"Everything Goes On"
Single by Porter Robinson
ReleasedJuly 14, 2022
Genre
Length3:22
LabelRiot Games
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Porter Robinson
  • Brendon Williams
Porter Robinson singles chronology
"Unfold"
(2021) 		"Everything Goes On"
(2022) 		"Still Here (With The Ones That I Came With)"
(2023)
Music video
"Everything Goes On" on YouTube

"Everything Goes On" is a single by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson, released in collaboration with video game League of Legends on July 14, 2022. It is Robinson's first release since his album Nurture (2021).[3]

The song is tied to the Star Guardian 2022 event in League of Legends, a tribute to the magical girl genre of anime. The song's lyrics draw inspiration from the magical girl anime Madoka Magica.[4]

Background and composition

Somebody who I really love was going through something really painful, and I started writing about that, and that was when it really clicked for me because I wasn't faking anything anymore. The emotions I was writing about were really sincerely held and painful. And when I finally figured out the second pre-chorus, I literally cried in the studio. My entire heart was in it.

Robinson to The Verge on writing the lyrics to "Everything Goes On"[5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson's wife Rika introduced him to League of Legends. When League of Legends developer Riot Games released the animated series Arcane, Robinson realized he wanted to be involved in one of their projects.[5] He then decided to approach Riot about contributing a song; they proposed he work on the Star Guardian 2022 theme, to be accompanied by an animation of about two-and-a-half minutes in length.[6]

Robinson frequently redid the lyrics to "Everything Goes On" while working on it, something he attributed to his focus on lyrics which has grown over time.[4] Initially drawing inspiration from an animated short released by Riot in 2019, Robinson eventually shifted towards writing about something closer to his own experiences about a loved one "going through something really painful".[5] Because of the personal nature of the lyrics, Robinson felt like it was necessary to use his natural voice, as opposed to the heavy vocal processing featured on tracks from Nurture.[7]

In addition to the electronic elements present in his previous work, "Everything Goes On" draws from elements of indie rock[1] and was partially performed by Robinson on the guitar, which he described as a "different workflow" for himself.[4]

Music video

"Everything Goes On" was released alongside an official music video to start off the Star Guardian 2022 event in League of Legends.[8] Robinson did not work on the animated video which, according to The Verge, "created an interesting contrast" at times due to the personal nature of the song and its lyrics.[5]

Critical reception

Writing for Billboard, Kat Bein describes "Everything Goes On" as a "heartfelt sing-along", writing that it "captures all the beauty, power and sadness that comes with sacrificing your life as a teenage girl to protect the world; and it does it all without sacrificing any part of its Porter Robinson-ness."[6]

In an article for NME, Ali Shutler describes "Everything Goes On" as "a beautiful song that wrestles with melancholy, hope, love, desire and loss."[1]

Track listing

"Everything Goes On" – Digital single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."Everything Goes On"3:22
Total length:3:22
"Everything Goes On" – 7-inch single[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Everything Goes On"3:22
2."Everything Goes On" (Star Guardian Version)2:29
Total length:5:51

Charts

Chart performance for "Everything Goes On"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] 10
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[12] 9
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[13] 90

References

  1. ^ a b c Shutler, Ali (July 14, 2022). "Porter Robinson releases 'League Of Legends' anthem 'Everything Goes On': "I had to put some vulnerability on the line"". NME. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Venzin, Megan (December 5, 2022). "A happy place: Porter Robinson's Second Sky festival is a playground for joy". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Helfand, Raphael (July 14, 2022). "Porter Robinson shares new track for League of Legends event". The Fader. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Anderson, Sage (July 12, 2022). "Porter Robinson Muses on Grief, Authenticity of the Nostalgic Self In New Song for Riot Games". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Webster, Andrew (July 14, 2022). "Porter Robinson on crafting a new anthem for League of Legends". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Bein, Kat (July 14, 2022). "Porter Robinson on His New Song For Riot Games' 'Star Guardian': 'I Put a Lot of Effort Into Making It Something I Want To F–king Belt Out'". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Joyce, Colin (October 20, 2022). "Is Porter Robinson satisfied?". The Fader. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Guttridge-Hewitt, Martin (July 14, 2022). "Porter Robinson shares new single, 'Everything Goes On', via League of Legends' Star Guardian: Listen". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "Everything Goes On - Single". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  10. ^ "Everything Goes On 7" Vinyl". porterrobinson.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  11. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 25, 2022. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "Porter Robinson Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Porter Robinson Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
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