"Play Destroy" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Poppy featuring Canadian musician Grimes from the former's second studio album Am I a Girl? (2018).[1]
Background
The collaboration was first teased in a serious of pictures on both Grimes and Poppy's social media accounts.[2] Poppy revealed that Grimes followed her on Twitter and then Poppy messaged her asking for a collaboration.[3] She confirmed that they wrote a couple of songs together, the first being about "destroying things" and the other being about "power", referencing Grimes' single "We Appreciate Power".[4] However, following a feud between the two singers, the song featured American singer Hana instead of Poppy.[5]
Shortly after the release of Am I a Girl?, Poppy revealed that Grimes bullied her during the making of "Play Destroy" stating:
"I was kind of bullied into submission by [Grimes] and her team of self-proclaimed feminists," she says. "We planned the song coming out months ago, and she was preventing it. I got to watch her bully songwriters into signing NDA and not taking credit for songs that they were a part of. She doesn't practice what she preaches."[6]
Before Poppy's statement, a fan praised Grimes for the collaboration on Twitter and she replied with "meh".[7] When responding to the allegations, Grimes said "Poppy, you dragged me into a disgusting situation and won't stop punishing me for not wanting to be a part of it. I don't want to work with you, you leaked the song anyway. U got what you want. Let it go."[8][9]
Anna Gaca of Spin stated "[The song] is a game, I imagine, akin to 'playing doctor', with all its attendant potential for deviant behavior and doll mutilation".[13] Tom Breihan of Stereogum said that Poppy and Grimes "should've been making music together forever". He continued praising the song stating "Grimes and Poppy both have freaked-out, conceptual takes on bright, gleaming pop music. It's an incredibly strange song, and it's also kind of amazing."[14]