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Help Me Mama

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For the Lemonescent song, see Lemonescent.
"Help Me Mama"
Single by ZZ Ward
from the album The Storm
ReleasedMarch 31, 2017 (2017-03-31)
GenreBlues rock
Length3:06
LabelHollywood Records
Composer(s)
Producer(s)Theron Feemster
ZZ Ward singles chronology
"The Deep"
(2017) 		"Help Me Mama"
(2017) 		"Ride"
(2017)
Music video
"Help Me Mama" on YouTube

"Help Me Mama" is a song by American blues singer-songwriter ZZ Ward, released as the lead single from Ward's second studio album The Storm.[1] The song was released on March 31, 2017 via Hollywood Records.[2] The single peaked at 18 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart in the United States, becoming Ward's fourth top 20 single.[3]

Composition and release

[edit]

"Help Me Mama" was composed by ZZ Ward, Evan Bogart, Priscilla Renea, and Theron Feemster, with the latter serving as the song producer.[4] Ward said to Nylon magazine, about the meaning of the song:[5]

"["Help Me Mama"] is a song about when your momma can't help you anymore, and you gotta figure your stuff out on your own!"

— ZZ Ward, speaking with Nylon on the song.[6]

Martine Ehrenclou of Rock and Blues Muse described the production as "a song that draws from R&B, gospel, and Indie styles". The Joy of Violent Movement noticed that the production featured a "strummed acoustic guitar, tweeter and woofer rocking low end, twinkling piano, whirring synths and electronics".[7][8]

The song was officially released on March 31, 2017.[9] To promote the track, Ward performed the song live at Good Morning America on July 3, 2017.[10] She also performed the song on special sessions for Paste Magazine, Nylon, among others.[11][5]

Reception

[edit]

"Help Me Mama" received generally positive reviews from music critics.[12][13] While reviewing The Storm, Martine Ehrenclou of Rock and Blues Muse named it a highlight from the album, saying it "is a rocker of a song".[14] Pete Francis of Blues Rock Reviews also selected the song among the album highlights, and dubbed it "The Big Hit" of the record.[15]

Hafeezah Nazim of Nylon, highlighted the song from the setlist of Ward's performance at the magazine SoHo office, stating that the single "will help you get your life together".[5] Pablo Gorondi of Associated Press, described it as "a fiery plea".[16] While The Joy of Violent Movement called it "a strutting and swaggering track that pairs Ward’s powerhouse and soulful vocals",[17] and predicted that the song "will further cement Ward’s reputation for crafting deeply personal, sultry and anthemic pop with a blues meets hip-hop swagger."[18]

Music video

[edit]

The official music video for "Help Me Mama" was released on May 18, 2017.[19] The video was directed by Kyle Cogan.[20]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Apple Music.[4]

  • ZZ Ward — vocals, performer, composer
  • Theron Feemster — producer, engineer, piano, keyboards, drum programming
  • Evan Bogart — composer
  • Priscilla Renea — composer
  • Chris Gehringer — performer, mastering engineer
  • Erik D. Walls — guitar
  • Kyle Mann — engineer
  • Paul Redel — engineer
  • Rich Costey — mixing engineer
  • Martin Cooke — assistant mixing engineer, assistant recording engineer
  • Nicolas Fournier — assistant mixing engineer, assistant recording engineer

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Help Me Mama"
Chart (2017) Peak

position

US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[21] 18

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Help Me Mama"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 31 March 2017
Hollywood Records [9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Help Me Mama - Single by ZZ Ward, Spotify, 2017-03-31, retrieved 2025-04-05
  2. ^ Young, Emily (2017-04-12). "ZZ Ward - Help Me Mama". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  3. ^ "ZZ Ward Adult Alternative Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  4. ^ a b Help Me Mama by ZZ Ward on Apple Music, 2017-03-31, retrieved 2025-04-05
  5. ^ a b c Nazim, Hafeezah (2017-07-03). "This ZZ Ward Song Will Help You Get Your Life Together". Nylon. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  6. ^ https://www.nylon.com/articles/zz-ward-nylon-live-performance
  7. ^ "Single Review: ZZ Ward Help Me Mama". The Joy of Violent Movement. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  8. ^ "Spotlight: ZZ Ward". grammy museum. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  9. ^ a b ZZWardVEVO (2017-03-31). ZZ Ward - Help Me Mama (Audio Only). Retrieved 2025-04-05 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Video ZZ Ward rocks out to 'Help Me Mama' live on 'GMA'". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  11. ^ "ZZ Ward - Help Me Mama". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  12. ^ "Single Review: ZZ Ward Help Me Mama". The Joy of Violent Movement. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  13. ^ "ZZ Ward drops her second full-length album, The Storm. REVIEW". The Heights Theater. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  14. ^ Ehrenclou, Martine (2017-07-24). "Album Review: The Storm by ZZ Ward". ROCK AND BLUES MUSE. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  15. ^ Francis, Pete (2017-06-28). "ZZ Ward: The Storm Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  16. ^ Gorondi, Pablo (2017-06-26). "Review: ZZ Ward shows her gale-force talents on 'The Storm'". AP News. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  17. ^ "Single Review: ZZ Ward Help Me Mama". The Joy of Violent Movement. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  18. ^ "Single Review: ZZ Ward Help Me Mama". The Joy of Violent Movement. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  19. ^ ZZWardVEVO (2017-05-18). ZZ Ward - Help Me Mama (Official Video). Retrieved 2025-04-05 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Help Me Mama – ZZ Ward". Vevo. May 18, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  21. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 2017-07-22. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
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