Labour (song) explained

Labour
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Paris Paloma
Album:Cacophony
Genre:
Label:Nettwerk
Producer:Justin Glasco

"Labour" is an indie folk song by British singer-songwriter Paris Paloma released on 24 March 2023. The track is described as an anthem that addresses issues of gender inequality within societal structures.

Background and release

The song was written by Paris Paloma, a British artist from Derbyshire.[1] Paloma decided to combine two separate songs she had been writing into a single track, which became "Labour". The song, which was produced by Justin Glasco, was recorded in Los Angeles by Paloma with backup singers Natalie Duque, Nolyn Ducich and Annabel Lee.[2]

The song was released on 24 March 2023.[3] An official music video was released on 27 March.[4] It's featured on album Cacophony which was released on 30 August 2024.[5]

Composition

"Labour" is an indie folk[6] [7] or alternative folk[8] ballad. The song features an acoustic arrangement of bass and guitar over a chorus of background singers.[9] The lyrics deal with an abusive relationship in which the singer's own emotional needs are subjugated beneath her husband's expectations that she perform emotional and physical labour.[10] It focuses on the history of women performing unpaid domestic labour, particularly homemaking and childrearing, and criticizes patriarchal expectations of women within marriage. The song also explores concepts of weaponized incompetence and the cycle of abuse.[11]

Music video

Dressed in historic clothing, Paloma brings out dishes of food to complete a candlelit feast. The man at the head of the table (Henry Hayward) fills his plate and gobbles up meat and fruit while she watches. He pushes his plate away and taps his knife against a tankard. She fingers her wedding ring before getting up with her plate and cup, only to sit back down. Then, she breaks a pomegranate open and it sprays all over her dress; she stuffs berry pie into her mouth with her bare hands and makes a mess. She smiles and he laughs. When he lifts his head again, she is gone and her candle is out.

A different version of the song, "Labour: The Cacophony" was released on 29 March 2024.[12] It is a collection of clips of women singing along with the song or making thematically relevant works using it as an audio, with their vocals used as the titular cacophony.

Critical reception

Critics described the song as a feminist anthem, and linked the song to the phenomenon of "female rage" in response to unbalanced domestic and emotional labour in heterosexual relationships. Evie Breese of The Big Issue compared the song's themes to the 2019 film Midsommar.[13]

Commercial performance

Prior to its release, snippets from the song went viral on TikTok. The song received 1 million streams on Spotify within 24 hours of release, and 1 million views on YouTube.[14] After the single's release, it started a viral trend in which women posted TikTok videos with the song where they described their own personal experiences with sexism. During the 2024 Romanian presidential election, the song was used by protesters against candidate Călin Georgescu, who is strongly opposed to the right to abortion.[15]

"Labour: The Cacophony" has over 16 million streams on Spotify as of September 2024,[16] and its music video has over 33 million views on YouTube.

Charts

Chart (2023–2024)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[17] 163
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 82
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[19] 4
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] 13
US Hot Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 9
US TikTok Billboard Top 50 (Billboard)[22] 11
Chart (2024)!scope="col"
Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 36

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mylrea . Hannah . 2023-05-31 . Paris Paloma: "When people listen to 'Labour', I want them to feel like their anger is valid" . 2023-06-10 . . en-GB . 10 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610013628/https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/paris-paloma-artist-labour-song-interview-tiktok-radar-3449655 . live .
  2. Unterberger . Andrew . 2023-05-02 . Chartbreaker: Paris Paloma's Breakout Relationship Lament 'Labour' Is Resonating With Women and Men Alike . 2023-05-30 . . en-US . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530195141/https://www.billboard.com/music/features/paris-paloma-labour-interview-may-2023-chartbreaker-1235319119/ . live .
  3. Web site: Graye . Megan . 2023-03-14 . Paris Paloma's new song 'Labour' has women sharing their experiences of misogyny . 2023-05-30 . . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530200123/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/paris-paloma-new-song-labour-tiktok-viral-b2300326.html . live .
  4. Web site: Kelia . 2023-03-27 . Watch Now: Paris Paloma Releases New Video For "labour" . 2023-06-10 . Out Now Magazine . en-US . 10 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610013630/https://outnowmagazine.com/paris-paloma-labour/ . live .
  5. Web site: Ackroyd . Stephen . 2024-03-29 . Paris Paloma has announced her debut album, 'Cacophony' . 2024-08-09 . Dork . en-US.
  6. Web site: Carter. Daisy . Paris Paloma confirms debut album 'Cacophony'. 2024-04-03. 2024-11-12. DIY Magazine. en.
  7. Web site: Mylrea. Hannah. Paris Paloma: "When people listen to 'Labour', I want them to feel like their anger is valid". 2023-05-31. 2024-11-12. NME. en.
  8. Web site: Kenna . Abby . 2023-03-27 . Paris Paloma Gives a Voice to Feminine Rage in "labour" . 2023-05-30 . . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530204100/https://onestowatch.com/en/blog/paris-paloma-labour . live .
  9. Web site: Ghosh . Arundhati . 2023-03-31 . Ballad Breakdown: Paris Paloma's "labour" Perfectly Captures Feminine Anguish . 2023-05-30 . Afterglow ATX . en-US . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530200128/https://www.afterglowatx.com/blog/2023/3/31/ballad-breakdown-paris-palomas-labour-perfectly-captures-feminine-anguish . live .
  10. Web site: Kroeger . Gabrielle . 2023-04-05 . Singer-songwriter Paris Paloma embodies feminine rage on "Labour" . 2023-05-30 . . en-US . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530195556/https://www.oswegonian.com/2023/04/05/singer-songwriter-paris-paloma-embodies-feminine-rage-on-labour/ . live .
  11. Web site: Terasaki . Kimberly . 2023-03-27 . Breaking Down Paris Paloma's Fiery Feminist Anthem, "Labour" . 2023-05-30 . . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530200124/https://www.themarysue.com/paris-paloma-labour-lyrics-meaning-and-symbolism-explained/ . live .
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJZ4lrEvzkw
  13. Web site: Breese . Evie . 2023-03-24 . Paris Paloma's Labour: The story behind the viral soundtrack to 'female rage' . 2023-05-30 . . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530195147/https://www.bigissue.com/culture/music/paris-palomas-labour-the-story-behind-the-viral-soundtrack-to-female-rage/ . live .
  14. Web site: Michelle . Helana . 2023-04-07 . Paris Paloma Shares Mic Drop Moment in New Feminist Anthem, "labour" . 2023-05-30 . Glasse Factory . en-US . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530200125/https://glassefactory.com/parispaloma-labour/ . live .
  15. Web site: Instagram . 2024-12-01 . www.instagram.com.
  16. https://open.spotify.com/album/0YsJwceJYAPbMx2O0mcRgF?si=77lp8VHOQ-isVs71ZUhmzw
  17. Billboard Global 200: Week of November 23, 2024. Billboard. 19 November 2024.
  18. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 46. Sverigetopplistan. 16 November 2024.
  19. Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of November 23, 2024. Billboard. 19 November 2024.
  20. Digital Song Sales: Week of June 17, 2023 . 2023-05-30 . . en-US . 7 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220907172133/https://www.billboard.com/charts/digital-song-sales/ . live .
  21. Hot Alternative Songs: Week of April 8, 2023 . 2023-05-30 . . en-US . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530195142/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-alternative-songs/2023-04-08/ . live .
  22. Tiktok Billboard Top 50: Week of November 30, 2024. Billboard. 30 November 2024.
  23. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 8 April 2024. 5 April 2024.

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