"Kamikaze" is a song by Danish singer and songwriter MØ, from the Japanese edition of her second studio album Forever Neverland (2018). It was released on 15 October 2015 through Chess Club and RCA Victor as a standalone single. The song was co-produced by Jr Blender and Boaz van de Beatz. It reached the top 40 in Belgium and Denmark.
Background The antecedent draft of "Kamikaze" was authored by MØ's confidante Mads Kristiansen. MØ says she "fell in love" with the song instantly, and immediately set about making it her own. MØ then hooked up with American producer Diplo in New York City, working on versions of the song. In a press release MØ analyzed working with him.
The official audio later premiered on 14 October, on MØ's Vevo channel.
In popular culture The song was sampled in the feature film Nerve and is included in the film's soundtrack. It also is featured in episode 1x17 of the American television series Quantico and in the movie Snatched.
Music video The accompanying music video for "Kamikaze" was filmed in Kyiv, Ukraine. It was shot and directed by Truman & Cooper and produced by Amalia Rawlings and Corin Taylor. It premiered on MØ's Vevo channel on 27 October. Billboard magazine likened the video of "drag-racing motor bikes and riding around on what appears to be a chariot made of an old sofa and a tractor" to scenes from Mad Max: Fury Road. The music video was included in Pigeons & Planes' "Best Music Videos of the Month". The music video also gained 1 million views in its initial three days.
Reception "Kamikaze" was premiered by Annie Mac as "The Hottest Record of the Year". The song also came in at #60 on the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for 2015.
Charts + Chart (2015–2016) Peakposition Australia (ARIA) 91 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 30 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia) 19 Denmark (Tracklisten) 16 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) 12 UK Singles (OCC) 183
Certifications
Release history + Region Date Format Label Worldwide 15 October 2015 Digital download Russia 26 October 2015 Contemporary hit radio Song United States 1 December 2015 RCA
References