Dynasty

Song by Rina Sawayama

## Audio

"**Dynasty**" is the opening track from Rina Sawayama's debut studio album, *Sawayama* (2020). Written by Sawayama with Adam Crisp, and produced by Clarence Clarity and Jonathan Gilmore, the song deals with the inherited pain of family issues Rina had to live with along her life.

## Background

“Dynasty” was first performed on September 12, 2018 during the Ordinary Superstar Tour.

In a 2020 interview with *Pitchfork*, Rina said about "Dynasty":

> Once when I was 19. I’ve been so severely depressed. When I was 13 or 14 I was self-harming. I’ve had eating disorders. Saving yourself also refers back to self-care and mental health in general, which is a big part of the album.
> In ‘Dynasty,’ I’m talking about how my fucking family has been so selfish at times—with my dad’s side, it’s just a mess. The word ‘dynasty’ is about the inheritance of money, wealth, and a name, and I’ve always grown up being very mystified about my dad’s side because I know they’re very wealthy, but all that’s come of it is pain. Why doesn’t anybody talk about the dynasty of pain?
>
> — Rina Sawayama on Her Wildly Eclectic and Disarmingly Personal Debut Album, *Pitchfork*

Sawayama also said about the song:

> I think thematically and lyrically it makes sense to start off with this. I guess I come from a bit of an academic background, so I always approach things like a dissertation. The title of the essay would be ‘Won't you break the chain with me?’ It's about intergenerational pain, and I'm asking the listener to figure out this whole world with me. It's an invitation. I'd say ‘Dynasty’ is one of the craziest in terms of production. I think we had 250 tracks in Logic at one point.
>
> — Via Apple Music

## Critical reception

The song received acclaim from music critics. While reviewing *Sawayama*, Laura Copley from *Clash Magazine* said that "Dynasty" "is the perfect first track, exploding into being with all its glam metal fury, demanding attention and setting the bar for the rest of the show." While Jennifer Irving from *Consequense of Sound* thinks that the song "sees her unearthing and coming to terms with her childhood and generational trauma."

Erin Bashford from *The Line Of Best Fit* thought that "there’s something insurmountably theatrical and polished about it, be it the ‘80s hair-metal guitars, or the choir inspired backup vocals." On her review for *Sawayama*, Brittany Spanos from *Rolling Stone* feels that the song "gets the party started with a bop about intergenerational pain that few could effectively pull off in a way that is as empowering as it is truthful and raw." *The Skinny*'s Andrew Wright described the song as a "grunge-meets-Disney fantasy show theme-song." "The high drama, industrial electric guitars are reminiscent of t.A.T.u’s 2002 hit All the Things She Said"

Some critics compared the song with American rock band Evanescence. Elisa Bay from *The Independent* wrote that "Dynasty" "splices Evanescence-style nu-metal and a pop sheen." While *Pitchfork*'s Katherine St. Asaph said that the song "is an obvious take on Evanescence ('a little pocket of culture that people are maybe too scared [to reference],' she called the band) and is more like nu-melodrama: an intro with an airhorn but also strings, butt-rock but also church bells, a showy guitar solo but also a soprano vocal tracing it."

## Live performances

"Dynasty" was the opening song during Sawayama's The Dynasty Tour, which started on 8 November 2021 in Dublin, Ireland.

## Lyrics

I'm losing myself

In the darkness of the world

Catch me before I fall

Saving myself

Is all I really know

Seen it been done before

I'm a dynasty

The pain in my vein is hereditary

Dynasty

Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream

Dynasty

And if that's all that I'm gonna be

Won't you break the chain with me?

I'm a, I'm a, a, I'm a, I'm a, a

I'm a, I'm a, a, I'm a, I'm a, a, ooh

I'm a, I'm a, a, I'm a, I'm a, a

I'm a, I'm a, a

I'm gonna take the throne this time

All the words all mine, all mine

It's been way too long, too far

Too gone, to carry on

You can't hide it in the walls

Sweep it under marble floors

It's been living in our lives

Best told damn family lie

(Anything to carry down our)

Dynasty

The pain in my vein is hereditary

Dynasty

Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream

Dynasty

And if that's all that I'm gonna be

Won't you break the chain with me?

Mother and father, you gave me life

I nearly gave it away for the sake of my sanity

(Hurting inside, no end in sight)

(Passing it down, I'm not losing this fight)

Mother and father, I know you were raised differently

Fighting about money and his infidelity

(Now it's my time to make things right)

And if I fail, then I am my dynasty

Dynasty

The pain in my vein is hereditary

Dynasty

Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream

Dynasty

And if that's all that I'm gonna be

Won't you break the chain with me?

## References

1. ↑ Rina Sawayama Embraces The Pain On Her Beautifully Messy Debut
2. ↑ YouTube - Dynasty - Rina Sawayama / 181809 / Ordinary Superstar Tour
3. ↑ *Pitchfork* - Rina Sawayama on Her Wildly Eclectic and Disarmingly Personal Debut Album
4. ↑ SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music
5. ↑ *Clash Magazine*. Rina Sawayama - Sawayama.
6. ↑ *Consequense of Sound*. Rina Sawayama Reimagines Modern Pop on Debut SAWAYAMA
7. ↑ *The Line Of Best Fit*. Rina Sawayama explores her heritage on a deft debut filled with experimentation
8. ↑ *Rolling Stone*. Album Review: Rina Sawayama Is the Pop Moment on Debut LP
9. ↑ *The Skinny*. Rina Sawayama album review: SAWAYAMA
10. ↑ *The Independent*. Rina Sawayama – SAWAYAMA review: An audacious album from one of the boldest voices in pop
11. ↑ *Pitchfork*. Rina Sawayama: SAWAYAMA Album Review