Crying In The Club (song)

### Songwriter(s)

Benjamin Levin · Camila Cabello · David Frank · Nathan Perez · Pamela Sheyne · Sia Furler · Steve Kipner

### Producer(s)

Benny Blanco · Cashmere Cat · Happy Perez

"**Crying In The Club**" is the debut solo single by Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, released on January 13, 2017. It was written by Cabello, Sia, Benny Blanco and produced by Blanco, Happy Perez and Cashmere Cat. The song samples Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle". A mid-tempo tropical pop and dance track, it is the lead single from Cabello's upcoming debut studio album, titled *I Have Questions*.

The song reached number four in the United Kingdom and number nine in the United States, becoming Cabello's first top ten single in the United Kingdom and her second top ten single in the United States. The song's music video premiered on January 27, 2017 and was directed by Emil Nava.

## **Background**

Cabello previously collaborated with producers Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat on the latter's song "Love Incredible", recorded in May 2016. Following Cabello's departure from the girl group Fifth Harmony, and after years of writing in her downtime, she began writing songs in earnest for her debut. In November 2016, during a writing session with Blanco, singer-songwriter Sia conceived the concept for a demo, and both composed the song. After Blanco offered her "Crying in the Club", Cabello rewrote the song's bridge and recorded the track. "It had a message about healing through the power of music," she said later, "That theme was a key part of what I wanted for my album."

The song was released on January 13, 2017 to digital music stores and streaming services, following several music collaborations by Cabello, including "Bad Things" with Machine Gun Kelly–which reached the top 10 on several *Billboard* charts. "Crying in the Club" was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on January 17, 2017.

A piano demo of the song was released on March 31, 2017 to digital music stores and streaming services, being described as heartbreaking and haunting by critics.

## **Composition and lyrics**

"Crying in the Club" is a mid-tempo pop and dance track featuring a "subdued" minor-key dance groove and dancehall-inspired beat. Some critics described it as a tropical track. Lyrically, the song contains themes of the healing powers of music and dancing your heartbreak away. The song interpolates Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle", written by David Frank, Steve Kipner and Pamela Sheyne.

## **Critical reception**

Writing for *Billboard*, Joe Lynch opined the song "demonstrates just enough vocal flair for the former Fifth Harmony star to escape the more generic tropes of top 40," while in *Rolling Stone*, Ryan Reed noted Cabello "finds emotional redemption" in the song. Editors from *Rap-Up* wrote "the song blends island flavors with intense pop sounds, making it a dance-ready soundtrack for optimism." Anna Gaca of *Spin* described the song as a "dancehall-inspired beat that bears a passing resemblance to Sia's 'Cheap Thrills'." Idolator writer Mike Wass called the song a "moody, mid-tempo bop", and opined, "the 20-year-old followed Sia's demo a little too closely. She's almost unrecognizable and that's worrying for something trying to establish their independence."

## **Music video**

Directed by Emil Nava, the song's accompanying music video was released on January 27, 2017. The clip opens with the singer dancing in a crowded club. The video has received positive reviews. As of April 2020, the video has surpassed over 300 million views.

## **Live performances**

Cabello performed the song live for the first time at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2017. During the performance, Cabello wore a tasteful red dress and wore matching heels as a team of faceless dancers dressed in complete black supported her on stage. She then performed the song on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* and *The Ellen Show* later that month, and at the 2017 Brit Awards on February 22, 2017. She performed the track alongside "Never Afraid Anymore" at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 6, 2017.

## **Formats and track listings**

* **Digital download**

1. "Crying In The Club" – 3:36

* **Digital download – Piano Demo**

1. "Crying In The Club (Piano Demo)" – 5:12

* **CD**

1. "Crying In The Club" – 3:36
2. "Never Afraid Anymore" – 3:43