People Pleaser

Album: Early Twenties (2022)
Charted: 76
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Songfacts®:

  • "People Pleaser" is a soul-searching anthem that exposes Cat Burns' toxic habit of constantly trying to please others. It's a lose-lose game that only makes things worse by avoiding confrontation; she wishes she could just speak her mind instead of constantly prioritizing others over herself.

    Burns learned this behavior from a young age and now struggles to acknowledge her own needs and wants. Despite the negatives, the song also highlights the positive side of caring for others. Cat admits that when someone she loves is hurting, she instinctively wants to fix it. But she's learned that sometimes, all they need is someone to listen, and it's a lesson she's still trying to learn.

    "'People Pleaser' is what it says on the tin," said Burns. "My struggles with being a people pleaser and why I am one."
  • Cat Burns wrote "People Pleaser" with Gezo (Aqilo's "Good Girl," Only Girl's "Release") and Jordan Riley (David Guetta's "Crazy What Love Can Do," Tom Grennan's "Here").

    The song shows a different side of Burns compared to her previous work, like her understated acoustic track "Go." "People Pleaser" showcases Burns' prowess as a pop-songwriter as she delves into her inclination to prioritize the happiness of others at the expense of her own.

    "I remember just coming into the session," wrote Burns on social media, "being like guys I wanna write a song about being a people pleaser and we did exactly that!"
  • Jordan Riley also co-produced the track with Stuart Price, who has worked with Madonna, The Pet Shop Boys and The Killers.
  • The Aklass Collective Singers sing the backing vocals. They've also worked with Declan J Donavon and Self-Esteem.

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