When you hear the name Rebecca Black, you probably think of the hilariously, lighthearted, memeable song and video “Friday,” a track that was released over TEN years ago (yes, you read that right). You probably think of what pop culture looked like way back in 2011: Instagram had only been created four months prior, Kim Kardashian got married for 72 days, and the final Harry Potter movie was released. The song catapulted Black, who was only 13-years-old, into YouTube stardom just about one month after its release after going viral on Twitter, later being crowned the worst song ever created by many music critics.
The moment, which in retrospect, felt too innocent and endearing to be eligible for such intense backlash, lasted only a few months, but in those few months, rage against Black grew immensely when she started to get phone and death threats for apparently having a fun time making music. She eventually garnered a few more pop culture moments in the spotlight throughout the rest of 2011, and “Friday” became the most-viewed YouTube video of the year, receiving more than 167 million views during its first four months.
Fast forward a decade later after Black continued to make music independently, where her name came back into the mainstream thanks to her TikTok presence (she has over 760,000 followers on the platform). Black’s first single of 2021, “Girlfriend,” was released in January 2021, followed by a remix of “Friday” to celebrate the track’s 10-year anniversary, featuring 3OH!3, Big Freedia, and Dorian Electra, produced by Dylan Brady of 100 Gecs.
The new single, out today, comes ahead of a new project set to release in June. “Personal” is a track reminiscent of the likes of Charli XCX, Grimes, and Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, incorporating mainstream sounds with the hypest of hyperpop: a queer, post-breakup anthem.
“‘Personal’ represents this reckoning with a consequence of heartbreak I hadn’t really ever understood” Rebecca shares, “which was the guilt and heaviness that comes with being the one to put an end to a relationship when that is not what the other person wants. I’ve learned you can’t really stop two people on roads heading in opposite directions, and it can feel so difficult to consciously make a decision that you know will hurt someone you love, while at the same time knowing it’s the necessary choice for yourself at the end of the day.”
More from Black is coming soon – follow her on Instagram here.
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