Angry (The Rolling Stones Song)

"Angry" is a song by British rock band the Rolling Stones, which serves as the lead single from their studio album ''Hackney Diamonds''. Released on 6 September 2023, it is the first new original music from the band in three years (following the non-album single "Living in a Ghost Town" in 2020), whilst ''Hackney Diamonds'' is their first album of new original music in 18 years (following ''A Bigger Bang'' in 2005).

Release and promotion

On 2 September 2023 – following a couple weeks of cryptic online teasers for the new album – the band previewed a short snippet of "Angry" on the website dontgetangrywithme.com, which experienced instability and frequent errors that some interpreted as being intentional. On 4 September, the album was officially announced, as were the plans for a livestream with television host Jimmy Fallon where more information would be revealed and the lead single would be premiered. On 6 September, the livestream was broadcast on the Rolling Stones' official YouTube channel while being filmed at the Hackney Empire Theatre in London. Fallon interviewed the band, who revealed the album's track list and release date and also answered various questions sent in from fans, and the music video for "Angry" premiered after the interview concluded. The video features actress Sydney Sweeney, dressed in black studded chaps and dancing in the back seat of red Mercedes convertible as it is driven through Los Angeles, as the band members sing to her from large billboards that the car passes. The video was met with criticism that it objectified Sweeney, but she defended it as "empowerment through embracing ybody". This song is included in the soundtrack for ''EA Sports FC 24''.

Reception

"Angry" was met with primarily positive reviews. A review from '' The Telegraph'' rated the song 5 out of 5 stars, calling it the band's "best single in four decades, an absolute blast ithextravagant, leering defiance"; describing the riff as "defiantly dumb", the guitar solo as "gnarly", and the overall style as "unapologetically old-fashioned". Another 5-star review from the newspaper '' I'' shares this positive sentiment, characterizing the song as "rollicking, rip-roaring rock 'n' roll" with a "characteristically big, confident guitar riff ndcatchy refrain" that are " mbued withfeeling and life". A 4-star review from '' The Guardian'' also echoes this praise, citing the band's ability to "cleverly wax and wane from minor to major chords, carrying tale of alternating desperation and resignation" while also making the track "a complete hoot hatsuggests fun, freedom, and creative hunger". Alternatively, a review from '' Far Out'' offered a dissenting opinion and rated the song 2.5 out of 5 stars, criticizing the song as "distinctly average" and "Stones-by-numbers", further stating that it makes use of "the same borrowed and rather tired blues riff" and that it "aims to thrill but merely titillates".

This was named the best rock song of 2023 by '' Ultimate Classic Rock''.

In the U.S., although the song did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, "Angry" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

Personnel

The Rolling Stones
* Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, guitar
* Keith Richards – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
* Ronnie Wood – guitar, backing vocals

Additional musicians
*Matt Clifford – piano
*Steve Jordan – drums
* Andrew Watt – production, backing vocals, percussion
* Marc VanGool – studio assistant, technician

Charts

Weekly charts

Monthly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

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2023 songs
2023 singles
The Rolling Stones songs
Songs written by Andrew Watt (record producer)
Songs written by Jagger–Richards
Song recordings produced by Andrew Watt (record producer)
Polydor Records singles