Black Widow

Album: The New Classic (2014)
Charted: 4 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song boasts a hook sung by Rita Ora, a British singer who is of Kosovo-Albanian descent. She's best known for her Hot 100 hit "How We Do (Party)," which also topped the charts in the UK.
  • The track was co-written by Katy Perry. "It has a little bit of a 'Dark Horse' vibe," Azalea commented to The Boombox. "The beat is a bit grimy… catchy, but it's very hip-hop-y. It's not a pop-driven record, and Rita really sings on it."
  • Azalea explained the song's meaning: "It's kind of about being so enamored with somebody that you're so obsessed with them that you just hate their guts and just want to kill them," she said. "To me they love it and then they crush it."
  • The black widow is a venomous spider. The way the female black widows lure males and mates them before eating them is a frequently used lyrical metaphor for a manipulative woman who metaphorically or literally kills her lover. Here are three more examples:

    "Werewolf Women of the SS" by Rob Zombie: "They are the black widows, baby. Off the streets of Berlin. Pure wolf is the mission. She-Devils of sin. They're in control now. Strasser you are."

    "Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac: "Pale shadow of a woman. Black widow. Pale shadow. She's a dragon. Gold dust woman."

    "Black Widow" by Cage the Elephant: "Black widow girl you sit and wait. Till I climb into the web you made."
  • Katy Perry was originally going to sing on the track, but she couldn't fit it into her schedule. "Katy couldn't get time to sing on the track herself, so we wondered who else could do it," Azalea told The Daily Star. "It needed someone who could really sing, as Katy's voice is awesome. Rita is a great fit. Her voice can blow people away."
  • The song's music video was filmed by director X. The clip pays homage to Quentin Tarantino's action-thriller Kill Bill as Azalea and Ora play two samurai sword-wielding femme fatales out for revenge against a rude diner portrayed by Reservoir Dogs' Michael Madsen (he also starred in Kill Bill).

    The visual also features cameos from Azalea's mentor T.I. and veteran actor Paul Sorvino (who played "Paulie" in Goodfellas) in a poker game won by Rita Ora's character.

    Speaking to Capital FM about the filming of the clip, Ora said: "Iggy is just so involved in her videos. She really is involved. So I learned a lot from that. She got inspiration from old Korean, ninja things and Kill Bill and then I got inspired by the leather catsuits. I watched Kill Bill like three times. I learned a lot and we just had fun."
  • This was the second Hot 100 Top 10 featuring a Katy Perry writing credit but not artist billing. The first? That would be the cast of Glee's cover of her #1 hit "Teenage Dream."

Comments: 2

  • Cornwalis from PortlandI always thought the song lyrics were "black little baby" somehow about a small black child, wow, the things you learn on the internets
  • Cherry from WalesI like this song, expressing that this album contains vulgar words.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.