Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” is a pop-rap single built around a prominent sample of Dionne Warwick’s 1964 recording “Walk on By.” Released in 2023 as the lead single from her fourth album, Scarlet, it pairs a familiar, melancholy melody with a brash vocal performance. Its official video turns that defiant stance into surreal imagery drawn from Doja Cat’s paintings.
What is “Paint the Town Red”?
“Paint the Town Red” is a Doja Cat single released on August 4, 2023, through Kemosabe Records and RCA Records, according to Sony Music Canada’s announcement. Apple Music lists it on the Paint The Town Red — Single, dated August 4, 2023: Apple Music track listing. The UK Official Charts identifies it as the lead single from Scarlet, Doja Cat’s fourth album.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
PAINT THE TOWN RED | $24.47 | Buy on Amazon |
Who does “Paint the Town Red” sample?
The song samples Dionne Warwick’s “Walk on By,” written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The original recording dates to 1964. Official Charts describes the sample as instantly recognisable, and BMG, a co-publisher of “Walk on By,” also connects the older recording to Doja Cat’s single: Official Charts song page and BMG’s account.
How the sample shapes the track
The appeal of the pairing is its contrast. “Walk on By” carries a wounded, instantly familiar melodic character; Doja Cat sets a more confrontational attitude against it. The result feels catchy without sanding away the tension between the source material’s ache and the single’s self-assurance. That contrast is the track’s defining musical idea, rather than an elaborate change in arrangement.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Shrink-wrapped
“Paint the Town Red” review
As a piece of pop-rap, the song is direct and economical: the sample establishes its identity quickly, while Doja Cat’s swagger gives the hook its force. The performance reads as unapologetic, not because the track makes a complicated argument, but because it commits fully to its refusal to soften or explain itself. The memorable refrain and clear sonic reference make the single immediately legible; listeners looking for a large stylistic transformation or a densely layered musical structure may find it more straightforward than surprising.
The track also works as the opening statement of Scarlet. The Associated Press’s 2023 album review describes it as the album opener, notes the “Walk on By” sample, and reports its US number-one success: Associated Press review of Scarlet. In that context, “Paint the Town Red” establishes the album’s willingness to put Doja Cat’s provocative persona and self-assertion front and centre.
What is “Paint the Town Red” about?
The song’s stance is defiant: its speaker insists on saying what she thinks and occupying space on her own terms. The official video listing identifies “Yeah, bitch, I said what I said” as a line from the chorus, which captures that blunt, self-possessed voice: Doja Cat’s official video listing. That lyric is a useful clue to the attitude, not a complete explanation of every image or line.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens in the official video?
Doja Cat’s official channel published the video on August 3, 2023, one day before the single’s listed release date. The listing credits Doja Cat and Nina McNeely as directors, names Freenjoy as the production company, and says the video is “Based on Paintings by Doja Cat.” Its description includes imagery of Doja Cat with the devil and a personification of death. Those details establish the video’s surreal visual setting; they do not, by themselves, settle the song’s meaning.
Recommended Free Tools
How successful was “Paint the Town Red”?
Official Charts records a number-one peak on the UK Official Singles Chart, with the chart history beginning August 17, 2023: UK chart history. The Associated Press reported the song’s US number-one success in its 2023 review of Scarlet. BMG’s 2023 report said it became the first female solo rap song to top Spotify’s US Top 50 daily chart and Global Spotify 200 daily chart, and that it soundtracked more than 600,000 TikTok videos at the time: BMG report. Those are historical claims from the report’s release context, not current platform rankings or video counts.
Can you buy “Paint the Town Red” on CD?
The song is associated with the parent album Scarlet, so a physical album edition is the relevant format to check if you want it on CD. The sources cited here establish the album relationship but do not verify a current CD listing, stock, price, or a separate physical release dedicated to the single. The song is also available as a digital single; Apple Music lists the single release at its track page.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
