Atlantis (Bridgit Mendler Song)
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"Atlantis" is a song by American recording artist
Bridgit Mendler Bridgit Claire Mendler (born December 18, 1992) is an American entrepreneur and former actress and singer-songwriter. She first became known as a Child actor, child actress and continued acting into adulthood, which overlapped with a musical car ...
. Written by Mendler, Spencer Bastian, Mischa Chillak and Kaiydo, with Bastian and Chillak serving as producers, it was released as the lead single from the
extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
, ''
Nemesis In ancient Greek religion and myth, Nemesis (; ) also called Rhamnousia (or Rhamnusia; ), was the goddess who personified retribution for the sin of hubris: arrogance before the gods. Etymology The name ''Nemesis'' is derived from the Greek ...
'' (2016), through Black Box Media Agency on August 26, 2016. The song is widely considered to be written due to Mendler's split from former boyfriend
Shane Harper , website = {{URL, shaneharper.com Shane Steven Harper (born February 14, 1993) is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing Spencer on ''Good Luck Charlie'', Josh Wheaton in ''God's Not Dead (film), God's Not Dead'', and ...
. According to Mendler, the song discusses the capability of finding love, but feeling like it has disappeared like a lost city, therefore referencing the mythical city of
Atlantis Atlantis () is a fictional island mentioned in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and ''Critias'' as part of an allegory on the hubris of nations. In the story, Atlantis is described as a naval empire that ruled all Western parts of the known world ...
. The track was considered by music critics to be a radical departure from her previous work, which featured mainstream, pop music elements. Receiving critical acclaim, critics praised the atmosphere of the song and Mendler's tube distortion voice.


Background

Along with a series of Twitter posts on her official account teasing the release of Atlantis, Mendler shared the following information concerning the song's production:


Composition

"Atlantis" is mainly an
alt pop Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...
,
electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that came to prominence in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mos ...
and
trip hop Trip hop is a musical genre that has been described as a psychedelic music, psychedelic fusion of hip hop music, hip hop and electronica with slow tempos and an atmospheric sound. The style emerged as a more experimental music, experimental var ...
song. About it, Mendler stated "I wrote 'Atlantis' frankly about feeling numb after heartbreak because that's what I was feeling that day we wrote it. Atlantis is a beautiful city that disappeared and was forgotten underwater. That is what it feels like to me to lose a first love. In the story, a remnant of that love is still haunting me even though it is 'asleep with the fishes.'" She also said to
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that "'Atlantis' is about knowing that I am capable of finding love, but feeling like it has disappeared like a lost city. I wanted to set a haunting tone to the lyrics because the song captures a very tumultuous and transformative time in my life. This song really takes ownership of that." On having Kaiydo rap in the song, Mendler said "I felt the song would be a good one to have a rapper counterpart to add a different perspective. Kaiydo met the tone of the song perfectly."


Critical reception

"Atlantis" received unanimous praise. Ailbhe Malone of ''
The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...
'' described the song as "delicate and interesting but still vibey" and a mature follow up to her previous efforts. Deepa Lakshmin of ''
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
'' labeled the song "a mellow ode to a past lover" and said that it's "a radical departure from Mendler's previous record", and went on to say that the song is "cool, refreshing, and totally different."
Pigeons and Planes Complex Networks is an American media and entertainment company for youth culture, based in New York City. It was founded as a bi-monthly magazine, ''Complex'', by fashion designer Marc Eckō. Complex Networks reports on popular and emerging tr ...
' Jacob Moore claimed " tlantisis a departure from the saccharine flavor of previous singles like ' Ready or Not', an international hit that went platinum in several countries. 'Atlantis' is more complex, a little more difficult to process, but ultimately much more rewarding. It's an immersive piece of modern pop music that feels like something between drowning and floating, or maybe like a little of both." Rachel Sonis of
Idolator An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry. Idolator or Idolater may also refer to: * Idolator (website), an American music blog * ''Idolator'' (album), a 2005 album by Blood Stain Child * ''Idolator'', a 1986 album by Ole Evenrud * "Idolater", a ...
called the song a "wistful anthem". ''
Noisey ''Vice'' (stylized in all caps) is a Canadian-American magazine focused on lifestyle, arts, culture, and news/politics. It was founded in 1994 in Montreal as an alternative punk magazine, and its founders later launched the youth media company ...
''s Phil Witmer stated "Mendler's voice is run through tube distortion, chopped up into pinpricks, and becomes a gorgeously vocoded choir on the cavernous hook. It's something like
Imogen Heap Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap ( ; born 9 December 1977) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. She is considered a pioneer in pop music, particularly electropop, and in music technology. While attending the ...
meeting early
Purity Ring Purity rings (also known as promise rings, abstinence rings, or chastity rings) are rings worn as a sign of chastity. Since the 1990s, Christian organizations in the United States used the purity ring as a symbol of commitment. In particular, Cat ...
, and the guest verse from Florida underground rapper Kaiydo makes 'Atlantis' a masterwork in craft and atmosphere." ''Burning Anchor''s Angus McColl gave "Atlantis" a 5/5 star rating stating: "Overall, "Atlantis" feels like a natural departure and radical improvement from 2012's '' Hello My Name Is...'' Mendler creates a soothing, intelligent, mature song which will make you yearn for more."


Accolades


Music video

A music video for the song was released on September 27, 2016. Samantha Boscarino, who co-starred with Mendler on ''
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'' and ''
Good Luck Charlie ''Good Luck Charlie'' is an American sitcom that aired on Disney Channel from April 4, 2010, to February 16, 2014. It focuses on the Duncan family of Denver as they adjust to the births of their fourth and later fifth children, Charlotte "Char ...
'', is featured in the music video.


Background

In an interview with ''
Noisey ''Vice'' (stylized in all caps) is a Canadian-American magazine focused on lifestyle, arts, culture, and news/politics. It was founded in 1994 in Montreal as an alternative punk magazine, and its founders later launched the youth media company ...
'', Mendler said "we went through a ton of ideas and when I first got Allie's treatment, her fresh perspective was undeniable. I told her I had my heart set on working with her and from there we found a concept that had dark, satirical, plus heart-aching moments. I break into my ex's house and try to recreate our lost love while he is passed out. Even in the midst of fun and light moments in life, my heart is as limp as his hand hitting my knee while we dance in the kitchen."


Critical reception

Phil Witmer of ''Noisey'' stated "the video fits the song's ambiguity and beguiling nature, with Mendler and her friends literally attempting to resuscitate a past relationship in dreamy vignettes that veer between celebratory and somber."


Track listing

*Digital download #"Atlantis" (featuring Kaiydo) – 3:49 *Digital download #"Atlantis ( Demo Taped remix)" (featuring Kaiydo) – 4:00 *Digital download #"Atlantis (Tunji Ige remix)" (featuring Kaiydo) – 3:23


Release history


References

{{authority control Songs about Atlantis 2016 singles 2016 songs Alternative pop songs Bridgit Mendler songs Electronica songs Songs written by Bridgit Mendler Songs about fictional places Trip hop songs