"Paint The Town Red" serves as the second single from Doja Cat's 2023 album, Scarlett. The song boasts a talented team of writers, including Doja Cat herself, along with Earl On The Beat, Jean-Baptiste, Karl Rubin, and Ryan 'DJ Replay' Buendia. Additional credit is given to Burt Bacharach and Hal David, courtesy of their 1964 Dionne Warwick hit, "Walk On By," which is skillfully incorporated into the song. This expertly crafted track marks Doja Cat's sixth appearance in the Hot 100's top 10 as a primary artist and her second chart-topping hit.
The success of "Paint The Town Red" can be attributed, in part, to its ability to effectively serve the song, the artist, and the marketplace – a trifecta known as Hit Songs Deconstructed's S.A.M. principle. In terms of serving the song, it possesses all the qualities expected of a massive hit: catchy hooks, a captivating vocal performance by Doja Cat, intriguing lyrics, a groovy beat, a familiar structure, and a seamless blend of elements that enhance the listener's emotional connection to the song.
Equally important is the song's personal resonance with Doja Cat and its ability to both create familiarity and push the boundaries of her existing Hot 100 top 10 catalog. Lyrically, "Paint The Town Red" is an empowering anthem celebrating Doja's self-worth and resilience in the face of haters. Her compelling delivery brings authenticity to the lyrics, deepening the connection between fans and the song.
In terms of her Hot 100 top 10 body of work, "Paint The Town Red" maintains elements of hip hop, R&B/soul, pop, and retro influences, all of which are present in the majority of her hits. Additionally, the song features primarily electronic drums, synth bass, non-bass synths and electric piano, clocks in over 100 BPM, and is delivered using a blend sung and rapped deliveries. These qualities, along with the inclusion of catchy post-choruses, further heightens “Paint The Town Red’s” familiarity factor with listeners. However, the song distinguishes itself from many of her other hits with its more pronounced hip-hop/rap quality, the use of the "Walk On By" sample from the early/mid-1960s (as opposed to her previous references to the 1950s and 1970s), and its focus on lifestyle and boasting-themed lyrics, as opposed to love and relationships.
"Paint The Town Red’s" expert fusion of hip hop, pop, R&B/soul, and retro also allowed it to resonate with a broad fanbase while standing out in the competitive music marketplace. The inclusion of a prominent trap-influenced beat and extended rapped verses aligns with contemporary hip hop trends, while the timeless allure of the 1964 "Walk On By" sample infuses a pop and R&B/soul influence that resonates across generations. The entirely sung, repetitive, and catchy post-choruses further enhance the song's pop appeal, contributing to its top placement on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart.
Since its release in August 2023, "Paint The Town Red" has achieved impressive global recognition, landing in the top 10 on over 50 charts worldwide and reaching the coveted #1 position on more than 20 of them.
Subscribers can read the first segment of the "Paint The Town Red Deconstructed" song report here.
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A deconstruction of the most recent quarter's new arrivals, and how they differ from the songs that carried over from the previous quarter.
This report delivers an in-depth look at trends for all the compositional categories we track, including primary genres, sub-genres, lead vocals, lyrical themes, instruments, key, tempo, song length, song structure, and much more.
A deconstruction of the compositional characteristics that are unique to #1 hits.
A deconstruction of the compositional characteristics that are unique to songs that chart for 10+ weeks in the top 10..
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