"Kings & Queens" received generally favorable reviews from
music critics, who praised the production,
guitar solo, and lyrics. The song topped the charts in Israel, Poland, and Slovenia, while peaking at number 13 on the US
Billboard Hot 100, and at number 19 on the
UK Singles Chart. It attained a platinum
certification in ten countries, including the United States and United Kingdom. An accompanying
music video was directed by
Isaac Rentz, which depicts a
Khaleesi-inspired Max dancing in a heaven-themed throne room alongside a group of dancers while feasting at a banquet. A remix of the song titled "Kings & Queens, Pt. 2" was released on August 6, 2020, which features American singer
Lauv and rapper
Saweetie.
Background and composition
"Kings & Queens" began development in 2018, when Max recorded the song in five separate studios located in Europe, Germany, and Los Angeles.[1] The song went through ten different iterations which included different
melodies and production, before the final version was completed around August to September 2019.[2] Max wrote the
verse and the
pre-chorus alongside American songwriter
Madison Love, before being given the
chorus by Moroccan-Swedish record producer
RedOne. The chorus originally just contained the melody, but was reworked in the studio with
Leland, Love and
Cirkut. Max decided to include the
electric guitar in the track to complement the
popelectronic sound in her music.[2] "Kings & Queens" was announced on February 27, 2020, where Max confirmed that Cirkut, RedOne, and Love were involved with production. She later revealed the song's release date, with the title and artwork on March 7, 2020.[3] It was written by Max, Leland, Child, Hillary Bernstein, Jakke Erixson, Love, Mimoza Blinsson, and producers Cirkut and RedOne.[4]
Musically, "Kings & Queens" is a
power pop song,[5] which contains several pulsing verses and a
hook containing
synthesizers. The
guitar solo following the second verse includes elements of
glam rock,[6] which Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone noted as having a "
Queen-esque quality".[7] Max stated that the lyrics to "Kings & Queens" describe how the world would be a better place with queens ruling the world.[8] She likened it to her previous song "
So Am I" (2019), acknowledging that it contained a similar message about
women's empowerment.[2] A line taken from the 1865 book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by the
Queen of Hearts was used in the song, "Disobey me, then baby, it's off with your head".[9] Chess metaphors are incorporated in the lyrics.[5]
Critical reception
Writing for
MTV News, Madeline Rothman praised the song's strong electric guitar solo with the lyric, "You might think I'm weak without a sword / But if I had one it'd be bigger than yours".[8] Mike Nied of
Idolator noted that the single "highlights Ava's ability to fill dance floors across the globe".[10] Nicholas Hautman of Us Weekly described "Kings & Queens" as "one of the best singles to come out of 2020 so far", praising Max's "powerful and theatrical vocals" and the guitar solo.[6] Writing for
Uproxx, Caitlin White described the lyrics as "a subtle tribute to the power of women and a call to action for men to support the queens in their life",[11] while Heran Mamo of Billboard acknowledged that it compared chess moves to
feminism; "In chess, the king can move one space at a time / But queens are free to go wherever they like".[12]Soundigest writer Andrew Chinikidiadi praised the transitions of the electric guitar
riff into the
bridge and the song's ending. However, he lamented the repetition and duration of the track.[13]
Billboard staff ranked "Kings & Queens" at number 53 on their
listicle of The 100 Best Songs of 2020, acknowledging that it was the "unofficial anthem of the
parade-free 2020
Pride season" during
lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] They additionally placed the song on their unranked listicle of the 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020, comparing the "deceptively heartfelt" sound to
hair metal from the
1980s.[5]
Commercial performance
"Kings & Queens" debuted at number 73 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart dated August 22, 2020, where it peaked at number 13 on the chart dated November 24, 2020.[15] It also topped the
Adult Top 40 chart dated December 12, 2020.[16][17] The song was
certified double platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 1, 2022, for sales of 2,000,000 units in the US.[18] It was the first time Child's interpolated melody received a platinum certification since being used in 35 years.[19] "Kings & Queens" peaked at number 15 on the
Canadian Hot 100 for the chart dated January 16, 2021,[20] and was eventually certified quadruple platinum by
Music Canada (MC) on April 8, 2022, for 320,000 track-equivalent sales.[21]
In the United Kingdom, "Kings & Queens" bowed at number 19 on the
UK Singles Chart dated July 3, 2020, where it was certified platinum for selling 600,000 equivalent units in the country.[22][23] In Israel, the song peaked at number one on the
Media Forest airplay chart dated May 24, 2020.[24][dead link] "Kings & Queens" also topped the
Polish Airplay Top 100 on the chart issued June 27, 2020, where it was certified triple platinum by the
Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV) for track-equivalent sales of 150,000 units.[25][26] In Australia, the song bowed at number 31 on the
ARIA Singles Chart dated October 4, 2020, where it charted for 11 weeks.[27]
Music video
A visualizer was released along with the song on March 12, 2020,[28] which depicts Max as a queen holding a glass of champagne and sword, with a royal deck of cards.[12] She confirmed on the song's release date that she already filmed the official
music video, describing it as "very colorful, super fun, crazy dancing, and a big celebration", and likened it to a rainbow.[8] The music video was released on March 27, 2020, and is directed by
Isaac Rentz. Max is seen dancing in a heaven-themed throne room with a group of dancers,[29] as she was inspired by
Khaleesi from American television series Game of Thrones, and wanted to portray an Amazonian queen surrounded by warriors. Max and Rentz used a moodboard to list several ideas for the feminist-themed music video, with the former often texting ideas to the latter during the night to ensure that it would be perceived as "authentic and personal".[30] Max envisioned the video to be "royal, but in a modern, futuristic kind of way", to ensure that it would feel simple.[1]
The video opens with Max holding a sword between her legs as she sits on a golden throne. She then organizes a banquet, in which several dancers begin drinking champagne and eating food, before performing a dance sequence. During the pre-bridge guitar solo, the dancers wield electric axes.[31]
A remix of the song titled "Kings & Queens, Pt. 2" was released on August 6, 2020. It features American singer
Lauv and rapper
Saweetie. The song was recorded during quarantine from the
COVID-19 pandemic, after initiation from Max.[1]
Composition and lyrics
"Kings & Queens, Pt. 2" incorporates a new second verse from Lauv, who described the male perspective of being in a relationship with a strong, independent woman.[142] He incorporates
Auto-Tune in his vocals, which replaces his lovelorn lyrical style.[143] Saweetie also adds a rap verse in the song, continuing the theme of female empowerment.[142]
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202031 into search. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202030 into search. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202039 into search. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
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ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202031 into search. Retrieved August 3, 2020.