Sweet but Psycho

* Single
* Album

Single artwork

## Lyric Video

Album artwork

"**Sweet but Psycho**" (originally titled "**Psycho**") is a song by American singer Ava Max. It was released on August 17, 2018, through Atlantic Records as the first and lead single from her debut studio album, *Heaven & Hell.*

Upon global release, it reached #1 in Sweden and followed suit in Norway and Finland. It appeared on various Spotify playlists and Viral Charts, and subsequently reached number one in 17 countries including Germany and the United Kingdom, where it stayed at number one for four consecutive weeks. According to *The Official Charts*, the song remained in the top 100 for 53 weeks.

## Background

In an interview, Max told *Idolator*,

> "I think for me personally, I have a lot of sides to me. I think everybody has a lot of sides to them and it's basically about a girl who's not afraid to show all of her sides and her dualities, and about a guy loving all those sides. She's a girl who's misunderstood in the relationship, and she's basically being told she's psycho and she's out of her mind when she's feeling it, but really she's an outspoken girl and she's speaking her mind. And that's how I am in real life."
>
>

According to an interview with Paper Magazine, the song title was inspired by her parents referring to her as "sweet but psycho" as a child due to her open personality.

## Critical reception

Writing for *Billboard*, Jon Ali called the song an "instantly addictive" slice of pop.

## Track listing

Digital Download

1. **Sweet but Psycho**: 3:07

Acoustic

1. **Sweet but Psycho (Acoustic)**: 2:59

Sweet but Psycho (Remixes)

1. **Sweet but Psycho (Morgan Page Remix)**: 3:46
2. **Sweet but Psycho (Paul Morrell Remx)**: 3:24

Sweet but Psycho (The Remixes) [2018]

1. **Sweet but Psycho (Kat Krazy Remix)**: 3:09
2. **Sweet but Psycho (Elijah Hill Remix)**: 3:58
3. **Sweet but Psycho (Leon Lour Remix)**: 4:09
4. **Sweet but Psycho (Morgan Page Remix)**: 3:46
5. **Sweet but Psycho (Paul Morrell Remx)**: 3:24

Sweet but Psycho (The Remixes) [2019]

1. **Sweet but Psycho (Kat Krazy Remix)**: 3:09
2. **Sweet but Psycho (Elijah Hill Remix)**: 3:58
3. **Sweet but Psycho (Leon Lour Remix)**: 4:09
4. **Sweet but Psycho (Morgan Page Remix)**: 3:46
5. **Sweet but Psycho (Paul Morrell Remx)**: 3:24
6. **Sweet but Psycho (Ricky Retro Remix)**: 3:05
7. **Sweet but Psycho (Majestic Remx)**: 5:32

## Lyrics

* Released
* Demo

**[Chorus]**

Oh, she's sweet but a psycho

A little bit psycho

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

Oh, she's hot but a psycho

So left but she's right though

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

**[Verse 1]**

She'll make you curse, but she a blessing

She'll rip your shirt within a second

You'll be coming back, back for seconds

With your plate, you just can't help it

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No, no

You'll play alo-o-ong, let her lead you o-o-on

You'll be saying, "No, no"

Then saying, "Yes, yes, yes," 'cause she messin' with your head (With your head)

**[Chorus]**

Oh, she's sweet but a psycho

A little bit psycho

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

Oh, she's hot but a psycho

So left but she's right though

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

**[Post-Chorus]**

Grab a cop gun kinda crazy

She's poison but tasty

Yeah, people say, "Run, don't walk away"

'Cause she's sweet but a psycho

A little bit psycho

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

**[Verse 2]**

See, someone said, "Don't drink her potions

She'll kiss your neck with no emotion

When she's mean, you know you love it

'Cause she tastes so sweet, don't sugarcoat it"

**[Pre-Chorus]**

No, no

You'll play alo-o-ong, let her lead you o-o-on

You'll be saying, "No (No, no, no), no (No)"

Then saying, "Yes, yes, yes," 'cause she messin' with your head (With your head, ah-ah-ah)

**[Chorus]**

Oh, she's sweet but a psycho

A little bit psycho

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

Oh, she's hot but a psycho

So left but she's right though

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

**[Post-Chorus]**

Grab a cop gun kinda crazy

She's poison but tasty

Yeah, people say, "Run, don't walk away"

'Cause she's sweet but a psycho

A little bit psycho

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

**[Bridge]**

You're just like me, you're out your mind

I know it's strange, we're both the crazy kind

You're tellin' me that I'm insane

Boy, don't pretend that you don't love the pain

**[Chorus]**

Oh, she's sweet but a psycho

A little bit psycho

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

Oh, she's hot but a psycho

So left but she's right though

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind" ("I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind")

**[Post-Chorus]**

Grab a cop gun kinda crazy

She's poison but tasty

Yeah, people say "Run, don't walk away" ("Run, don't walk away")

'Cause she's sweet but a psycho

A little bit psycho (Oh, a little bit psycho)

At night she's screamin', "I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind"

**[Intro]**

When you lie and cheat

To a woman who's sweet

I really must forewarn you

There is no doubt, the psycho will come out

And in your dreams, she'll haunt you

## Music video

The music video was directed by Bengali-American filmmaker Shomi Patwary and was released on August 27, 2018. As of December 2022, the video has amassed over 800 million views on YouTube.

## Trivia

* Max had an interview with *Genius*, in which she explained the meaning of the lyrics.
* An early demo revealed that the song originally contained an instrumental intro that was later replaced with a chorus in the final version.
* In an interview with Zach Sang, Max was asked if she thinks she'll be able to make a song as big as Sweet but Psycho. She responded with, "No. I was like, 'This is crazy, it's a phenomenon - I'm done after this.' I believe that."
* Along with "Million Dollar Baby", the song is featured on Just Dance 2023 Edition. These are Max's first songs in the franchise.

## References

1. ↑ Interview - AfterBuzz TV
2. ↑ "Ava Max's debut album is 'pretty much finished'" December 9, 2019. Retrieved March 12th, 2023.
3. ↑ Karp, Hannah (October 2, 2018)."Full Stop Management Signs 'Sweet But Psycho' Singer Ava Max". *Billboard*. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
4. ↑ Magnocavallo, Fabio (December 9, 2019) "Ava Max’s ‘Unapologetically Pop’ Debut Album Will Be Out In The Next Few Months" Retrieved March 12, 2023.
5. ↑ "Ava Max On "Sweet But Psycho" & Making Pop Fun Again: Interview". *Idolator*. October 31, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
6. ↑ Goldfine, Jael (March 28, 2020). "Ava Max Talks Quarantine and How Khaleesi Inspired Her New Single" Retrieved March 12, 2023.
7. ↑ Ali, Jon (September 5, 2018). "Queer Necessities September 2018 Playlist: Lauren Sanderson, Sam Smith, Mario Jose & More". *Billboard*. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
8. ↑ "Sweet but Psycho – Single". *Apple Music*. August 17, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
9. ↑ "Sweet but Psycho (Acoustic) – Single". *Apple Music*. August 15, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
10. ↑ "Sweet but Psycho (The Remixes) - EP". *Apple Music*. August 16, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
11. ↑ "Sweet but Psycho (The Remixes)". *Apple Music*. March 4, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
12. ↑ "VIDEO: Watch Ava Max's Video for 'Sweet but Psycho'". *Broadway World*. August 27, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
13. ↑ "Ava Max - Sweet but Psycho [Official Music Video"]. YouTube. August 27, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
14. ↑ "Ava Max Breaks Down “Sweet but Psycho” On Genius’ Series ‘Verified’". *Genius*. Retrieved November 27, 2019.

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**Sweet but Psycho**