My Ex's Best Friend
"My Ex's Best Friend" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly. It is the third single off of his fifth studio album Tickets to My Downfall. The song, the third to feature a pop punk sound, features guest vocals by Blackbear. The song reached number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the third top-40 hit for both artists.
"My Ex's Best Friend" | ||||
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Single by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Blackbear | ||||
from the album Tickets to My Downfall | ||||
Released | August 7, 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2019 | |||
Genre | Pop punk | |||
Length | 2:19 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Machine Gun Kelly singles chronology | ||||
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Blackbear singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"My Ex's Best Friend" on YouTube |
Background
Machine Gun Kelly (Colson Baker) first teased a collaboration with Blackbear as early as December 2019.[1] "My Ex's Best Friend" was released as the third single from the album Tickets to My Downfall.[1] The song was released on August 7, 2020, just days after the second single, "Concert for Aliens".[2][1] The song was part of Baker's efforts to bring guitar based music into the mainstream and inspire a new generation of guitar players.[3] The song became a cross-over success, a rare feat for pop punk or rock in 2020, reaching number 28 on the US Billboard all-format Hot 100 chart.[4] The song was performed live at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.[5]
Composition and themes
The song was described as pop punk,[6][7][8] but as a modern take on it, rather than the "classic" form of the genre.[3][1] Publications described it as a "guitar-laden" song with the two singers covering the complications of relationship breakups and rebound relationships.[9][8]
Reception
HotNewHipHop praised the song, but noted that the enjoyment the listener gets would vary based on their attitude on the music's new sound, stating "If you're not on board for MGK's departure from hip-hop... you'll likely hit skip within the opening moments of [the song]. For those who decide to stay, you'll be treated to a tale of forbidden passion, the likes of which have fueled pop-punk balladry for years."[6]
Live performances
On August 30, 2020, Machine Gun Kelly and Blackbear performed "My Ex's Best Friend" live at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.[10]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]
- Machine Gun Kelly – vocals, guitar
- Blackbear – vocals
- Travis Barker – production
- BazeXX – additional production
- SlimXX – additional production
- Omer Fedi – bass guitar, guitar
- Nick Long – guitar
- Colin Leonard – master engineering
- John Hanes – mix engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[33] | Platinum | 80,000 |
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | August 7, 2020 | [11] | ||
Italy | September 25, 2020 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal | [34] |
United Kingdom | October 2, 2020 | [35] | ||
United States | October 13, 2020 | Interscope | [36] |
References
- Dowd, Rachael (August 7, 2020). "Machine Gun Kelly and Blackbear join forces again for 'My Ex's Best Friend'". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- https://www.radio.com/music/alternative/machine-gun-kelly-and-blackbear-on-my-exs-best-friend
- "Machine Gun Kelly drops new single featuring Blackbear". Kerrang. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- https://www.billboard.com/music/machine-gun-kelly/chart-history/HSI
- https://loudwire.com/machine-gun-kelly-wins-best-alternative-music-video-2020-vmas/
- Findlay, Mitch (August 7, 2020). "Machine Gun Kelly & Blackbear Connect For "My Ex's Best Friend"". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- Hofer, Tess (August 9, 2020). "Machine Gun Kelly releases new single, 'My Ex's Best Friend'!". Dead Press. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
Continuing his path into the world of pop-punk, Machine Gun Kelly has now released a new single called ‘My Ex’s Best Friend’
- Lavin, Will (August 8, 2020). "Listen to Machine Gun Kelly's new track 'My Ex's Best Friend' featuring Blackbear". NME. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- Mamo, Heran (August 7, 2020). "Machine Gun Kelly & blackbear Try to Get With 'My Ex's Best Friend' in New Collab". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- Pierre, Mekishana (August 30, 2020). "Watch Machine Gun Kelly Perform "My Ex's Best Friend" and "Bloody Valentine" at the 2020 MTV VMAs". PopSugar. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- "my ex's best friend / Machine Gun Kelly – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Australian-charts.com – Machine Gun Kelly & Blackbear – My Ex's Best Friend". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- "Austriancharts.at – Machine Gun Kelly & Blackbear – My Ex's Best Friend" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Machine Gun Kelly & Blackbear – My Ex's Best Friend" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202052,53 into search. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202037 into search. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Machine Gun Kelly & Blackbear – My Ex's Best Friend". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202040 into search. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Rolling Stone https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2020-09-30/. Retrieved October 1, 2020. Missing or empty
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(help) - "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- "Canadian single certifications – Machine Gun Kelly & blackbear – My Ex's Best Friend". Music Canada. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- "MACHINE GUN KELLY "my ex's best friend" | (Radio Date: 25/09/2020)". radiodate.it. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- "BBC - Radio 1 Playlist". BBC Radio 1. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.