Mad at Disney

"**Mad at Disney**" is the fifth track and lead single on American singer-songwriter Salem Ilese's third studio extended play, *Unsponsored Content*. It was released on July 24, 2020, and its accompanying music video was released on October 15, 2020.

## Background

The song was written in August 2019, during a writing session between Salem Ilese and the songwriters/producers Bendik Møller and Jason Hahs. The title was inspired by Hahs' disappointment after viewing the 2019 remake of *The Lion King* the day before, telling his co-writers, "I'm a little mad at Disney." Ilese then related the statement to the "false view of relationships" given to her by viewing animated Disney films. The song was released on July 24, 2020, but gained popularity in September 2020 after becoming popular on video sharing platform TikTok.

It was sent to contemporary pop radio stations in the United States on October 6, 2020 for further promotion.

On October 23, 2020, Ilese released an interview with *Genius*, explaining the song's meaning. It currently has almost 650,000 views.

A parody of the song, entitled "Mad at 2020" was released on December 28, 2020.

According to Ilese, Jason Hahs produced the original demo, which was created sometime in 2018, and Bendik Møller produced the final version. The second verse was originally written without any direct reference to Disney, but she decided to rewrite it a few months after, sometime between late 2019 and early 2020, and it became her favorite part of the song. The full demo version was leaked on January 30, 2021, with the alternate second verse, and a slightly different instrumental.

## Theme

The song describes being disappointed and deceived with love after getting false expectations of romance. This is compared to watching Disney princess films, in which the prince and princess live happily ever after.

Genius states that "On "Mad at Disney", Salem changes the ending of her life story, from the usual "And they lived happily ever after!" to "And she lived forever deceived!", that says, Disney taught her to dream of true love, and growing up she realized that in real life it's a lie."

## Lyrics

* Original version
* Clean version
* Demo version

**[Verse 1]**

I'm mad at Disney, Disney

They tricked me, tricked me

Had me wishing on a shooting star

But now I'm twenty something

I still know nothing

'Bout who I am or what I'm not

**[Pre-Chorus]**

So call me a pessimist

But I don't believe in it

Finding a true love's kiss is bullshit

**[Chorus]**

'Cause I've felt sad love, I've felt bad love

Sometimes happy love turns into giving up

I've felt hurt love by the word "love"

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

**[Verse 2]**

My fairy grandma warned me

Cinderella's story

Only ended in a bad divorce

The prince ain't sleeping when he

Takes his sleeping beauty

To the motel on his snow-white horse

**[Pre-Chorus]**

So call me a pessimist

But I don't believe in it

Finding a true love's kiss is bullshit

**[Chorus]**

'Cause I've felt sad love, I've felt bad love

Sometimes happy love (happy love) turns into giving up (giving up)

I've felt hurt love by the word "love"

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

**[Outro]**

I'm mad at Disney, Disney

They tricked me, tricked me

No more wishing on a shooting star

**[Verse 1]**

I'm mad at Disney, Disney

They tricked me, tricked me

Had me wishing on a shooting star

But now I'm twenty something

I still know nothing

'Bout who I am or what I'm not

**[Pre-Chorus]**

So call me a pessimist

But I don't believe in it

Finding a true love's kiss is bull\*\*\*\*

**[Chorus]**

'Cause I've felt sad love, I've felt bad love

Sometimes happy love (happy love) turns into giving up (giving up)

I've felt hurt love by the word "love"

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

**[Verse 2]**

My fairy Grandma warned me

Cinderella's story

Only ended in a bad divorce

The prince ain't sleeping when he

Takes his sleeping beauty

To the motel on his snow white horse

**[Pre-Chorus]**

So call me a pessimist

But I don't believe in it

Finding a true love's kiss is bull\*\*\*\*

**[Chorus]**

'Cause I've felt sad love, I've felt bad love

Sometimes happy love (happy love) turns into giving up (giving up)

I've felt hurt love by the word "love"

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

**[Outro]**

I'm mad at Disney, Disney

They tricked me, tricked me

No more wishing on a shooting star

**[Verse 1]**

I'm mad at Disney, Disney

They tricked me, tricked me

Had me wishing on a shooting star

But now I'm twenty something

I still know nothing

'Bout who I am or what I'm not

**[Pre-Chorus]**

So call me a pessimist

But I don't believe in it

Finding a true love's kiss is bull\*\*\*\*

**[Chorus]**

'Cause I've felt sad love, I've felt bad love

Sometimes happy love (happy love) turns into giving up (giving up)

I've felt hurt love by the word "love"

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

**[Verse 2]**

I thought that Shakespeare nailed it

But, damn, he failed me

Since, I saw him on a Hallmark card

It's now Bachelor season

Thirty girls competing

Over who won't get a broken heart

**[Pre-Chorus]**

So call me a pessimist

But I don't believe in it

Finding a true love's kiss is bull\*\*\*\*

**[Chorus]**

'Cause I've felt sad love, I've felt bad love

Sometimes happy love (happy love) turns into giving up (giving up)

I've felt hurt love by the word "love"

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

What the hell is love? What the hell is love?

What the hell is love supposed to feel like?

**[Outro]**

I'm mad at Disney, Disney

They tricked me, tricked me

No more wishing on a shooting star

## Critical reception

Chris DeVille of *Stereogum* called the single "a hell of a pop song", writing "["Mad at Disney"] manages to sound like every other new pop song on the radio while also standing out from the pack." Elias Leight of *Rolling Stone* called the song "a skipping, four-on-the-floor pop missile". Singer-songwriter Mollie King, writing for *Marie Claire*, called the song "subtle yet hugely relevant" and referred to the lyrics as "thought-provoking", comparing Ilese to fellow singer Julia Michaels.

## Commercial performance

In September 2020, after becoming popular on TikTok, "Mad at Disney" peaked at number one on the Spotify Viral 50 charts in the US and globally, while peaking within the top 100 of Spotify's global chart. The song peaked at number 49 on the Irish Singles Chart and 60 on the UK Singles Chart.

## Videos

Mad at DisneySalem ilese – mad at disney (official music video)Salem ilese - mad at disney (official lyric video)Salem ilese - mad at disney (live session)Salem ilese - mad at disney (live from home)Salem ilese "Mad At Disney" Official Lyrics & Meaning - VerifiedMad at Disney (Demo-Original Version)The demo version.
## References

1. ↑ When I Make It To LA - Salem Ilese: How I Wrote "Mad At Disney"