Rebecca Black is turning up the temperature with her brand-new single “Hot Wet Delirious,” a bold, sweaty slice of pop arriving alongside an equally provocative new music video.
Released July 10, “Hot Wet Delirious” finds Black diving headfirst into desire, attraction and the wonderfully unhinged feeling of wanting someone so badly that rational thought starts packing its bags. The song was inspired in part by the early days of Black’s current relationship and that intoxicating feeling of having someone completely get under your skin — in the best possible way.
Musically, “Hot Wet Delirious” continues the adventurous electronic-pop direction Black has embraced in recent years. It’s confident, sensual and deliberately over-the-top, with Black sounding increasingly comfortable pushing beyond the expectations that have followed her since “Friday” first made her an internet phenomenon as a teenager.
The accompanying music video takes that confidence even further. Co-directed by Black and Hannah De Vries, the visual surrounds the singer with dancers and surreal, sexually charged imagery, turning the song’s feverish title into a full-blown visual experience. It’s provocative, strange and unapologetically adult — pretty much the exact opposite of the Rebecca Black many listeners still remember from 2011.
And that may be the most fascinating part of Black’s career. Rather than spending her life trying to escape “Friday,” she has gradually built an artistic identity completely separate from it. Her recent work has leaned increasingly experimental, queer, electronic and visually daring, allowing her to transform what could have been a fleeting viral moment into a genuinely intriguing pop career.
“Hot Wet Delirious” also arrives as Black prepares for her next musical chapter. The track is part of the world surrounding her forthcoming album Age of the Exhibitionist, continuing her exploration of visibility, sexuality, confidence and the sometimes messy thrill of putting yourself completely on display.
With “Hot Wet Delirious,” Rebecca Black isn’t asking anyone to forget where she started. She’s simply making it increasingly impossible to predict where she’ll go next.
