More than Life (Machine Gun Kelly song)
| "More than Life" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Glaive | ||||
| from the album Mainstream Sellout (Life in Pink deluxe) | ||||
| Released | June 10, 2022 | |||
| Genre | Pop-punk | |||
| Length | 3:16 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | ||||
| Machine Gun Kelly singles chronology | ||||
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| Glaive singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "More than Life" on YouTube | ||||
"More than Life" is a song by the American musician Machine Gun Kelly featuring the American musician Glaive. It was released by Bad Boy and Interscope Records on June 10, 2022, as a single from the deluxe edition of the former's sixth studio album, Mainstream Sellout. It was written by both Machine Gun Kelly and Glaive, alongside Corey Sanders, Ichika Fukui, Steve Manovski, and Travis Barker; the latter assisted in its production. It is a pop-punk track characterized by its angsty vocals and histrionics, as well as a guitar motif and eighth note power chords. A music video directed by Colin Tilley premiered on the same day as the song's release. During July 2022, a live performance music video released via Vevo, and the pair performed the song at Lollapalooza. Machine Gun Kelly included it in the setlist of his Mainstream Sellout Tour throughout 2022.
Background and release
[edit]Machine Gun Kelly released his sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout in March 2022, to mixed critical reviews.[1] However, it was commercially successful, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming his second number one album.[2] Its vinyl deluxe edition, subtitled Life in Pink, was released on June 24 2022,[3] and "More than Life" served as a bonus track single from the deluxe.[4] It was announced on Machine Gun Kelly's Instagram account on June 8, 2022, alongside its cover art and behind-the-scenes photographs of its music video,[4][5] and was released by Bad Boy and Interscope Records on June 10.[5][6] Glaive first garnered attention after posting a string of hyperpop songs during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Earlier in 2022, he released Old Dog, New Tricks, the deluxe edition of his All Dogs Go to Heaven extended play (EP).[7] A press release of the song said that it "exhibits MGK's gift for relaying passionate pain as he weighs his fears of vulnerability with the acceptance of newfound love".[4]
After Glaive recorded his verse of the song, the people working on it were impressed. This lead to Machine Gun Kelly re-recording the song and changing his verse. In an interview with NME, Glaive expressed that it was an interesting story to tell: "It was so good that he had to change his verse!". During the same interview, he also commented on Machine Gun Kelly: "For the amount of people that really dislike this guy, he might be the nicest person I've ever met. Every time I've talked to him he's been kind-hearted, and said to call him if I need anything".[8]
Composition
[edit]"More than Life" is 3 minutes and 16 seconds long.[6] Both Machine Gun Kelly and Glaive wrote the song alongside Corey Sanders, Ichika Fukui, Steve Manovski, and Travis Barker; the latter also produced the track. It was mixed by Rob Kinelski and was mastered by Will Quinnell. Fukui and Manovski provided additional production, while Eli Heisler assisted the mixing process.[9] It is a pop-punk track with angsty vocals and histrionics.[5][10] It begins with Fukui's clean guitar motif, which then expands into eighth note power chords, as well as Machine Gun Kelly and Glaive's vocals.[10] For Rolling Stone, Kat Bouza likened the song's melodramatic lyrics to 19th century romance novels and 2000s LiveJournal posts.[5] Louder's Paul Brannigan described the track as "rather moody and angst-ridden". He also wrote, "Lest anyone imagine that pop-punk's Megan Fox-dating, award-winning, record-breaking clown prince is having the time of his life, a cursory glance at the lyrics suggests otherwise".[11]
Music video and live performances
[edit]Colin Tilley directed the stylized music video for "More than Life", which premiered alongside the song's release.[5][12] It depicts Machine Gun Kelly getting covered in cement as he hangs out with Glaive in an old house filled with overgrown plants.[12] In July 2022, a live performance of the song was released via Vevo, which gained over a million views within a few hours.[13] In the same month, they also performed the song at Lollapalooza in Chicago,[14] and Machine Gun Kelly included it in the setlist of his Mainstream Sellout Tour throughout 2022.[15]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[16] | 17 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[17] | 24 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] | 12 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Mainstream Sellout by Machine Gun Kelly". Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024 – via Metacritic.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 3, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly's 'Mainstream Sellout' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (May 23, 2022). "June 2022 New Music Releases". XXL. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c Bowenbank, Starr (June 8, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly to Release New Song 'More Than Life': Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Bouza, Kat (June 10, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly Taps Teen Rapper Glaive for 'More Than Life'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "more than life (feat. glaive) - Single - Album by mgk". Apple Music. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (January 27, 2022). "glaive has released a deluxe edition of his recent EP, featuring a few new tracks". Dork. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ Jolley, Ben (July 18, 2022). "Glaive: hyperpop king on why the genre "will never die" and touring with The Kid LAROI". NME. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ "more than life / mgk / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Roche, Sam (June 13, 2022). "Ichika Nito features on Machine Gun Kelly's latest single, More Than Life". Guitar World. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Brannigan, Paul (June 10, 2022). "Listen to Machine Gun Kelly's moody collaboration with teenage hyperpop rapper Glaive, More Than Life". Louder. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Richards, Will (June 10, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly releases new Glaive collaboration, 'More Than Life'". NME. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Uitti, Jacob (July 21, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly Drops Exclusive Performance Video Via Vevo". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Shakhnazarova, Nika (July 30, 2022). "Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly headline Lollapalooza Day 2". New York Post. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ Price, Amy (June 9, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly Descended From a Helicopter at 2022 Tour Kickoff in Austin: Photos and Setlist". Consequence. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 17, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
- ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2025.