Focus / No Angel

* Focus
* No Angel

**"Focus"** is a single by Charli XCX. It is the A-Side to "No Angel". The song was part of the monthly releases with "Girls Night Out" and "5 In The Morning".

## Background

The song was first performed with A. G. Cook at FORM festival on May 14th, 2018. On June 19th, Charli uploaded a 3 second long Instagram Story of herself. That same night Charli performed the song on Pop 2 Tour on London and then in Paris the next day.
She released the song on June 29th, 2018, along with "No Angel" as a B-Side.
Charli kept performing the song on multiple festivals through 2018 and 2019. The last one being on July 21st, 2019 on Pitchfork Festival.
On September 21st, 2018, Charli released a remix for the song by Yaeji, which includes her additional vocals. It was well received by critics and fans alike.

## Critical Reception

Julia Gray of Stereogum named "Focus" a "synth-driven, half-rapped track". Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone called "Focus" an "unrepentant earworm, with that trademark XCX style of delivering an almost cruelly addictive, simple chorus." Mike Nied of Idolator wrote that "it is easy to imagine “Focus” filling dance floors across the globe with its irresistible production."

## Tracklisting

1. "Focus" – 3:22
2. "No Angel" – 3:06

## Lyrics

[Intro]

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus, focus

[Verse 1]

I just want you to focus

Pull me in, pull me closer

Give me that diagnosis

Blow my mind like explosions

Just one touch leaves me helpless

On repeat like it's endless

Bedsheets turn to a white dress

Look so good, damn you did this

Yeah

[Chorus]

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

Just focus on my love, yeah

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

Just focus on my love, yeah

[Post-Chorus]

Want 100% of your attention

Want 100% so I'm in heaven

Want 100% of your attention

Keep watching my eyes

Want you to realize

[Verse 2]

I just want you to focus

Better keep your composure

Like you tryna' earn that diploma

Do it over and over, yeah

Make it pop, Coca-Cola

Keep it hot, Barcelona

Bedsheets turn to a white dress

Look so good when I'm naked, yeah

[Chorus]

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

Just focus on my love, yeah

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

Just focus on my love, yeah

[Refrain]

Want 100% of your attention

Want 100% so I'm in heaven

[Bridge]

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus, focus

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus, focus

Focus, focus

Focus, focus

Focus, focus

Focus, focus

I just want you to

Focus, focus

Focus, focus

Focus, focus

Focus, focus on my love

[Chorus]

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

Just focus on my love, yeah

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

I just want you to focus on my love

Just focus on my

Just focus on my love, yeah

## References

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WWxOok4giE&feature=emb\_title
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/FckyeahCharli/status/1009107424156975105
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/FckyeahCharli/status/1009175911906861057
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/FckyeahCharli/status/1009531281133199360
5. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/yaeji-remixes-charli-xcxs-focus-listen/
6. ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/2004050/charli-xcx-focus-no-angel/music/
7. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/charli-xcx-is-a-pop-princess-par-excellence-with-focus-no-angel-667088/
8. ↑ https://www.idolator.com/7682171/charli-xcx-focus-no-angel-listen?safari=1&chrome=1

## General information

### Songwriter(s)

Charli XCX • The Invisible Men • Saltwives

### Producer(s)

The Invisible Men • Saltwives • SOPHIE

**"No Angel"** is a single by Charli XCX.  It is the B-Side to "Focus".

## Background

"No Angel", as its A-Side "Focus" was a contender for Charli's shelved third studio album.
The song was first debuted at *30 Days in Exchange L. A.* Red Bull festival in 2016. She performed a SOPHIE-produced version live at shows from 2016 to 2018.
The track was finally released on June 29th, 2018, alongside “Focus.” The released version features production mainly from The Invisible Men and Saltwives, with SOPHIE credited with additional production.

## Leak History

* June 29th, 2018 - The unreleased SOPHIE version (without the updated bridge) leaked online, directly after the song’s release.
* June 9th, 2020 - A demo of the song produced by Tropical leaks on Dbree.
* November 16th, 2020 - Stems of the track leak online.

## Critical Reception

Julia Gray of Stereogum named "No Angel" a "bouncy, shimmering anthem".  "No Angel" was named "Best New Track" by Pitchfork, describing the song as "effervescent 80s synth pop".  Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote that "No Angel" "has the effortless cool that makes so many of her songs sound fresh and unmistakably her own."  Mike Nied of Idolator praised "No Angel" for moving "her pop aesthetic into a more experimental realm and features some of her most earnest lyrics to date."

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Always been a little bit fast and wild

My mama always said I was a problem child

I'm just livin' life until the day I die

It's all I know, that's how I roll

[Pre-Chorus]

I party, get naughty

Always tellin' myself I'll never do this again

I'm sorry that you caught me

Fuckin' in the hotel, it didn't mean anything

[Chorus]

Don't let me, don't let me go

I just wanna let you know that I'm no angel

But I can learn, oh

Baby, I'm bad to the bone

I just wanna let you know that I'm no angel

But I can learn

[Verse 2]

The second that you saw me, you were mesmerized

Bet you probably thought I was your ride or die

Don't wanna burst your bubble, but I cheat and lie

It's the truth, I'm bad news

[Pre-Chorus]

I party, get naughty

Always tellin' myself, I'll never do this again

I'm sorry that you caught me

Fuckin' in the hotel, it didn't mean anything

[Chorus]

Don't let me, don't let me go

I just wanna let you know that I'm no angel

But I can learn, oh

Baby, I'm bad to the bone

I just wanna let you know that I'm no angel

But I can learn, oh

[Post-Chorus]

Promise I'll try, promise I'll try (oh)

Promise I'll try, promise I'll try (oh)

I'm no angel, but I can learn

[Bridge]

Ooh, feels so good, feels so good, feels so good

Maybe you're just too good for me

But you're in too deep, yeah

Ooh, I get stressed out, it's too much, the pressure is on

And I can't quite breathe

If I go there, pull me right back, yeah

[Chorus]

Don't let me, don't let me go

I just wanna let you know that I'm no angel

But I can learn, oh

Baby, I'm bad to the bone

I just wanna let you know that I'm no angel

But I can learn, oh

[Post-Chorus]

Promise I'll try, promise I'll try (oh)

Promise I'll try, promise I'll try (oh)

I'm no angel, but I can learn

## References

1. ↑ http://lanaboards.com/topic/614-charli-xcx/page/4435/
2. ↑ https://we.tl/t-1vAmogvYOk
3. ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/2004050/charli-xcx-focus-no-angel/music/
4. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/no-angel/
5. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/charli-xcx-is-a-pop-princess-par-excellence-with-focus-no-angel-667088/
6. ↑ https://www.idolator.com/7682171/charli-xcx-focus-no-angel-listen?safari=1&chrome=1