Agora Hills

Album: Scarlet (2023)
Charted: 23 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Agora Hills" is Doja Cat's anthem of unapologetic love for the comedian and internet personality Jeffrey "J" Cyrus. She repeatedly sings, "I wanna show you off," testifying her eagerness to bring their relationship into the limelight.
  • Doja paints Cyrus as her rock, her emotional refuge, and the one who mended her heart after a painful breakup. This song is a grand gesture, making it official and letting him know she's all in.

    Cyrus has sparked controversy with accusations of grooming and sexual misconduct. Doja, though, isn't swayed by the naysayers and throws her love in the face of criticism, defending her choice with unapologetic fervor.

    Take you 'round the world, they don't have to understand
    Rub it in their face, put a rock on her hand
  • Although not mentioned in the song's lyrics, "Agora Hills" is a reference to Doja Cat's upbringing. She spent her formative years at an ashram commune nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains of Agoura Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles, founded and led by jazz musician Alice Coltrane.

    Doja Cat's deliberate misspelling of the city's name links to the track's meaning. "Agora" traces its roots to ancient Greece, denoting the bustling heart of a city-state where commerce, civic affairs, and social life converged. It's also the root of "agoraphobia," an anxiety disorder that makes people dread and avoid crowded public spaces. And that's precisely what the song delves into: being open in bustling places while in the company of your romantic partner.
  • Doja Cat wrote "Agora Hills" with the song's producers Earl On The Beat, Gentuar Memishi, Bangs and Jean Baptiste. Earl on the Beat and Jean Baptiste also co-produced Doja's chart-topping hit "Paint The Town Red."
  • "Agora Hills" samples R&B group Troop's 1990 version of the Jackson Five song "All I Do Is Think of You." Consequently, its writers, Michael Lovesmith and Brian Holland, also get credits on "Agora Hills."
  • Hannah Lux Davis (Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj) co-directed the music video with Doja Cat. They shot it in Pomona, California, and Koreatown in Los Angeles.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"They're Playing My Song

Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.