Kings & Queens (Ava Max song)

"Kings & Queens" began development in 2018, where 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, where it interpolated Bonnie Tyler's 1986 song "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)", and consequently added Desmond Child to the song's credits as a songwriter.[3][4] Max decided to include the electric guitar in the track to complement the pop electronic 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.[5] It was written by Max, Leland, Child, Hillary Bernstein, Jakke Erixon, Love, Mimoza Blinsson, and producers Cirkut and RedOne.[6]

"Kings & Queens" contains several pulsing verses, with a hook containing synthesizers. The guitar solo following the second verse includes elements of glam rock,[7] which Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone noted as having a "Queen-esque quality".[8] Max stated that the song's lyrics describe how it would be a better place if queens ruled the world.[9] 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".[10]

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".[9] Mike Nied of Idolator noted that the single "highlights Ava's ability to fill dance floors across the globe".[11] 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.[7] 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",[12] 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".[13] 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.[4] 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]

"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 on the chart dated December 12, 2020.[16][17] The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 5, 2021, for sales of 1,000,000 units in the US.[18] "Kings & Queens" peaked at number 15 on the Canadian Hot 100 for the chart dated January 16, 2021, where the song was later certified platinum by Music Canada (MC) for 80,000 track-equivalent sales.[19][20] In Australia, "Kings & Queens" bowed at number 31 on the ARIA Singles Chart, where it charted for 11 weeks.[21]

In the United Kingdom, "Kings & Queens" bowed at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart dated July 3, 2020, where it was certified gold for selling 400,000 equivalent units.[22][23] In Israel, the song peaked at number one on the Media Forest airplay chart dated May 24, 2020.[24] "Kings & Queens" also topped the Polish Airplay Top 100 on the chart issued June 27, 2020, where it was certified double platinum by the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV) for track-equivalent sales of 40,000 units.[25][26]

A visualizer was released along with the song on March 12, 2020,[27] which depicts Max as a queen holding a glass of champagne and sword, with a royal deck of cards.[13] 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.[9] 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,[28] 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".[29] 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.[30]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]

A remix of the song titled "Kings & Queens, Pt. 2" was released on August 6, 2020. It features singer-songwriter Lauv and American rapper Saweetie. The song was recorded during quarantine from the COVID-19 pandemic, after initiation from Max.[1]