{"id":1747,"date":"2017-03-06T22:20:12","date_gmt":"2017-03-07T02:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/?p=1747"},"modified":"2023-12-20T10:43:18","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:43:18","slug":"the-chainsmokers-closer-doesnt-mean-what-you-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/the-chainsmokers-closer-doesnt-mean-what-you-think","title":{"rendered":"What is The Chainsmoker&#8217;s \u2018Closer\u2019 Song Really About?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/the-chainsmokers-closer-doesn-t-mean-what-you-think-lyreka-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"the chainsmokers closer cover\" class=\"wp-image-1749\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/the-chainsmokers-closer-doesn-t-mean-what-you-think-lyreka-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/the-chainsmokers-closer-doesn-t-mean-what-you-think-lyreka-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/cdn.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/the-chainsmokers-closer-doesn-t-mean-what-you-think-lyreka-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/the-chainsmokers-closer-doesn-t-mean-what-you-think-lyreka.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/artist\/the-chainsmokers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The Chainsmoker\u2019s<\/a> new hit song &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/song\/the-chainsmokers-closer-lyrics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Closer<\/a>&#8221; isn\u2019t your average love song. Lead by Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart, the electro-pop duo The Chainsmokers is taking the billboard 100 by storm. \u2018Closer\u2019 was their 3rd hit to go double-platinum in 2016, and like the song says\u2013 they just <q>can\u2019t stop.<\/q><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Featuring superstar singer-songwriter Halsey, the hit has quickly risen in the charts as a somewhat dark but mostly honest love song\u2013 or so it seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The single represents a vapid, wild, and yet somehow endearing millennial experience of love, materialism, and as you may or may not have guessed\u2013 getting back together with an ex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Chainsmokers - Closer (Lyric) ft. Halsey\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PT2_F-1esPk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover<\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em> That I know you can&#8217;t afford<\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em> Bite that tattoo on your shoulder<\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em> Pull the sheets right off the corner<\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em> Of the mattress that you stole<\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em> From your roommate back in Boulder<\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em> We ain&#8217;t ever getting older<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>At first glance, these upbeat lyrics have a tinge of sexy, maybe even bordering on a love song about a partner-in-crime-style relationship, but if you listen closely it may not be the romantic song you\u2019d expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Pall describes the song a little differently: \u201cThe song is sort of comical in nature, we wanted to make a feel-good song about meeting your ex, falling for them on a physical level and them remembering all the horrible truths about why it didn\u2019t work out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But we aren\u2019t entirely convinced it\u2019s a comedy, and if it is, it\u2019s a dark one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Hey, I was doing just fine before I met you,<\/strong><\/em><br><em><strong> I drink too much and that\u2019s an issue but I\u2019m okay.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you haven\u2019t already felt the tinge of disdain, think about it: the lyrics describe someone who sees someone they haven\u2019t seen in a while, and you can rest assured they have a romantic history that fell flat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>I know it breaks your heart,<\/strong><\/em><br><em><strong> Moved to the city in a broke down car.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2026 And of course, Halsey thinks it\u2019s her who broke it off\u2013 a classic post-modern breakup, and the perfect scenario for a passionate, yet fleeting reunion :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>You look as good as the day I met you<\/strong><\/em><br><em><strong> I forget just why I left you, I was insane<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>It seems like both characters in this duet are in denial, which is the perfect formula for one very confusing hookup. We can assume things ended badly\u2013 and we can also assume that neither character can resist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>I can\u2019t stop, no, I can\u2019t stop.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;And neither can listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In one interview with Genius, Pall says the song represents <q>that sort of rush of memories and emotions, mostly physical, leading to a hook up,<\/q>\u00a0making this a no-frills, true-life, and very relatable pop experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone loves a song about bad decisions (<q>Blame It<\/q>&nbsp;on the alcohol), which perfectly fits the bill. From <q>looking pretty in a hotel bar<\/q>&nbsp;to <q>pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover,<\/q>&nbsp;it\u2019s pretty clear the duo is getting drunk and probably making a regrettable decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering The Chainsmokers party lifestyle, it\u2019s no wonder their lyrics have a touch of alcoholism and an edge of naughty. In one interview with Billboard, Alex Pall said (of his career so far)\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s always \u2018work hard, play hard\u2019\u2026 But you\u2019ll never see us getting carried out of a club. We\u2019re way too good at drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But despite everything, there\u2019s still something hopelessly romantic about the song, prompting young couples everywhere to take it on as a duet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Chainsmokers - Closer (ft. Halsey) Rock Cover by Janick &amp; Elle\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EP1kd-DlZsc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inspiration Behind the Song<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By now, we can guess that the song is about a run-in singer Alex Pall had with his ex-girlfriend, and it\u2019s exactly what prompted him to write the song\u2013 while they were on tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though Halsey wrote her part of the duet, the inspiration remains true to the experience, all thanks to their affinity with 2000\u2019s alt-rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by the likes of Blink-182 and 90\u2019s R&amp;B, The Chainsmoker\u2019s duet is nothing short of a youth-pop anthem, and it knows exactly where it\u2019s roots lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They even give Blink-182 a shout out in the song\u2013 and we can\u2019t help but think that it\u2019s the band\u2019s hit \u201cMiss You\u201d that they\u2019re referencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"blink-182 - I Miss You (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s1tAYmMjLdY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Describing the song as \u201cconversational and literal\u201d in an interview with Harper&#8217;s Bazaar, The Chainsmokers aim was to produce a nostalgic piece of music that says what it means\u2013 no mushy romantic metaphors needed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c&#8230;we were talking about how we haven&#8217;t heard a conversational song where a person is so literal about what they mean, and we wanted to do something like that. We had this concept for a song that was like an un-sexy sex scene, basically. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But with millions of people listening, it\u2019s probably not all that un-sexy. The sound is in the ear of the beholder, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing is certain: we\u2019ll be sure to keep a <q>Closer<\/q>&nbsp;eye on what The Chainsmokers do next.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Chainsmoker\u2019s new hit song &#8220;Closer&#8221; isn\u2019t your average love song. Lead by Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart, the electro-pop duo The Chainsmokers is taking the billboard 100 by storm. \u2018Closer\u2019 was their 3rd hit to go double-platinum in 2016, and like the song says\u2013 they just can\u2019t stop. Featuring&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/the-chainsmokers-closer-doesnt-mean-what-you-think\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[363,651,364],"class_list":["post-1747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-song-analysis","tag-closer","tag-pop","tag-the-chainsmokers"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1747\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyreka.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}