Final Song Explained

Final Song
Cover:MØ - Final Song.png
Type:single
Artist:
Released:13 May 2016
Genre:
Length:3:55
Label:
  • Chess Club
  • RCA Victor
Producer:MNEK
Prev Title:Kamikaze
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Cold Water
Next Year:2016

"Final Song" is a song by Danish singer and songwriter . It was released on 13 May 2016 for her second studio album, Forever Neverland, but was only included on the Japanese release of the album.[1] The song was written and composed by MØ and Noonie Bao alongside MNEK, who produced the song.[2] "Final Song" was released by Chess Club and RCA Victor and premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 12 May 2016 at 7:00 PM BST at Annie Mac. It was released on YouTube the same day and on iTunes Store the following day. It reached the top 5 in Denmark,[3] the top 20 in Australia, Norway[4] and the United Kingdom, and the top 100 in Canada and Sweden.

Background and release

The song was written by MØ, MNEK and Noonie Bao in Los Angeles in 2016.[2] MØ sent a rough version of the song to MNEK with the changes she wanted to see, asking him to "make it a little lighter". The two later worked on it together, which ended being "dope" according to MNEK.[5] MØ said of the song is "about reconnecting with your inner strength. With your inner glow, passion, spirit animal, whatever – the force that keeps us going and doing what we love. [...] We all need to feel empowered from within to be the best version of ourself, but it’s not always easy and that’s what inspired me to write these lyrics. When you’re united with your inner glow you can beat the fears and fly towards your dreams."[2]

MØ released a snippet of the song on Instagram on 9 May 2016.[6] Like her previous single "Kamikaze", "Final Song" was premiered by Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom.[7]

Composition

"Final Song" is a tropical house[8] and dance-pop[9] song, which contains elements of dancehall.[6] The chorus features a "supremely weird, four-stepping drum machine and a flameout of synthesized xylophonic blips."[2] Lyrically, the song is "about forging on through trying times and the importance of harnessing one's inner power."[10]

The song is written in the key of E major with a common time tempo of 105 beats per minute. MØ's vocals span from B3 to E5 in the song.[11]

Reception

Rolling Stone called the song an infectious summer anthem.[12] Spin named it "a beautiful new pop confection".[2] Fuse wrote it is "one of the more brilliant song of the summer contenders".[13] Billboard wrote that she "keeps getting better with every release."[14]

UK indie band Bastille covered the song in the Radio 1 Live Lounge in a mash-up with "The Final Countdown" and "7 Days".[15]

Music video

The music video for the song directed by Tomas Whitmore was released to YouTube on 9 June 2016.[16] The video was produced by Hugo Peers and shot in the California Desert National Conservation Area by DOP Niko Wiesnet.[17]

Live performances

On 16 September 2016 MØ performed the single live for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2016–2017)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Portugal (AFP)[19] 40
Slovenia (SloTop50)[20] 30

Year-end charts

Chart (2016)! scope="col"
Position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 64
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 46
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] 58
Denmark (Tracklisten)[24] 18
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 63
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 72
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 64
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 85
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 74

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabelRef.
Various13 May 2016Digital download[30]
Italy26 August 2016Contemporary hit radio[31]
United States30 August 2016[32]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CDJapan : Forever Neverland MO CD Album. CDJapan . 27 September 2018. ja-JP.
  2. Web site: Carley. Brennan. Mø's 'Final Song' Is Hopefully Not That Because It's Quite Good. Spin. 24 July 2016. 21 May 2016.
  3. Web site: danishcharts.dk - MØ - Final Song . danishcharts.dk . 20 August 2016.
  4. Web site: VG-lista - Topp 20 Single uke 28, 2016. VG-lista. 16 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160822072752/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/2016/uke/28. 22 August 2016. dead.
  5. Web site: Myers. Owen. How Mø Finessed Anarchist Punk Life Into Global Pop Stardom. The Fader. 24 July 2016. 13 May 2016.
  6. Web site: Williott. Carl. MØ's "Final Song" Gets A Dizzying Desert Video. Idolator. 24 July 2016. 9 June 2016.
  7. Web site: Camp. Zoe. Listen to MØ's New Track "Final Song". Pitchfork. 24 July 2016. 21 May 2016.
  8. Web site: Wass. Mike. MØ's "Final Song" Sounds Like Another Winner: Listen To A Snippet. Idolator. 24 July 2016. 9 May 2016.
  9. Web site: MØ's Winning Streak Continues With "Drum" . . 5 October 2016 . 10 February 2017 . Wass, Mike.
  10. Web site: Geslani. Michelle. MØ premieres "Final Song", announces fall tour — listen. Consequence of Sound. 24 July 2016. 13 May 2016.
  11. Web site: mø "Final Song" Sheet Music in E Major. Musicnotes.com. 7 July 2016 .
  12. Kreps. Daniel. Hear Mo's Infectious Summer Anthem 'Final Song'. Rolling Stone. 24 July 2016. 13 May 2016.
  13. Web site: Gracie. Bianca. MØ Turns the Desert into a Dance Party in 'Final Song' Video: Watch. Fuse. 24 July 2016. 9 June 2016.
  14. New Music Friday: Spotify Editors' Picks. Billboard. 24 July 2016. 13 May 2016.
  15. Web site: Bastille. BBC Radio 1. 14 September 2016. 14 September 2016.
  16. Web site: MØ - Final Song (Official Video). 9 June 2016. YouTube. 9 June 2016.
  17. Web site: MØ 'Final Song' by Mister Whitmore. 15 June 2016. PromoNews. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712030729/http://www.promonews.tv/videos/2016/06/15/m%C3%B8-final-song-mister-whitmore. 12 July 2018. dead.
  18. Web site: Watch MØ Perform "Final Song" on "Fallon". Pitchfork. 21 September 2016. 17 November 2022.
  19. Web site: Portuguese AFP Official Top 100 (Week 36). 23 September 2016.
  20. Web site: SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart. slotop50.si. 28 August 2018. 28 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180828203236/https://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2016&week=41. dead.
  21. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles 2016. Australian Recording Industry Association. 6 January 2017.
  22. Web site: Ö3 Austria Top 40 – Single-Charts 2016 . oe3.orf.at . 29 December 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228174302/http://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/2749413/ . 28 December 2016.
  23. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2016 – Singles. fr. Ultratop. 29 December 2016.
  24. Web site: Track Top-100, 2016 . Hitlisten.NU . da . 31 December 2016.
  25. Web site: Top 100 Jahrescharts 2016 . German . . viva.tv . 1 January 2017 . 26 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170126235349/http://www.viva.tv/charts/274-top-100-jahrescharts-2016 . dead .
  26. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2016. nl. Dutch Top 40. 7 October 2019.
  27. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2016. nl. Dutch Charts. 25 December 2016.
  28. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2016. hitparade.ch. de. 2 January 2017.
  29. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2016. Official Charts Company. 31 December 2016.
  30. Web site: Final Song - Single by MØ. iTunes Store. Apple Inc.. 10 June 2016. 13 May 2016.
  31. Web site: MØ - Final Song Radio Date. radioairplay.fm. 29 August 2016.
  32. Web site: Top 40 Mainstream > Future Releases. AllAccess.com. 12 August 2016.