Wikipedia

Labour (song)

"Labour" is a song by British singer-songwriter Paris Paloma released on 24 March 2023. It is the lead single from her debut studio album, Cacophony (2024). The track is described as an anthem[1] that addresses issues of gender inequality within societal structures.[2]

"Labour"
Single by Paris Paloma
from the album Cacophony
Released24 March 2023 (2023-03-24)
Genre
Length3:57
LabelNettwerk
SongwriterParis Paloma
ProducerJustin Glasco
Paris Paloma singles chronology
"Notre Dame"
(2023)		 "Labour"
(2023)		 "Yeti"
(2023)
Music video
"Labour on YouTube

Background and release

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The song was written by Paris Paloma, a British artist from Derbyshire.[3] Paloma decided to combine two separate songs she had been writing into a single track, which became "Labour". The song, which was produced by Justin Glasco, was recorded in Los Angeles by Paloma with backup singers Natalie Duque, Nolyn Ducich and Annabel Lee.[4]

The song was released on 24 March 2023.[5] An official music video was released on 27 March.[6] It is featured on Paloma's debut album, Cacophony, which was released on 30 August 2024.[7]

Composition

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"Labour" is an indie folk[8][9] and alternative folk[4][10] ballad[11] featuring an acoustic arrangement of bass and guitar over a chorus of background singers.[10][11]

Music video

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The video is set in medieval times, with Paloma and Henry Hayward wearing historic garments. Paloma brings out dishes to complete a candlelit feast. Henry, sitting at the head of the table, fills his plate and gobbles up meat and fruit while she watches. He fingers his ring and she does the same, then he pushes his plate away and taps his knife against a tankard. She starts to get up with her plate and cup, then sits back down, breaks a pomegranate open and it sprays all over her dress; she stuffs berry pie into her mouth with her bare hands and makes a mess. He lowers his head and when he lifts it, she is gone and her candle is out.

A different version of the song, "Labour: The Cacophony" was released on 29 March 2024.[12] It is a collection of clips of women singing along with the song or making thematically relevant works using it as an audio, with their vocals used as the titular cacophony.

Critical reception

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Critics described the song as a feminist anthem,[1] and linked the song to the phenomenon of "female rage" in response to unbalanced domestic and emotional labour in heterosexual relationship.[2]

Commercial performance

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Prior to its release, snippets from the song went viral on TikTok.[1] The song received 1 million streams on Spotify within 24 hours of release, and 1 million views on YouTube.[13] After the single's release, it started a viral trend in which women posted TikTok videos with the song where they described their own personal experiences with sexism.[5][3] During the 2024 Romanian presidential election, the song was used by protesters against candidate Călin Georgescu, who is strongly opposed to the right to abortion.[14]

"Labour" has over 344 million streams on Spotify as of October 2025,[15] and its music video has over 86 million views on YouTube.

Track listings

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Digital download/ streaming
  1. "Labour" - 3:57
Digital download/ streaming
  1. "Labour" (clean) - 3:57
Digital download/ streaming
  1. "Labour" (Rak Session) - 4:08
  2. "Labour" (Extended Cut, Rak Session) - 4:54
  3. "Labour" (Choir Intro) - 0:46
Digital download/ streaming
  1. "Labour" (the cacophony) - 4:07
  2. "Labour" - 3:57
  3. "Labour" (Bedroom demo) - 4:07

Charts

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Chart performance for "Labour"
Chart (2023–2025) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16]61
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 71
Global 200 (Billboard)[18] 163
Ireland (IRMA)[19]24
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 82
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21]52
UK Singles (OCC)[22]22
UK Indie (OCC)[23]3
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[24] 4
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[25] 13
US Hot Alternative Songs (Billboard)[26] 9
Chart performance for "Labour (The Cacophony)"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[27] 36

Certifications

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Certifications for "Labour"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[28] Platinum 80,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] Platinum 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[31] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Terasaki, Kimberly (27 March 2023). "Breaking Down Paris Paloma's Fiery Feminist Anthem, "Labour"". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 Breese, Evie (24 March 2023). "Paris Paloma's Labour: The story behind the viral soundtrack to 'female rage'". The Big Issue. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 Mylrea, Hannah (31 May 2023). "Paris Paloma: "When people listen to 'Labour', I want them to feel like their anger is valid"". NME. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 Unterberger, Andrew (2 May 2023). "Chartbreaker: Paris Paloma's Breakout Relationship Lament 'Labour' Is Resonating With Women and Men Alike". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 Graye, Megan (14 March 2023). "Paris Paloma's new song 'Labour' has women sharing their experiences of misogyny". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Kelia (27 March 2023). "Watch Now: Paris Paloma Releases New Video For "labour"". Out Now Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Ackroyd, Stephen (29 March 2024). "Paris Paloma has announced her debut album, 'Cacophony'". Dork. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  8. ↑ Carter, Daisy (3 April 2024). "Paris Paloma confirms debut album 'Cacophony'". DIY Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Mylrea, Hannah (31 May 2023). "Paris Paloma: "When people listen to 'Labour', I want them to feel like their anger is valid"". NME. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  10. 1 2 Kenna, Abby (27 March 2023). "Paris Paloma Gives a Voice to Feminine Rage in "labour"". Ones to Watch. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  11. 1 2 Ghosh, Arundhati (31 March 2023). "Ballad Breakdown: Paris Paloma's "labour" Perfectly Captures Feminine Anguish". Afterglow ATX. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "LABOUR (The cacophony)". YouTube. 28 March 2024.
  13. ↑ Michelle, Helana (7 April 2023). "Paris Paloma Shares Mic Drop Moment in New Feminist Anthem, "labour"". Glasse Factory. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Spotify". Spotify.
  16. ↑ "Paris Paloma – Labour" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  17. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: Week of April 8, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Global 200: Week of November 23, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  19. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Paris Paloma". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 46". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  21. ↑ "Paris Paloma – Labour". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  22. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 15/11/2024 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  23. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart on 15/11/2024 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  24. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of November 23, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  25. ↑ "Digital Song Sales: Week of June 17, 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  26. ↑ "Hot Alternative Songs: Week of April 8, 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  27. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  28. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Paris Paloma – Labour". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  29. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Paris Paloma – Labour". Radioscope. Retrieved 27 March 2026. Type Labour in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  30. ↑ "British single certifications – Paris Paloma – Labour". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 September 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Labour Paris Paloma in the "Search:" field.
  31. ↑ "American single certifications – Paris Paloma – Labour". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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