Can't Wait to Be Dead
"Can't Wait to Be Dead" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas. It was released by OYOY as a single on October 21, 2020. The song was written and produced by Finneas.
"Can't Wait to Be Dead" | ||||
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Single by Finneas | ||||
Released | October 21, 2020 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 2:55 | |||
Label | OYOY | |||
Songwriter(s) | Finneas | |||
Producer(s) | Finneas | |||
Finneas singles chronology | ||||
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It was lyrically inspired on how the internet and media were reacting during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 US presidential debate. The uptempo-based alternative rock song sees Finneas singing about the effects of racism and how he feels about the Internet. A music video for "Can't Wait to Be Dead" was produced by Constellation Jones and released on October 22, 2020.
Background
Finneas explained in a statement: "I'm happy for this song to mean anything to anyone who listens to it, but to me, it's a song about my relationship with the Internet. Especially in an election year. Especially during a pandemic. Sometimes, the internet makes me laugh, sometimes it makes me cry, sometimes it makes me hopeful. But sometimes, it really makes me wanna be dead."[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Composition and lyrics
"Can't Wait to Be Dead" features use of a folk-based "intimate" acoustic guitar.[7][8] The song is an uptempo-based alternative rock track.[8][9] Lyrically, "Can't Wait to Be Dead" is about Finneas' view on how the Internet is acting during the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 presidential election, "Another sunburn with hair, it's too much fun not to stare/Somebody's calling you out for something you never said".[7][9][10][11] He then sings about the racism in the U.S.: "Fuck your Confederate flag/You've got no reason to brag".[10] Finneas repeats how the Internet is acting, "Nobody's coming to save me /Nobody knows any better anyway/I think we're thinking the same thing If this is how it ends, I wasn't listening".[10]
Reception
Nina Corcoran, writing for Consequence of Sound, praised the track, saying it "packs plenty of energy without letting its message go stale".[8] Writing for Spin magazine, Emily Tan said Finneas continues to "prove himself as a songwriter with the release of 'Can't Wait to Be Dead'".[9]
Music video
A music video for "Can't Wait to Be Dead" was released on October 22, 2020, and was produced by Constellation Jones.[4] Finneas hinted of the music video during a livestream.[12] Towards the end of the livestream, he explained the idea of the track's visual, saying, "When I write songs, I don't like to write a song that feels like it's only about one thing, even if it is, because I want every person that listens to it to be able to internalize it and have it translate it to whatever experience they're going through is. That being said, I think music videos are a fun way to articulate exactly what the song means to you. To me, this song is just about my relationship with the internet, so that's the premise of this video."[12][13] The video shows Finneas scrolling through social media, with the shot sometimes showing his reflection.[12] As he scrolls through the phone, it shows protests, the US election, and the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
References
- Minsker, Evan (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Shares New Song 'Can't Wait to Be Dead': Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Shaffer, Claire (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Sings About His Hatred of the Internet on 'Can't Wait to Be Dead'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Aswad, Jem (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Drops New Song, 'Can't Wait to Be Dead'". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Rosenthal, Paris (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Shares New Single 'Can't Wait To Be Dead': Listen". Paste. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Langford, Jackson (October 22, 2020). "Finneas Drops New Single 'Can't Wait To Be Dead". Music Feeds. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- Mahjouri, Shakiel (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Opens Up About His Struggles In 'Can't Wait To Be Dead'". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Droke, Carolyn (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Details His Complex Relationship With The Internet On His Electric 'Can't Wait To Be Dead'". Uproxx. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Corcoran, Nina (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Gets Real on New Song 'Can't Wait To Be Dead': Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Tan, Emily (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Struggles With the Internet on 'Can't Wait to Be Dead'". Spin. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Benitez-Eves, Tina (October 21, 2020). "Finneas 'Can't Wait To Be Dead' When He Thinks About the Internet". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Wass, Mike (October 21, 2020). "Finneas Returns With 'Can't Wait To Be Dead'". Idolator. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Rossignol, Derrick (October 22, 2020). "Finneas Scrolls Through His Trump-Filled Feed In The 'Can't Wait To Be Dead' Video". Uproxx. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- "Finneas Shares The Official Music Video For 'Can't Wait To Be Dead'". OutNow. Retrieved October 22, 2020.