Can't Say Explained

Can't Say
Artist:Travis Scott featuring Don Toliver
Album:Astroworld
Genre:Trap
Length:3:18
Label:

"Can't Say" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper and singer Travis Scott from his third studio album Astroworld (2018). The song features fellow American rapper and singer Don Toliver, and is the song that broke him into the mainstream. The song was written alongside producers WondaGurl, Mike Dean, & London Cyr, and samples "25 Lighters" by DJ DMD featuring Fat Pat and Lil' Keke.[1] In the song, the artists sing about taking drugs and seducing women.[2]

Critical reception

Kiana Fitzgerald gave the song a positive review in a Complex article, praising the switching of beats as well as the sample. She wrote, "Alongside Scott's Auto-Tune'd crooning and Fat Pat's deepened voice, Toliver's vocals stand out, thin and vibrant, like an oboe letting loose in a solo."[3]

Music video

The music video was released on February 5, 2019. Directed by Nathalie Canguilhem and produced by Yves Saint Laurent, it features a purple hue and CGI.[4] [5] In the video, Travis Scott leads a group of dirt bike riders, all dressed in Saint Laurent suits and pulling stunts on a futuristic highway. Scott stands on a moving motorcycle while the cyclists behind him "pop wheelies".[6] In one scene, a nude woman is crucified on a neon-lit cross with speakers. At another point in the video, a herd of horses run through an empty tunnel while clones of Travis Scott ride in glowing go-karts.[7]

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
France (SNEP)[8] 128
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[9] 9

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mench. Chris. Coker. Hillary Crosley. Morel Jr.. Jacques. Steele. Lesley. February 7, 2019. Travis Scott's "CAN'T SAY" Pays Homage To Houston & Introduces Audiences To Don Toliver. live. Genius. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020062930/https://genius.com/videos/Travis-scotts-cant-say-explained . 2020-10-20 .
  2. Web site: Williams. Aaron. February 5, 2019. Travis Scott’s ’Can’t Say’ Video Introduces The World To Don Toliver. live. 2021-10-23. UPROXX. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20200408110300/https://uproxx.com/music/travis-scott-cant-say-video-don-toliver/ . 2020-04-08 .
  3. Web site: October 17, 2018. The 25 Best Travis Scott Songs. live. Complex. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20181103191834/https://www.complex.com/music/2018/10/best-travis-scott-songs/ . 2018-11-03 .
  4. Web site: Holmes. Charles. February 5, 2019. Travis Scott's 'Can't Say' Is the 'John Wick' of Music Videos. live. Rolling Stone. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20190206015951/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/travis-scott-cant-say-790230/ . 2019-02-06 .
  5. Web site: Ivey. Justin. 2019-02-05. Travis Scott Drops Stylish Video For "Astroworld" Cut "Can't Say". live. HipHopDX. https://web.archive.org/web/20190206054703/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.50184/title.travis-scott-drops-stylish-video-for-astroworld-cut-cant-say . 2019-02-06 .
  6. Web site: Acevedo. Angelica. February 5, 2019. Travis Scott Releases Trippy 'Can't Say' Video: Watch. live. Billboard. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20190206163410/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8496636/travis-scott-cant-say-video . 2019-02-06 .
  7. Web site: Price. Joe. February 5, 2019. Travis Scott Shares “Can’t Say” Video. live. Complex. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20190208152724/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/02/travis-scott-cant-say-video . 2019-02-08 .
  8. Web site: SNEP Top Singles: Week 32 (2018). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. August 10, 2018. October 23, 2021. French.
  9. Web site: Swedish Heatseekers Chart - 3 August 2018.