Hallucination (song)

"Hallucination" is a song by Kosovo-Albanian disc jockey Regard and British singer Years & Years. Regard produced the song and wrote it along with Olly Alexander and Jean-Jacques Goldman, Joel Little, Imany and Stéfane Goldman. Ministry of Sound released it as a single for digital download and streaming on 18 February 2022. Featuring a sample of the Filatov & Karas remix of Imany's single "Don't Be So Shy", it is an '80s-inspired and four-on-the-floor-driven disco-pop and synth-pop song, with the lyrics warning off serial heartbreakers. It was later included on the streaming edition of Years & Years' third album Night Call (Deluxe) (2022).

"Hallucination"
Single by Regard and Years & Years
from the album Night Call
Language	English
Released	18 February 2022 (2022-02-18)
Genre	Disco-pop synth-pop
Length	2:54
Label	Ministry of Sound
Songwriter(s)	Regard Olly Alexander Jean-Jacques Goldman Joel Little Nadia Mladjao Stéfane Goldman
Producer(s)	Regard
Regard singles chronology
"Signals" (2021) "Hallucination" (2022) "No Love For You" (2022)
Olly Alexander singles chronology
"Sweet Talker" (2021) "Hallucination" (2022) "100% Pure Love" (2022)
Music video
"Hallucination" on YouTube

"Hallucination" received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom commended the song's lyrics and nature as well as Years & Years' vocal delivery. It topped the charts in Bulgaria and Russia, and reached the top 10 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Croatia and Ukraine. The duo performed the song for the first time on the British comedy show The Graham Norton Show in February 2022. The accompanying music video premiered on Regard's official YouTube channel on 11 March. Inspired by the 1969 psychological drama film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, the video depicts the singer performing contemporary choreography in a dark setting.

Background and composition

"Hallucination" was released as a single for digital download and streaming by Ministry of Sound in various territories on 18 February 2022.^[1] Regard produced the song and co-wrote it with Olly Alexander, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Joel Little, Imany and Stéfane Goldman.^[2] Musically, it is an English-language '80s-inspired and four-on-the-floor-driven disco-pop and synth-pop song,^[3][4] featuring a sample of the Filatov & Karas remix of Imany's single "Don't Be So Shy" (2015).^[5][6] The lyrics find Years & Years' member Olly Alexander warning off serial heartbreakers and all of the facets.^[4] Concerning its meaning, Alexander stated:

"I was inspired to write ['Hallucination'] when an ex lover attempted to re-enter my life. Part of me wanted to rekindle the romance but too much had changed and I was left feeling really confused. If I looked at the situation a certain way, the whole thing seemed fake, like it was all just one big illusion. You know after the dust settles and you’re like, was any of that real?"^[4][7]

Reception

"Hallucination" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. While Cerys Kenneally of The Line of Best Fit labelled it as an "anthem", Isabel von Glahn from Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) highlighted the song's lyrics as "exciting" and noted its "club banger" potential.^[7][6] In writing for Radio Sound, the editor equally commended the song, writing that it "is a perfect track for the dance floor".^[8] For Wyspa.fm, Przemysław Kokot complimented the song's blend of synth-pop as well as Alexander's "sensual" vocal delivery, and characterised it as an "flawlessly shimmering banger".^[9] Radio FG's Antony Harari further commended the collaboration between Regard and Years & Years.^[5] Commercially, "Hallucination" topped the rankings in Bulgaria and Russia,^[10][11] and entered the top 10 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Croatia and Ukraine.^[12][13][14] The song further reached number 17 in Hungary,^[15] number 45 in Slovakia,^{[citation needed]} number 56 in the United Kingdom and number 39 on New Zealand's Hot Singles chart^[16] as well as number 28 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart.^[17][18] It received airplay among radio stations in Estonia,^[19] Latvia,^[20] North Macedonia,^[21] Serbia and the United Arab Emirates.^[22][23]

Promotion

An accompanying music video for "Hallucination" was uploaded to Regard's official YouTube channel on 11 March 2022.^[24] Directed by Sophia Ray, the video's concept was inspired by the American psychological drama film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969).^[25][26] It depicts Alexander as an "apprehensive contestant" at the centre of a dark surrounding performing a contemporary-described choreography accompanied by several background dancers.^[24][25] Interspersed scenes through the main plot portray Regard as a "mysteriously sinister-driving force" behind the scenes and the dancers through television screens.^[25][26] A critic likened the concept of the video to that of British anthology series Black Mirror and South Korean survival drama Squid Game.^[26] Promo News' Rob Ulitski opined that "the video is a tour de force of creativity, wrapped in vibrant layers of choreography, post-apocalyptic styling and futuristic art direction, and emanates a minacious yet playful tone throughout".^[25] Wyspa.fm's Kokot highlighted the video's concept and further stated that "[it] is the perfect contradiction to an 80s-inspired synth-pop song that combines futurism with reinvented nostalgia".^[26] To further promote the song, Regard and Years & Years performed "Hallucination" at the Printworks in London, UK, as well as on the British comedy show The Graham Norton Show in February 2022.^[27][28][29]

Track listing

• Digital download and streaming^[1]

1. "Hallucination" – 2:54

• Digital download and streaming – Extended^[30]

1. "Hallucination" (Extended) – 3:47

• Digital download and streaming – Remixes^[31]

1. "Hallucination" (Drop G Remix) – 3:13
2. "Hallucination" (Luude Remix) – 2:47
3. "Hallucination" (Navos Remix) – 2:30

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Hallucination" Chart (2022) Peak position Bulgaria (PROPHON)[10] 1 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[32] 46 CIS (TopHit)[12] 3 Croatia (HRT)[13] 4 Estonia (Radiomonitor)[19] 19 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[33] 37 Hungary (Single Top 40)[15] 17 Latvia (Radiomonitor)[20] 15 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[16] 39 North Macedonia (Radiomonitor)[21] 3 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[11] 1 Serbia (Radiomonitor)[22] 11 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[34] 45 UAE (Radiomonitor)[23] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 56 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[14] 7 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[18] 28

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for "Hallucination" Chart (2022) Peak position CIS (TopHit)[35] 3 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[36] 1 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[37] 9 Year-end charts 2022 year-end chart performance for "Hallucination" Chart (2022) Position CIS (TopHit)[38] 13 Croatia (HRT)[39] 51 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[40] 4 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[41] 50 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[42] 31 2023 year-end chart performance for "Hallucination" Chart (2023) Position CIS (TopHit)[43] 132 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[44] 159

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[45]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Hallucination"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	18 February 2022	Digital download streaming	Ministry of Sound	[1]
Italy		Radio airplay	Sony	[46]

Notes

References

1. Citations regarding the release of "Hallucination" by Regard and Years & Years in various selected countries:

   • "Hallucination – Single by Regard and Years & Years". Apple Music (Kosovo). 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
   • "Hallucination – Single de Regard and Years & Years" (in Spanish). Apple Music (Spain). 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
   • "Hallucination – Single von Regard and Years & Years" (in German). Apple Music (Switzerland). 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
2. "Hallucination – Single by Regard and Years & Years". Spotify. 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022. Note: Click on the three dots on the right of the track to display the credits.
3. "'Hallucination' – Years & Years and Regard". Total Ntertainment. 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
4. Jones, Damian (18 February 2022). "Listen to Years & Years and Regard's new disco pop single 'Hallucination'". NME. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
5. Harari, Antony (18 February 2022). "Regard avec Years and Years sur Hallucination" (in French). Radio FG. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
6. Von Glahn, Isabel (8 April 2022). "Regard x Years & Years – 'Hallucination'" (in German). Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
7. Kenneally, Cerys (18 February 2022). "Regard has unveiled his new dance anthem 'Hallucination', which features Years & Years". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
8. "Regard x Years & Years – Hallucination" (in Italian). Radio Sound. 18 February 2022. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
9. Kokot, Przemysław (21 February 2022). "Halucynacje Regarda i Years & Years" (in Polish). Wyspa.fm. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
10. "Charts: 03/06/2022". PROPHON. 3 June 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
11. "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart – 29 April – 5 May 2022". TopHit. 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
12. "Top Radio Hits Global Weekly Chart – 13 May – 19 May 2022". TopHit. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
13. "Airplay Radio Chart Top40 – 18. tjedan (02.05.2022.)" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT). 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
14. "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart – 8 July – 14 July 2022". TopHit. 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
15. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
16. "Hot Singles Chart: 28 February 2022". Recorded Music NZ. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
18. "DJ Regard Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
19. "Estonia – Radio Airplay Charts Settimana 13.2022 – dal 25/03/2022 al 31/03/2022" (in Italian). Radio Airplay. 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
20. "Lettonia – Radio Airplay Charts Settimana 13.2022 – dal 25/03/2022 al 31/03/2022" (in Italian). Radio Airplay. 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
21. "Macedonia – Radio Airplay Charts Settimana 12.2022 – dal 18/03/2022 al 24/03/2022" (in Italian). Radio Airplay. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
22. "Serbia – Radio Airplay Charts Settimana 25.2022 – dal 17/06/2022 al 23/06/2022" (in Italian). Radio Airplay. 17 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
23. "Emirati Arabi Uniti – Radio Airplay Charts Settimana 20.2022 – dal 13/05/2022 al 19/05/2022" (in Italian). Radio Airplay. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
24. "Regard and Years & Years – Hallucination | Official Music Video". Regard. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022 – via YouTube.
25. Ulitski, Rob (15 March 2022). "Regard ft Years And Years 'Hallucination' by Sophia Ray". Promo News. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
26. Kokot, Przemysław (16 March 2022). "Regard i Years & Years nie dają o sobie zapomnieć" (in Polish). Wyspa.fm. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
27. "Brit nominated Dj and producer Regard has joined forces with pop royalty Years & Years for their dance anthem 'Hallucination'". Music House. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
28. "The Graham Norton Show – Series 29: Episode 20". BBC. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
29. "Dj Regard performon në 'The Graham Norton Show'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
30. "Hallucination (Extended) – Single by Regard and Years & Years". Apple Music. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
31. Citations regarding the release of "Hallucination" Remixes by Regard and Years & Years:

    • "Hallucination (Drop G Remix) – Single by Regard and Years & Years" (in Spanish). Apple Music (Spain). 20 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
    • "Hallucination (Luude Remix) – Single by Regard and Years & Years" (in French). Apple Music (France). 8 April 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
    • "Hallucination (Navos Remix) – Single by Regard and Years & Years". Apple Music (Kosovo). 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
32. "DJ Regard Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
33. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
34. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 20. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
35. "Top Radio Hits CIS Monthly Chart – July 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
36. "Top Radio Hits Russia Monthly Chart – May 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
37. "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Monthly Chart – July 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
38. "Top Radio Hits CIS Annual Chart – 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
39. "Elton John & Dua Lipa imaju najpopularniju stranu pjesmu u Hrvatskoj u 2022. godini" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT). 11 January 2023. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
40. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart – 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
41. "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart – 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
42. "Dance/Mix Show Airplay Songs – Year-End Charts 2022". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
43. "Top Radio Hits CIS Annual Chart – 2023". TopHit. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
44. "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart – 2023". TopHit. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
45. "British single certifications – Regard/Years & Years – Hallucination". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
46. Crozza, Adriana (18 February 2022). "Regard and Years & Years – Hallucination | (Radio Date: 18/02/2022)" (in Italian). Radiomonitor. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.