Album: Charli (2019)
Charted: 58
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Charli XCX teams up with French singer Christine and the Queens for this anxiety-ridden tune. Both artists are feeling shy and unstable; Charli confesses on the first verse she's "caught up by my insecurities"; Chris admits on the second verse that she's "scared and confused" by other people's judgments. She asks:

    Why is it too loud? (Is it loud?)
    Do they wish to run through me?
  • Addressing her fans on Instagram, Charli said that "Gone" is about, "Those situations where you are surrounded by loads of people but feel so isolated and alone. I feel like that a lot of the time in social situations. I never know what to do with myself, I feel so insecure and out of place and lost. This song is about breaking down but it's also about breaking free. It feels like one big external scream."
  • "Gone" was premiered live on May 30, 2019 during Charli's set at Primavera in Barcelona. Christine joined the artist on stage to help her perform the track.
  • The Colin Solal Cardo-directed video features both Charli and Christine performing the track as they dance on top of the car in the pouring rain. Charli said: "Both this song and video are a huge release of energy for me. When I hear it and when I dance to it I feel truly euphoric and alive, like I'm pushing out all the bad feelings from my brain. It's like I'm channeling all my anger and frustration (and sometimes sadness) into dancing it all away."
  • Christine helped Charli XCX out on this song when she was suffering from writer's block. The English singer-songwriter had sketched out "Gone," but just couldn't come up with a chorus. She sent the demo of what she'd come up with to Chris, and within a quarter of an hour, the French songstress had sent her back an idea for the hook. It was just what Charli had been looking for.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Pete Anderson

Pete AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Pete produced Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Meat Puppets, and a very memorable track for Roy Orbison.

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.