Draft:Cheerleader (Porter Robinson song)

"Cheerleader" is a song by American musician Porter Robinson. It was released on March 20, 2024, through Mom + Pop, as the lead single from his third studio album, Smile! :D. It was accompanied by a music video.

Composition and reception
"Cheerleader" is Porter Robinson's first solo release in two years. It was one of the first songs that Robinson wrote for his new "incoming era". On writing the song, he said in a press release that he wanted to create something "that people could love with zero context – just instantaneous, universal, explosive connection".

The lyrics depict the convoluted relationship between musicians and their fans when Robinson sings: "She's got hearts in her eyes / Saying, 'Boy, you better watch the time / Cause if you're not mine I'd rather see you burned alive".

The song features Robinson's own vocals, which Robin Murray of Clash described as "scintillating".

Gillian Telling of People wrote that the song is "more of a pop anthem with emo undertones", contrasting with Robinson's previous works; Telling said Robinson was "reinventing his sound". Similarly, Cleber Facchi of Música Instantânea said that the song shows Robinson having a "completely distinct approach" when compared to his previous releases, with an emo sound. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard described it as "a synth-pop shot of adrenaline, with buzzing melodies and instrumental pile-ups that will leave you dizzy (and applauding Robinson for creating the complete opposite of background noise)."

[Suspiciously similar sentences, maybe press release or something?] Robin Murray of Clash said that the song "is a fresh start, with Porter wiping the slate clean ... the single was built from the ground up, aiming to tap into something explosive. As a result, it rips out of the speakers". Liberty Dunworth of NME called it "explosive" and said that, with the track, Robinson "wipes the slate clean and launches into a new era – building up to an explosive, high-energy chorus".

Ken Partridge of Genius

Music video
'Cheerleader' was released on March 20, 2024 with a music video directed by Hugh Mulhern and creative-directed by Bradley & Pablo.

The video "sees Robinson become enmeshed in a virtual reality".

Video description: