"Motion Sickness" is a song by American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. It was released on July 18, 2017 by Dead Oceans as the second single from her debut studio album, Stranger in the Alps.[1] The song was written by Bridgers and Marshall Vore and produced by Tony Berg and Ethan Gruska. "Motion Sickness" was written about Bridgers's ex-boyfriend Ryan Adams,[2] whom she later accused of emotional abuse, alongside several other women.[3] In 2022, the song was certified gold in the United States (RIAA).
| "Motion Sickness" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Phoebe Bridgers | ||||
| from the album Stranger in the Alps | ||||
| Released | July 18, 2017 | |||
| Genre | Alt-country | |||
| Length | 3:49 | |||
| Label | Dead Oceans | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Phoebe Bridgers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Motion Sickness" on YouTube | ||||
Background and composition
edit"Motion Sickness" is an alt-country and "Americana-tinged" song[4][5] that has been compared to the work of Elliott Smith in its lyrical honesty.[6] It is the most upbeat song on the album[citation needed], with a "hopping pulse and singalong chorus."[7] The song was described by Mish Barber-Way of The Fader as "the epitome of confession-meets-comedy, a big 'fuck you' delivered with a wink and a kiss."[8]
The song’s title was inspired by the Bright Eyes song “Motion Sickness,” first released in 2006 on the Rarity Compilation Album “Noise Floor,” and by the 2005 Bright Eyes live album “Motion Sickness.” Bridgers subsequently teamed up with Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst in 2019 to release the album “Better Oblivion Community Center” by their band of the same name.
“Motion Sickness” was written about Bridgers' ex-boyfriend Ryan Adams,[2] who produced her debut EP Killer and released it on his record label PAX AM. The song gained renewed attention in 2019 when Bridgers joined a chorus of women accusing Adams of abuse. Of the song's relevance to the situation, Flood magazine writer Anya Jaremko-Greenworld said "when Bridgers sings sadly on the chorus, 'There are no words in the English language / I could scream to drown you out,' she's wrong. Adams was drowned out last week by the voices of women in the music industry, harmonizing in fury and in liberation."[2]
Music video
edit"Motion Sickness" was accompanied by a Justin Mitchell-directed video that depicts Bridgers riding a scooter around her Los Angeles neighborhood in a tuxedo, before ending up in a karaoke bar. [9] At one point she rides on the sidewalk past the intersection of Lucile Avenue and Hoover Street. Of the video Bridgers said, "I've had the idea for this video since before recording [the song]. Probably inspired by my brother Jackson singing "Down With the Sickness" to me in karaoke with 100% commitment in an orange jumpsuit."[5]
Live performances
editPhoebe Bridgers promoted the song through various live performances. On November 27, 2017, she performed the song in her NPR Tiny Desk Concert with Ethan Gruska and Rob Moose. In the set she also performed Stranger in the Alps album tracks "Demi Moore" and "Killer"[10] She performed the song on NME's Basement Sessions on December 7, 2017.[11] She then played the song on KCRW on January 11, 2018, and on KEXP on July 13, 2018.[12][13]
Critical reception
editRadio station KEXP named "Motion Sickness" their "Song of the Day", calling it "a love-hate song that chooses honesty about heartbreak as opposed to vindictive bitterness towards a past lover."[14] Tully Claymore of Stereogum described the song as "an aching betrayal, a story of a friendship or relationship that collapsed under some unknowable pressure"[1] In a review for the album, Ellen Peirson-Hagger of Under the Radar singled it out as a highlight, saying "Stand-out track 'Motion Sickness' hits at both the familiarity she spawns with her youthful lyrics, and her controlled and nuanced observational skill. She acknowledges her childishness, singing 'I hate you for what you did/and I miss you like a little kid,' while still rendering the ability to mock her overbearing sensitivity with 'I have emotional motion sickness/Somebody roll the windows down.'"[15]
The song was included on NME and NPR's lists of the best songs of 2017, placing 16th and 38th respectively.[6][16]
Charts
edit| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17] | 26 |
Certifications and sales
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[19] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b Tully Claymore, Gabriela (July 18, 2017). "Phoebe Bridgers – "Motion Sickness"". Stereogum. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c Jaremko-Greenwold, Anya (March 3, 2019). "Reminder: Phoebe Bridgers Exposed Ryan Adams in Diss Track "Motion Sickness"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe; Ryzik, Melena (February 13, 2019). "Ryan Adams Dangled Success. Women Say They Paid a Price". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ Gee, Chris (September 20, 2017). "Phoebe Bridgers - 'Stranger in the Alps'". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "PHOEBE BRIDGERS SHARES A NEW VIDEO FOR 'MOTION SICKNESS'". August 23, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "Songs from 2017: the best of the year". NME. November 27, 2017.
- ^ Modell, Josh (September 27, 2017). "One of this year's best debut albums is also one of its saddest". The A. V. Club. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Barber-Way, Mish. "Cover Story: Phoebe Bridgers". The Fader. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Christopher (August 23, 2017). "Watch: Phoebe Bridgers - "Motion Sickness"". Under the Radar. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Thompston, Stephen (November 27, 2017). "Phoebe Bridgers: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Thomas (December 7, 2017). "Watch Phoebe Bridgers' stunning performance of 'Motion Sickness' in our NME Basement Session". NME. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Bentley, Jason (January 11, 2018). "Phoebe Bridgers, 'Motion Sickness' (Live)". NPR. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "KEXP Sessions". KEXP. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Hackett, Andrew (September 27, 2017). "Song of the Day: Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness". KEXP. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger in the Alps". Under the Radar. September 18, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "The 100 Best Songs Of 2017". NPR. December 13, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "Phoebe Bridgers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Phoebe Bridgers – Motion Sickness". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Phoebe Bridgers – Motion Sickness". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 19, 2022.