Kim Petras has released the follow up single to her featuring role on Sam Smith’s hit, “Unholy.” Petras, who recently won a Grammy award, began teasing a new song on social media in March. It was then announced that it would feature a verse from Nicki Minaj. The song, titled “Alone,” prominently samples Alice Deejay’s famous ’90s Eurodance hit “Better Off Alone.” Petras later confirmed on Instagram that the song would be released on April 21 and posted a video in which she sat next to a fireplace and spoke into a pink rotary phone. The video featured a sample of Nicki’s voice saying “Yeah! It’s Barbie and it’s Kim Petras!” over the classic ’90s tune.
In an interview with Apple Music about the song, Kim Petras explained why she chose to sing over the sample. “I was born and raised in Germany, and that song is a classic in clubs all over Europe, so I grew up to it,” she said. “I had a lot of amazing moments, some bad moments… So many club moments in general to that song. So, that song is just in me, and I feel like it inspired me to make music. I’m just so honored that Alice Deejay let us do this shit because it’s epic.”
Some Features Are Better Than Others
What better way to start the summer pop season than singing over a dated ’90s pop instrumental? Although Kim Petras did recently take home a Grammy, it was for a featuring role on Sam Smith’s “Unholy.” Not to take away from her achievement, it’s still great. However, Kim Petras is not as good as a standalone artist as she is when she features on someone else’s song. Even if you grew up in the ’90s, the “Better Off Alone” instrumental is extremely played out. Perhaps if Dr. Luke, who produced the track, had made more of an effort to update the sound or modernize it, it would have been better. Sadly, it feels very much like a copy and paste job.
Lyrically, the song is a basic club banger reminiscent of 2010-era singles. It features lyrics about wanting to go home with someone you meet while you’re out dancing. “I could ride it, ride it, ride it, ride it all night,” Petras philosophizes over the beat. “Watch me ride it, ride it, ride it, ride it all night.” According to the credits, six people wrote the lyrics to this song. That’s not counting Nicki and her verse. Speaking of Nicki, sadly her verse does not do much for the song. While her flow is amazing as always, it feels somewhat tacked on. It does, however, go to show how much of a chameleon she is. Still, it doesn’t touch her “Princess Diana” feature from last week. What do you think of the new Kim Petras song? Sound off in the comments.
Quotable Lyrics:
I set trends from Queens to Beijing
I’m not the one that do the imitating
Puff, puff, pass ’cause you know we blazing
When I put it on him, he say, “It’s amazing”