In many ways, "Friends Like We Used To" feels like a companion piece to BANKS' earlier work. Her 2014 debut album "Goddess" explored similar themes of love, relationships, and identity, albeit in a more experimental and avant-garde way. With "Friends Like We Used To," BANKS is continuing to push the boundaries of what's possible in pop music, using her unique voice and perspective to explore the complexities of human relationships.
But despite the darkness of the lyrics, the song is ultimately a message of empowerment and resilience. BANKS and Tove Lo are reclaiming their narratives, refusing to be bound by the toxic relationships that have hurt them. The song is a declaration of independence, a statement of intent to move forward and heal.
The song's title, "Friends Like We Used To," is a clever play on words. On the surface, it seems like a nostalgic reference to a past friendship or relationship that's been lost. But as the lyrics unfold, it becomes clear that the song is actually about the ways in which toxic relationships can warp and distort our perceptions of reality. BANKS Friends Like We Used To -feat Tove Lo-...
[Verse 2 - Tove Lo] You said I was your best friend, your partner in crime But behind my back, you were plotting and scheming You used my secrets against me, you played me like a fool But I'm not that girl anymore, I'm breaking out of the rules
"I know you're watching me, I feel your eyes on me / I know you're waiting for me, to get to get to the end of me," BANKS sings on the verse, her voice dripping with a sense of unease and vulnerability. Tove Lo joins in on the chorus, her signature husky vocals adding a sense of urgency and desperation to the proceedings. In many ways, "Friends Like We Used To"
The result is a song that's both haunting and cathartic, a slow-burning exploration of the ways in which toxic relationships can consume and destroy us. The lyrics are written in a way that's both abstract and intensely personal, making it easy to imagine that BANKS and Tove Lo are singing directly to the listener.
[Bridge - BANKS] I'm taking back control, I'm breaking free I'm not gonna let you use me, I'm not gonna let you see The real me, the true me, the one that's been hiding I'm gonna rise up, I'm gonna take the power back But despite the darkness of the lyrics, the
[Chorus - BANKS & Tove Lo] We're not friends like we used to We're not friends like we used to
[Verse 1 - BANKS] I know you're watching me, I feel your eyes on me I know you're waiting for me, to get to get to the end of me I'm trying to escape, but I'm stuck in my head Your voice is whispering, it's the only thing that's left
Tove Lo, for her part, has been open about her own struggles with toxic relationships and mental health. Her 2014 debut album "Queen of the Clouds" was a critically-acclaimed exploration of themes such as love, heartbreak, and female empowerment. With "Friends Like We Used To," Tove Lo is continuing to build on that legacy, using her music as a way to process and heal from her experiences.