"Angry" is a song by British rock bandthe Rolling Stones, which serves as the lead single from their studio albumHackney Diamonds. Released on 6 September 2023, it is the first new original music from the band in three years (following the non-album single "Living in a Ghost Town" in 2020), whilstHackney Diamonds is their first album of new original music in 18 years (followingA Bigger Bang in 2005).[2] This song is included in the soundtrack forEA Sports FC 24.
On 2 September 2023 – following a couple weeks of cryptic online teasers for the new album – the band previewed a short snippet of "Angry" on the website dontgetangrywithme.com, which experienced instability and frequent errors that some interpreted as being intentional.[3][4] On 4 September, the album was officially announced, as were the plans for alivestream with television hostJimmy Fallon where more information would be revealed and thelead single would be premiered.[5] On 6 September, the livestream was broadcast on the Rolling Stones' officialYouTube channel while being filmed at theHackney Empire Theatre in London.[6] Fallon interviewed the band, who revealed the album's track list and release date and also answered various questions sent in from fans.
The music video for "Angry" premiered on 6 September, at the Rolling Stones' official YouTube channel, accompanying their promotional interview with Jimmy Fallon. The video features actressSydney Sweeney, dressed in black studded chaps and dancing in the back seat of a redMercedes 560 SL convertible as it is driven down theSunset Strip inLos Angeles while the band members sing to her from large billboards that the car passes.[7][8][9] The video was met with criticism that it objectified Sweeney, but she defended it as "empowerment through embracing [my] body".[8]
"Angry" was met with primarily positive reviews. A review fromThe Telegraph rated the song 5 out of 5 stars, calling it the band's "best single in four decades, an absolute blast [with] extravagant, leering defiance"; describing the riff as "defiantly dumb", the guitar solo as "gnarly", and the overall style as "unapologetically old-fashioned".[10] Another 5-star review fromThe i Paper shares this positive sentiment, characterising the song as "rollicking, rip-roaring rock 'n' roll" with a "characteristically big, confident guitar riff [and] catchy refrain" that are "[imbued with] feeling and life".[11] A 4-star review fromThe Guardian also echoes this praise, citing the band's ability to "cleverly wax and wane from minor to major chords, carrying [a] tale of alternating desperation and resignation" while also making the track "a complete hoot [that] suggests fun, freedom, and creative hunger".[12] Alternatively, a review fromFar Out offered a dissenting opinion and rated the song 2.5 out of 5 stars, criticising the song as "distinctly average" and "Stones-by-numbers", further stating that it makes use of "the same borrowed and rather tired blues riff" and that it "aims to thrill but merely titillates".[13]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 50. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 44. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
