Kill Em with Kindness (song)

"Kill Em with Kindness"
Single by Selena Gomez
from the album Revival
Released May 3, 2016
Format Digital download
Recorded 2015
Genre Dance
Length 3:37
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Selena Gomez singles chronology
"Hands to Myself"
(2016)		 "Kill Em with Kindness"
(2016)		 "We Don't Talk Anymore"
(2016)
Music video
"Kill Em with Kindness" on YouTube

"Kill Em with Kindness" is a song by American singer Selena Gomez from her second studio album Revival (2015). The song was co-written by Gomez with Antonina Armato, Tim James, Benjamin Levin and Dave Audé. It was produced by Rock Mafia and Benny Blanco, with additional production by R3drum. The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio on May 3, 2016, as the fourth and final single from the album. It is a dance song with a tropical house breeze, having an airy synth, added bells and a whistle hook. The song was conceived after Gomez faced criticism over her weight during a trip to Mexico.

The song's lyrics talk about being kind to mean people and has a positive message of kindly ignoring instead of responding to them. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Emil Nava and released on June 6, 2016. The black-and-white video shows the singer in a photoshoot set with dancers doing interpretive dance and shots of bullets and blood-dripped flowers. The song is part of the setlist of her Revival Tour. The song reached the top 40 in a number of countries, including Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. It attained a top 20 peak in Canada and Finland.

Background and release

"Ultimately people just want me to be this evil person that I’m not. It's the whole 'build you up and knock you down' thing. I’m not any of those things. I work hard, and anyone that you ever talk to that's worked with me knows I’m professional, kind and that I care about people. I’ve been frustrated and pissed off before, but my mom has always taught me, every single time, turn my cheek the other way. It is always the best feeling waking up the next day going, 'They gave me their worst, I gave them my best, and that's all I can do.'"

— Gomez on the inspiration behind the song.[1]

While working on the album, Selena Gomez enlisted her longtime collaborators Antonina Armato and Tim James, known as the production duo Rock Mafia.[2] They helped Gomez on the creation of six tracks on the album, including "Revival" and "Kill Em with Kindness", one of her most personal tracks that the duo produced for the album.[1] According to Gomez, one of the main inspirations behind the track was the "body-shaming" she received after a photo of herself in a bikini during her trip to Mexico was leaked online,[3] and media claimed she gained weight, while she also received hurtful comments.[4] She commented: "I was getting a lot of hate for my body and ‘you’re gaining weight,’ and so I was in Mexico and I was just feeling all of this stuff and I would be lying to you if I said it didn’t kind of hurt my feelings, but I kind of channeled that into my music."[3] Later, she told the producers that the track was important, but the lyrics were more important.[1]

In an interview for Power 106, she commented about how she was inspired to create the track, saying: "Everybody has had a say in my life … meaning the world, the perception, the media. It was really frustrating. There is a song on my record called ‘Kill Em with Kindness.’ So I’ve always done that. I ignore, I ignore, I ignore. And then it just kind of got out of hand. So I went to the new label [Interscope] and I was like, I have to say something. I need to say what I want to say, and you guys have to help me figure out how to do that."[5] After releasing three successful singles from Revival, Gomez entered the studio to work on the follow-up to her second solo studio album, claiming she was already moving on from the album. However, in an interview for 97.5 Now FM, she revealed that "Kill Em with Kindness" was going to be released as the album's fourth and final single, claiming: "‘Kill Em with Kindness’ is lyrically my favorite song I put on the record and I definitely can’t wait to be able for that to have a story."[6] It was serviced to contemporary hit radio on May 3, 2016.[7]

Composition

"Kill Em with Kindness" was co-written by Gomez, Antonina Armato, Tim James, Benjamin Levin and Dave Audé. It was produced by Rock Mafia and Benny Blanco, with additional production by R3drum. Rock Mafia and Blanco were responsible for instrumentation and programming. Gomez recorded the track at Rock Mafia Studios in Los Angeles, California. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, the song it is written in the key of B♭ minor with a tempo of 120 beats per minute in common time. The song follows a chord progression of B♭m – G♭ – D♭ – F, and Gomez's vocals span from A♭3 to B♭4.[8] It is a dance song with a tropical house breeze,[1][9][10] with an "airy synth whoosh"[11] and added bells.[12] Critics noted that the "whistle hook" recalls Adam Lambert's "Ghost Town".[13][14]

Lyrically, "Kill Em with Kindness" gives advice for dealing with critics,[15] with a positive message of being kind to mean people.[6] In the beginning, she sings: "The world can be a nasty place, you know it, I know it, yeah," and, as noted by Idolator's Mike Wass, "instead of raising the proverbial middle finger, [she] takes the high road,"[13] commending: "put out the fire before igniting."[11] Later, she continues: "Your lies are bullets/ Your mouth's a gun/ And no war and anger/ Was ever won." Gomez claimed: "It's kind of my motto for life. It's so much easier to be mean. It's so easy to just kind of give yourself that, but it's so hard to walk away from a situation, turn your cheek the other way, and be the bigger person. So, that's what 'Kill Em With Kindness' represents. I think people need to hear that more often."[16]

Critical reception

Tim Sendra of AllMusic picked it as a highlight from the album, remarking that "Gomez sounds most at home."[9] Elysa Gardner of USA Today selected it one of the tracks to download and named it a "groove-driven, electro-savvy track."[17] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine noted that though it "lack of originality," the song is yet a standout.[14] James Reed of Boston Globe called it a "dance-floor catnip,"[18] while Dave Hanratty of Drowned In Sound named it a "laser-focused sugar rush," adding that "Gomez succeeds in laying down a winning pop gauntlet."[19] Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times noted that "what's remarkable is how steadied she seems by such a facile conviction."[11] Katharine St. Asaph of Time labelled it "au corant", which according to him "stirs a tropical-house breeze not dissimilar from Bieber's recent 'What Do You Mean?'."[10] Jia Tolentino of Spin wrote that the track works for addressing the viewing public, calling it a "hustling little posi-heater."[20] Lindsay Haddox of Music Times was positive, calling it "a very simple song but it's very catchy and fun. [...] [I]t's upbeat and has a fun chorus that makes you just want to dance, which is something the radio is full of these days. Another plus, it sends such a positive message out so that would be nice to see playing on the radio."[21] Mike Wass of Idolator referred to it as a "triple threat's measured missive to haters," noting that the message "is a powerful stance in the age of online-bullying, Twitter beefs and messy open letters."[13]

Music video

The music video was released on Vevo on June 6, 2016. It was directed by Emil Nava and shot in black-and-white.[22] It starts with the singer in a photoshoot set,[23] "wearing a slinky, satin slip with a drape-y robe falling off of her shoulders as she smolders on a stool in front of a gray backdrop."[24] The scenes are intercepted with "dramatic shots of bullets and blood-dripped flowers flash across the frame."[22] The video also features several dancers performing interpretive moves,[23] and later "Gomez begins to shed layers of her clothing, at one point wearing just a corset and underwear."[24] Billboard Staff called it "artful",[25] while Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone named it "dramatic".[22] Gabriella Salking of V went on to call it "intimate and sultry."[23] Some critics compared the video to hair commercials.[26][27]

Live performances

Gomez performed the song as part of her setlist at Jingle Ball Tour 2015.[28] The track was also presented for the first time after being announced as a single at the We Day annual event on April 7, 2016.[29] "Kill Em with Kindness" is included on the encore of her Revival Tour.[30]

Track listings

  1. "Kill Em with Kindness"  – 3:37
  1. "Kill Em with Kindness" (Felix Cartal Remix)  – 3:17
  2. "Kill Em with Kindness" (River Tiber Remix)  – 3:41
  3. "Kill Em with Kindness" (Young Bombs Remix)  – 3:56

Credits and personnel

Recording
Personnel

  • Selena Gomez – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Antonina Armato – writing, production, instrumentation, programming
  • Tim James – writing, production, instrumentation, programming
  • Benny Blanco – writing, production, instrumentation, programming
  • Dave Aude – writer
  • R3drum – additional production
  • Andrew Luftman – production coordination
  • Zvi Edelman – production coordination
  • Astrid Taylor – production coordination
  • Seif Hussain – production coordination
  • Steve Hammons – recording
  • Adam Comstock – recording
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • John Hanes – mixing engineer
  • Phil Seaford – mixing engineer assistant

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[31]

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[32] 33
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 32
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[34] 20
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[35] 2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[36] 14
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[37] 6
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38] 13
Denmark (Tracklisten)[39] 30
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[40] 17
France (SNEP)[41] 109
Germany (Official German Charts)[42] 39
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[43] 7
Hungary (Single Top 40)[44] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[45] 24
Italy (FIMI)[46] 37
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[47] 19
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20) [48] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[49] 36
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[50] 28
Norway (VG-lista)[51] 33
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[52] 1
Portugal (AFP)[53] 27
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[54] 17
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[55] 16
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[56] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[57] 34
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[58] 18
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[59] 35
US Billboard Hot 100[60] 39
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[61] 15

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[63] Gold 30,000^
Italy (FIMI)[64] Platinum 50,000double-dagger
Poland (ZPAV)[65] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Silver 200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[67] Gold 500,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Feeney, Nolan (September 30, 2015). "Selena Gomez on Her New Album and Media Scrutiny: 'I Just Don't Care About the Noise Anymore'". Time. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ Garibaldi, Christina (October 6, 2015). "12 Things You Need To Know About Selena Gomez's Revival Album". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Mendelson, Will (September 24, 2015). "Selena Gomez: Body-Shaming Inspired Songs on My New Album". Us Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  4. ↑ Bueno, Antoinette (October 9, 2015). "Selena Gomez on Being Fat Shamed: My Bikini Was 'a Little Too Small for Me, but I Didn't Care'". ET Online. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  5. ↑ Lee, Christina (September 11, 2015). "Selena Gomez Talks New Song "Kill Em With Kindness": Watch". Idolator. SpinMedia. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Wass, Mike (March 28, 2016). "Selena Gomez Confirms "Kill Em With Kindness" As Next 'Revival' Single". Idolator. SpinMedia. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  7. ↑ Trust, Gary (April 4, 2016). "Selena Gomez Scores Third Pop Songs No. 1 With 'Panda' & Releases New Single From 'Revival'". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Selena Gomez – "Kill Em with Kindness" – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. MN0164401. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Sendra, Tim. "Revival – Selena Gomez – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  10. 1 2 St. Asaph, Katherine (October 13, 2015). "Review: Selena Gomez Is Whoever Pop Needs Her to Be on Revival". Time. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 Wood, Mikael (October 9, 2015). "Selena Gomez is more like Janet Jackson than Miley Cyrus on modest 'Revival'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  12. ↑ Jaleru, Christina (October 9, 2015). "Music Review: Selena Gomez brings her A-game to 'Revival'". Washington Times. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 Wass, Mike (October 9, 2015). "Selena Gomez's 'Revival': Album Review". Idolator. SpinMedia. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Cinquemani, Sal (October 17, 2015). "Selena Gomez: Revival | Album Review | Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Revival Album Review (2015) | Plugged In". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  16. ↑ Mastrogiannis, Nicole (October 22, 2015). "INTERVIEW: Selena Gomez Reveals The Meaning Of Songs On 'Revival' | Track By Track". iHeart Radio. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  17. ↑ Gardner, Elysa (October 9, 2015). "Album of the week: A cooler, groovier, Selena Gomez emerges on 'Revival.'". USA Today. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  18. ↑ Reed, James (October 9, 2015). "Selena Gomez takes the reins on 'Revival'". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  19. ↑ Hanratty, Dave (October 15, 2016). "Album Review: Selena Gomez – Revival / Releases / Drowned In Sound". Drowned In Sound. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  20. ↑ Tolentino, Jia (October 13, 2015). "Review: Selena Gomez Is Center Stage at Last on 'Revival'". Spin. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  21. ↑ Haddox, Lindsay (October 12, 2015). "Selena Gomez 'Revival' Album Review: Junk Mail". Music Times. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 Reed, Ryan (June 6, 2016). "Selena Gomez Goes Vogue in 'Kill Em With Kindness' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 Salkin, Gabriella (June 7, 2016). "Watch Selena Gomez "Kill Em With Kindness" In New Video". V. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  24. 1 2 AOL.com Editors (June 6, 2016). "Selena Gomez debuts music video for 'Kill Em With Kindness'". AOL. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  25. ↑ Billboard Staff (June 6, 2016). "Watch Selena Gomez's New Black and White Video for 'Kill Em With Kindness'". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  26. ↑ Warwick, Charlotte (June 7, 2016). "Selena Gomez Looks Like An Actual Victoria's Secret Model In Her Amazing Kill Em With Kindness Music Video". MTV UK. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  27. ↑ Morris, Jessie (June 6, 2016). "Selena Gomez Debuts Stark and Sexy Video for "Kill Em With Kindness"". Complex. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  28. ↑ Lee, Christina (December 5, 2015). "Jingle Ball 2015: Watch Performances By 1D, Selena Gomez, The Weeknd And More". Idolator. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  29. ↑ Pearson, Jennifer (April 7, 2016). "Can't get better than this! Selena Gomez stands out in bold yellow raincoat at WE Day California event in LA before her dazzling performance on stage". Daily Mail.
  30. ↑ Pareles, Jon (June 3, 2016). "Review: Selena Gomez, a Disney Graduate, Majors in Angst Onstage". New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  31. ↑ Revival (Media notes). Selena Gomez. Baarn, Netherlands: Interscope Records. 2015. p. 4. 602547569646.
  32. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Selena Gomez. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  37. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201637 into search. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  38. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201627 into search. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Danmarks officielle hitlister". Hitlisten.NU. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Selena Gomez: Kill Em with Kindness" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 36, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 35, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 30 (dal 2016-07-22 al 2016-06-28)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Selena Gomez Lebanese Chart Top 20 History". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  49. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  50. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 18, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  51. ↑ "VG-lista - Selena Gomez / Kill Em With Kindness". VG-lista. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  52. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness". AFP Top 100 Singles.
  54. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201639 into search. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  55. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201627 into search.
  56. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-07-15". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Selena Gomez – Kill Em With Kindness". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  59. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-07-15" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  60. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Selena Gomez. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  61. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Selena Gomez. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  62. ↑ "CHART WATCH #378". auspOp. July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  63. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Selena Gomez – Kill em with kindness". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved November 1, 2016. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  64. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Selena Gomez" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 23, 2016. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Selena Gomez in the field Filtra. Select 2016 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
  65. ↑ "Polish single certifications – Selena Gomez – Kill'Em with Kindness" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  66. ↑ "British single certifications – Selena Gomez". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 23, 2016. Enter Selena Gomez in the field Search. Select Artist in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  67. ↑ "American single certifications – Selena Gomez". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 26, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
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