Emo Girl

## Single by Machine Gun Kelly and Willow Smith

"**Emo Girl**" is a song by Machine Gun Kelly and Willow Smith, serving as the eighth track from the former's sixth studio album, *Mainstream Sellout*. It was released as a single on February 3, 2022, where they both co-wrote it with Brandon Allen, Nick Long, Stephen Basil, and Travis Barker. The official music video premiered several days later on the 9th, directed by Drew Kirsh.

## Background

In an October 2021 interview with *Rolling Stone*, it was revealed that the title may have originally been "Emo Prom." Willow Smith was contacted by drummer Travis Barker, asking if she wanted to feature on a MGK record. Smith received her verse and rewrote it, observing, "Honestly, to be a Black woman and be able to come on that song and write my verse with my outlook on life—just being able to be authentically me on that song—those are the kinds of things that are going to make more people feel seen. That's the most beautiful part of music."

The collaboration was teased over Machine Gun Kelly's TikTok with a clip that opened with the lyric, 'Takes pics with a cherry red lipstick / Says she only dates guys with a big —, mhm,' that led to some fans believing the track was named "Cherry Red Lipstick." The song is guitar-driven and described as pop-punk and an "Early 00s Nostalgia Trip". It was noted of cultural references to *Jennifer's Body* and blink-182. The opening line, "I am a god," was from the 2009 film starring Megan Fox, while Smith's verse mentions 'bleeding on your Blink tee.'

## Personnel

* Adam Hawkins – mixer
* Brandon "SlimXX" Allen – writer, producer
* Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
* Colson "Machine Gun Kelly" Baker – vocals, writer, recording
* Danny Herrle – A&R coordinator
* Hunter Smith, Henry Lunetta – assistant mixer
* Irvin Whitlow, Nick Groff – A&R
* Nick Long – writer, producer, bass, guitar
* Stephen "BazeXX" Basil – writer
* Travis Barker – writer, producer, drums
* Willow Smith – vocals, writer

## Release history

* streaming
* Interscope

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Machine Gun Kelly, *Megan Fox*]

*I am a God*

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na

Yeah

[Verse 1: Machine Gun Kelly]

She's got makeup by the mirror in her bedroom

Thigh-high fishnets and some black boots

Nose pierced with the cigarette perfume

Half dead but she still looks so cute (Yeah)

She is a monster in disguise

And she knows all the words to the trap songs

Takes pics with a cherry-red lipstick (Mhm)

Says she only dates guys with a big —, mhm

[Chorus: Machine Gun Kelly]

I fell in love with an emo girl

I'm in love with an emo girl

I fell in love with an emo girl

All I want is an emo girl

[Refrain: WILLOW]

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

[Verse 2: WILLOW]

She puts eyeliner on her dark skin

She tells me lies but she knows all of my secrets

And when we drive in the car and I say: "Who is this band?"

She says: "You won't understand, this some next shit"

Choke-choke-choker on her neck

Kiss me, holy fuck, I'm bleeding on your Blink tee

So, so, so many regrets

You tell me you're depressed, baby girl, that makes two of us

[Chorus: WILLOW & *Machine Gun Kelly*]

I fell in love with an emo girl

I'm in love with an emo girl

I fell in love with an emo girl

All I want is an emo girl

*I fell in love with an emo girl*

*I'm in love with an emo girl*

*I fell in love with an emo girl*

*All I want is an emo girl*

[Bridge: Machine Gun Kelly, *WILLOW*, **Both**]

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Uh, uh, uh

I fell in love with an emo girl

I'm in love with an emo girl

*I fell in love with an emo girl*

**All I want is** *an emo girl*

[Chorus: Machine Gun Kelly, *WILLOW*]

I fell in love with an emo girl

I'm in love with an emo girl

*I fell in love with an emo girl*

*All I want is an emo girl*

[Outro: WILLOW, *Machine Gun Kelly*]

She's in love with an emo girl

*Okay, I'm in love, hahaha*

Yo, oh my God, haha, hah

## References

1. ↑ Hissong, Samantha (October 21, 2021). "Musicians on Musicians: Willow & Travis Barker". *Rolling Stone*.
2. ↑ Moore, Sam (February 4, 2022). "Listen to Machine Gun Kelly and Willow team up on 'Emo Girl'". *NME*.
3. ↑ Emily Zemler (February 4, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly and Willow's 'Emo Girl' is an Early 00s Nostalgia Trip". *Rolling Stone*.
4. ↑ Cowen, Trace (February 4, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly, Willow, and Travis Barker Link Up for New Track "Emo Girl"". *Complex*.
5. ↑ "emo girl (feat. Willow)". *Spotify*. February 4, 2022.
6. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly feat. Willow "Emo Girl"" (Radio Date: 04/02/2022). *Radiodate.it*.
7. ↑ "Alternative Radio Future Releases". *All Access*. Archived on February 5, 2022.