"Final Song" is a song by Danish singer and songwriter MØ. It was released on 13 May 2016 for her second studio album, Forever Neverland, but was only included on the Japanese release of the album.[1] The song was written and composed by MØ and Noonie Bao alongside MNEK, who produced the song.[2] "Final Song" was released by Chess Club and RCA Victor and premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 12 May 2016 at 7:00 PM BST at Annie Mac. It was released on YouTube the same day and on iTunes Store the following day. It reached the top 5 in Denmark,[3] the top 20 in Australia, Norway[4] and the United Kingdom, and the top 100 in Canada and Sweden.
Background and release
The song was written by MØ, MNEK and Noonie Bao in Los Angeles in 2016.[2] MØ sent a rough version of the song to MNEK with the changes she wanted to see, asking him to "make it a little lighter". The two later worked on it together, which ended being "dope" according to MNEK.[5] MØ said of the song is "about reconnecting with your inner strength. With your inner glow, passion, spirit animal, whatever – the force that keeps us going and doing what we love. [...] We all need to feel empowered from within to be the best version of ourself, but it’s not always easy and that’s what inspired me to write these lyrics. When you’re united with your inner glow you can beat the fears and fly towards your dreams."[2]
"Final Song" is a tropical house[8] and dance-pop[9] song, which contains elements of dancehall.[6] The chorus features a "supremely weird, four-stepping drum machine and a flameout of synthesized xylophonic blips."[2] Lyrically, the song is "about forging on through trying times and the importance of harnessing one's inner power."[10]
Rolling Stone called the song an infectious summer anthem.[12]Spin named it "a beautiful new pop confection".[2]Fuse wrote it is "one of the more brilliant song of the summer contenders".[13]Billboard wrote that she "keeps getting better with every release."[14]
The music video for the song directed by Tomas Whitmore was released to YouTube on 9 June 2016.[16] The video was produced by Hugo Peers and shot in the California Desert National Conservation Area by DOP Niko Wiesnet.[17]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 35. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201639 into search. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201635 into search. Retrieved 5 September 2016.