Joanna (JoJo song)

"Joanna" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter JoJo, released on October 11, 2019 by Clover Music and Warner Bros. Records.[3] The song marks her first original release since the creation of Clover Music and the singer signing to Warner Bros. Records.[1]

"Joanna"
Single by JoJo
ReleasedOctober 11, 2019 (2019-10-11)
Genre
Length2:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jeff Gitelman
JoJo singles chronology
"Say So"
(2019)		 "Joanna"
(2019)		 "Sabotage"
(2019)

Background

Following the release of her third studio album Mad Love, JoJo announced the creation of her record label imprint, Clover Music, in a joint deal with Interscope.[4] It later moved to Warner Bros. Records.[5] "Joanna" is the singer's first original release under the label.[1]

On December 21, 2018 JoJo's first two studio albums were re-released with re-recorded vocals and slightly reworked production in order to coincide with the singer's 28th birthday.[6][7] The albums were re-recorded due to Blackground Records' removing of both of the records from all music platforms following the singer's disputes with the label.[8][9][10] Work on the singer's fourth studio album began shortly after the re-releases.[11] "Joanna" was announced the day prior to its release.[12]

Composition

"Joanna" was written by JoJo, Natalie Dunn, Rebekah Muhammad, and Jeff Gitelman, the latter of whom produced the track.[13] Musically, "Joanna" has been described as a freestyle[1] and R&B[2] ballad with "raw" and "stripped-down" instrumentation led by a "bluesy" guitar riff.[2][14][3] The musical arrangement of the song was compared to the songs found on the singer's previous mixtapes.[15] The lyrical content of "Joanna" centers around the comments of haters, music critics, and fans. Singing in the third person,[1] singer mocks the opinions of others in the lyrics "Where did your acting career go? / You were supposed to be somebody / You were supposed to make more money".[14] "Joanna" has also been interpreted as a response to cancel culture.[14]

Critical reception

Madeline Roth, writing for MTV, called the single a "clever, confident response to cancel culture".[14] Allison Stubblebine of Nylon wrote the song "addresses all the negativity that has been thrown [JoJo's] way regarding her career".[1] Mike Wass, writing for Idolator referred to the song as a "hard-hitting track" and a "tantalizing first glimpse of the 'When Love Hurts' hitmaker’s new era".[15] Clare Palo of Vulture referred to the lyrics as "so raw that it seemed almost necessary to start out with a brutally honest take for her never 'Too Little, Too Late' comeback".[3]

Music video

A music video was released alongside the single.[16] The video, directed by Se Oh, features hoards of fans rushing past the singer towards an unknown celebrity's car in front of a theater. The singer winks at the camera during the video's conclusion to indicate the release of new music.[16]

Personnel

Adapted from Tidal.[13]

  • JoJo – vocals, composition
  • Jeff Gitelman – composition, production
  • Natalie Dunn – composition
  • Rebekah Muhammad – composition
  • Tony Maserati – mixing
  • Miles Comaskey – mix engineering
  • Dale Becker – mastering
  • Hector Vega – mastering
  • Ryann Fretschel – mastering

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US R&B Digital Songs (Billboard)[17] 14

References
  1. Stubblebine, Allison. "JoJo Drops Reflective Song "Joanna" And Teases More "New Shit"". Nylon. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  2. "JoJo Addresses Fans and Critics on New Song 'Joanna'". Rap-Up. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  3. Palo, Clare. "The Best New Songs of the Week: Harry Styles, FKA Twigs, and More". Vulture magazine. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  4. Jefferson, J'na (August 18, 2017). "JoJo Announces Music Imprint 'Clover Music' With Interscope". Vibe. United States: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  5. Weatherby, Taylor (January 15, 2019). "JoJo On Rerecording Her First Two Albums After Legal Battle: 'This Is Closing a Chapter For Me'". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  6. Aniftos, Rania. "JoJo Re-Releases Debut Album With Updated Tracks: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  7. "JoJo Re-Releases Her First Two Albums". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  8. Idolator.com (2016-10-06). "JoJo's Mad Return". Idolator.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  9. "JoJo. on Instagram: "Wow. Your response to me re-recording my first two albums has taken my breath away. I've tried to read through literally every single…"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  10. "JoJo on Label Disputes, R. Kelly, and #MeToo - PAPER". Papermag.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  11. Bell, Keaton. "JoJo on the Re-Release of Her First Two Albums, and What to Expect Next". W. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  12. "JoJo. on Instagram: "exactly a year ago I rented an air b&b, set up a studio and got some of my favorite creative friends together to start making my album w…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  13. "Joanna / JoJo – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  14. Roth, Madeline. "JoJo's New Song Is a Clever, Confident Response To Cancel Culture". MTV. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  15. Wass, Mike. "JoJo Gets Very Real On Hard-Hitting New Single, "Joanna"". Idolator. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  16. "JoJo Returns with 'Joanna' Video". Rap-Up. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  17. "JoJo Chart History (R&B Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
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