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"Play Destroy" is a song by Poppy featuring Grimes and served as a promotional single for Poppy's second studio album Am I a Girl?. It is the thirteenth track on the album. The audio video currently has over 3 million views on YouTube.

Background[]

Poppy revealed the title along with the tracklist to Am I a Girl? on Instagram. The song's audio video was released on YouTube one day before the album's official release on October 30th, 2018, however it wasn't released to any streaming platform until the next day along with the album on October 31st, 2018. It was confirmed that this upload was a "leak" on Grimes' Instagram story, and that it was released without her consent.[1]

Theme[]

"Play Destroy" is about the destruction of capitalism and corporate America. When discussing the song during an interview with NME, interviewer Andrew Trendell asked Poppy what kinds of things she wanted to destroy, to which she responded "corporations".[2] The song makes explicit reference to Walmart, Monsanto and Raytheon, three companies that hold significant power in the supermarket, agriculture and weapon industry, respectively.

Both "Play Destroy" and "X" contrast with Poppy's previously pop-oriented music, alternating between heavy metal and pop. Poppy has described both tracks as a new genre called "Poppymetal".[3] The single "Scary Mask" from her Choke EP continues this musical direction, as well as the single "Concrete" from her album I Disagree.

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
It's Grimes
I'm Poppy
Let's go
(Destroy)

[Chorus]
This is how we play
This is how we play destroy (Play destroy)
Gonna cut your face
And break your favorite toy
Drop a match in the gas tank
Blow up your neighbor's pool
Oh, boy
I love to play destroy

[Breakdown]
Mhm, mhm
Oh, boy, boy, b-boy
Mhm (Destroy)
Mhm

[Verse]
This is how we play
This is how we play destroy (Play destroy)
Manipulate the girls
Indoctrinate the boys
Burn down the local Walmart
Monsanto, Raytheon

[Chorus]
Oh, boy
I love to play destroy
I love to play destroy
Play destroy
Drop a match in the gas tank
Blow up your neighbor's pool
Oh, boy
I love to play destroy

[Bridge]
Poppy, I'm dying
It's a Hollywood moment
Destroy, destroy, destroy
Destroy, destroy, destroy
It's time to die
Uh
This is how we play destroy-troy

[Chorus]
This is how we play
This is how we play destroy (Play destroy)
Gonna cut your face
And break your favorite toy
Drop a match in the gas tank
Blow up your neighbor's pool
Oh, boy
Oh, oh, boy

[Outro]
I love to play destroy
Play destroy
Burn down the local Walmart
Monsanto, Raytheon
Oh, boy
I love to play destroy
I love to play destroy

Audio[]

Poppy_-_Play_Destroy_feat._Grimes

Poppy - Play Destroy feat. Grimes

Trivia[]

  • This is the fifth Poppy era song containing a feature, the first being the cut "Lowlife" verse with Travis Mills, the second being "My Style" featuring Charlotte, the third being "Time Is Up" featuring Diplo, the fourth being "Aristocrat" featuring Garibay, the sixth being "Scary Mask" featuring Fever 333, and the seventh being "Screammm" featuring GASM.
  • The YouTube audio was originally titled "13 Poppy Play Destroy feat Grimes", as this was how it appeared as a YouTube notification.
  • This song was performed live during the North American leg of the Am I a Girl? Tour as well as the Threesome Tour. However, Grimes' vocal parts were pre-recorded.
  • In an interview with NME, Poppy stated that she considered the song separate from Am I a Girl?.[2]
  • The song was mixed by Zakk Cervini.[4]

References[]

Navigation[]

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