"Tick Tock" is a song by English electronic music group Clean Bandit and English singer Mabel, featuring American rapper 24kGoldn. It was written by Mabel, 24kGoldn, Kamille, Grace Chatto and Jack Patterson, the latter two of whom also produced the song with Mark Ralph. It was released by Atlantic Records UK on 21 August 2020 as the first single from Clean Bandit's upcoming third studio album.[7] The song is also included as a bonus track on digital and streaming versions of Mabel's debut studio album, High Expectations.
In a Zoom interview with ITN, the group revealed that they had started writing the song in November 2019, and that the song was finished just before the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's been a mad process finishing it during this time," said Jack Patterson. "And even making the video when it was still lockdown situation, and working in that environment was quite crazy." He also praised both collaborators on the song, saying that they have been "so nice to work with and just made it super easy". Grace Chatto said that the group did not meet 24kGoldn in person, as he was in Los Angeles at the time, and they did everything remotely, including the filming of his part in the music video.[8]
Chatto explained in another interview with the Daily Star that the song is about being "obsessed" with a guy. "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? And if I find myself in that situation I do something I love and something which makes me feel satisfied in another way. In lockdown I enjoyed going for walks. I found being in nature makes you see the bigger picture again."[3]
Whilst some have suggested that the song may be inspired by the video-sharing social networking service TikTok,[9] Jack Patterson has denied this in an interview with the Metro, and reiterated that the song is about "an obsessive relationship".[10]
Releaseedit
On 17 August 2020, Grace Chatto of Clean Bandit announced the song through a video posted on the group's social media pages. "Our new single is ready, it's called 'Tick Tock' and features Mabel and 24kGoldn, it's out this Friday," she said. "We are so excited for you to hear it!"[9][11] The single's cover art was also revealed in the Instagram post. Mabel and 24kGoldn replied to the post with a smiling face with hearts emoji and "let's goooo", respectively. Mabel also posted a short video of her lip-syncing to the song on her social media pages.[12]
An acoustic version of the song and an acoustic video was released on 4 September 2020.[13][14]
Music videoedit
Directed solely by Clean Bandit,[15][16] the official video for "Tick Tock" premiered at 1 pm BST on 21 August 2020, after a 30-second trailer was released one day prior.[17][18] It takes place at a house that resembles a cuckoo clock in the middle of a forest of glaciers. It also features a bathtub full of popcorn, as well as cardboard cities with running trains surrounding various music instruments, such as drums and digital pianos.[4]
While the song is about obsessive relationships, the music video takes a slightly different direction. Jack Patterson said that they took a lighter approach and made the video about their own individual obsessions. "I have a Hornby model of a Eurostar train spinning around me. I love all types of transport," said Patterson.[10]
^Bain, Katie (24 August 2020). "First Spin: The Week's Best New Dance Tracks From Duke Dumont, Clean Bandit, Whipped Cream & More". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2020. Clean Bandit once again demonstrates their mastery of dance pop with their latest release, 'Tick Tock.'
^Johnson, Laura (21 August 2020). "Clean Bandit And Mabel Team Up For New Single Tick Tock Featuring 24kGoldn". Stereoboard. Retrieved 30 August 2020. Tick Tock ... is an infectious and eclectic dance-pop track ...
^ abShowbiz, Bang (24 August 2020). "Clean Bandit set to release new single Tik Tok". The List. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^ abMartinez, Cami (24 August 2020). "Tick Tock is On Our Mind 24/7: The New Release from Mabel, Clean Bandit & 24KGoldn". Voir. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^Lipshutz, Jason; Ginsberg, Gab (24 August 2020). "10 Cool New Pop Songs To Get You Through The Week: Carlie Hanson, Astrid S, Clean Bandit & More". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^Cooper, Leonie (4 September 2020). "Tracks of the week reviewed: Jaime Wyatt, Clean Bandit, BTS". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2020. ... Clean Bandit might to convince us that this tropical-popper is about clockwatching ...
^@cleanbandit (August 18, 2020). "CB3 here we go. Tick Tock with @Mabel ft. @24kGoldn out this Friday" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^Clean Bandit (28 August 2020). "Clean Bandit talk Tick Tock and Mabel" (Interview). Interviewed by Nelsonj. United Kingdom: ITN. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^ abCopsey, Rob (17 August 2020). "Clean Bandit announce new single Tick Tock featuring Mabel and 24kGoldn". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^ abPatterson, Jack (3 September 2020). "My Tech: Jack Patterson". Metro (Interview). Interviewed by Andrew Williams. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^Showbiz, Bang (18 August 2020). "Clean Bandit set to release new single Tik Tok". The List. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^Hulton, Anna Sky (21 August 2020). "Clean Bandit release collaboration with Mabel 'Tick Tock'". Forth 1. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^Clean Bandit (4 September 2020). "Clean Bandit and Mabel - Tick Tock [Official Acoustic Video]". YouTube. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^Kenneally, Cerys (21 August 2020). "Clean Bandit and Mabel recruit 24kGoldn to serve up new anthem "Tick Tock"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^"New Music Friday roundup: Lukas Graham, Bazzi and Clean Bandit have fresh tracks for you". ABC News Radio. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^"Clean Bandit | Official Website". Clean Bandit Official Website. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^Clean Bandit (20 August 2020). "Clean Bandit and Mabel - Tick Tock (feat. 24kGoldn) [Official Trailer]". YouTube. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^"Clean Bandit, Mabel and 24kGoldn to perform at The Voice Kids Final 2020!". ITV News. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
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^Clean Bandit and Mabel feat. 24kGoldn — Tick Tock. TopHit. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
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^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
^"שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" (in Hebrew). Media Forest. Retrieved 9 September 2020. Note: On the page, select "2020" and "36 30-08-20 05-09-20" in the drop-down archive and then select the second "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" tab to obtain the corresponding chart.
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^"2021 15-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" [The most listened to in the 15th week of 2021] (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
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^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^"Clean Bandit and Mabel feat. 24kGoldn – Tick Tock" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
^"Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^"Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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^"SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
^"Clean Bandit and Mabel feat. 24kGoldn – Tick Tock". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
^"Clean Bandit and Mabel feat. 24kGoldn – Tick Tock". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
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