Hubbry Logo
On a RollOn a RollMain
Open search
On a Roll
Community hub
On a Roll
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
On a Roll
On a Roll
from Wikipedia

"On a Roll"
Promotional single by Ashley O
B-side"Right Where I Belong"
ReleasedJune 14, 2019 (2019-06-14)
GenreDance-pop[1]
Length2:34
Label
Songwriters
ProducerThe Invisible Men
Music video
"On a Roll" on YouTube

"On a Roll" is a song recorded by American singer Miley Cyrus under the moniker "Ashley O", the character in the Black Mirror episode "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too". It is an adaptation of the 1989 Nine Inch Nails song "Head Like a Hole". The episode was originally released on June 5, 2019, and the song was released as a promotional digital single by RCA Records and The Null Corporation on June 14, 2019. The B-side, "Right Where I Belong", is based on the 2005 Nine Inch Nails song "Right Where It Belongs". Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor approved of the adaptations, and released Black Mirror-themed merchandise to coincide with the episode's release.[2] The song was ranked 28th on the 100 Best Songs of 2019 list by Billboard.[3] The song was not released to radio in the US.[4]

Background and composition

[edit]

The track interpolates elements of "Head Like a Hole", the 1989 single by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, from their debut studio album Pretty Hate Machine. Therefore, "On a Roll" credits Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor as a songwriter, and was produced by production trio the Invisible Men.[5] Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker gained permission from Reznor to use the song, and later re-wrote the lyrics to be "uber-positive" in order to serve as a juxtaposition with the "dark concepts" of the episode.[6] The song is written in the key of G minor in common time with a tempo of 122 beats per minute.[7] BuzzFeed noted online observations that the song's chorus, "Hey yeah woah-ho", sounds like "Hey I'm a hoe", and described it as an example of a mondegreen.[8]

Critical reception

[edit]

In a positive review, Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos stated: "The underlying darkness and the disconnect of knowing that a cutesy, capitalistic take on a Nine Inch Nails classic shouldn't work but inexplicably does feels like more danger than [Cyrus]'s been able to extract before."[9] Andrew Unterberger of Billboard assumed that the song would become a bigger hit than Cyrus' previous single "Mother's Daughter" and compared Ashley O to Cyrus early in her career, writing: "It's Miley Cyrus freed from narrative. Sure, it probably helps your enjoyment of 'Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too' to consider how Cyrus' own early career was shaped by handlers who didn't necessarily have her own artistic vision or general best interests in mind, and how she ultimately felt the need to break out from that. But the song? It's just A Bop, one that requires no knowledge of Pretty Hate Machine to appreciate its straightforward catchiness and motivational — if more than a little absurd — lyrics."[10]

Music video

[edit]

The official music video for "On a Roll" was released on June 13, 2019, on Netflix's official YouTube channel.[11]

Andrew Unterberger of Billboard described the video as "[splitting] the difference between 'Bad Romance'-era Gaga and 'California Gurls'-era Katy Perry in a way that would've certainly made it a YouTube smash."[10]

Live performances

[edit]

Cyrus performed "On a Roll" and "Head Like a Hole" live on June 30, 2019, during her set at Glastonbury Festival 2019 in Pilton, Somerset.[12]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Trent Reznor.

No.TitleLength
1."On a Roll"2:34
2."Right Where I Belong"2:11
Total length:4:45
On a Roll – Remixes
No.TitleLength
1."On a Roll" (DallasK Remix)3:04
2."On a Roll" (Basic Tape Remix)3:00
3."On a Roll" (KDA Remix)3:10
4."On a Roll" (Junior Vasquez Remix)4:23
5."On a Roll" (Wax Wings Remix)3:50
Total length:17:27

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[13]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 86
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[15] 77
Czech Republic Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)[16] 49
Hungary (Single Top 40)[17] 26
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[18] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 35
Latvia (LAIPA)[20] 27
Lithuania (AGATA)[21] 21
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 18
Scotland Singles (OCC)[23] 44
Slovakia Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)[24] 31
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 65
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[26] 16
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[27] 3
US Rolling Stone Top 100[28] 99

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"On a Roll" is a pop song performed by the fictional character Ashley O, portrayed by Miley Cyrus, as part of the 2019 Black Mirror episode "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too". Released as a standalone single on June 14, 2019, by RCA Records, the track features a bright, synth-driven production that interpolates the melody from Nine Inch Nails' 1990 industrial rock song "Head Like a Hole" while inverting its original anti-consumerist lyrics into an upbeat anthem of personal ambition and success. The song's corny, motivational tone satirizes manufactured bubblegum pop, aligning with the episode's critique of the music industry's commodification of artists, though it gained independent traction as a catchy earworm among viewers. Despite its ties to a dystopian narrative exploring exploitation and artificial intelligence, "On a Roll" was commercially issued with remixes, underscoring its dual role as both fictional artifact and real-world release.

Fictional Context and Satire

Black Mirror Episode Integration

"On a Roll" serves as the signature hit single for the fictional pop star Ashley O, portrayed by , in the episode "," which premiered on on June 5, 2019. The song is prominently featured during scenes depicting Ashley O's public persona, including a performance clip that establishes her as a manufactured controlled by her aunt/manager, Parke, who suppresses her authentic artistic inclinations. This integration underscores the episode's exploration of celebrity exploitation and the of identity through technology, with the upbeat pop track contrasting the underlying in Ashley O's career. The track's structure and lyrics, adapted from Nine Inch Nails' 1990 industrial rock song "Head Like a Hole," are rewritten by Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker to mimic saccharine pop anthems, featuring lines like "Hey there, whoah-ho, I'm on a roll / Riding so high, achieving my goals," which parody themes of ambition while echoing the original's critique of bowing to authority. Trent Reznor, frontman of Nine Inch Nails, approved the adaptation after reviewing Brooker's demo, describing it as "very funny" and aligning with the episode's satirical intent to subvert the source material into a commercial hit. In the narrative, "On a Roll" is omnipresent in Ashley O's branding, appearing in merchandise, AI companion dolls, and media appearances, symbolizing the dilution of raw artistic expression into marketable conformity. Toward the episode's climax, following Ashley O's liberation from pharmaceutical suppression and corporate control, she performs a heavier, rock-infused rendition of the song, reverting closer to the aggressive style of "Head Like a Hole," which signifies her reclamation of agency and rejection of the pop facade. This transformation highlights the song's dual role: as a tool of narrative progression, it evolves from emblem of entrapment to anthem of defiance, reinforcing the episode's cautionary tale about artificial intelligence and personal autonomy in the entertainment industry. Netflix extended the integration beyond the episode by releasing a standalone music video for "On a Roll" on June 13, 2019, featuring Cyrus as Ashley O in performances that mirror the show's aesthetic, further blurring lines between fiction and promotion.

Thematic Critique of Pop Culture

In the Black Mirror episode "," the song "On a Roll" exemplifies a critique of pop culture's tendency to sanitize sentiments into palatable, consumer-friendly anthems. Originally derived from ' 1990 track "," which lambasts submission to authority with lyrics like "bow down before the one you serve, you're going to get what you deserve," the adaptation recasts these into affirmations of individual triumph: "I'm on a roll, riding so high, achieving my goals." This transformation, approved by frontman , highlights how often inverts rebellion into self-empowerment narratives that align with capitalist incentives, prioritizing market appeal over substantive critique. The episode further dissects the music industry's exploitation of performers, portraying Ashley O's career as a facade of glamour concealing psychological tolls and creative stifling. Her songs, including "On a Roll," are depicted as algorithmically optimized for virality and merchandise tie-ins, such as the Ashley Too doll, which disseminates diluted versions of her persona to fans. This setup mirrors documented cases of artist burnout and control, where public images suppress vulnerability to sustain revenue streams, as the narrative culminates in Ashley's staged "breakdown" revealed as a ploy. Pop culture's idolization of technology-mediated celebrities receives pointed scrutiny through the doll's AI replication of Ashley's voice and mannerisms, enabling endless consumption without artist consent. "On a Roll" recurs as the doll's default output, underscoring how digital proxies perpetuate superficial engagement, detached from the human originator's agency. This thematic layer critiques the causal chain from fan devotion to corporate extraction, where authenticity erodes under algorithmic curation, fostering a of passive emulation over genuine connection.

Production and Composition

Adaptation from Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like a Hole"

"On a Roll" directly adapts the musical structure of Nine Inch Nails' 1989 song "Head Like a Hole," retaining its core melody, chord progression, and rhythmic elements while rewriting the lyrics to create a contrasting pop anthem. The original track, from Nine Inch Nails' debut album Pretty Hate Machine, critiques materialism and power with lines like "God money I'll do anything for you / God money just tell me what you want me to," emphasizing rejection of subservience to wealth. In contrast, "On a Roll" inverts this theme to celebrate personal success and ambition, with lyrics such as "I'm on a roll / Riding so high / Achieving my goals," aligning with the fictional pop star Ashley O's manufactured image of empowerment and triumph. The adaptation was conceived by creator specifically for the episode "," where it serves as Ashley O's signature hit, satirizing the of music and artist autonomy. Brooker sought Trent Reznor's permission to modify the lyrics, which Reznor granted, appreciating the ironic pop reinterpretation of his composition. This rework transforms the song's aggressive, tone into a synth-driven, upbeat track suitable for mainstream radio, highlighting the episode's critique of how original artistic intent can be diluted for commercial appeal. Musically, "On a Roll" preserves the iconic synth riff and patterns from "" but layers them with brighter production, including polished vocals and electronic flourishes typical of contemporary pop. Performed by as Ashley O, the track was recorded in 2019 and released as a single on June 14, 2019, following the episode's debut on June 5. officially acknowledged the by posting the music video on their website and collaborating on merchandise featuring the new , further blurring lines between the original's and the parody's embrace of .

Recording Process and Miley Cyrus's Involvement

Miley Cyrus portrayed the fictional pop star Ashley O in the Black Mirror episode "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too," and recorded the lead vocals for "On a Roll," infusing the track with her performance to embody the character's manufactured bubblegum pop persona. Cyrus contributed input to the lyrics, helping refine the upbeat, affirmative phrasing that contrasted the original Nine Inch Nails song's themes of defiance and corruption. The recording process aligned with episode production in late 2018, during five weeks of filming in Cape Town, South Africa, where Cyrus performed the song on set, though vocal tracking likely preceded principal photography to integrate into scenes. Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker rewrote the lyrics to emphasize hollow empowerment—lines like "I'm on a roll, riding so high, achieving my goals"—while preserving the core melody of "Head Like a Hole," creating an "insanely positive" earworm that recurs throughout the episode. Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails frontman and original songwriter, approved the adaptation after Brooker and co-showrunner Annabel Jones approached him, describing it as a "flattering ask" that amused him for its ironic subversion of his industrial rock into saccharine pop. Cyrus also recorded a faithful Nine Inch Nails-style cover of "Head Like a Hole" for the episode's end credits, released alongside "On a Roll" to highlight the stylistic pivot. The track received a production treatment, with mixing credited to Dylan Cooper, emphasizing electronic beats and glossy synths to mimic commercial output, and was issued as a single under the Ashley O moniker on on June 16, 2019, following the episode's premiere. Cyrus's involvement extended beyond recording, as she drew from her own experiences with pop stardom to authentically depict Ashley O's controlled image, though she later expressed appreciation for the project's satirical edge without detailing studio specifics.

Release and Promotion

Single Release Details

"On a Roll" was released as a digital single on June 14, 2019, featuring the title track performed by Ashley O, a fictional pop artist portrayed by in the Black Mirror episode "." The release coincided with the episode's availability on , following snippets of the song featured in the June 5, 2019, premiere. The single was issued by RCA Records in association with Null Corp II, Trent Reznor's imprint, reflecting the track's adaptation from Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like a Hole." It comprised two tracks totaling approximately four minutes: the standard version of "On a Roll" (2:34 in length) and potentially an instrumental or alternate mix, available for streaming and download on platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. No physical formats, such as vinyl or CD, were produced for commercial sale, positioning it as a promotional tie-in rather than a traditional standalone release. The single was not serviced to radio stations , limiting its exposure to digital streaming and social media promotion linked to the campaign. A separate remix EP, "On A Roll (Remixes)," followed later in 2019, extending the track's digital footprint.

Music Video and Marketing

The official music video for "On a Roll," featuring as the fictional pop star Ashley O, was released by on June 13, 2019, eight days after the episode "" premiered on June 5. Directed by Anne Sewitsky, the video depicts Ashley O in a vibrant, high-energy performance with synchronized backup dancers, emphasizing themes of self-empowerment and perseverance through lyrics visualized in scenes of dynamic and motivational imagery. The production style mimics mainstream pop videos, complete with Cyrus donning Ashley O's signature purple wig and outfits, to immerse viewers in the character's manufactured pop persona critiqued within the episode. Marketing for "On a Roll" integrated seamlessly with Black Mirror's promotional strategy, blurring the lines between fiction and reality to enhance the episode's satirical commentary on . The track was issued as a standalone digital single on platforms like on June 4, 2019, ahead of the episode release, allowing fans to stream it as if from a genuine . leveraged for the video's distribution, garnering millions of views by capitalizing on Cyrus's real-world fame and the show's buzz, while teasers portrayed Ashley O as an emerging star to heighten immersion. A EP, "On A Roll (Remixes)," followed in 2019, featuring electronic and reinterpretations to extend the song's reach in club and streaming playlists, further mimicking authentic pop promotion tactics. This approach, credited to Netflix's team, effectively positioned the fictional single as a commercial product, driving organic shares and discussions that amplified the episode's themes without explicit disclosure of its satirical origins in initial promotions.

Musical Analysis

Lyrics, Structure, and Style

"On a Roll" features lyrics crafted to embody the fictional pop star Ashley O's , portraying an overly accommodating and performative through repetitive pleas for affection and compliance. The opening verses declare, "Oh honey, I'll do anything for you / Oh honey, just tell me what you want me to / Oh honey, kiss me up against / Oh honey, I got it all," evoking a saccharine, fan-service-oriented image typical of manufactured acts. Subsequent lines like "Oh honey, you got me all fired up / Oh honey, you got me all worked up / Oh honey, let's do it like we did before / Oh honey, I want some more" reinforce themes of eager subservience, deliberately contrasting the original track's anti-authoritarian stance against control. The chorus pivots to a triumphant hook: "Hey, yeah, whoa-ho / I'm on a roll," supplanting "Head like a hole / Black as your soul" from "Head Like a Hole," thereby sanitizing industrial rock's raw defiance into bubbly self-affirmation. A recurring bridge urges, "It's time to get down, get down / Like you ain't never seen / Get down, get down / Like you ain't never been," promoting uninhibited dance as escapist release, aligning with the song's role in satirizing commodified pop escapism within the Black Mirror narrative. These lyrics, released on June 14, 2019, via RCA Records, were penned to underscore the episode's critique of celebrity exploitation, with the altered words masking deeper rebellion until a heavier arrangement unveils the source material. Structurally, the track adheres to a conventional verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus format, clocking in at approximately 2:57, mirroring the rhythmic drive of "Head Like a Hole" while streamlining for radio-friendly repetition. The arrangement builds from synth-driven verses to explosive choruses, incorporating a breakdown that echoes the original's tension-release dynamic but substitutes grinding guitars with layered electronic hooks. Stylistically, "On a Roll" embodies with heavy reliance on synthesized basslines, auto-tuned vocals, and a pulsating four-on-the-floor beat at around 112 BPM, evoking early while parodying the homogenization of chart music. Miley Cyrus's delivery as Ashley O employs a high-pitched, breathy with ad-libs for performative , diverging from her typical raspy tone to amplify the artificiality of the character. This adaptation transforms ' abrasive industrial sound—characterized by distorted synths and aggressive percussion—into glossy, accessible fare, highlighting production techniques that prioritize catchiness over raw emotion, as evidenced by its viral traction post-episode premiere on June 5, 2019.

Instrumentation and Production Techniques

The production of "On a Roll" was led by the British electronic pop production duo The Invisible Men, alongside Dylan Cooper, who handled mixing. Recording engineering was overseen by Jon Shave, with the track released under and Null Corp II on June 14, 2019. The Invisible Men, known for crafting radio-friendly tracks for artists like and , applied techniques emphasizing digital synthesis and programmed rhythms to reframe Trent Reznor's original industrial melody from "" into a high-energy electro-pop format. Instrumentation centers on layered synthesizers providing pulsating basslines and melodic hooks, augmented by programming that delivers a crisp, upbeat tempo of approximately 112 beats per minute. Vocal production features Miley Cyrus's performance—credited as Ashley O—with effects and multi-tracked harmonies to achieve a polished, anthemic chorus, inverting the original song's distorted, raw aggression into accessible, motivational pop sheen. No live such as guitars or organic percussion is evident; instead, the mix relies on compression and reverb to create spatial depth, ensuring broad commercial compatibility across streaming platforms and radio. This approach prioritizes sonic clarity and hooks over the source material's textural grit from analog synths and drum machines like the . The process involved rewriting collaboratively with Reznor while retaining the core synth , but production techniques stripped away industrial elements—such as abrasive noise and minimalism—for maximal mainstream appeal, aligning with the episode's satire on commodified artistry. Extended mixes, including versions by remixers like DallasK and , further experiment with added drops and builds, but the core single maintains a streamlined structure optimized for short-form video and live .

Reception and Performance

Critical Evaluations

Critics have praised "On a Roll" for its ironic catchiness as a deliberate of bubblegum pop, highlighting how it repurposes the industrial melody of ' "" into an upbeat, affirmation-heavy track that underscores the episode's critique of commercialized music. described it as a "slinky, corny celebration of goal-achievement" that brightens the original's melody while inverting its lyrics into motivational platitudes, noting its effectiveness in blending with appeal. Similarly, user aggregates on gave it an average score of 3.1 out of 5, with reviewers appreciating the "extremely fun" fusion of pop gloss over a subversive undercurrent, though acknowledging its intentional shallowness. However, evaluations often emphasize the song's lyrical vapidity as emblematic of the episode's dystopian themes, with Variety labeling the lyrics "braindead" and "dystopianly cringey," starting with lines like "Hey, I'm a ho / I'm on a roll" to evoke manufactured teen-idol excess. The New Yorker critiqued its arrangement for supplanting the source material's anguish with "trite affirmations and empty empowerment messages," positioning it as a sonic emblem of commodified creativity. Pitchfork's analysis of the episode framed the track within broader industry satire, implying its hyper-commercial sheen critiques the homogenization of pop without deeper artistic merit. These views align with the song's context as fictional output from Cyrus's Ashley O persona, where its superficiality serves narrative purpose over standalone depth, though some outlets like Variety later highlighted it among Cyrus's underrated works for its clever melodic lift. Fan and niche commentary reveals polarization, with enthusiasts on platforms like expressing ironic affection for the adaptation's boldness, while others decry it as emblematic of pop's dilution of rock's edge; mainstream reviews, however, rarely assign formal scores, treating it more as episodic prop than serious single. This reception reflects source biases in media outlets, which often prioritize cultural commentary over , potentially undervaluing the track's technical polish in production and vocal delivery by .

Commercial Charts and Sales Data

"On a Roll" by Ashley O debuted at number 39 on the Digital Song Sales chart dated June 29, 2019, with 7,000 downloads sold in the tracking week. It simultaneously entered the Pop Digital Song Sales chart at number 19. The track generated 3.5 million on-demand streams in the United States during that period, leading to a debut at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, equivalent to number 123 on the Hot 100. In the , "On a Roll" peaked at number 65 on the Official Singles Chart and number 44 on the Singles Sales Chart in the week ending June 27, 2019. It also topped Billboard's Top TV Songs chart for June 2019, reflecting its prominence from the episode "." Streaming performance contributed significantly to its visibility, with the song accumulating over 970,000 streams on within its first day of availability and exceeding one million by the end of June 2019. By early July 2019, global streams on surpassed 18 million, alongside 11 million views. On charts, it peaked at number 32 in the United States and number 53 globally. No major sales certifications were reported for the single.
Chart (2019)Peak Position
Billboard Digital Song Sales39
Billboard Pop Digital Song Sales19
Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 10023
UK Official Singles Chart65
UK Singles Sales Chart44
Billboard Top TV Songs (June)1

Live Performances and Cultural Usage

Miley Cyrus performed "On a Roll" in character as Ashley O at the on June 30, 2019, during her set on the Pyramid Stage, marking the song's live debut outside the episode. Dressed in bedazzled attire and a purple wig to embody the fictional pop star, Cyrus delivered the track as a high-energy pop rendition, followed by a mashup transitioning into the original song "," highlighting the ironic lyrical parallels between the empowering pop adaptation and the source material. The performance drew significant attention for bridging the episode's fictional narrative with real-world concert culture, though it remained a one-off extension of the promotion rather than a recurring stage staple in Cyrus's tours. An additional virtual rendition occurred on April 1, 2020, during Bright Minded Live, a livestream event hosted by amid restrictions, where she reprised "On a Roll" as Ashley O to engage fans with the character's bubbly persona. No further major live outings by or other artists have been documented, limiting the song's stage presence to these promotional ties to the 2019 episode. Culturally, "On a Roll" gained traction as an pop track post-episode release, with its —styled as in-universe Ashley O content—emphasizing themes of self-empowerment through goal achievement, inverting the anti-consumerist edge of its inspiration. The song's fabricated backstory critiqued manufactured celebrity in the Black Mirror narrative, yet it resonated independently, spawning fan discussions on its addictive melody and variants, such as the Basic Tape Remix shared in online music communities as late as July 2025. Covers remain scarce, confined mostly to amateur recreations and episode-inspired tributes, without widespread adoption in media soundtracks or viral challenges, underscoring its niche status as a satirical artifact rather than a standalone cultural phenomenon.

Credits

Personnel and Production Team

The vocals for "On a Roll" were performed by in the guise of the fictional pop singer Ashley O, a character created for the Black Mirror episode "." The song received writing credits to of , whose 1990 industrial rock track "" served as the primary sample and structural basis for the pop adaptation, alongside for lyrical and melodic revisions transforming the original's anti-consumerist themes into an upbeat empowerment anthem. Production was handled by the British electronic trio known as the Invisible Men, a team comprising producers with prior collaborations on commercial pop hits including those for and ; they reworked the sampled elements into a glossy electro-pop arrangement featuring synthesized beats, layered vocals, and polished hooks. Recording and engineering contributions included work by Jon Shave, a key figure in the Invisible Men's output, ensuring the track's radio-friendly sheen. The adaptation process involved input from creator , who conceptualized the fictional discography to satirize pop industry exploitation, though formal music credits center on Reznor, Cyrus, and the producers.

Track Listing

The "On a Roll" single by Ashley O, released digitally in 2019 by , comprises two tracks derived from the episode "". These tracks are pop adaptations of songs, with "On a Roll" based on "" and "Right Where I Belong" on "Right Where It Belongs".
No.TitleDuration
1"On a Roll"2:24
2"Right Where I Belong"2:11
Separate releases include remix versions of "On a Roll", such as the DallasK and Basic Tape , issued on various formats including digital files and promotional CDs.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.