Hear the first song from Machine Gun Kelly’s pop-punk album

We’ve all been anxiously awaiting the first song off Machine Gun Kelly’s Travis Barker-produced pop-punk album, Tickets To My Downfall. First teasing production back in December, we’re finally getting a taste of the highly anticipated release with “Bloody Valentine.”

MGK has blended genres throughout his career, but the world took note with the Barker and YUNGBLUD collab “I Think I’m OKAY” off his latest Hotel Diablo. The TikTok favorite turned gold single paved the way to fully embrace his pop-punk influences on the forthcoming full-length.

Read more: Hear Palaye Royale put an acoustic spin on this early Lil Peep track

Just a few months after dropping his incredibly raw fourth full-length Hotel Diablo, Machine Gun Kelly unleashed rock-fueled “why are you here.” Soon after, he opened up more on the then untitled pop-punk project, revealing that along with Barker, he was working with other past collaborators YUNGBLUD, blackbearTrippie Redd and Young Thug.

Kells also revealed Attila’s Fronz and the Used’s Bert McCracken were on his collab wish list, the latter of whom he secured in January. In addition to the impressive roster backing him, MGK credits “why are you here” for inspiring him to go down this road of “all singing [and] all live instruments” in the first place.

Revealing the album name in mid-January, MGK followed it by adding another album-related tattoo and teasing what to expect. Wrapping up in the studio around late February, he performed a new song believed to be from the album during a livestream while the world is on lockdown.

Read more: 10 times Machine Gun Kelly raised the bar on live performances

Keeping both us and himself entertained, MGK and Barker embraced that pop-punk energy with a cover of Paramore’s “Misery Business.” He continued the Lockdown Sessions with a hotbox for “Smoke And Drive,” Oasis cover, PVRIS-sampling freestyle, “In These Walls” and a Marilyn Manson-requested Rihanna cover.

Now, MGK has his attention on the new era and this single, announcing it was coming earlier this week.

“OHHHH FUCK!! ??we’re finally dropping the first single off ‘Tickets To My Downfall’ this FRIDAY !!! #BloodyValentine,” he tweeted. “ay @travisbarker ??!! we got the green light brother. go time ?”

Read more: Machine Gun Kelly is so bored that he’s reenacting his favorite movies

He followed up by expanding on his excitement for this single, which includes Mod Sun as a co-writer. “personal life: fucked up,” MGK writes. “career life: more excited [than] ever. ‘Bloody Valentine’ tomorrow at midnight. ?”

MGK continued the hype by tweeting a lyric: “I don’t do fake love, but I’ll take some from you tonight.”

Continuing to share this is “the most excited [he’s] ever been about a song or an album,” MGK laid out the “rules” for proper “Bloody Valentine” listening.

Read more: Watch MGK shred a Rihanna cover as requested by Marilyn Manson

“Rules for listening to ‘Bloody Valentine’ this weekend:

must play while driving with all windows down during the daytime at least once

must air guitar/air drum in your room blasting it loud as fuck at least once

must send it to a friend

must listen at least 25 times.”

In addition to a killer new track, Machine Gun Kelly is continuing to spread the good vibes on his single release day by feeding his hometown of Cleveland. The musician teamed up with area restaurants including TownHall, Barley House, Primoz Pizza and more for a complimentary meal. The event kicks off at noon EST while supplies last for takeout orders.

MGK free meal
[Photo via Instagram/slimxxx

Originally expected in early 2020, Tickets To My Downfall was last moved to this summer. You can hear the first song “Bloody Valentine” below.

Machine Gun Kelly “Bloody Valentine” lyrics

The simulation just went bad
But you’re the best I ever had
Like handprints in wet cement
She touched me it’s permanent

In my head, in my head
I couldn’t hear anything you said but
In my head, in my head
I’m calling you girlfriend, what the fuck

I don’t do fake love, but I’ll take some from you tonight
I know I’ve got to go but I might just miss the flight
I can’t stay forever, let’s play pretend
And treat this night like it’ll happen again
You’ll be my bloody valentine tonight

Read more: See YUNGBLUD, Travis Barker and MGK rock a Sublime cover from home

I’m overstimulated and I’m sad
I don’t expect you to understand
It’s nothing less than true romance
Or am I just making a mess

In my head in my head
I’m laying naked with you yeah
In my head, in my head
I’m ready to die holding your hand

I don’t do fake love, but I’ll take some from you tonight
I know I’ve got to go but I might just miss the flight
I can’t stay forever, let’s play pretend
And treat this night like it’ll happen again
You’ll be my bloody valentine tonight

I can’t hide
How I feel about you
Inside
Id give everything up
Tonight
If I could just have you be mine
Be mine baby baby

Read more: Watch MGK turn Shawn Mendes’ vocals into a beat for cathartic freestyle

I can’t hide
How I feel about you
Inside
I’d give everything up
Tonight
If I could just have you be mine
Be mine baby

(i can not hide these feelings, no
I can not hide these feelings
I’d give up everything for you
I’d give up everything)

I don’t do fake love, but I’ll take some from you tonight
I know I’ve got to go, but I might just miss the flight
I can’t stay forever, let’s play pretend
And treat this night like it’ll happen again
You’ll be my bloody valentine tonight

More on Machine Gun Kelly and Tickets To My Downfall

At the start of 2020, MGK and Barker finally revealed the album will be called Tickets To My Downfall. Soon after, the blink-182 drummer detailed where that name came from to Zane Lowe.

“He actually had brought up that name one time. We were working on a song and I was like, to me that sounds like when you know you play a show or whatever, everyone comes by and is like ‘what up Kells, what up Travis’ or whatever and they’re there for all of the bright lights and amazing shows and green rooms and backstage parties and stuff but they may not know what you are going through on a day to day basis.”

“I know there was a point in my life where it was like that and I think it was relatable,” Barker continues.

Read more: Hear MGK recall the weird bathroom break where he met twenty one pilots

MGK and Barker recruited YUNGBLUD to help them on yet another track, which the rapper teased in early March. While it’s unclear if this is the same track, MGK later opened up on how Juice WRLD inspired “Body Bag.”

“Me and YUNGBLUD got together to drink some beer after Juice had passed because we were like ‘these times are short and it’s just a weird day,’” he says. “The weirdest night happened. We went to the studio the next day and wrote a song about that and it felt like a smash.”

He continued by revealing he has several YUNGBLUD collabs in the works, and one could be released before the album.

Read more: Hear MGK, Travis Barker and iann dior’s anthemic new collaboration

“Me and him [YUNGBLUD] already have a couple [songs] in the chamber so hopefully one of those will come out before the album and we will hear that.”

Juice WRLD wasn’t the only musician to impact the Warped Tour alum as he shared a scene staple-filled inspiration playlist. Some of the selections in his collection include hits from the likes of Taking Back SundayLagwagonYellowcard and the Killers. You can see the full playlist here.

What do you think of Machine Gun Kelly’s new pop-punk track? Let us know in the comments below.