Tears In The Club
by FKA Twigs (featuring The Weeknd)

Album: Caprisongs (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, FKA Twigs is in emotional turmoil over a toxic relationship that's on its last legs. Her man has hurt her and she's in the club trying to dance her pain away, but she can't get him out of her hair. As she moves to the rhythm of the music, Twigs realizes she still wants his body.
  • The Weeknd croons a guest verse from the perspective of Twigs' lover. He notes the effect it has on Twigs when his song plays, and he tells her there is no escaping him.
  • Twigs and The Weeknd wrote "Tears in the Club" with:

    Spanish producer Pablo Díaz-Reixa, better known as El Guincho. A frequent collaborator with Spanish singer Rosalia, his productions for her include "Con Altura," "TKN" and "Lo Vas a Olvidar."

    Canadian music producer and songwriter Cirkut. He has worked with The Weeknd on several previous occasions, including "Starboy," "I Feel It Coming" and "Reminder."

    Pop songwriter Ali Tamposi (Kelly Clarkson's "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello's' "Señorita," Dua Lipa's "Break My Heart").

    Venezuelan musician and producer Arca. Her previous collaborations with FKA Twigs include "Papi Pacify," "Water Me," and "Two Weeks."
  • Arca, Cirkut and El Guincho produced the dancefloor number. It started with Arca creating a reggaeton-esqe jam on the keyboard. When El Guincho heard Arca's sketch, he recognized its potential and helped Twigs expand the song, adding more sonics. Then Cirkut got his hands on the tune and transformed it into an ethereal R&B banger.
  • Amber Grace Johnson (Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Jorja Smith) directed the haunting video. It shows Twigs dancing in a nightclub under flashing strobe lights, before performing in front of The Weeknd, who watches on in tears.
  • Pablo Díaz-Reixa helped Twigs find the nerve to ask The Weeknd to contribute a guest verse. "Honestly, in its very beginning, I couldn't imagine he would say yes," she told Variety. "Pablo (thought I was being silly and that, of course, The Weeknd would want to be on it. We got up the confidence to write the text - you know how your friend gasses you up to do something - so I did it, sent him the MP3, and he knocked out the vocals within two weeks. He loved it."

    Twigs couldn't believe it when The Weeknd agreed. Having the Canadian superstar feature on her song gave her a real boost that she can reach out to anyone she might want to work with. She later wrote the Caprisongs track "Lightbeamers" about having the courage to reach out for her wishes.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

U2

U2Fact or Fiction

How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

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