• Source: Sympathy Is a Knife

"Sympathy Is a Knife" is a song by English singer Charli XCX. It was released on 7 June 2024 through Atlantic Records as the third track from her sixth studio album, Brat. Written and produced by Charli XCX herself and long-time collaborator Finn Keane, better known as Easyfun, the former bares her thoughts on a woman that evokes feelings "doubt and insecurity" in herself on the song. It was seen as a representation of one of the central themes of its parent album, as it deals with the singer's "complicated emotions about other women".
Upon release, the song peaked at 56 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as the top 10 on the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Later on, it debuted at number 18 on the New Zealand singles chart. Charli XCX included the song the setlist of her Sweat tour and performed it on Saturday Night Live on 16 November 2024.




Ariana Grande remix



Charli XCX announced the remix album of Brat, titled Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat, on 12 September 2024. On 6 October, XCX revealed lyrics of the "Sympathy Is a Knife" remix on her social media, both of which featured links to pre-order the album. Grande shared the lyrics via her Instagram story, hinting at a collaboration. In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, XCX opened up about her relationship with Grande and how the rollout of Brat changed her as a person. The remix with Grande in particular made her realise that one is "only really knowledgeable about [one's] own position", a feeling she thought was more known by Grande than herself.
As opposed to the original version, the remix with Grande deals with a certain part of being in the spotlight and especially takes in the themes of public perception and scrutiny. Carson Mlnarik of Nylon described the remix as "more confident, albeit exasperated, perspective" than the original. Over a "synth-y, glitchier, and handclap-driven" instrumental, the artists exchange verses about rumours and how they refuse to address them, a stance that was compared to Grande's "Yes, And?", released earlier in 2024.




Charts






References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Brat (album)
• Live Aid
• Sympathy Is a Knife
• Brat (album)
• Saturday Night Live season 50
• Charli XCX discography
• List of UK top-ten singles in 2024
• Sweat (concert tour)
• Jon Shave (musician)
• Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat
• Finn Keane
• List of top 10 singles in 2024 (Ireland)