"House on Fire"
Single by Mimi Webb
from the album Amelia
Released18 February 2022 (2022-02-18)
Length2:20
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
  • Mimi Webb
  • Pablo Bowman
  • Charlie Martin
  • Ines Dunn
  • Joe Housley
Producer(s)
Mimi Webb singles chronology
"24/5"
(2021) 		"House on Fire"
(2022) 		"Goodbye"
(2022)
Music video
"House on Fire" on YouTube

"House on Fire" is a song by British singer and songwriter Mimi Webb. It was released on 18 February 2022 through Epic Records as the lead single from her debut studio album Amelia. The song debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart, making it her highest debut on the chart.

Critical reception

The song was described as a "catchy, self-incriminating song". Taking her previous singles into account, Tomás Mier of Rolling Stone called Webb the "queen of breakups".[1] The "upbeat production" was viewed as the singer showing another side of the singer.[2] Billboard writer Jason Lipshutz included the song on the "10 cool new pop songs" list of the week, saying that "Webb has dropped a wondrous, biting pop track". He also drew comparisons to Canadian singer Tate McRae: by "singing in this tale of heartbroken arson", Webb combines elements of both "a major-key pop refrain and hit a revenge-fantasy pose".[3] In a mixed review, Jenessa Williams of The Guardian awarded the song 3 out of 5 stars, praising her vocal abilities while calling her songs "unimaginative" and sticking to a "well-rehearsed formula".[4]

Commercial performance

In Ireland, Webb earned her highest chart entry with the song so far.[5] Debuting at number six in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2022, she also reached her highest charting song there, surpassing "Good Without", which had previously peaked at number eight in early 2021.[6] In the United States, the song also surpassed "Good Without" as her highest charting effort on Mainstream Top 40, before being later surpassed by "Red Flags".[7]

Music video

The music video was released on 18 February 2022 and was directed by KLVDR.[2] It features shots of Webb setting the house of her ex-boyfriend on fire after he had cheated on her. She is then seen dancing with firefighters and posing next to nurses.[1]

Cover versions

Fellow British singer George Ezra covered the song during a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance, in addition to performing his song "Green Green Grass" on 19 May.[8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance for "House on Fire"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[9] 40
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[10] 12
Global 200 (Billboard)[11] 196
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 5
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] 8
Norway (VG-lista)[14] 40
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 6
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[7] 32

Year-end charts

2022 year-end chart performance for "House on Fire"
Chart (2022) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 42

Certifications

Certifications for "House on Fire"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Mier, Tomás (18 February 2022). "Mimi Webb Is Besties With Firefighters After Setting Her Man's 'House on Fire' in New Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Major, Michael (18 February 2022). "Video: Mimi Webb Releases New 'House On Fire' Music Video". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (22 February 2022). "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Mimi Webb, Coin, Hanson & More". Billboard. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  4. ^ Williams, Jenessa (18 February 2022). "Mimi Webb review – algorithmic polish from TikTok's heartbreak queen". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Belters Only earn landmark first Number 1 single in Ireland with Make Me Feel Good ft. Jazzy: "We couldn't have done it without you"". Official Charts Company. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  6. ^ "We Don't Talk About Bruno extends lead as 2022's longest-running Number 1 single as Mimi Webb gains highest new entry". Official Charts Company. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Pop Airplay: Week of April 16, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  8. ^ Maeoka, Toshio (20 May 2022). "George Ezra Performs "Green Green Grass" & Mimi Webb's "House On Fire" on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge". Pm Studio World Wide News. PM Studio. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40: Week of May 7, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  10. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202233 into search. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of March 5, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  13. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  14. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-08". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 8". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  17. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  18. ^ "British single certifications – Mimi Webb – House on Fire". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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