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Lost in the Citadel

"Lost in the Citadel"
Single by Lil Nas X
from the album Montero
ReleasedApril 8, 2022 (2022-04-08)
Genre
Length2:50
LabelSony
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Cunningham
Lil Nas X singles chronology
"Thats What I Want"
(2021)
"Lost in the Citadel"
(2022)
"Late to da Party (F*ck BET)"
(2022)
Visualizer
"Lost in the Citadel" on YouTube

"Lost in the Citadel" is a song by American rapper Lil Nas X. In limited release, it was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio through Sony Music on April 8, 2022, as the fifth and final single from his debut studio album, Montero (2021). The song was written by him and the track's producer John Cunningham.

Composition and lyrics

"Lost in the Citadel" is an 1980s rock-inspired pop rock and pop-punk song that sees Lil Nas X reminiscing about a previous relationship that did not go so well that he cannot stop indulging in, which is in the middle of the complete pop songs and the guitar-heavy second half of the song.[1][2][3] The song opens up with a synth melody that is identical to 2000s-inspired bedroom synth-pop, with Lil Nas X singing about his future lover on the "soaring chorus" before the song calms down.[4] It has been described as "a troubled love song", with Lil Nas X belting out: "I need time to get up and get off the floor / I need time to realize that I can't be yours".[5]

Critical reception

Laviea Thomas of Clash deemed the "dystopian daydream" as "a trance-like break from the high energy run-ups", explaining that "it's the perfect break and further edges forward the otherworldly theme that is weaved throughout the entire album".[5] Exclaim! music critic Jordan Currie felt that the song is "a unique standout on the tracklist" of Montero that showcases Lil Nas X's versatility.[2] PJ Somervelle of The Line of Best Fit was reminded of Machine Gun Kelly and Willow from the muted chord riffs of "Lost in the Citadel" and was reminded of Travis Barker from the drums of the song.[6]

Charts

Chart performance for "Lost in the Citadel"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 76
Global 200 (Billboard)[8] 87
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 90

Release history

Release history and formats for "Lost in the Citadel"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Italy April 8, 2022 Radio airplay Sony Italy [10]

References

  1. ^ Dolan, Jon (September 17, 2021). "Lil Nas X Makes Us Like Him Even More on 'Montero'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Currie, Jordan (September 17, 2021). "Lil Nas X Is No One-Trick Pony on 'MONTERO'". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Torres, Eric (September 20, 2021). "Lil Nas X: Montero Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Johnston, Maura (September 17, 2021). "Montero review: Lil Nas X sounds limitless on his debut album". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Thomas, Laviea (September 17, 2021). "Tyler, Lil Nas X – Montero". Clash. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Somervelle, PJ (September 17, 2021). "A portal into future pop history, Lil Nas X's iconic MONTERO is written for our younger selves". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  7. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  10. ^ "Lil Nas X "Lost In The Citadel" | (Radio Date: 08/04/2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved April 4, 2022.