japanese-breakfast-snl-performance-video-1235074090/. May 22, 2022. live.
  23. Web site: Stephen. Thompson. 'SNL' just wrapped its 47th season: It's time to cruelly rank its musical guests. NPR. May 23, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091535/https://www.npr.org/2022/05/23/1100623311/snl-just-wrapped-its-47th-season-its-time-to-cruelly-rank-its-musical-guests. February 24, 2023. live.
  24. Angie. Martoccio. Japanese Breakfast Drops Spooky 'Posing in Bondage' Video, Announces Tour Dates. Rolling Stone. April 8, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220411124959/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/japanese-breakfast-posing-in-bondage-tour-1152254/. April 11, 2022. live.
  25. David. Renshaw. Japanese Breakfast shares Korean language version of "Be Sweet". The Fader. July 20, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091535/https://www.thefader.com/2022/07/20/japanese-breakfast-korean-be-sweet. February 24, 2023. live.
  26. Web site: Japanese Breakfast and Goose Island Announce Limited-Edition Beer for Pitchfork Music Festival 2022. Pitchfork. June 28, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220706141654/https://pitchfork.com/news/japanese-breakfast-and-goose-island-announce-limited-edition-beer-for-pitchfork-music-festival-2022/. July 6, 2022. live.
  27. Web site: Matthew. Neale. Japanese Breakfast and SE SO NEON's So!YoON! share Korean version of 'Be Sweet'. NME. July 20, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091534/https://www.nme.com/news/music/japanese-breakfast-and-se-so-neons-soyoon-share-korean-version-of-be-sweet-3273464. February 24, 2023. live.
  28. Web site: Ian Carlos. Campbell. Japanese Breakfast did a Simlish cover for The Sims 4 because nonsense never gets old. The Verge. June 10, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021132441/https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2021/6/10/22528386/japanese-breakfast-the-sims-4-cottage-living-be-sweet-simlish. October 21, 2021. live.
  29. Emily. Lipstein. Japanese Breakfast Goes Cottagecore for the New Sims 4 Expansion. Vice. July 22, 2021. March 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230303062547/https://www.vice.com/en/article/4avbn3/sims-4-cottage-living-japanese-breakfast. March 3, 2023. live.
  30. David. Renshaw. Japanese Breakfast shares Live at Electric Lady EP. The Fader. October 28, 2021. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230225021343/https://www.thefader.com/2021/10/28/japanese-breakfast-live-at-electric-lady-ep. February 25, 2023. live.
  31. Kat. Bouza. Japanese Breakfast Covers Bon Iver's 'Skinny Love' for Spotify Singles. Rolling Stone. March 30, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091542/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/japanese-breakfast-bon-iver-skinny-love-spotify-singles-1329866/. February 24, 2023. live.
  32. Web site: Matthew Ismael. Ruiz. Japanese Breakfast Shares Video for Korean Version of "Be Sweet": Watch. Pitchfork. July 20, 2022. February 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224091534/https://pitchfork.com/news/japanese-breakfast-shares-video-for-korean-version-of-be-sweet-watch/. February 24, 2023. live.
  33. Claire. Shaffer. Japanese Breakfast Sings to Cows in Her 'Be Sweet' Video for 'The Sims'. Rolling Stone. July 22, 2021. March 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230303062543/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/japanese-breakfast-be-sweet-simlish-the-sims-1200855/. March 3, 2023. live.
  34. Adult Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. March 31, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230411052100/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/adult-alternative-songs/. April 11, 2023. live.

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