Wild Child (The Black Keys song)
| "Wild Child" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by the Black Keys | ||||
| from the album Dropout Boogie | ||||
| Released | March 10, 2022 | |||
| Studio | Easy Eye (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Length | 2:45 | |||
| Label |
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| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | The Black Keys | |||
| The Black Keys singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Wild Child" on YouTube | ||||
"Wild Child" is a song by the Black Keys, released on March 10, 2022 as the first single from their album Dropout Boogie.[1]
Composition and lyrics
"Wild Child" is a funk[2] track where the narrator longs for "some vaguely sketched unattainable girl", as Pitchfork critic Stuart Berman describes it.[3]
Critical reception
American Songwriter reviewer Hal Horowitz wrote the duo were "off wading into the banks of the muddy Mississippi, grinding out tough, tensile licks and gritty, committed vocals" with the track.[4] writing for AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine states it "is one of the few songs that feels relatively self-contained on Dropout Boogie, as if they were consciously channeling the spirit of "Lonely Boy".[5] "Wild Child" was nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to "Broken Horses" by Brandi Carlile.[6]
Music video
The song's music video, directed by Bryan Schlam,[1] shows the duo at a school, initially inside of the staffroom being roasted by the teachers and later that day, the duo quit the school, walking away from the kids while flipping them off.[7]
Use in WWE
'Wild Child" was used as the theme song for the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble premium live event.[8]
Credits and personnel
Performers
- Dan Auerbach – bass, guitar, synthesizer, vocals
- Patrick Carney – drums, bass, guitar, synthesizer
- Andy Gabbard – Wurlitzer, background vocals
- Sam Bacco – percussion
Production
- The Black Keys – producer
- Jonny Ulman, McKinley James, Tyler Zwlep – assistant engineer
- Tchlad Blake, Tom Elmhirst – editor
- Caleb Buskirk, M. Allen Parker – engineer
- Greg Calbi, Steve Fallone – masterer
Charts
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[10] | 26 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 18 |
References
- ^ a b Margaret, Farrell (March 10, 2022). "The Black Keys Get Back to Their Roots with "Wild Child"". Flood. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ Ragula, Paolo (March 11, 2022). "Song of the Week: The Black Keys Bring the Electrified Funk With "Wild Child"". Consequence. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ Berman, Stuart (May 13, 2022). "The Black Keys: Dropout Boogie Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Horowitz, Hal (May 11, 2022). "The Black Keys Keep The Rustic Blues Flame Roaring On 'Dropout Boogie'". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ "Dropout Boogie Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". allmusic.com. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "65th Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ "Black Keys Reconnect to Blue Collar Roots in 'Wild Child' Video, Announce New Album". Loudwire. March 10, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ Rutherford, Kevin (April 14, 2022). "The Black Keys' 'Wild Child' Reigns on Adult Alternative Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ The Black Keys - Wild Child, March 10, 2022, retrieved December 28, 2025
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 1, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ "The Black Keys Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2025.