Have Mercy

* General Information
* Listen

## Music Video

"**Have Mercy**" is the debut solo single by Chlöe, released on September 10, 2021 through Parkwood Entertainment, as the lead single off her upcoming untitled solo debut studio album.

## Background

Chlöe first teased "Have Mercy" on her 23th birthday on July 1, 2021, with a 24-second video teaser directed by Kanya Iwana, and choreographed by Aisha Francis. The video was also uploaded as the first video on her official YouTube account, while the audio teaser was made available on TikTok. On July 16, during a Ungodly Tea Time live stream, Halle Bailey talked about the song.

> Let me just say this. Y'all do not know what is about to hit you. What is about to come up in y'all's face, okay?! "Have Mercy" is the bop of the year. It's over. That's it, okay? That's all I got to say.
>
>

On August 12, 2021, the song was made available for pre-save on Spotify and pre-add on Apple Music. The single was initially set for release in August, however, on September 1, Chlöe tweeted "great things take time. wanna get it perfect for yall". The next day, she revealed the song's official release date for September 10, accompanied by a 15-second video teaser.

### Artwork

On September 6, Chlöe revealed the "Have Mercy" official cover art. It features Chlöe with blonde hair on a blue background, while her name and song title are placed in the lower left corner in magenta.

## Music video

The music video for "Have Mercy" was directed by Karena Evans and released on the same day as the song. Largely inspired by 1990s teen films, it stars Chlöe as the head of a sorority house full of undercover gorgons who seduce a group of fraternity brothers and turn them into stone. It was compared by critics to the story of Medusa. Chlöe's blonde dreadlocks in the video were styled by Kari Williams, Tinisha Meeks, Brittny Chere, and Jehcara Nelson. Her outfits were styled by Zerina Akers.

The video features several dance sequences, and also stars Rome Flynn as Chlöe's main love interest, a 21-year-old man who goes missing after being turned to stone by her, Bree Runway as a sorority sister who spanks one of the fraternity brothers (played by Mark Young) who is dressed only in a jockstrap, and Tina Knowles as a sorority house mother. Throughout the video, Chlöe wears a number of different oufits, including a pink plaid blazer with hot pants, square sunglasses, and a diamond choker, as well as another outfit made up of a matching pink bralette and short shorts with socks and heeled sandals. One of the outfits in the video includes a gold jacket originally worn by Diana Ross in a 1981 *Vogue* spread. Ann Powers of *NPR* compared Chlöe's role in the video to that of Aaliyah in the 2002 film *Queen of the Damned*.

### Reception

Bianca Betancourt of *Harper's Bazaar* wrote that the video for "Have Mercy" proved that Chlöe was "Beyoncé's ultimate protégé", calling the choreography "high-power" and "sultry" and the outfits "standout ensembles". *NPR*'s Ann Powers described the video's premise as "a sweet flip of horrifically common frat party #metoo narratives" and added that Chlöe's dancing "might cause Normani to sweat".

In response to fans who questioned Chlöe's decision to wear revealing clothing in the video, she stated, "It's my body, and I'm so proud of it."

## Live performances

Chlöe's debut performance of "Have Mercy" took place at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards in September 2021, where she was introduced by her sister Halle Bailey. The performance was prefaced by Chlöe standing in a red cape, operatically and repeatedly singing her own name before screaming and tearing off the cape. During the performance, she energetically danced and twerked in a hot pink leotard and ankle boots, accompanied by male backup dancers in varsity jackets, while the song's lyrics flashed on the screen behind her. She ended it by licking the microphone and smacking her buttocks. After the performance was over, she left the stage and cried. The performance received praise from Simone Biles. Bianca Betancourt of *Harper's Bazaar* wrote that the performance "did not disappoint" and "shut down the VMA's stage", while *Essence*'s Brooklyn White described it as "electrifying" and wrote that Chlöe "served fashion, face, choreo and vocals". *USA Today*'s Melissa Ruggieri wrote that Chlöe's "sassy" performance "showcased how much she has learned from mentor Beyoncé as she imbued her performance with drama, twerking and most importantly, actual vocal talent". Billboard's Heran Mamo ranked the performance the second-best of the night, writing that Chlöe "made her mark on the VMAs stage" and called the choreography "tectonic plate-shifting". *BET* regarded her performance as "one of the most memorable of the night". Ellise Shafer of *Variety* wrote that the performance's dance break "proved [Chlöe] has the chops to be a true triple threat", and Adrian Horton of The Guardian referred to her live vocals as "impressive" and remarked that the performance was one of several that were "daring" and "high on sex appeal". BBC News's Mark Savage also praised her vocals as "flawless" and the choreography as "whip-crack", adding that she "tore up the stage". Vulture's Charu Sinha called her vocals "flawless" and the choreography "complicated", writing that she "commanded the VMAs stage with such obvious star power that it kind of rendered the night's other performances embarrassing by comparison". Chlöe also injured her shoulder during the performance.

## Lyrics

**Baka Not Nice:**

(Murda on the beat, so it's not nice)

Booty so big (Work), Lord, have mercy

**Chlöe:**

Why I keep bossing like I do (Work it, work it)

Why I keep flossing like I do (Work it, work it)

Why I keep saucing like I do (Work it, work it)

Why it keep costing like it do (Work it, work it)

All this ass up in my jeans (Work it, work it)

You can't get up in between (Work it, work it)

You tryna get a piece of me (Work it, work it)

I can teach you a couple things (Lord, have mercy, work)

Boy, you lookin' at me like I ain't give you no choice

If I count to three, bet you be on your knees

You wrapped 'round my hand like Cartier, oh

You can't get this thickness out of your mind

He say he like that Laffy Taffy

He so goofy, call me daddy

He go stupid, he go daffy, introduce me to his papi

He can never live without me

I'm so real, I'm never cappin'

If he got it like that, like that

I can take it, take it there

'Cause my booty so big (Work), Lord, have mercy

Why I keep bossing like I do (Boss)

Why I keep flossing like I do (Floss)

Why I keep saucing like I do (Sauce)

Why it keep costing like it do (Cost)

All this ass up in my jeans

You can't get up in between

You tryna get a piece of me

I can teach you a couple things (Lord, have mercy)

Why I keep bossing like I do (Boss)

Why I keep flossing like I do (Floss)

Why I keep saucing like I do (Sauce)

Why it keep costing like it do (Cost)

All this ass up in my jeans

You can't get up in between

You tryna get a piece of me

I can teach you a couple things

Like

How to surf it, man, how to work it, man

It's on purpose, I'm doin' it big

Body language like speaking spanglish

I'll educate ya how to do this shit

Temporary, that's never rare-y

I'm necessary, yeah, I am that bitch

You can't get this thickness out of your mind

He say he like that Laffy Taffy

He so goofy, call me daddy

He go stupid, he go daffy, introduce me to his papi

He can never live without me

I'm so real, I'm never cappin'

If he got it like that, like that

I can take it, take it there

'Cause my booty so big (Work), Lord, have mercy

Why I keep bossing like I do

Why I keep flossing like I do

Why I keep saucing like I do

Why it keep costing like it do

All this ass up in my jeans

You can't get up in between

You tryna get a piece of me

I can teach you a couple things

Why I keep bossing like I do (Boss)

Why I keep flossing like I do (Floss)

Why I keep saucing like I do (Sauce)

Why it keep costing like it do (Cost)

All this ass up in my jeans

You can't get up in between

You tryna get a piece of me

I can teach you a couple things

## References

1. ↑ Nazareno, Mia (August 24, 2021). "Shawn Mendes, Doja Cat & More to Perform at 2021 VMAs". *Billboard*. Retrieved on August 26, 2021. “Chlöe -- who is half of Chlöe x Halle -- will make her solo debut with the TV premiere of “Have Mercy” off of her upcoming album.”
2. ↑ "Chlöe on Twitter". Twitter (July 1, 2021). Retrieved on August 13, 2021. “this is 23… HAVE MERCY 🍑🙌🏽”
3. ↑ Chlöe (July 1, 2021). "CHLÖE HAVE MERCY COMING SOON".
4. ↑ "Chloe x Halle Now 💙 on Twitter". Twitter (July 16, 2021). Retrieved on August 13, 2021. “Halle said "Have Mercy" @ChloeBailey is the bop of the year #UngodlyTeaTime 🎶”
5. ↑ "PRE-SAVE / PRE-ADD "HAVE MERCY" BY CHLÖE". Retrieved on August 12, 2021.
6. ↑ Sam (September 6, 2021). "Chloe Bailey Unveils Blazing ‘Have Mercy’ Cover". That Grape Juice. Retrieved on September 6, 2021.
7. ↑ Serrano, Athena (August 24, 2021). "Chlöe, Doja Cat, Shawn Mendes, And Twenty One Pilots Will Hit The VMA Stage". MTV. Retrieved on August 24, 2021.