Ava Max - Kings & Queens [official Music Video] Today

: The lyrics cleverly use chess moves as a metaphor for gender dynamics, noting that while a king moves one space at a time, "queens are free to go wherever they like". Musical DNA

The video establishes a unique aesthetic that Max describes as "royal, but in a modern, futuristic kind of way".

: Despite some reviewers calling the sound "formulaic" or "generic," the song was a massive commercial success, peaking at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.