Track Review: Rina Sawayama, “This Hell”

Since her acclaimed debut album SAWAYAMA, which was named the #1 album of 2020 by The Bulletin, Rina Sawayama has jump-started her acting career (John Wick 4 is due in 2023) and released a slew of bonus tracks like “Bees & Honey” and “We Out Here.” Now, Rina has returned to ready the release of her upcoming sophomore album.

“This Hell,” the lead single for Hold The Girl, picks up where SAWAYAMA left off in its boundless exploration of arena rock and power pop. The “let’s go, girls” intro immediately situates the song in the legacy of Shania Twain. Wailing guitars juxtaposed against giddy country-tinged verses steadily transform into a euphoric chorus that revels in a fearless acceptance of whatever fate her queerness may cause her to encounter. From her critique of capitalism with “XS” to the thread of family trauma that grounds SAWAYAMA, Rina has always leaned into a certain tongue-in-cheek-ness that differentiates her from her peers. The critical lens she brings to pop culture in the context of pop music continues in “This Hell.” She rebukes the barbaric nature of paparazzi culture (“Fuck what they did to Britney, to Lady Di and Whitney”), references one of the most culturally impactful films of the 21st century (“'Cause the Devil's wearing Prada / And loves a little drama, ooh-ooh.”), and invokes Paris Hilton’s iconic “that’s hot” quip.

“This Hell” feels perfectly transitionary. The musical legacy of Sawayama is there, but the hints of country and the thematic connection to her debut album help “This Hell” simultaneously chart new and storied ground for Rina. “This Hell” is a damn good time with a pitch-perfect chorus to boot. Dark horse Song of the Summer contender?

Score: 78