Papi Pacify

Album: EP2 (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • An R&B musician and dancer of Jamaican and Spanish descent, Tahliah Barnett moved from her childhood home in rural Gloucestershire, to London where she became known as Twigs (for the way her bones crack). The acronym FKA was later affixed at the request of another artist called Twigs. The young singer paid her dues as a back-up dancer in Jessie J's video for "Do It Like A Dude," and also appeared in a BBC comedy sketch called Beyoncé Wants Groceries, in which she can be seen dancing in a supermarket.
  • This smoldering track was the lead single from Twigs' critically acclaimed EP2, which was released on indie label Young Turks (The xx, Jack Penate) on September 10 2013. The moody and intimate cut features production from Yeezus collaborator Arca.
  • The song's music video was directed by FKA Twigs and Tom Beard. She told NME regarding its concept: "It's important to run with your first instinct. The video is meant to be a physical manifestation of emotional turmoil with a lover."
  • The video features a disturbing scene where a man covers Twigs' mouth with his fingers. The singer admitted to London's ES magazine the dark imagery is a reference to an abusive former partner. "In the relationship I couldn't communicate," she explained. "The person I was with was stopping me from explaining how I felt. So the physical manifestation is someone putting their hand in your mouth."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.