Ava Max dropped a massive anthem. It's called "Kings & Queens." You’ve heard it at the gym, in the grocery store, and definitely on your favorite "Power Pop" Spotify playlist. But have you actually sat down and looked at the lyrics for kings and queens? There’s a lot more going on than just a catchy synth-pop hook and a recycled guitar riff.
Honestly, the song is a masterclass in modern pop songwriting. It’s loud. It’s defiant. It basically takes the "damsel in distress" trope and throws it out a high-rise window.
Pop music moves fast. Usually, a song peaks and dies within six months. Yet, this track—released back in 2020 as part of the Heaven & Hell album—refuses to quit. It’s become a staple. Why? Because the message isn't just about "girl power" in a generic, corporate way. It’s about the fundamental restructuring of power dynamics. It’s catchy, sure, but the substance keeps people coming back.
The Chessboard Metaphor in Lyrics for Kings and Queens
If you look at the first verse, Ava sets the scene with a pretty blatant chess analogy. She talks about how "disobeying" is the only way to play the game. It’s a smart move. In chess, the Queen is objectively the most powerful piece on the board. She can move any number of squares in any direction. The King? He’s limited. He’s slow. He’s the one who needs protecting.
The lyrics for kings and queens lean heavily into this irony.
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"To all of the queens who are fighting alone / Baby, you're not dancing on your own"
This isn't just a club line. It’s a call to arms for collective resilience. When Ava sings about how a queen is worth more than a king, she isn't just being provocative for the sake of a TikTok sound. She’s referencing a literal rule of the game that mirrors the social shifts we’ve been seeing for the last decade.
People often miss the subtle jab at history in the lines about "if all of the kings had their queens on the throne." It’s an alternate history lesson wrapped in a 130 BPM banger. Think about it. Historically, queens were often relegated to "consort" status. They had influence, but rarely the scepter. Ava’s lyrics flip that. She’s demanding a world where the power is shared, or better yet, held by those who actually know how to lead.
That Guitar Solo and the Bon Jovi Connection
You can’t talk about this song without mentioning the elephant in the room. Or rather, the 80s rock legend in the room. The melody of the chorus is a very deliberate interpolation of Bonnie Tyler’s "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)," which was written by Desmond Child.
If that melody sounds familiar, it's because Child also used a very similar progression for Bon Jovi’s "You Give Love a Bad Name."
This matters. It gives the lyrics for kings and queens a sense of "pre-baked" nostalgia. You feel like you already know the song the first time you hear it. It’s a psychological trick that pop producers use to create instant hits. By grounding these very modern, feminist lyrics in a classic rock structure, Ava Max bridged the gap between Gen Z empowerment and Gen X stadium rock. It’s clever marketing, but it’s also just great songwriting.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Meaning
Some critics argued the song was "feminism-lite." They said it was too glossy. Too polished.
I disagree.
If you dig into the bridge, there’s a line that says, "No damsel in distress, don't need to save me." It’s a direct middle finger to the Disney-fied version of womanhood that dominated the 20th century. Most pop songs of the past were about waiting for someone. Waiting for a call. Waiting for a guy to notice. Waiting for a rescue.
Ava isn't waiting.
She’s basically saying the rescue party isn't coming because she’s already out the door. The nuance here is that she acknowledges the struggle—the "fighting alone" part—without making it sound like a tragedy. It’s a celebration of the struggle. That’s a huge distinction. It’s why the song resonates so well with younger audiences who are tired of the "victim" narrative.
The Production Choices
Henry Walter (Cirkut) produced this. He’s the same guy behind hits for The Weeknd and Miley Cyrus. You can hear his fingerprints all over the track. The way the vocals are layered in the chorus makes Ava sound like a literal army.
It’s not just one voice; it’s a wall of sound.
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This reinforces the lyrics for kings and queens theme of unity. When she sings "we’re the ones," the "we" feels massive. It’s sonic reinforcement of the lyrical content. If the production had been thin or stripped back, the message would have felt weak. Instead, it feels like a coronation.
Why the Message Sticks in 2026
We’re living in an era where the "Girlboss" era has been deconstructed and, in some ways, rejected for being too corporate. People are looking for something more authentic. While "Kings & Queens" is definitely a polished pop product, its core sentiment hasn't aged poorly.
Why? Because it’s about competence.
The lyrics suggest that queens are more capable of handling the "throne" than the men who have occupied it for centuries. In a world of political upheaval and social change, that’s a sentiment that continues to find a home. It’s not just about gender; it’s about who is actually doing the work.
- The "Misfit" Brand: Ava Max has always leaned into being the "odd one out." Her "Max Cut" hair (short on one side, long on the other) was a visual representation of this.
- The Hook: The "No-no, no-no" part of the song is designed for global reach. You don't need to speak English to sing along to that part.
- The Cinematic Feel: The lyrics evoke imagery of castles, wine, and battlefields. It’s high-drama.
Most pop songs are about "me." This one is about "us." Even though Ava is the star, the lyrics for kings and queens are written to make the listener feel like they are the ones wearing the crown. It’s a transfer of power from the performer to the audience.
The Real-World Impact of the Song
Beyond the radio play, this song became a massive anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and various social justice movements. It’s easy to see why. Anyone who has felt sidelined by traditional power structures finds a home in these lyrics.
I’ve seen videos of drag queens performing this, and the energy is electric. Why? Because the song validates the idea of "creating your own royalty." If society doesn't give you a seat at the table, you build your own castle. That’s the subtext of the second verse.
It’s also worth noting the specific word choices. Words like "disobey," "throne," and "knight" aren't just fantasy tropes. They are symbols of agency. In the context of the lyrics for kings and queens, a "knight" isn't a savior; it’s a role that anyone can occupy if they have the courage to stand up.
The Technical Complexity of the Vocals
Ava Max is often compared to Lady Gaga. It’s an easy comparison, but Ava’s vocal style on this track is more "theatrical pop." She hits these high belts that require incredible breath control.
When you’re singing the lyrics for kings and queens, you’re not just whispering into a mic like the "sad girl pop" trend (think Billie Eilish or Olivia Rodrigo in their slower moments). This is "stadium vocalizing." It requires a level of confidence that matches the lyrics. You can't sing about being a queen if you sound unsure of yourself.
The "Oh-oh-oh" runs in the background aren't just filler. They act as a melodic counterpoint to the main message. It’s busy, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetic.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Playlist
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this vibe, don't just stop at one song. To really understand the context of the lyrics for kings and queens, you should look at how it fits into the broader "Empowerment Pop" genre.
- Analyze the "Interpolation" Trend: Look up other songs that use 80s melodies. You’ll start to see how modern pop is built on the bones of the past. It’s like a musical scavenger hunt.
- Compare Lyrical Themes: Listen to "Kings & Queens" back-to-back with "So What" by Pink or "Roar" by Katy Perry. Notice the differences in how they define "strength." Ava’s version is much more about systemic power than individual "winning."
- Check Out the Acoustic Version: If you want to hear the lyrics without the heavy production, listen to Ava’s acoustic performances. It changes the mood from a battle cry to a personal manifesto.
Basically, the song isn't just a "vibe." It’s a deliberate piece of pop engineering designed to make you feel invincible. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or not, you have to respect the craftsmanship. It took a team of writers—including Brett McLaughlin and Madison Love—to fine-tune these words. They didn't just stumble onto a hit; they built one.
The next time you hear it, listen for the "champagne" line. It’s a subtle nod to the "let them eat cake" trope, but flipped. Instead of being out of touch, the queen in Ava’s world is the one providing the toast. It’s a small detail, but those are the things that make a song stick in your head for years.
Final thought for the road: Start paying attention to "chess" metaphors in music. From Taylor Swift to Ava Max, the board is a favorite tool for songwriters to explain complicated human relationships. The lyrics for kings and queens just happen to be the most "on the nose" version of it we’ve seen in a long time.
If you want to apply this to your own life, think about your "moves." Are you playing the role someone gave you, or are you moving like a Queen—any direction, any distance, whenever you want? That’s the real takeaway from Ava’s anthem. Stop waiting for the King to make a move. The game is already yours.