Concert for Aliens explained
"Concert for Aliens" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by Machine Gun Kelly. It was released as the second single from his fifth studio album Tickets to My Downfall. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in 2020.
Background
The song debuted live on the nationally televised show Good Morning America on July 20, 2020, when Machine Gun Kelly (Colson Baker) and drummer Travis Barker performed the track.[1] The following day, Baker posted the clip to social media and confirmed that the song would be the second single from his upcoming fifth studio album Tickets to My Downfall.[2] Multiple music videos were released for the song. On August 5, an animated video was released, featuring Baker and Barker trying to escape from aliens, which eventually transitions to them playing a concert for the aliens.[3] A second video, directed by Mod Sun, was released on August 13, 2020.[4] [5] The video, make of live action footage, alternates between footage of Baker and Barker performing the song in front of a crowd of aliens, and footage of Baker dressed up and acting silly in a variety of costumes, including a game show host, an actor, a sailor, an emo teenager, and a stereotypical "villain" type character.[4] [6] [7] The video received 250,000 views in the first three hours of availability alone.[8]
Themes and composition
Publications generally described the song as pop-punk.[3] [6] [9] [10] Pitchfork called it a faithful homage to Blink-182's Enema of the State.[11] Despite the song's upbeat sound and humorous video, Baker noted that the song was meant to have a serious message, serving as a metaphor for the chaos and civil unrest present in the year 2020,[12] with the song lyrics making allusions to the end of the world.[3] [4]
Reception
AllMusic and Digital Journal considered the song a standout on Tickets to My Downfall.[13] [14] Wall of Sound called it an "absolute fucking anthem."[9] Rock Sins called it a song Simple Plan would be grateful to still be able to write.[10] Conversely, Sputnikmusic called the vocals overproduced and that Baker sings in a nasally baritone.[15]
Charts
Year-end charts
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]
Release history
Notes and References
- News: Dowd . Rachael . See MGK Channel his Inner Emo in Otherworldly 'Concert for Aliens' Video . December 1, 2020 . Alt Press . August 13, 2020.
- News: Skinner . Tom . Check out a snippet of Machine Gun Kelly's pop-punk new single 'Concert For Aliens' . December 1, 2020 . NME . July 21, 2020.
- Aniftos . Rania . Machine Gun Kelly & Travis Barker Throw a Pop-Punk 'Concert for Aliens' in Animated Lyric Video: Watch . December 1, 2020 . Billboard . August 5, 2020.
- Aniftos . Rania . Machine Gun Kelly Brings the World of Entertainment to Outer Space in 'Concert for Aliens' Music Video . December 1, 2020 . Billboard . August 14, 2020.
- News: Redrup . Zach . NEWS: Machine Gun Kelly shares video for 'Concert For Aliens'! . December 1, 2020 . Dead Press . August 13, 2020 . September 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200924182807/https://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-machine-gun-kelly-shares-video-for-concert-for-aliens/ . dead .
- News: Lavin . Will . Watch Machine Gun Kelly's new video for pop-punk smash 'Concert For Aliens' . December 1, 2020 . NME . August 13, 2020.
- News: Johnson . Josh . Watch Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker play a 'Concert for Aliens' in new video . December 1, 2020 . ABC News Radio . August 13, 2020 . August 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200824164250/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/8/13/watch-machine-gun-kelly-and-travis-barker-play-a-concert-for.html . dead .
- News: Mahjouri . Shakiel . Machine Gun Kelly Holds 'Concert For Aliens' In New Music Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218113616/https://etcanada.com/news/679519/machine-gun-kelly-holds-concert-for-aliens-in-new-music-video/ . dead . December 18, 2020 . December 1, 2020 . ET Canada . August 13, 2020.
- Web site: MAchine Gun Kelly – Tickets To My Downfall (Album Review). May. Tamara. September 22, 2020. April 3, 2022.
- Web site: Machine Gun Kelly - Tickets To My Downfall Album Review. Crampton. Simon. September 24, 2020. April 3, 2022.
- Web site: Machine Gun Kelly: Tickets to My Downfall Album Review. Pitchfork. Tosiello. Pete. September 30, 2020. April 2, 2022.
- News: Machine Gun Kelly Drops New Video for Concert for Aliens . December 1, 2020 . Kerrang . August 14, 2020.
- Web site: Machine Gun Kelly. AllMusic. Thomas. Fred. April 3, 2022.
- Web site: REview: Machine Gun Kelly releases high-octane 'Tickets To My Downfall' (Includes first-hand account). Digital Journal. Papadatos. Markus. September 26, 2020. April 3, 2022.
- Web site: Review: Machine Gun Kelly - Tickets to My Downfall. Sputnikmusic. K.. Simon. September 26, 2020. April 2, 2022.
- Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 5, 2020.
- Web site: Credits / Tickets To My Downfall – Machine Gun Kelly TIDAL. Tidal. September 27, 2020.
- Web site: concert for aliens - Single by Machine Gun Kelly on Apple Music. Apple Music. September 24, 2020.
- Web site: MACHINE GUN KELLY "concert for aliens" (Radio Date: 04/09/2020). September 4, 2020. radiodate.it. September 24, 2020.