After Loreen's success with Euphoria, "My Heart Is Refusing Me" was released as her second international single from the upcoming album. The single was released internationally on October 8, 2012 in a remixed version that is different from the original version that was released in 2011.
Composition
There are two versions of the single. The first was the original release version, which was a more lowtempo dance-pop song, while the album version is a more uptempo and has slightly different production. According to discogs, the song is influenced by electronic, pop, house and Europop styles. According to Brian O'Reilly from The Irish Independent, he said the song "has its similarities to its predecessor – the pulsing club beat, the drama of the interplay between light and dark and of course Loreen’s fantastic powerful vocals." He also said "There is a unique dynamic to the song when the ancient chant-like backing vocals help give it an authenticity beyond the usual in the dance genre." The song features instrumentation of synthesizers, strings, and other keyboards. He noted the lyrical content as being "quite dark yet very relatable" and said there was the "melancholy in the verses is fully explained by the chorus." Higher Plain Music described the song "more classic dance with huge tom drums and a huge soaring chorus complete raving synths and catchy ad-lib hooks."
Critical reception
"My Heart is Refusing Me" received critical acclaim from music critics upon release, with most critics noting similarities to her previous single, "Euphoria". ScandiPop.co.uk gave it a positive review, saying "The words “even better than the original” spring to mind. Seriously. As kicks up the arse go, this is at hospilisation level." Samesame.co.au called the song one of the highlights of the album, saying "is a showcase of pedigree dance balladry – just like ‘Euphoria’ – it comes complete with a chorus that formulaically expands after periods of restraint verses." He also stated that along with the other singles on the album; "make sense as the shining ambassadors of Loreen‘s album but they’re not necessarily indicative of its scope." Brian O'Reilly from The Irish Independent was very positive, awarding the song 9 stars out of 10, stating "‘My heart is refusing me’ really does what really great dance music should do – it teases the listener throughout, leaving them in anticipation for a big final chorus where all the elements introduced throughout the song come together." EscXtra critic added that this song was "a strong view on which way the album was going in."
Commercial performance
"My Heart Is Refusing Me" first entered in 2011 on the Swedish Singles Chart at number nine, where it ultimately peaked. The song descended the way out, staying for 19 weeks on the chart. When it was re-released in mid-2012, the song re-entered at sixty, and peaked at number twenty-two and ultimately stayed in the charts for eleven weeks. The song managed to chart in other European markets. The song debuted at seventy-nine on the Dutch Singles chart, and peaked at number forty-six. The song spent at sole week at number forty-one on the Spanish Singles Chart and a sole week on the Belgium Singles Chart at forty-four. The song debuted at #44 in Belgium, #41 in Spain, #79 in the Netherlands and #10 in Finland.
Promotion and nominations
On 12 February 2011, Loreen competed in the second semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2011 with My Heart Is Refusing Me placing fourth in Gothenburg, she competed in the Second Chance round, but failed to qualify to the final after a sing-off with Sara Varga. In 2012, "My Heart Is Refusing Me" won the "Tredje Chansen" contest promoted by SVT. The Tredje Chansen gathered the 32 most memorable songs in the past10 years of Melodifestivalen which never reached the final and gave them one more chance to compete for a place in it. All votes were cast online by internet viewers. Loreen won in the Heat and in the Final. The official music video premiered on June 28 on Loreen's official YouTube channel, with the video directed by Liza Minou Morberg.
