Satellite (Bebe Rexha and Snoop Dogg song) explained

Satellite
Cover:Bebe Rexha & Snoop Dogg - Satellite.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Bebe Rexha and Snoop Dogg
Album:Bebe
Released:April 19, 2023
Genre:
Length:3:28
Label:Warner
Producer:Joe Janiak
Chronology:Bebe Rexha
Prev Title:Call On Me
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Stars
Next Year:2023

"Satellite" is a song by American singer and songwriter Bebe Rexha and rapper Snoop Dogg from her third studio album, Bebe (2023). It was written by the artists along with Sam DeRosa, Joe Janiak, Kunfetti and Maya Kurchner, with the production by Janiak. The song was released as the third single from the album for digital download and streaming by Warner in various countries on April 19, 2023. A 1970s-inspired love song celebrating the 4/20 culture, it is a disco and pop song with funk and dance-pop elements, telling the story of a moment of getting high and being sent to an alternate universe. Upon release, "Satellite" earned acclaim from music critics for its music, lyrics and the artists collaboration. The song reached the top 40 in Croatia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. The animated music video, with references to cartoons from the 1960s and 1970s by Hanna-Barbera and Warner, premiered on Rexha's YouTube channel on April 20.

Background and composition

On February 8, 2023, Rexha announced her third studio album Bebe (2023) and the forthcoming release of "Satellite" in collaboration with American rapper Snoop Dogg at a listening event in Los Angeles.[1] [2] Ahead of its debut, the singer teased the song by posting its cover art and a video, showcasing a moment between the artists smooking together, on her social media channels.[3] [4] [5] Characterising the collaboration as a "dream", she elaborated that it commenced with her sending the song to the rapper through Instagram.[5] Following his prompt response and integration of his verse, she conveyed her enthusiasm for the resulting positive outcome.[5] Ultimately on April 19, Warner released "Satellite" for digital download and streaming as the second single from the album.[6] Joe Janiak produced the song and wrote it along with Rexha, Snoop Dogg, Sam DeRosa, Kunfetti and Maya Kurchner.[7] A 1970s-inspired love song, it blends disco and pop music with funk and dance-pop elements.[6] [8] [9] Celebrating the 4/20 culture, the song tells the story of a moment of getting high and being sent to an alternate universe.[6] [10] [11] Lyrically, it portrays Rexha's sensation of soaring through the sky like a satellite to the Milky Way, with Snoop Dogg sharing his own perspectives.[12]

Reception

Following its release, "Satellite" earned acclaim from music critics. Jordi Bardají from Jenesaispop applauded the song's diverse influences across pop history, citing nods to Chic, Daft Punk, Gloria Gaynor, Daft Punk and a polished finish reminiscent of Dua Lipa's second studio album Future Nostalgia (2020).[13] Bardají also underscored the appeal of the "glorious" chorus beyond the summer and commended Snoop Dogg's rap.[13] Joe Lynch of Billboard marked the song as a "buoyant" song, where Snoop Dogg demonstrates remarkable agility, possibly attributed to Rexha's "effortless aplomb" in infusing a party-ready atmosphere.[14] Kyann-Sian Williams for NME labeled the song as a "4/20-friendly stoner anthem".[6] While reviewing Bebe, Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic hailed the song as an "irresistible jam", identifying it as an "effervescent" homage to cannabis, marked by sparkling strings akin to Swedish group ABBA.[15] Jeffrey Davies from PopMatters emphasised Snoop Dogg's appearance as a refreshing standout, notably in contrast to the perceived fatigue in guest vocals from American singer Ty Dolla Sign on Rexha's preceding album Better Mistakes (2021).[8] Gary Gerard Hamilton for Associated Press highlighted the collaborative effort, while distinguishing the song as the "only other feature for the fun" on the album.[16] Ryan Bulbeck of Renowned for Sound described it as a "sweet and heady" anthem, encapsulating the euphoria of getting high, with Snoop Dogg's intro completing the overall "throw-back feel".[9] Commercially, "Satellite" reached number 19 in Romania, number 20 in Poland, number 25 in Croatia, number 38 in Hungary and number 162 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Music video and promotion

An animated music video for "Satellite" was published on Rexha's official YouTube channel on April 20, 2023.[17] [18] [19] Inspired by classic cartoons produced by American companies Hanna-Barbera and Warner in the 1960s and 1970s, the animation draws from works such as Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953), The Jetsons (1962) and Josie and the Pussycats (1963).[18] Additionally, Star Trek (1966) contributed to specific details, encompassing outfit design, ship interconnections and the teleportation effects.[18] Directed by Juan M. Urbin of Venturia Animation, the creation process spanned over a month from its commencement.[18] Employing a variety of tools, the creative process involved pen and paper for concept drawings, as well as the utilisation of software applications such as Adobe Photoshop for background creation and Toon Boom for animating sequences.[18]

The video opens with a conversation between Rexha and Snoop Dogg in a "groovy" described indoor setting.[20] Responding to her desire to venture into outer space within the "Bebeverse", the rapper guides the singer into an animated cannabis leaf-shaped space ship operated by buds of marijuana.[6] [20] He then delivers the directive, "Screw your wig on tight, put your seat belt on, and get ready for the ride of your life, 'cause I'm gonna take you to a whole 'nother dimension."[21] From the moment Snoop Dogg exhales a cloud of smoke, the video undergoes a transformative animation of the entire video.[21] With the onset of the music, Rexha adopts a visual style reminiscent of The Jetsons, lying on a couch with a dog by her side engaging in smoking.[17] [22] Subsequently, the video transitions to depict the singer piloting a spaceship through space, arriving at a space station where she encounters Snoop Dogg, joining him on her journey.[17] Following this, it showcases Rexha performing in a concert for aliens, characterised by their unique resemblance to piles of sticky icky.[22] The video ends with her being transported back to her initial setting, lounging on a couch.[17]

On May 1, Rexha premiered "Satellite" for the first time on the American talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing in a glittering green cannabis leaf-shaped costume.[23] Furthermore, the release of the song was accompanied by a remix from German disc jockey Alle Farben published on July 7.[24]

Track listing

  1. "Satellite"3:28
  1. "Satellite" (Alle Farben Remix)3:24

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[25] 25
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[26] 20

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
VariousApril 19, 2023Warner
United Kingdom
ItalyMay 8, 2023Radio airplay

Notes and References

  1. Aniftos . Rania . . Bebe Rexha Teases Dolly Parton & Snoop Dogg Collaborations at Album Listening Party . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321141715/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/bebe-rexha-dolly-parton-snoop-dogg-collaborations-album-listening-party-1235251502/ . March 21, 2023 . February 9, 2023 . live.
  2. Blistein . Jon . . Bebe Rexha's New Album Is Coming Out Soon . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231125142610/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bebe-rexha-new-album-bebe-release-date-1234697528/ . November 25, 2023 . March 15, 2023 . live.
  3. Web site: Mazzuco . Amauri . Papelpop . Bebe Rexha anuncia parceria com Snoop Dogg para quinta-feira (20) . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129152045/https://www.papelpop.com/2023/04/bebe-rexha-anuncia-parceria-com-snoop-dogg-para-quinta-feira-20/ . November 29, 2023 . pt-br . April 17, 2023 . live.
  4. Web site: Mazzuco . Amauri . Papelpop . Bebe Rexha e Snoop Dogg entregam teaser cômico de 'Satellite' . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129152112/https://www.papelpop.com/2023/04/bebe-rexha-e-snoop-dogg-entregam-teaser-comico-de-satellite/ . November 29, 2023 . pt-br . April 19, 2023 . live.
  5. Irvin . Jack . People . Bebe Rexha Says She 'Got So High' with Snoop Dogg While Filming Their New 4/20-Themed Video (Exclusive) . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129140449/https://people.com/music/bebe-rexha-snoop-dogg-got-so-high-filming-4-20-satellite-video-exclusive-interview/ . November 29, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . live.
  6. Williams . Kyann-Sian . NME . Check out Bebe Rexha and Snoop Dogg's new stoner anthem 'Satellite' . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129143003/https://www.nme.com/news/music/check-out-bebe-rexha-and-snoop-dogg-new-stoner-anthem-satellite-420-3433864 . November 29, 2023 . April 21, 2023 . live.
  7. Web site: . SatelliteSingle by Bebe Rexha & Snoop Dogg . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129152628/https://open.spotify.com/album/4ulY3Mdx1N1VQ5Zn6wNnm6 . November 29, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . live. Note: Click on the three dots on the right of the track to display the credits.
  8. Davies . Jeffrey . . Bebe Rexha Has More To Say On 'Bebe' . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129155249/https://www.popmatters.com/bebe-rexha-bebe-album-review . November 29, 2023 . May 2, 2023 . live.
  9. Bulbeck . Ryan . . Album Review: Bebe RexhaBebe . November 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231125154523/https://renownedforsound.com/album-review-bebe-rexha-bebe/ . November 25, 2023 . live.
  10. Web site: Henderson . Taylor . . Bebe Rexha Teases Songs With Snoop Dogg, Dolly Parton At Album Preview . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213002946/https://www.pride.com/gay-music/bebe-rexha . February 13, 2023 . February 9, 2023 . live.
  11. Bowenbank . Starr . . Bebe Rexha 'Got So High' With Snoop Dogg While Filming Their 'Satellite' Video . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130190429/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bebe-rexha-snoop-dogg-high-satellite-video-1235311714/ . November 30, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . live.
  12. Web site: Mazzuco . Amauri . Papelpop . 'Satellite': Bebe Rexha e Snoop Dogg viajam na brisa em novo single . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129214618/https://www.papelpop.com/2023/04/satellite-bebe-rexha-e-snoop-dogg-viajam-na-brisa-em-novo-single/ . November 29, 2023 . pt-br . April 20, 2023 . live.
  13. Web site: Bardají . Jordi . . El 4/20 disco de Bebe Rexha y Snoop Dogg . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129202733/https://jenesaispop.com/web/20231129202733/https://jenesaispop.com/2023/04/30/455146/bebe-snoop-satellites/ . November 29, 2023 . April 30, 2023 . live.
  14. Web site: Bowenbank . Starr . Lipshutz . Jason . Lynch . Joe . Havens . Lyndsey . Billboard . 10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, Christine and the Queens & More . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130191925/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/cool-new-pop-songs-rita-ora-bebe-rexha-christine-and-the-queens-1235314116/ . November 30, 2023 . April 24, 2023 . live.
  15. Web site: Yeung . Neil Z. . . BebeAlbum by Bebe Rexha . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129155056/https://www.allmusic.com/album/bebe-mw0003965586 . November 29, 2023 . live.
  16. Web site: Hamilton . Gary Gerard . . Bebe Rexha ignites a '70s disco inferno with album 'Bebe' . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129204716/https://apnews.com/article/bebe-rexha-dolly-parton-dogg-album-090767360bb1499b5c2f730ee0b234b9 . November 29, 2023 . April 28, 2023 . live.
  17. News: . . Bebe Rexha & Snoop DoggSatellite Official Music Video . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129125830/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBHr0faDCoQ . November 29, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . live.
  18. Web site: Lang . Jamie . . Venturia Animation Studios Takes Us Behind The Scenes Of Bebe Rexha And Snoop Dogg's New 420-Themed Music Video 'Satellite' . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129130829/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/music-videos/satellite-snoop-dogg-bebe-rexha-music-video-228124.html . November 29, 2023 . April 21, 2023 . live.
  19. Web site: Blazenhoff . Rusty . . Watch Bebe Rexha & Snoop Dogg's Hanna-Barbera-inspired animated music video . November 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129131058/https://boingboing.net/2023/04/24/watch-bebe-rexha-snoop-doggs-hanna-barbera-inspired-animated-music-video.html . November 29, 2023 . April 24, 2023 . live.
  20. Web site: Powell . Jon . . Bebe Rexha and Snoop Dogg head to space for 'Satellite' visual . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130185320/https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-04-27/298212/bebe-rexha-snoop-dogg-satellite-video/ . November 30, 2023 . April 27, 2023 . live.
  21. Web site: Dresdale . Andrea . . Happy 4/20: Watch Bebe Rexha, Snoop Dogg light up and blast off in animated 'Satellite' video . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130210706/https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/happy-420-watch-bebe-rexha-snoop-dogg-light-and-blast-animated-satellite-video . November 30, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . live.
  22. Web site: Armstrong . Megan . . Bebe Rexha Enlisted Snoop Dogg For 'Satellite,' A 'Stoner Anthem' Appropriately Dropped On 4/20 . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130215052/https://uproxx.com/pop/bebe-rexha-snoop-dogg-satellite/ . November 30, 2023 . November 30, 2023 . live.
  23. Web site: Mazzuco . Amauri . Papelpop . Bebe Rexha canta 'Satelitte' vestida de maconha na TV norte-americana . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130223031/https://www.papelpop.com/2023/05/bebe-rexha-canta-satelitte-vestida-de-maconha-na-tv-norte-americana/ . November 30, 2023 . pt-br . May 2, 2023 . live.
  24. Web site: Apple Music . Satellite (Alle Farben Remix)Single by Bebe Rexha and Snoop Dogg . November 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130223644/https://music.apple.com/us/album/satellite-alle-farben-remix-single/1693037143 . November 30, 2023 . July 7, 2023 . live.
  25. Web site: Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) . Ed Sheeran preuzeo listu ARC 100 s pjesmom 'Eyes Closed' . November 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231126141334/https://radio.hrt.hr/drugi-program/glazba/ed-sheeran-preuzeo-listu-arc-100-s-pjesmom-eyes-closed--10793938 . November 26, 2023 . hr . May 23, 2023 . live.
  26. Web site: . OLiSoficjalna lista airplay . Select week 10.06.2023–16.06.2023 . November 27, 2023 . pl.