Million Dollar Baby (Ava Max song)

On August 26, 2022, Max alongside American singer LeAnn Rimes collaborated on promotional efforts for "Million Dollar Baby", recreating scenes from the American comedy film Coyote Ugly (2000) in a series of TikTok. Notably referencing the American sport film Million Dollar Baby (2004), the song interpolates Rimes' work "Can't Fight the Moonlight" (2000) from the Coyote Ugly soundtrack. Simultaneously, Max revealed the song's release date of September 1 and unveiled its cover art on her social media platforms. Atlantic then released the song for digital download and streaming on the scheduled date, as the second single of Max's second studio album, Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023). "Million Dollar Baby", written by Max (Amanda Ava Koci), Jessica Agombar, Cirkut (Henry Walter), Lostboy (Peter Rycroft), Michael Pollack, Casey Smith, David Stewart and Diane Warren, was produced by Cirkut, Lostboy and Stewart. Set in the key of D minor with a moderately fast tempo of 132 beats per minute, Max's vocal delivery ranges from the low note of A3 to the high note of A5. It brings together upbeat Eurodance and pop with influences of disco, funk and soul. The song integrates a spectrum of sounds spanning the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, with "a little bit of a Michael Jackson energy" as described by Max. According to Max, it holds substantial importance in her contemplation of "heartbreak and sadness", as it represents a creative fruition born out of the journey to overcome emotional turmoil. The selection of the song's title by Max serves as a personal affirmation of her "self-worth", with its lyrics carrying a message of empowerment, emphasizing "that one can overcome and achieve anything through focused determination". == Critical reception ==

"Million Dollar Baby" received a positive reception from music critics. Lindsay Zoladz from The New York Times characterized the song as "calisthenic", "sleek" and "thumping", acknowledging that despite Max's yet-to-be-defined persona in the pop sphere, she demonstrated proficiency as a "satisfying practitioner of aughts-pop pastiche", with a nod to American singer Lady Gaga's song "Bad Romance" (2009). Bradley Stern for MuuMuse highlighted the song as a "bop" and a significant addition to Max's collection of "smash hits", applauding its "reliably catchy" and "radio-friendly" melodies and emphasizing Max's role as the creative "Interpolation Queen". Sébastien Lof-Lecoq for NRJ recommended the "powerful" rhythms and lyrics of the song. A critic of Chérie described the song as a "sensual" hit that owns "everything you could wish for", acclaiming its "electrifying" production, "catchy" chorus and "powerful" vocals. Abigail Siatkowski from Los Angeles noted the evident influence of Lady Gaga infused with additional pop flair that contributes to the song's distinct identity. Reviewing Diamonds & Dancefloors, Nick Levine from NME highlighted the "sleek" production of the song reminiscent of American singer The Weeknd with a Lady Gaga-style vocal hook, noting its unexpected effectiveness despite the potential for a "mess". Sam Franzini for The Line of Best Fit described the song as a "playful and energetic" hit, noting the combination of a "confidence boost" with a "killer" bassline. According to a critic of Women InPop, the song encapsulates the album with its "pumping" beat, s"weet" melodies and a "killer" chorus. Grace Twomey from Renowned for Sound criticized the song as "schlock" with a lack of originality, while providing a "comfortable listen" for those fond of 1980s production and a "plethora of rehashed tunes". Jordi Bardají for Jenesaispop also criticized the song for containing a similar melody to "Can't Fight the Moonlight" and over-relying on interpolations, but stated that it is not "a bad song at all". == Commercial performance ==

On February 11, 2023, "Million Dollar Baby" charted at number 11 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs ranking, maintaining a presence on the chart for a total of 13 weeks. Furthermore, Billboard included it in its annual compilation of the top Hot Dance/Electronic songs for 2023. == Music video and promotion ==

An official music video for "Million Dollar Baby" premiered to Max's official YouTube channel on April 28, 2022. The three-minute and 25-second video was directed by Andrew Donoho and produced by Obsidian. Within this venue, she becomes a spectator to an alternate version of herself distinguished by blonde hair, commanding the stage alongside a troupe of background dancers. Between October 2022 and January 2023, a compilation of remixes complemented the release of the song, created by notable figures including American producer COASTR., Spanish disc jockey David Penn and English DJ Nathan Dawe. == Track listing ==

• Digital download and streaming • "Million Dollar Baby" (COASTR. Remix)2:38 • "Million Dollar Baby" (David Penn Remix)3:07 • "Million Dollar Baby" (David Penn Extended Remix)5:46 • "Million Dollar Baby" (Nathan Dawe Remix)3:05 • "Million Dollar Baby" (TELYKast Remix)3:13 == Credits and personnel ==

Credits adapted from Spotify. • Ava Max (Amanda Ava Koci)lead artist, songwriting • Jessica Agombarsongwriting • Cirkut (Henry Walter)producing, songwriting • Lostboy (Peter Rycroft)producing, songwriting • Michael Pollacksongwriting • Casey Smithsongwriting • David Stewartproducing, songwriting • Diane Warrensongwriting == Charts ==

Weekly charts Monthly charts Year-end charts == Certifications ==