Mosquito (PinkPantheress song)

2023 song by PinkPantheress

"Mosquito"

Single by PinkPantheress
from the album  Heaven Knows
Released| 29 September 2023 (2023-09-29)
Recorded| 2022–2023
Genre|

* R&B
* UK garage

Length| 2:26
Label| Warner UK
Songwriter(s)|

* Victoria Walker
* Oscar Scheller
* Greg Kurstin

Producer(s)|

* Greg Kurstin
* PinkPantheress

PinkPantheress singles chronology
| "Turn Your Phone Off"
(2023)  | "Mosquito"
(2023)  | "Capable of Love"
(2023)

|
|

Music video
"Mosquito" on YouTube

"Mosquito" is a song by English singer PinkPantheress. It was released on 29 September 2023 through Warner Records UK as the second single from her debut studio album Heaven Knows. The bossa nova-inspired R&B and UK garage song was produced by Greg Kurstin; its lyrics personify money as a lover that PinkPantheress hopes not to lose. Early versions of the song were posted on her TikTok account in 2022. Its release coincided with that of its music video, which featured her alongside actresses Charithra Chandran, India Amarteifio, and Yara Shahidi going on a high-end shopping spree together in London. "Mosquito" peaked at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart.

## Background and composition

[edit]

A snippet of an early version of "Mosquito" soundtracked a TikTok video posted by PinkPantheress in June 2022. Another version of the song featuring a toned-down beat was posted to TikTok by her in October 2022. "Mosquito" was released as the second single from PinkPantheress's debut studio album, Heaven Knows, on September 29, 2023 and was written and produced by PinkPantheress and Greg Kurstin.[1][2][3] It is an R&B[4] and UK garage[5] song with an "airy" drum and bass,[3] bossa nova-inspired beat, consisting of "clean" Spanish guitars, uptempo drum programming,[6] and record scratches.[7] In its lyrics, PinkPantheress characterizes her money as an unrequited love[8][9] and worries about not being able to hold onto it,[10] such as in the song's chorus, wherein she expresses only being concerned about her death because it would separate her from money: "What happened to me? I just had a dream I was dead / And I only cared 'cause I was taken from you / You're the only thing that I own, I hear my bell ring, I'd only answer for you..."[11][12] Robin Murray of Clash described PinkPantheress's vocals on the song as "understated" and "classy".[13] For NPR, Hazel Cills described "Mosquito" as "crunchy, acoustic '00s pop" combined with breakbeats.[14]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Andy Steiner of Paste wrote that "Mosquito" combined PinkPantheress's "expertise at texture with knockout hooks" and named it one of the best songs on Heaven Knows.[15] Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant wrote that the "melodramatic fatalism" of the song felt "unearned" among other songs on Heaven Knows.[16]

## Music video

[edit]

An accompanying music video for "Mosquito" was directed by Sophie Muller and released on the same day as the song. It stars PinkPantheress and actresses Charithra Chandran, India Amarteifio, and Yara Shahidi going on a shopping spree at designer stores in London, including at the Royal Arcade and on New Bond Street.[3] The video also features product placement for Valentino and Fendi and also focuses on a small ceramic bird.[17] Larisha Paul of Rolling Stone and Neville Hardman of Alternative Press compared the video to shopping spree scenes common in romantic comedies of the early 2000s.[2] Hardman praised the video as "fun" and "the real highlight" of the song's release.[18]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart performance for "Mosquito"  Chart (2023)  | Peak
position

|

Ireland (IRMA)[19] | 98
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[20] | 20
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] | 6
UK Singles (OCC)[22] | 74

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Mamo, Heran (10 November 2023). "PinkPantheress Drops Her Debut Album 'Heaven Knows': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
2. ^ a b Paul, Larisha (29 September 2023). "PinkPantheress Leans on Girlfriends and Retail Therapy in 'Mosquito' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
3. ^ a b c Kelly, Tyler Damara (29 September 2023). "PinkPantheress unveils latest single, "Mosquito"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
4. ^ Carter, Daisy (29 September 2023). "PinkPantheress drops latest single 'Mosquito'". DIY. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
5. ^ Kalia, Ammar (12 November 2023). "PinkPantheress: Heaven Knows review – the TikTok star plays it safe". The Observer. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
6. ^ Deville, Chris (29 September 2023). "PinkPantheress Shares New Single "Mosquito": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
7. ^ Firth, Abigail (8 November 2023). "PinkPantheress – Heaven knows". Dork. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
8. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (29 September 2023). "PinkPantheress' New Song 'Mosquito' Presents A New Shift". Uproxx. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
9. ^ Wang, Steffanee (3 October 2023). "PinkPantheress' 'Mosquito' & 9 Other New Songs Out This Week". Nylon. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
10. ^ Rigotti, Alex (9 November 2023). "PinkPantheress – 'Heaven Knows' review: the blueprint for the future of British pop". NME. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
11. ^ Simpson, Paul (10 November 2023). "PinkPantheress - Heaven Knows Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
12. ^ Hudson, Alex (10 November 2023). "PinkPantheress Spreads Her Wings on 'Heaven knows'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
13. ^ Murray, Robin (29 September 2023). "PinkPantheress Returns With 'Mosquito'". Clash. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
14. ^ Cills, Hazel (8 November 2023). "PinkPantheress, IRL". NPR. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
15. ^ Steiner, Andy (10 November 2023). "PinkPantheress' Debut Album is a Feast For the Senses". Paste. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
16. ^ Lyons-Burt, Charles (13 November 2023). "PinkPantheress Heaven Knows Review: Trading Street Cred for Pop Prowess". Slant. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
17. ^ Renshaw, David (29 September 2023). "Pinkpantheress hits London's high end stores in her 'Mosquito' video". The Fader. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
18. ^ Hardman, Neville (29 September 2023). "PinkPantheress indulges in retail therapy with 'Mosquito' video". Alternative Press. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
19. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
20. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of October 11, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 October 2023.
21. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2023.

* v
* t
* e

PinkPantheress

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* Heaven Knows (2023)

Mixtapes|

* To Hell with It (2021)

Remix albums|

* To Hell with It (Remixes) (2022)

Singles|

* "Break It Off"
* "Pain"
* "Passion"
* "Just for Me"
* "Bbycakes"
* "Where You Are"
* "Boy's a Liar"
* "Angel"
* "Mosquito"

Related|

* "Obsessed with You"
* Parlophone

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