Whatever (Adore Delano album)

Whatever is the third studio album by American drag performer and recording artist Adore Delano, released on August 18, 2017.

Whatever
Studio album by
Adore Delano
ReleasedAugust 17, 2017 (2017-08-17)
Genre
Length42:42[4]
Adore Delano chronology
After Party
(2016)		 Whatever
(2017)

Background and recording

Whatever is Adore Delano's third studio album, following Till Death Do Us Party (2014) and After Party. Whatever marked a genre shift from pop to rock. She has said of her decision to pivot:

It was definitely a risk that I was willing to take because I was going along, and—I know it sounds dumb—but I was so over touring and making pop. I just wanted to do what I wanted to fucking do. The fans have been really receptive, surprisingly, and they've been more welcoming than I thought they'd be. I just rolled the dice and… hey, they're still tagging along, man. These kids seem to like me! I don't know why they like me, but whatever! I'm down. And I'm going to continue doing shit that I like.[1]

On recording the album, she has recalled:

The headspace I was in was dark. I wanted to die some days, and [at times] I didn't eat for three days straight. I was obsessed with getting every sound right. I stayed up for hours smoking bud and writing... Nathan put up with my obsessive energy and delivered my baby.[1]

Composition
Musically, the album was inspired by the music of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, including Kurt Cobain (right) and Courtney Love (left).

The alternative rock,[1] grunge,[2] and punk rock[3] album is approximately 42 minutes, 48 second in length.[5] Billboard's Brandon Voss described the album as "guitar-fueled".[6] Musically, Adore Delano was inspired by the music of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, including Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, and Babes in Toyland.[1]

The song "27 Club" refers to the numerical cultural phenomenon of the same name, a list of famous people who died at the age of 27.[1] Adore Delano penned the song "out of a genuine place of fear -- she had been experimenting with drugs and knew that her habits could make her the club's newest member".[7] According to Sam Chapman of Alternative Press, the song's lyrics "hint at the mental turbulence that drove much of the record and Delano's relocation to Seattle in the first place".[1]

Release and promotion

"Negative Nancy" served as the album's lead single and received a music video. Adam Salandra of NewNowNext wrote, "The video finds Adore playing with gender while playing on a softball team, and celebrates the power of not conforming to society’s rules."[2] Billboard debuted the music video for "Whole 9 Yards" on August 21, 2017.[6]

The music video for "27 Club" was directed by Ben & Katelyn Simkins and filmed in Denver.[1] Released in July 2018, Out described the video as "steamy".[8] Stephen Daw of Billboard wrote, "The clip shows Delano writhing around a motel room, bathing in roses and praying at an altar to survive her 27th year on Earth, while channeling the grunge-rock sound of iconic groups like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains."[7]

Reception

Brandon Voss of Billboard said the album "shows off an edgier, angrier side to the androgynous party princess".[6] Alternative Press' Sam Chapman described Whatever as "a bona fide alt-rock album" and "an 11-track suite of growly, straightforward rock songs". He called "27 Club" one of the album's "standout" tracks, and wrote about the song's references to 27 Club, "It's an unexpected but fitting fixation for a drag musician, since drag queens are, by their nature, creatures of self-invention and mythologizing."[1] Daisy Jones of Vice said the album "basically sounds like Courtney Love and Britney Spears if they'd had a lovechild and raised it on stage in Vegas".[9] Allison Stubblebine of Billboard ranked Whatever number nine in her list of the "Top 10 Albums by LGBTQ Artists in 2017: Critics' Picks".[10]

Track listing
Adore Delano in 2014

Track listing adapted from the Apple Store[11] and Spotify[5]

  1. "Adam's Apple" – 2:28
  2. "27 Club" – 4:16
  3. "Butterfly" – 3:31
  4. "No School" – 4:16
  5. "Whole 9 Yards" – 3:28
  6. "Pretty Boys Cry" – 3:51
  7. "Negative Nancy" – 3:47
  8. "Princess Cut" – 3:34
  9. "Witch Hunt" – 5:00
  10. "But Her Fly" – 3:33
  11. "Hole Nine Yards" – 4:48

References
  1. Chapman, Sam (June 17, 2019). "ADORE DELANO IS THE HAPPIEST "MAKING TRASHY, AWFUL MUSIC"". Alternative Press. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  2. Salandra, Adam (August 1, 2017). "Adore Delano Is A "Negative Nancy" In First Video Off Upcoming Grunge Album". NewNowNext. Logo TV. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  3. Davis, Andrew (August 23, 2017). "Showbiz news: George Michael, Oprah, Adore Delano, Imagine Dragons". ISSN 1049-698X. OCLC 20341561. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  4. "Adore Delano: Whatever". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  5. "Whatever: Adore Delano". Spotify. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  6. Voss, Brandon (August 21, 2017). "Adore Delano Talks New Punk Album 'Whatever', the '27 Club' & Being Nonbinary: 'Gender Isn't a Real Thing'". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  7. Daw, Stephen (June 27, 2018). "Adore Delano Prays to Survive Her Late 20s in Moody New '27 Club' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. "Adore Delano Is Back with Steamy New '27 Club' Video". Out. July 12, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. Jones, Daisy (August 31, 2017). "A Deep Chat With Adore Delano About All the Women Who Inspire Her". Vice. Vice Media. ISSN 1077-6788. OCLC 30856250. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  10. Stubblebine, Allison (December 14, 2017). "Top 10 Albums by LGBTQ Artists in 2017: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  11. "Whatever: Adore Delano". Apple Store. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
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