Tick Tock
by Clean Bandit (featuring Mabel & 24kGoldn)

Album: released as a single (2020)
Charted: 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Though Clean Bandit's cellist Grace Chatto occasionally sings, the English trio rely on outsiders to be their main vocalists. On this dance pop bop, British singer-songwriter Mabel and American rapper/singer 24kGoldn are their guests.
  • The song has nothing to do with a certain social media ap. Instead, Mabel croons about her infatuation with a guy she can't get out of her mind.

    Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
    24/7, got you on my mind
    Darling, I don't have the time
    My body wants you night and day


    So fixated is she with the man, she thinks about him 24 hours a day.
  • While Mabel wants her preoccupation with the guy to disappear, 24kGoldn takes a more proactive stance. He invites the girl he's obsessed with to hook up with him: "24/7 I got a place with your name on it."
  • Clean Bandit's Grace Chatto and Jack Patterson wrote the song with Mabel, 24kGoldn and Camille "Kamille" Purcell. Kamille, who also helped pen their UK #1 hit "Solo," is a regular Little Mix collaborator, including on their chart-topping singles "Black Magic" and "Shout Out To My Ex."
  • The five songwriters penned "Tick Tock" just before the 2020 coronavirus quarantine began. Clean Bandit's go-to producer Mark Ralphs ("Rockabye," "Symphony") then helped complete the track.
  • Grace Chatto told The Daily Star's Wired column about the song's inspiration: "We wrote it just before the pandemic and I was feeling a little obsessed with a guy - you know that annoying thing where you don't wanna be obsessed but you are?"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.