"Brainwashed" is a song by English

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

Devlin which features vocals from Milena Sanchez. The song, co-written by Pontus Hjelm and

Emeli Sandé Adele Emily Sandé ( ; previously Gouraguine; born 10 March 1987), known professionally as Emeli Sandé, is a British singer and songwriter. Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England and raised in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Sandé rose t ...

served as the

lead single A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. A similar term, "debut ...

for the rapper's debut album, '' Bud, Sweat and Beers'' (2010). The track was first released as a digital download on 8 August 2010 having been added to

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including ...

's B Playlist the previous month.

Critical reception

Fraser McAlpine of

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

Chart Blog gave the song a positive review stating:

Honestly, some people can be so NEEDY. I mean sure, if you're going to be a pop star, it helps to have the kind of self-regard which occasionally finds you checking out your reflection in the taps on the sink. But to actually BEG your audience to remember who you are – even to go to the lengths of spelling out your name* – and then brag that anyone who does actually bother to do this is clearly being brainwashed by your astonishing talent... Well that doesn't just take the cake. That takes the cake, the cake-dish, the cake-slice, the table-cloth AND the pretty little seaside teashop. .

Track listing

*Digital download

Chart performance

Having been predicted to debut in the Top 30, "Brainwashed" eventually debuted at number 31 on 15 August 2010, giving Devlin his first single to crack the UK Singles Chart. On its second week in the chart, the single fell 9 places to number 40 before falling a further 19 places to number 59 on 29 August 2010.

Release history

References

{{authority control 2010 singles 2010 songs Devlin (rapper) songs Songs written by Emeli Sandé Songs written by Pontus Hjelm Universal Music Group singles Island Records singles