Washing Machine Heart

2018 song by Mitski
"Washing Machine Heart"
Song by Mitski
from the album Be the Cowboy
ReleasedAugust 17, 2018
Length2:08
LabelDead Oceans
Songwriter(s)Mitski
Producer(s)Patrick Hyland
Music video
"Washing Machine Heart" on YouTube

"Washing Machine Heart" is a song by American singer Mitski, released in 2018 on her album Be the Cowboy. Although not released as a single, it is one of her most famous songs.[1][2] The song peaked at number 93 on the Irish Singles Chart[3] as well as number 26 on the UK Indie charts.[4] The A.V. Club write Katie Rife described "Washing Machine Heart" as a "deranged domestic ballad with a pleasantly disorienting beat".[5] A slowed-down and sped up version of the song has become popular on the social media app TikTok for its use in animated remakes of famous airplane crashes.

Background

AllMusic critic Marcy Donelson wrote, "stomping, clapping, and relentless keyboard bleeps permeate the brutal, danceable 'Washing Machine Heart', evoking the appliance as well as the wife's frustration ('I'm not wearing my usual lipstick/I thought maybe we would kiss tonight')."[6]

Rolling Stone writer Simon Vozick-Levinson said "It's two minutes long, but it has at least three distinct musical ideas within it. First there's the percussive, almost industrial opening section; then, after 30 seconds, a sweeter synth-pop doodle; and finally, at around 1:10, the knockout punch. 'Do, mi, ti/Why not me?' Mitski sings, repeating the solfege syllables as if trying to will them into making sense."[7]

In an episode of the BBC's 6 Music Artist in Residence: AAA, Mitski's producer Patrick Hyland states that the song was originally not going to be included on its album Be the Cowboy. Mitski also said that the lyric "Do, mi, ti" was a failed attempt at including "Mi, So" in an effort to include Miso soup into the song. [8]

Music video

A black and white music video for the song was released on November 1, 2018, directed by Zia Anger. Mitski credited Tidal with giving her the chance to make the video, and noted that the creative team was made up of her frequent collaborators.[9][10][11] Anger also directed the music videos for Mitski's songs "Your Best American Girl" and "Geyser".[12] Spin writer Maggie Serota said that in the video, "Mitski is lit and styled like a femme fatale from an old noir film, while her lyrics plead for a kiss, likely from the shirtless man lurking in the shadows."[13] Consequence wrote that the music video is "a haunting accompaniment to Mitski' lilting run-on vocals, punctuated by catchy, bleepy synths in one of the stunning album’s most infectious earworms."[14]

Charts

Chart performance for "Washing Machine Heart"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 93
UK Indie (OCC)[16] 26

Certifications

Certifications for "Washing Machine Heart"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[18] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Artists Who Sound Like: Mitski | Magnetic Magazine". Magnetic Magazine. Magneticmag.com. 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  2. ^ Griffiths, George (2023-10-11). "Who is Mitski? The US singer-songwriter making waves with My Love Mine All Mine". Official Charts.
  3. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Mitski". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  4. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  5. ^ "Mitski is alone in the middle of the dance floor on the playful Be The Cowboy". Avclub.com. 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  6. ^ "Mitski - Be the Cowboy Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  7. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (2018-11-09). "Mitski Comes to Life in New 'Washing Machine Heart' Video – Rolling Stone". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  8. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0gl3cpk/6-music-artist-in-residence-aaa-mitksi
  9. ^ "See What Mitski's "Washing Machine Heart" Looks Like In New Video". Nylon. November 2018.
  10. ^ "Mitski Shares New "Washing Machine Heart" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  11. ^ "Mitski Washing".
  12. ^ "Watch Mitski's video for "Washing Machine Heart"". The FADER.
  13. ^ Serota, Maggie (November 1, 2018). "Video: Mitski — "Washing Machine Heart"".
  14. ^ Worthington, Clint (2018-11-01). "Mitski wins over your "Washing Machine Heart" in new video: Watch". Consequence. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  15. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Mitski". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "British single certifications – Mitski – Washing Machine Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "American single certifications – Mitski – Washing Machine Heart". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 10, 2023.