Sweet Talker
by Years & Years (featuring Galantis)

Album: Night Call (2021)
Charted: 26
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Sweet Talker" is a romantic dancefloor anthem that finds Olly Alexander being enticed by a dreamboat. The guy has a smooth line of conversation and the singer falls for his charms. However, something is warning him he is not to be trusted. "I know I feel like everybody's met a sweet talker before in their life, someone that you know, chat a lot of sweet stuff to you, promises your good things, but maybe is a little lacking," Alexander told BBC Radio 1's Clara Amfo. "You know, when it comes to when it comes down to it or kind of all leads you in the lurch. It can be a whole array of different things. But I also just love that word Sweet Talker. So I wanted to write the song about it."
  • The song is a dance banger featuring production by Galantis. Inspired by yearning tracks by artists such as Robyn, Years & Years wanted something that could be played in the club. After the Swedish trio heard the demo, they added disco flourishes to accompany Alexander's aching vocals.
  • Alexander recorded the song for Night Call, the third studio album by Years & Years. It marks the first album release of Years & Years as Alexander's solo project following the departure of Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen.
  • Sophia Ray directed the video, which is a surreal, playful twist on fairy tales. Alexander and Ray developed the storyline of the singer trapped in an enchanted castle. "The concept behind the video takes the Greek mythical tale of King Midas," said the director, "and turns it on its head, where Olly finds a magic sword in his escape through this castle, that turns anyone he slays into candy."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.