“it just feels like it's had the legs cut out of it by Sam's eternally unerotic voice... and of course by the constraints of Tik Tok pop.” YouTube · Todd in the Shadows · 3 years ago
The track is built on a "grinding" bassline and features a Middle Eastern-inspired chord progression in . Sam Smith - Unholy Sped Up (Lyrics) ft. Kim Petras
Watch these reviews and musical breakdowns to see how the song's dark production and viral success were analyzed: “it just feels like it's had the legs
The "Sped Up" version of Sam Smith and Kim Petras' "Unholy" is a high-energy remix that amplifies the original track’s nocturnal, hedonistic appeal. While the standard version is already a departure for Smith into dark electropop and metallic hyperpop, the sped-up rendition leans further into the "TikTok-core" aesthetic, making the grinding bass and choir chants feel more urgent and frantic. Musical Style & Production While the standard version is already a departure
“His new single, “unholy” is a radical departure... featuring a track with Arabic undertones that focuses on a husband and his unrepentant promiscuity against his wife.” Plugged In · 3 years ago
Reviewers highlight the drastic shift in Smith's artistic direction, though the results are polarizing.
: Petras delivers a braggadocio verse as the "other woman," demanding luxury brands like Fendi, Prada, and Balenciaga in exchange for her attention.