Good as Hell
single
CoverLizzo - Good as Hell.png
ArtistLizzo
EpBarbershop: The Next Cut and Coconut Oil
ReleasedMarch 8, 2016 (original)
September 17, 2019 (re-released)
StudioElysian Park[1]
GenreSoul-pop · R&B · hip pop
Length2:39
Label
Writer
ProducerRicky Reed
Prev year2016
Next year2016

"Good as Hell" is a song recorded by American rapper and singer Lizzo. Written by Lizzo and producer Ricky Reed, it was released on March 8, 2016, by Atlantic Records and Nice Life Recording Company as the lead single from her first extended play, Coconut Oil, and subsequently was the namesake for her 2017 Good as Hell Tour. It was re-released in 2019 as a radio single, when it became a sleeper hit like her first hit, "Truth Hurts".[3] The song was later included as a bonus track on the super deluxe edition of her third studio album, Cuz I Love You (2019), alongside its remix.

Following her performance of "Good as Hell" at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, it entered the US Billboard Hot 100, later reaching number three in November 2019 and the top ten in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Belgium, New Zealand and the UK. Two music videos were released for the song; the first was set in a hair salon in 2016, and the second sees her playing in the marching band at Southern University for homecoming week in 2019. The single has received a 5× Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Release

"Good as Hell" was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the 2016 film Barbershop: The Next Cut. It first made its premiere on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 Radio show.[4]

The song was released to digital retailers and streaming platforms on March 8, 2016.[5] A four-track dance remix EP was released on June 17, 2016.[6]

An official remix featuring American singer Ariana Grande was released on October 25, 2019.[7]

Music videos

The first music video was released on May 11, 2016.[8] It shows Lizzo and several women of color going to a hair salon, having their hair and nails done while having fun with the occasion. The music video also ties into the movie Barbershop: The Next Cut.[9]

On December 9, 2019, in the wake of the song's growing popularity, a new "official music video" was premiered on YouTube.[10] This music video, directed by Alan Ferguson, is set in Southern University and features the Baton Rouge HBCU.[9] In it, the university's marching band students have trouble with some regular classes in between preparation for an upcoming performance, with one of the university's marching band dancers looking heartbroken over a prior relationship she had with another student. Lizzo then shows up during one of the rehearsals and appears with the group throughout the video, performing her song and having fun with the group.[11]

Critical reception

In a review for NPR, Hanif Abdurraqib praised the song's inspirational and motivational qualities, saying "[the song is] the anthem of both the night itself and of life in preparation for it: the saint that comes to you in the mirror when the lighting is bad, or the hair won't move the way you want it to, or when you've tried on all of the outfits and none of them seem right." Abdurraqib also called it "the rare song that can play at any point in a night out and resonate in each."[12]

In 2019, Billboard included "Good as Hell" on their list of the Top 10 Lizzo songs, saying "the song's message of self-love mixed with a melody that will worm its way inside your head make this track an absolute stunner."[13]

Chart performance

While "Good as Hell" never charted during Coconut Oil's release period, it began to gain traction in 2019 following Lizzo's continuing career trajectory and the chart climb of her 2017 hit "Truth Hurts". Following Lizzo's performance of the song at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 the following week at number 52, later peaking at number three, becoming Lizzo's second top 10 hit on the chart.[14][15]

The club mixes of "Good as Hell" gave Lizzo her first number one at Dance Club Songs and her second chart topper at Dance/Mix Show Airplay in December 2019.[16]

Following the release of the remix featuring Ariana Grande, "Good as Hell" reached new top 10 peaks in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, becoming Lizzo's first top 10 single in each of these countries.

Live performances

Lizzo performed a medley of "Truth Hurts" and "Good as Hell" at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. Wearing a neon yellow leotard, she transitioned into "Good As Hell" after opening with "Truth Hurts", with digital clouds in the background.[17] During the performance, Lizzo took a shot of tequila and gave a self-acceptance speech. In Rolling Stone, Angie Martoccio opined that she "[took] the crowd to church" with a set that "[resembled] a hip-hop heaven".[18] In NPR Music, Stephen Thompson opined that the performance "was a huge standout for the night—a win that'll do a lot more for her staying power than some statuette".[19]

Lizzo performed "Good as Hell" as her second song on December 21, 2019, on Saturday Night Live. Accompanied by dancers, the Christmas-themed performance included trees, fake snow and candy-cane-painted stripper poles.[20][21] She also performed a medley of "Cuz I Love You", "Truth Hurts", "Good as Hell" and "Juice" at the 2020 Brit Awards.[22]

In other media

"Good as Hell" was heard at the end of the films A Bad Moms Christmas, I Feel Pretty, and Blockers,[23] as well as successive adverts for JD Williams, Garnier and My Little Pony: Pony Life.[24][25] It was also used in Season 10 of the television show RuPaul's Drag Race in "lip sync for your life" between Kameron Michaels and Monét X Change. Lizzo herself was a guest judge in the episode.[26]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyCategoryResultRef.
2020MTV Video Music AwardsBest Editing[27]
Billboard Music AwardsTop R&B Song[28]
BMI R&B/Hip-Hop AwardsAward-Winning Songs[29]
Soul Train Music AwardsVideo of the Year

[30]

Track listing

Digital download[5]

  1. "Good as Hell" – 2:39

Spotify version[31]

  1. "Good as Hell" – 2:39
  2. "Truth Hurts" – 2:53

Digital Remix EP[6]

  1. "Good as Hell" (Bad Royale Remix) – 3:33
  2. "Good as Hell" (Nick Catchdubs Remix) – 3:56
  3. "Good as Hell" (BNDR Remix) – 3:43
  4. "Good as Hell" (Two Stacks Remix) – 2:57

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Good as Hell"
Chart (2019–2020)Peak
position
Australia Urban (ARIA)[32]2
Brazil (Top 100 Brasil)[33]81
Denmark (Tracklisten)[34]36
France (SNEP)[35]59
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[36]10
Lithuania (AGATA)[37]39
Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay)[38]32
Norway (VG-lista)[39]18
Slovenia (SloTop50)[40]24
US Rolling Stone Top 100[41]10

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance for "Good as Hell"
Chart (2019)Peak
position
Latvia Airplay (LaIPA)[42]8

Year-end charts

2019 year-end chart performance for "Good as Hell"
Chart (2019)Position
Australia (ARIA)[43]48
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[44]99
Ireland (IRMA)[45]46
UK Singles (OCC)[46]68
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[47]40
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[48]47
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[49]50
US Rolling Stone Top 100[50]51
2020 year-end chart performance for "Good as Hell"
Chart (2020)Position
Australia (ARIA)[51]48
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[52]58
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[53]88
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[54]33
UK Singles (OCC)[55]70
US Billboard Hot 100[56]31
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[57]34
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[58]14
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[59]21
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[60]16
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[61]14
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[62]35
2021 year-end chart performance for "Good as Hell"
Chart (2021)Position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[63]27

Certifications

Ariana Grande remix

Good as Hell
single
VersionRemix
CoverLizzo & Ariana Grande - Good as Hell (Remix).png
AlbumCuz I Love You (Super Deluxe)
ArtistLizzo featuring Ariana Grande
ReleasedOctober 25, 2019
RecordedJuly 2019
Studio
  • Windmark Recording Studios (Santa Monica, CA)[2]
GenreSoul-pop[citation needed] · R&B[citation needed] · hip pop[citation needed]
Length2:39
Label
Lyricist
Composer
ProducerRicky Reed
ChronologyLizzo singles
Prev year2019
Next year2020

A remix of the song featuring the American singer Ariana Grande was released on October 25, 2019.[64][65]

Track listing

Digital download[64]

  1. "Good as Hell" (featuring Ariana Grande) [Remix] – 2:39

Streaming[66]

  1. "Good as Hell" (featuring Ariana Grande) - Remix – 2:39
  2. "Good as Hell" – 2:39

Accolades

YearCeremonyCategoryResultRef.
2020iHeartRadio Music AwardsBest Remix[67]

Charts

Chart performance for "Good as Hell" (remix)
Chart (2019–2020)Peak
position
Greece (IFPI)[68]26
Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20 English Chart)[69]20
Lithuania (AGATA)[70]26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[71]10
Romania (Airplay 100)[72]96

Certifications

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)VersionLabel(s)Ref.
VariousMarch 8, 2016Digital download · streamingOriginalAtlantic · Nice Life[5]
June 17, 2016Remixes[6]
United StatesSeptember 17, 2019Rhythmic contemporaryOriginal[73]
VariousOctober 25, 2019Digital download · streamingAriana Grande remix[64]
ItalyNovember 8, 2019Radio airplayWarner[74]
United StatesNovember 11, 2019Hot adult contemporary radioOriginalAtlantic · Nice Life[75]

See also

References

References

  1. ^ Cuz I Love You (Deluxe Edition) (booklet). Nice Life, Atlantic. 2019.
  2. ^ Cuz I Love You (Deluxe Edition) (booklet). Nice Life, Atlantic. 2019.
  3. ^ Espy, Jasmine (June 1, 2017). "Lizzo wants to make Detroit feel 'Good As Hell'". Blacdetroit. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  4. ^ Carley, Brennan (March 7, 2016). "Lizzo Drops New Ricky Reed-Produced Banger, 'Good As Hell'". Spin. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "Good As Hell – Single by Lizzo on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "Good As Hell (Remixes) – EP by Lizzo on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  7. ^ Brooks, Hayden (October 24, 2019). "Ariana Grande's Remix Of Lizzo's 'Good As Hell' Is Dropping Tonight". iheartradio.com. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "Good As Hell by Lizzo on YouTube". May 11, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2019. – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Lizzo – "Good As Hell" Video". Stereogum. December 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "Good As Hell (Official Music Video) by Lizzo". YouTube. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Lizzo Joins Southern University's Marching Band for New 'Good as Hell' Video". Rolling Stone. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  12. ^ Abdurraqib, Hanif (November 28, 2018). "In Praise Of 'Good As Hell,' The Song That Believes In You Even When You Don't". NPR. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  13. ^ Daw, Stephen (May 14, 2019). "Lizzo's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  14. ^ Hot 100
  15. ^ Trust, Gary (November 25, 2019). "Post Malone's 'Circles' Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Billie Eilish's 'Everything I Wanted' Blasts to Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  16. ^ "Lizzo's 'Good as Hell' Leaps to No. 1 on 2 Dance Charts" from Billboard (December 5, 2019)
  17. ^ "Lizzo Takes Us to Church With 'Truth Hurts' & 'Good As Hell' Mashup at MTV VMAs 2019: Watch". Billboard
  18. ^ "Watch Lizzo Bring Inflatable Ass to 2019 VMAs With 'Truth Hurts,' 'Good as Hell'". Rolling Stone. August 27, 2019.
  19. ^ Thompson, Stephen (August 27, 2019). "10 Things You Might As Well Know About The 2019 VMAs". NPR
  20. ^ Hughes, Hillary (2019-12-22). "Lizzo Celebrated the Holidays Early With Euphoric 'Good As Hell' 'SNL' Debut: Watch". Billboard
  21. ^ Aswad, Jem (2019-12-22). "Watch Lizzo Rock 'Truth Hurts' and 'Good as Hell' on 'Saturday Night Live'". Variety
  22. ^ Payne, Chris (2020-02-18). "Lizzo Sounds 'Good as Hell' on Dazzling 4-Song Medley at 2020 Brit Awards". Billboard
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  24. ^ Jones, Alan (September 26, 2019). "Charts analysis: Sheeran and Stormzy still on top". Music Week. Retrieved October 6, 2019. First released in 2016, Good As Hell became better known as the bed to a JD Williams TV commercial, and nibbled at the chart earlier this year.
  25. ^ Aquilina, Tyler (November 13, 2019). "My Little Pony to launch new animated series and toy line — see exclusive first look". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 3, 2019. The video above offers an exclusive first look at both the new toys and the newly designed animated characters, set (appropriately if somewhat oddly) to Lizzo‘s “Good as Hell.”
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  64. ^ "Good as Hell (Remix) [with Ariana Grande] - Single by Lizzo". Apple Music. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  65. ^ "Lizzo on Twitter". October 25, 2019. – via Twitter.
  66. ^ "Good As Hell (with Ariana Grande) [Remix]". Spotify. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  67. ^ "2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominees Revealed: See the Full List". iHeartRadio. January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  68. ^ "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  69. ^ Note: See date February 16, 2020 * "The Official Lebanese Top 20 Archive". OLT20
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  72. ^ "Airplay 100 – 17 mai 2020" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  73. ^ "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived September 16, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  74. ^ "LIZZO "Good As Hell - Remix" | (Radio Date: 08/11/2019)". radiodate.it. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  75. ^ Cantor, Brian (November 11, 2019). "Selena Gomez's 'Lose You,' Lizzo's 'Good As Hell' Tie For Most Added At Hot AC Radio". Headline Planet. Retrieved March 18, 2024.