Guess (song)
"Guess" | ||||
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Single by Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish | ||||
from the album Brat and It's the Same but There's Three More Songs So It's Not | ||||
Released | 1 August 2024 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:23 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Charli XCX singles chronology | ||||
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Billie Eilish singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Guess" on YouTube |
"Guess" is a song by British singer Charli XCX taken from Brat and It's the Same but There's Three More Songs So It's Not, the deluxe edition of her sixth studio album, Brat. A remix version featuring American singer Billie Eilish was released as the deluxe's lead single on 1 August 2024. Released alongside a music video from which 10,000 pairs of underwear were donated to I Support the Girls, the remix marked the first studio collaboration by Eilish in several years and was the fourth remix from Brat.
"Guess" received positive reviews from critics and entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart, and at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, as well as the charts in Australia, Ireland, Lithuania, and New Zealand, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Norway, and Sweden.
Original version and background
[edit]The original version of "Guess" was released on 10 June 2024 through Atlantic Records as the seventeenth track of the deluxe version of her sixth studio album, Brat.[1] It was produced by the Dare and co-written with Dylan Brady of 100 gecs.[2] "Guess" makes references to guessing the colour of her underwear and cunnilingus.[3] Upon release, the song was described as "extremely horny" by Kaelen Bell of Exclaim![4]
In May 2024, Eilish stated in an interview with Zane Lowe that she had been in a studio for the first time in several years and had recorded a collaboration with an artist she was a huge fan of. She also mentioned that she had previously resisted such collaborations due to nervousness.[5] XCX had previously expressed an interest in collaborating with Eilish as early as 2017, though the pair were unable to find an appropriate song.[6]
On 31 July 2024, Charli XCX shared a post with the artwork of the remix, asking followers to guess based on the cover showing just the lower profiles of both artists.[7] The singer is seen wearing white mini-skirt while the collaborator wears baggy jeans and several rings on their hand. Based on the details, fans quickly figured out the featured artist to be Billie Eilish.[8] That same day, fans shared pictures of flyers asking people to call a phone number that plays a snippet of the remix.[9]
Release and music video
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/Charli_XCX_%26_Billie_Eilish_on_a_pile_of_underwear.png/220px-Charli_XCX_%26_Billie_Eilish_on_a_pile_of_underwear.png)
On 31 July, Charli XCX confirmed the remix with Eilish and announced the release for the following day.[10] It is the fourth remix of a Brat track, following "Girl, So Confusing" with Lorde, "360" with Yung Lean and Robyn, and "Von Dutch" with Addison Rae.[11] Eilish's verse features a little extra bass, which Anna Gaca of Pitchfork interpreted as representing Eilish "spott[ing] the girl she likes and her heart’s pounding".[12] An accompanying music video directed by Aidan Zamiri was released alongside the remix.[13] According to Zamiri, the video was filmed on 28 July 2024, only four days ahead of its release.[14] The video starts in a house party hosted by Charli XCX, where Eilish appears driving a skiploader through the wall. The two then walk on a street where panties are falling from the sky before climbing a pile of them.[15]
"There's people for every style. Just because somebody is experiencing homelessness doesn't mean that they don't prefer to wear a thong."
Dana Marlowe talking to BBC Newsbeat in August 2024[16]
The video ends with a message revealing that the unworn undergarments used in the video would be donated to I Support the Girls, an American charity which distributes underwear and period products to women suffering domestic violence, homelessness, and hardship. The charity later stated that it had received 10,000 pairs, much of which was "sexy", and its founder Dana Marlowe stated that they welcomed such a donation on the grounds that it was important to them to encourage choice.[16]
Reception
[edit]The song was received positively. Marcus Wratten of PinkNews described the song as "super-sapphic",[6] while Talecia Vescio of Junkee Media wrote that the song served "cunt".[17] Robin Murray of Clash wrote that the song's "seismic, system shaking, Earth shuddering electronics [revel] in Millennial tropes – French touch and electroclash – while also pirouetting to the future [and] remaining loyal to her hyper pop fantasies".[18] In addition, Anna Gaca of Pitchfork described the "Pop/R&B" track as "a cheeky, bikini, high-rise, hipster remix" of the original,[12] and the track's release elicited reactions from Amelia Dimoldenberg, Julia Fox, Adam Lambert, Suki Waterhouse, Addison Rae, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Rita Ora.[19]
One fan described Eilish's lyrics "Charli likes boys but she knows I'd hit it" as "predatory" and accused her of queerbaiting, prompting an angry response from Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell.[20] Many fans interpreted a whispered lyric at the end of the track, "You wanna guess what me and Billie have been textin' about? (You've been disrespectful)/ Still tryin' to guess the password to my Google Drive (Are you obsessed with me?)/ You wanna guess the address of the party we're at (You really are not invited)", to be a jab at Taylor Swift, on the grounds that targeted variants of her album The Tortured Poets Department had obstructed both XCX's Brat and Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft from the top of the UK Albums Chart and Billboard 200, respectively.[21]
Charts
[edit]Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] | 45 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] | 28 |
Singapore (RIAS)[24] | 11 |
South Africa (TOSAC)[25] | 32 |
UAE (IFPI)[26] | 17 |
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[27] | 16 |
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[65] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[66] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ Wickes, Hanna (31 July 2024). "So Brat: Fans Think Charli XCX and Billie Eilish's 'Guess' Remix May Be About Taylor Swift". J-14. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ Corcoran, Nina (10 June 2024). "Charli XCX Releases Deluxe Edition of Brat: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ fantano (10 June 2024). BRAT and it's the same but there's 3 more songs so it's not REVIEW but it's just the 3 more songs. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Charli XCX Drops 'Brat and it's the same but there's three more songs so it's not' │ Exclaim!". Charli XCX Drops 'Brat and it's the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not' │ Exclaim!. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Rogerson, Ben (2 August 2024). ""I was like, 'Why are you making me do that - what are you talking about!?": Why Billie Eilish's collaboration with Charli XCX on Guess might not have happened". MusicRadar. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ a b Wratten, Marcus (2 August 2024). "Billie Eilish tells Charli XCX she'd 'hit it' on sapphic 'Guess' remix". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Peters, Daniel (1 August 2024). "Charli XCX teases "Guess" remix with unknown artist, heavily rumoured to be Billie Eilish". NME. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (31 July 2024). "Here's Why Fans Think Charli XCX & Billie Eilish Are Collaborating on a "Guess" Remix". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Armstrong, Megan (31 July 2024). "Charli XCX Seemingly Teased A Snippet Of Her "Guess" Remix, Which Possibly Features Billie Eilish". Uproxx. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Brasil, Sydney (1 August 2024). "Charli XCX Enlists Billie Eilish for "Guess" Remix". Exclaim!. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX – "Guess (Remix Feat. Billie Eilish)"". Stereogum. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b Gaca, Anna. "Charli XCX / Billie Eilish: "Guess featuring Billie Eilish"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (1 August 2024). "Charli XCX and Billie Eilish Share New "Guess" Remix: Watch the Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Peters, Daniel (2 August 2024). "Charli XCX and Billie Eilish join forces on "Guess" remix, produced by The Dare and Finneas". NME. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Murray, Tom (1 August 2024). "Billie Eilish tells Charli XCX "I'd hit it' on "Guess" remix". The Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ a b Collins, Riyah (2 August 2024). "Charli XCX donates thousands of pants from new video". BBC News. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Vescio, Talecia (2 August 2024). "Review: Charli XCX's 'Guess' Remix Featuring Billie Eilish". Junkee. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (2 August 2024). "Charli XCX ft. Billie Eilish – 'Guess' | Reviews". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Julia Fox leads reactions to Charli XCX and Billie Eilish's 'Guess'". The Independent. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Dailey, Hannah (2 August 2024). "Finneas Defends Billie Eilish After Commenter Calls Her Charli XCX 'Guess' Verse 'Predatory'". Billboard. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (2 August 2024). "Fans think lyric on new Charli XCX and Billie Eilish 'Guess' remix is a Taylor Swift diss". NME. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX – Guess" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 32 (2 - 8 Aug 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "TOP RELEASE OF THE WEEK: LOCAL & INTL STREAMING". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024.
Top Release of The Week: LOCAL & INTL Streaming - Week 33
- ^ "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official UAE Chart Top 20 from 02/08/2024 to 08/08/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Charli XCX. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Croatia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 32. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 32, 2024". Hitlisten. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX, Billie Eilish: Guess featuring Billie Eilish" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Top Singles (Week 32, 2024)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 35 (32-35)/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Streymi, spilun og sala viku 33" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Media Forest Week 35, 2024". Media Forest. Archived from the original on 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 32" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 14, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Straumēšanas TOP 2024 – 32. nedēļa" [Streaming TOP 2024 – Week 32] (in Latvian). LAIPA. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "2024 32-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Singel 2024 uke 32". VG-lista. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 02.08.2024–08.08.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202432 into search. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "BGM Chart – Week 31 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Download Chart – Week 31 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Canciones (Week 32, 2024)" (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 32". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for week of 2 September 2024". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Charli XCX – Guess". Music Canada. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Charli Xcx Ft Billie Eilish – Guess". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 September 2024.