Truth Hurts (song)


"Truth Hurts" is a song released by American singer and rapper Lizzo. It was originally released on September 19, 2017, by Nice Life Recording Company and Atlantic Records, but then re-released as a radio single in 2019. It was written by Lizzo, Jesse Saint John, Steven Cheung, and Ricky Reed, the latter two having co-produced the track. Mina Lioness, a singer based in London, was credited as a co-writer of the song on October 23, 2019.
Though it did not chart at the time of its release, it later became a viral sleeper hit in 2019 after gaining popularity on the TikTok video sharing app and being used on the Netflix movie Someone Great. The song was included as a bonus track on the deluxe version of Lizzo's third studio album Cuz I Love You and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lizzo's first song to do so. The accompanying music video has amassed nearly 200 million views on YouTube. Despite being released in 2017, the song was eligible for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020, being nominated for three awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, winning the remaining award for Best Pop Solo Performance.

Composition

Musically, it is led by a "glittering" piano loop. Lyrically, the song sees the singer addressing romantic problems, singing the lyrics, "'You coulda had a bad bitch, non-committal/ Help you with your career, just a little', she sings. 'You're 'posed to hold me down/ But you're holding me back/ And that's the sound of me not calling you back'."
During a 2019 concert in her native Detroit, Lizzo revealed that "the person I wrote that song about is from Detroit."

Commercial performance

North America

In the United States, "Truth Hurts" became a sleeper hit two years after its release; the song was originally released in September 2017 and eventually charted in the spring of 2019. On the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song debuted at number 50 on the week ending May 18, 2019. Its high debut was due to a Billboard rule that affects songs older than one year from entering the Hot 100 unless obtaining a substantial amount of chart points. The track reached number one in September 2019, becoming Lizzo's first number one song in the United States. On its fourth week at number one, it became the longest-leading rap number one single by a female artist unaccompanied by another act in the chart's history, surpassing Cardi B's three-week reign with "Bodak Yellow" in October 2017. It spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number one, tying Iggy Azalea's "Fancy", featuring Charli XCX, for the longest-leading rap song by a female artist on the chart. On November 2, 2019, it was replaced by "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi.
"Truth Hurts" debuted at number 33 on Mainstream Top 40 following its entry on the Hot 100 and reached number one, giving Lizzo her first chart topper on that chart. The song also hit number one on the US Rhythmic chart, where it became Lizzo's first Billboard chart topper; and one of five songs to reach number one with a 5-1 jump on that chart since its October 1992 inception. On Billboards Dance/Mix Show Airplay, the single became her first top 10, and also reached number one in September 2019, eclipsing "Juice" which peaked at number 25 in May 2019. In Canada, "Truth Hurts" opened at number 43 on the Hot 100 for the week ending May 18, 2019; it has since peaked at number seven.

Europe and Oceania

In the United Kingdom, "Truth Hurts" has debuted at number 67 on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending May 9, 2019, later peaking at number 29 on the week ending September 19, 2019. In Belgium, the song entered the top 10 of the Belgian Singles Chart, at number two, becoming Lizzo's first and highest-charting entry in the country. The song also entered the top 10 of the Belgium Urban Singles Chart, at number nine, also becoming her first and highest-charting entry on the chart, respectively.
In New Zealand, "Truth Hurts" peaked at number five on the New Zealand Singles Chart. In Australia, the song entered the top 30, at number 21 on the week ending May 25, 2019. It has since reached number 15 there.

Critical reception

Ashley Monaé, writing for Pitchfork, stated the song contains "sobering moments of truth where Lizzo’s charisma wins us over and sets her apart." DIY magazine wrote that the song "continues to show off her relatable rap."

Use in media

Lizzo performed the song on the season 45 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by former cast member Eddie Murphy.
The song's lyrics in which she references the Minnesota Vikings were edited out by one station: Top 40/CHR WIXX in Green Bay, due to the Packers' rivalry with them and the station broadcasting games on the Packers Radio Network. Atlantic allowed the station to make changes to the song and was ultimately "cool with it" when it came to the adjustment.
In a 2020 episode of the American game show Jeopardy!, host Alex Trebek recited the lyrics as a clue in the category "Lyrics of Today." Once a contestant gave the correct answer, Trebek quipped, "I did it exactly like does, didn't I?"

Accolades

Remixes

Two official remixes of "Truth Hurts" were released by Lizzo. One features producing from the DJ CID and was released on August 22, 2019. The other features Charlotte rapper DaBaby and was released on August 23, 2019. The release of the remixes were an effort to get "Truth Hurts" to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. A limited edition vinyl included an extended version of the CID remix. On September 24, 2019, a third remix featuring South Korean boy band AB6IX was released.

Music video

A music video was released to accompany "Truth Hurts", styled by Brooke Candy. It depicts the singer at a wedding, then leaving the groom at the altar. The video finishes with the singer marrying herself, followed by a dance party. Scenes of the singer in lingerie are interspersed throughout the video. As of October 7, 2019, the music video has amassed more than 124 million views on YouTube.

Controversies

"Truth Hurts" was the subject of two allegations of plagiarism concerning its opening line "I just took a DNA test, turns out I'm 100% that bitch". After Lizzo filed a trademark application for the phrase "100% that bitch" on June 10, 2019, singer Mina Lioness tweeted on August 28 that she shared a similar Twitter post in February 2017 "I did a DNA test and found out I'm 100% that bitch." Lizzo responded that her use of the phrase "I'm 100% that bitch" was based on an Instagram meme and that she was not aware of Lioness's original tweet.
On October 15, producers Justin and Jeremiah Raisen posted on Instagram that the opening line was lifted from an unreleased demo, "Healthy", that they co-wrote with Lizzo and other songwriters. They attributed the lyric to Lioness's tweet. In response, Lizzo's lawyer stated that the Raisens did not co-write "Truth Hurts" and that the Raisens "expressly renounced any claim to the work, in writing, months ago".
Lioness was credited as a co-writer of the song on October 23, 2019. On the same day, Lizzo filed a lawsuit against the Raisens for alleged harassment. In an Instagram post, Lizzo wrote "The creator of the tweet is the person I am sharing my success with...not these men. Period."

Track listing

Digital download
  1. "Truth Hurts" – 2:53
  2. "Truth Hurts" – 3:17
  3. "Truth Hurts" – 2:58
12" single
  1. "Truth Hurts" – 2:53
  2. "Truth Hurts" – 3:17
  3. "Truth Hurts" – 2:58
  4. "Truth Hurts" – 3:55

    Personnel

Adapted from Tidal.

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history