Anxiety (Julia Michaels song)

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"Anxiety"
Single by Julia Michaels featuring Selena Gomez
from the EP Inner Monologue Part 1
ReleasedJanuary 24, 2019 (2019-01-24)
Recorded2018
GenrePop
Length3:30
LabelRepublic
Songwriters
ProducerIan Kirkpatrick
Julia Michaels singles chronology
"Lie to Me"
(2018)		 "Anxiety"
(2019)		 "Peer Pressure"
(2019)
Selena Gomez singles chronology
"Taki Taki"
(2018)		 "Anxiety"
(2019)		 "I Can't Get Enough"
(2019)
Audio video
"Julia Michaels - Anxiety (Audio) ft. Selena Gomez" on YouTube

"Anxiety" is a song by American singer and songwriter Julia Michaels featuring guest vocals from American singer Selena Gomez, from her fourth EP, Inner Monologue Part 1 (2019). The song was written by Michaels, Gomez, Scott Harris, and its producer Ian Kirkpatrick. It was released as the EP's lead single,[1] and was promoted to Australian radio, where it became the most-added song the week after its release.[2]

Background and composition

In an interview with Zane Lowe, Michaels said "I was like, 'I think it'd be really awesome to have a song with two women on it that struggle with the same thing, that are talking about something other than two women fighting for a guy's attention, or something like that. It's almost like a female empowerment song without it being a female empowerment song".[3] Upon its release, Gomez said on Instagram: "This song is really close to my heart as I've experienced anxiety and I know a lot of my friends do too."[4]

"Anxiety" lyrically chronicles struggles with mental health. Musically, it is composed of "snaps and a razor-sharp guitar",[5] as well as "an upbeat acoustic lick and earworm of a melody". Gomez and Michaels "trade cleverly arranged verses about the often-isolating experience of anxiety and depression".[4]

Critical reception

Paul Fletcher from iHeart Radio said "The track is centered around a plucky acoustic guitar part that settles into a slick pop groove. Both Michaels and Gomez offer endearingly frank verses about grappling with depression and social anxiety, though their lyrics are also tinged with a bit of self-deprecating humor."[3] Ashley Iasimone, writing for Billboard, called the single "poignant".[6]

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 67
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[8]69
Ireland (IRMA)[9]79
Lithuania (AGATA)[10] 91
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] 8
Swedish Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 10
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[13]28

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[14] Gold 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[15] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various January 24, 2019 Republic
Australia Contemporary hit radio [2]

References

  1. "Julia Michaels' neue EP "Inner Monologue Part 1" mit der Single "Anxiety" feat. Selena Gomez" [Julia Michaels' new EP Inner Monologue Part 1 with the single "Anxiety" feat. Selena Gomez]. Universal Music Germany (in German). January 23, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  2. "Most Added: Julia Michaels takes over Aus radio with 'Anxiety'". The Music Network. January 31, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
    "Anxiety enters at 22 – AirCheck Survey". RadioInfo Australia. February 7, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  3. "NEW MUSIC: Julia Michaels Releases "Anxiety" Featuring Selena Gomez". iHeart Radio. January 25, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  4. Love Michael, Michael (January 24, 2019). "Selena Gomez Shares 'Anxiety' with BFF Julia Michaels". Paper. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  5. Rettig, James (January 24, 2019). "Stream Julia Michaels' New EP Inner Monologue, Part 1". Stereogum. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  6. Iasimone, Ashley (January 24, 2019). "Julia Michaels' New EP Features Songs With Selena Gomez, Niall Horan: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  7. "ARIA Chart Watch #512". auspOp. February 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  8. "Julia Michaels Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  9. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Julia Michaels". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  10. "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 1, 2019. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  11. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  12. "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 5, 1 februari 2019". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  13. "Julia Michaels Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  14. "Brazilian single certifications – Julia Michaels – Anxiety" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  15. "Canadian single certifications – Julia Michaels ft. Selena Gomez – Anxiety". Music Canada. Retrieved October 21, 2020.