Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Locust member (talk | contribs) at 19:45, 27 December 2024. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Sympathy Is a Knife" is a song by the English singer Charli XCX. It was released on 7 June 2024 through Atlantic Records as the third track from her sixth studio album, Brat. Written and produced by Charli XCX herself and long-time collaborator Finn Keane, better known as Easyfun, the former bares her thoughts on a woman that evokes feelings of "doubt and insecurity" in herself on the song.

Upon release, the song peaked at 56 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as the top 10 on the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Later on, it debuted at number 18 on the New Zealand singles chart. Charli XCX included the song the setlist of her Sweat tour and performed it on Saturday Night Live on 16 November 2024.

Background

Upon the release of Charli XCX's sixth studio album Brat, fans speculated that "Sympathy Is a Knife" was written about the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and her ex-boyfriend, Matty Healy of the 1975. During 2018, Charli XCX was an opening act for Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour, as well as appeared in the 1989 World Tour (2015). Though there had been no public feud between Charli XCX and Swift prior to the song's release, fans thought that the mention of Charli XCX's fiancé George Daniel, also of the 1975, meant it was written about Swift's relationship with Healy. Despite the speculation, Charli XCX confirmed that there were no "diss tracks" on Brat. The week following Brat's release, Swift released a reissue of her album The Tortured Poets Department (2024), only available in the United Kingdom, which fans thought was an intentional effort to block Brat from reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart.

During a DJ set Charli XCX was playing at in São Paulo during June 2024, the audience chanted "Taylor is dead!". Charli XCX later criticised the people who chanted the phrase on her Instagram story, by asking them to stop, and saying that she "will not tolerate it". In an August 2024 interview with New York, Charli XCX expressed that "people are gonna think what they want to think" and stated that "Sympathy Is a Knife" is about her anxiety, insecurities, and wanting to avoid situations that make her feel self-doubt. In the same interview, Swift lauded Charli XCX's musical sensibilities, called her writing "surreal and inventive, always", and that she enjoys seeing the results of Charli XCX's hard work.

Composition and lyrics

"Sympathy Is a Knife" is two minutes and 31 seconds long. Its energetic production is dominated by synthesizers and hand claps. Charli XCX's vocals are vocoded, and the stuttering beat is paired alongside distorted bass and drum machines. The track features a "raw" sound, one that was compared to the work of Camila Cabello by PopMatters's Nick Malone. For Dork, Abigail Firth called the synthesizers "jolting" and described the track as a "heavier, more arresting 'Gone' ". Meaghan Garvey from Pitchfork said that the "buzzsaw synths and modulated banshee howls sound most like the Charli we've known". The Skinny writer Rho Chung called the track a "shockingly honest banger". Ryan Bulbeck, writing for Renowned for Sound, said the track has "deeper lyrics that dive into Charli's fears and concerns", and believed the track is "one of many on to meld club bangers with reflective and at times incredibly personal lyricism". According to Jake Viswanath of Bustle, it was seen as a representation of one of the central themes of its parent album, as it deals with the singer's "complicated emotions about other women".

The lyrics of "Sympathy Is a Knife" reference paranoia and comparing herself to somebody else; presumably Swift. It is an introspective track that comments on Charli XCX's insecurities and suicidal ideation. It also reflects on her conflicted feelings and having a "voice in her head telling her she's not enough". The lyric "Don't wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend's show / fingers crossed behind my back / I hope they break up quick" was interpreted as being about Swift and Healy's relationship. Though, Charli XCX praises the song's character, singing, " 'Cause I couldn't even be her if I tried / I'm opposite, I'm on the other side". Dakota West Foss from Sputnikmusic believed that the song's character "suspiciously matches Taylor Swift's description". Paste's Eric Bennett thought that the song's lyrics are darker compared to other songs from the album.

Commercial performance

"Sympathy Is a Knife" peaked at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart. The track charted for two weeks. It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. On the Billboard auxiliary Dance/Electronic Songs chart, it peaked at number seven. The track peaked at number 21 on the ARIA Charts. In New Zealand, the song peaked at number 18. The remix version with Ariana Grande peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and charted for nine weeks. It debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted for two weeks. It peaked at number two on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and charted for 26 weeks. On the auxiliary Dance/Electronic Songs chart, it peaked at number one, and peaked at number two on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart. In the Canadian Hot 100, the track peaked at number 38 and charted for two weeks. It received a gold certification from Music Canada (MC) for sales of 40,000 units.

Ariana Grande remix

Charli XCX announced the remix album of Brat, titled Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat, on 12 September 2024. On 6 October, XCX revealed lyrics of the "Sympathy Is a Knife" remix on her social media, both of which featured links to pre-order the album. Grande shared the lyrics via her Instagram story, hinting at a collaboration. In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, XCX opened up about her relationship with Grande and how the rollout of Brat changed her as a person. The remix with Grande in particular made her realise that one is "only really knowledgeable about own position", a feeling she thought was more known by Grande than herself.

As opposed to the original version, the remix with Grande deals with a certain part of being in the spotlight and especially takes in the themes of public perception and scrutiny. Carson Mlnarik of Nylon described the remix as "more confident, albeit exasperated, perspective" than the original. Over a "synth-y, glitchier, and handclap-driven" instrumental, the artists exchange verses about rumours and how they refuse to address them, a stance that was compared to Grande's "Yes, And?", released earlier in 2024.

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Vaillancourt, William (17 November 2024). "'SNL': Watch Charli XCX perform '360,' 'Sympathy Is a Knife'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
2. ^ Kile, Meredith B. (7 June 2024). "Why Fans Think Taylor Swift Is Referenced in Charli XCX's 'Sympathy Is a Knife' Song". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
3. ^ Curto, Justin (7 June 2024). "Sounds Like Charli XCX Wasn't Rooting for Taylor and Matty". Vulture. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
4. ^ Jibril, Halima (14 June 2024). "Why do people think Taylor Swift is sabotaging Charli XCX?". Dazed. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
5. Pilley, Max (17 June 2024). "Taylor Swift kept Charli XCX from Number One with new UK-only editions of 'The Tortured Poets Department'". NME. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
6. Pilley, Max (24 June 2024). "Charli XCX criticises fans for shouting "Taylor Swift is dead" at her gig". NME. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
7. Carson, Lexi (23 June 2024). "Charli XCX Calls Out Fans Chanting 'Taylor Swift Is Dead' At Her Shows: 'Please Stop'". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
8. Colyar, Brooke (26 August 2024). "Charli XCX Will Turn Brat Summer Into Brat Fall". New York. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
9. "Sympathy is a knife - Song by Charli xcx". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
10. ^ Spanos, Brittany (3 June 2024). "Charli XCX Is Dancing on the Edge With 'Brat'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
11. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (3 June 2024). "Charli XCX Brat Review: Existential Crisis on the Dance Floor". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
12. Brown, Helen (6 June 2024). "Charli XCX, BRAT review: Dance-pop star slips a little vulnerability into her clever, anarchic beats". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
13. ^ Bennett, Eric (5 June 2024). "Charli XCX Triumphs Through Pop Catharsis on BRAT". Paste. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
14. Malone, Nick (11 June 2024). "Charli XCX Is Everything on 'Brat'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
15. ^ Firth, Abigail (7 June 2024). "Charli XCX – BRAT". Dork. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
16. Garvey, Meaghan (7 June 2024). "Charli XCX: BRAT Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
17. Chung, Rho (7 June 2024). "Charli XCX – BRAT album review". The Skinny. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
18. Bulbeck, Ryan (11 June 2024). "Album Review: Charli XCX – Brat". Renowned for Sound. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
19. Viswanath, Jake (18 June 2024). "Fans Think Charli xcx's "Sympathy Is A Knife" Is About Taylor Swift". Bustle. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
20. ^ Foss, Dakota West (7 June 2024). "Review: Charli XCX - Brat". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
21. Lamond, Ana (6 June 2024). "Charli XCX – Brat". Clash. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
22. Gillis, Drew (7 June 2024). "brat is great". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
23. Robinson, KiMi (26 August 2024). "Taylor Swift shuts down rumors of bad blood with Charli XCX". USA Today. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
25. "Sympathy Is a Knife - Charli XCX Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
27. "Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
28. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
31. ""Official Singles Chart Top 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
32. "Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
33. "Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
34. "Charli XCX Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
35. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Charli XCX – Sympathy is a Knife". Music Canada. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
36. Monroe, Jazz (12 September 2024). "Charli XCX Announces Full Brat Remix Album, Enlists Troye Sivan for New "Talk Talk": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
37. Iasimone, Ashley (6 October 2024). "Ariana Grande, Charli XCX Tease "Sympathy Is a Knife" Remix With New Lyrics". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
38. Avila, Daniela (7 October 2024). "Charli xcx on the New Meaning Behind the "Sympathy Is a Knife" Remix — and How Ariana Grande Embodies It (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
39. Gonzales, Erica (11 October 2024). "Ariana Grande and Charli XCX's "Sympathy Is a Knife" Remix Is a Response to Public Scrutiny". Elle. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
40. Mlnarik, Carson (11 October 2024). "Unpacking Charli XCX & Ariana Grande's "Sympathy Is a Knife" remix". Nylon. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
41. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
42. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
43. Música, El portal de, SYMPATHY IS A KNIFE - CHARLI XCX | EPDM, retrieved 22 October 2024
44. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
45. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
46. "Charli XCX feat. Ariana Grande – Sympathy Is a Knife" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
47. "Charli XCX Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
48. "Tops de la semaine | Top Singles – Semaine du 18 octobre 2024" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
49. "Charli XCX feat. Ariana Grande – Sympathy Is a Knife" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
50. "Charli XCX Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
51. "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 42/2024". www.ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
52. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
53. "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Oct 31, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
54. "Charli XCX feat. Ariana Grande – Sympathy Is a Knife" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
55. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
56. "TOP AFP/AUDIOGEST – Semana 42 de 2024 – 11/10/2024 até 17/10/2024" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
57. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 42". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
58. "Charli XCX feat. Ariana Grande – Sympathy Is a Knife". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
59. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
60. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
61. "Charli XCX Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
62. "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: October 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 1 November 2024.

• 2024 songs
• Ariana Grande songs
• Charli XCX songs
• Songs written by Ariana Grande
• Songs written by Charli XCX
• Songs written by Easyfun
• Songs recordings produced by Easyfun