Artist(s): Joshua Grimmie
Title: Tragic Kingdom
Genre(s): Pop Rock, Glam Rock, Disco, Synth Pop
Length: 3:43
Writer: J.Grimmie
Producer: Joshua Grimmie
Label: Five Pesky Kids
From The Album: GOLDENHEART
Tragic Kingdom is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter and producer Joshua Grimmie. The song was released worldwide on October 22nd 2020 with no warning aside from Grimmie revealing the artwork and the elusive release date of "October" the month prior. It serves as the second single from his upcoming sophomore album, "GOLDENHEART", set for release on an undisclosed date in 2020. The track was written, arranged, mixed and produced entirely by Joshua Grimmie himself just like previous single "SURPRISE!". The track was written in August 2019, following a string of emotional breakdowns for Grimmie. Ignorant and ill-informed comments and articles regarding his mental health and private life inspired Joshua to write the provocative, tongue-in-cheek track. "Tragic Kingdom", like the preceding single, merges a variety of genres such as; pop rock, glam rock, disco and synth pop. The "1980's inspired" soundscape is filled with "dreamy" and "glossy" synth lines which are juxtaposed with with Joshua's "raw", "gritty" and "rock star" vocals.
The second single from his forthcoming album, "Tragic Kingdom" continues the more experimental, rock infused production and self aware lyrical themes from the leading single, "SURPRISE!". Being diagnosed with bipolar in 2017, an extremely vocal activist and having a string of public relationships and breakups with other celebrities, Joshua has often found himself at the centre of media storms for years. "Tragic Kingdom" is seen as a "kooky", "self deprecating" response to the false narratives and images that people try to portray of him within the media. In the track Joshua embellishes all of his "flaws" and tries to sugar coat them all, in order to woo a potential next "victim" - a nod to his slew of high profile relationships. The track purposely avoids pronouns as Grimmie made a conscious decision to make his music as inclusive as possible. The opening line of
"My mainframe fucks with your binary" has caused many to believe that Joshua is non-binary, though Grimmie has not publicly confirmed this.
"Tragic Kingdom" was initially more rock oriented and "heavier" in sound during its conception and demo stages. As production of the album continued, however, many more "rockier" and "harsher" tracks were conceptualised, leading Joshua to rework the song in order to have more variety within the project. When "Tragic Kingdom" was gearing up to become the second single, Joshua tweaked the track again, making it slightly more radio friendly while still maintaining it's grittier heart.
Joshua wrote:"For me, this era is all about ownership; controlling my own narrative and standing in my truth. People write shit, make assumptions about me, send hateful things my way on an hourly basis. For the most part, it's either based on ignorance or false information. Fake news, if you will. Going into a brand new album cycle, a new chapter, I wanted the leading singles to really tackle that stuff head on; cut them off at the source, own my situations and leave all the trolls with blue balls because I've already brought it up on a large scale. "Tragic Kingdom" is me playing the caricature that social media and all these gossip columns have painted me out to be. Yeah, I have bad breakdowns. Yeah, I can be a lot to handle. Yeah, I'm on a lot of medication. Yeah, I'm complicated. Your point? That shit doesn't define me. You wanna see the clown trip up? You wanna see the seal clap? OK, here it is. Tenfold! I hope you're happy. I hope it scratched that itch. I'm gonna go do something productive while you get vexed over an out of context picture of me looking sad in 2018. People seem to get off on me being "crazy" or whatever. So...here it is!"
Tragic KingdomMy mainframe fucks with your binary
I'm a dose of salts topped with a cherry
Do you wanna fly away with the fairies?
I could make you see them if you just let me
I'm an iron fist inside a velvet glove
Don't you wanna fall head over heels in love?
I could take a pill if I seem too tough
I could throw them out if you like it rough
The water is clear and shark infested
Drop me your pin if you're interested
Hello, are you feeling all alone?
I could bring the party and send in the clowns
And if it's too much, I can turn it around
Fall off that beanstalk and smack on the ground
Pretty eyes, please tell me why you frown
Aren't you having fun in the tragic kingdom?
It's falling down, down, down
Oh what a time in the tragic kingdomHere's a confession, I get slippery when wet
But I'm still left high and dry with every sunset
And if I'm being a little too hot to handle,
Press the button, I got like a million channels
All the screws are loose on my shelf
Oh, doesn't this ad just write itself?
Hello, are you feeling all alone?
I could bring the party and send in the clowns
And if it's too much, I can turn it around
Fall off that beanstalk and smack on the ground
Pretty eyes, please tell me why you frown
Aren't you having fun in the tragic kingdom?
It's falling down, down, down
Oh what a time in the tragic kingdomA little bit too upfront
A little bit back to front
Expected to give a fuck
Demanded to shut right up
A barbed wired heart to get to
A beauty once you break through
So much venom in what they wrote
But use my name like it's an antidote
I come knocking and make them scared
I lay low and they poke the bear
Hope I don't seem too complex
I'm still waiting on your text...
Hello, are you feeling all alone?
I could bring the party and send in the clowns
And if it's too much, I can turn it around
Fall off that beanstalk and smack on the ground
Pretty eyes, please tell me why you frown
Aren't you having fun in the tragic kingdom?
It's falling down, down, down
Oh what a time in the tragic kingdomIt's falling down
It's falling down
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