Fake You Out Explained

Fake You Out
Cover:Twenty One Pilots Fake You Out cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Twenty One Pilots
Album:Vessel
Label:Fueled by Ramen
Prev Title:House of Gold
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Car Radio
Next Year:2014

"Fake You Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their third studio album, Vessel (2013). The song was written by Tyler Joseph, who co-produced it alongside Greg Wells. "Fake You Out" is a quirky techno-pop track composed of momentary injections of synth-pop and rapping, alongside record scratching and screams. Lyrically, it discusses the difficulty of telling people the truth about ourselves, while also referencing suicidal temptations.

The song was released as the album's fourth single on September 15, 2013 and was made available for free downloading as the Single of the Week through the iTunes Store in the United Kingdom. "Fake You Out" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. The single charted on Billboards Christian Rock songs chart, peaking at number 21 and spending five weeks on it. It was also certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for 500,000 units sold in the country. The band performed "Fake You Out" during their Quiet Is Violent World Tour (2014), as part of a medley with a cover version of "Summertime Sadness" by American singer Lana Del Rey.

Recording

"Fake You Out" was produced by Greg Wells and recorded at Rocket Carousel Studio in Los Angeles, California.[1] The track was then mixed at Rocket Carousel Studio and mastered at Howie Weinberg Mastering in Los Angeles, California.[1] During an interview with Rock Sound, Tyler Joseph provided insight into each track on the band's forthcoming album Vessel. He elaborated about how he played the key tar for "Fake You Out."

Joseph composed the track in F-sharp, the first note he learned to play on piano while using the black keys, because he considered it easier than the C note.[2] Joseph stated that he was excited while writing the track, since he implemented on it many elements that he had not heard on music before. During the verses, he sings in falsetto; regarding this, he called this part one of his favorite melodies because he wanted to write a song that had verses as infectious as the chorus: "I feel like writers slack on verses when it comes to melody... I've always felt like why not have the verses—the melody of the verses be just as infectious as the chorus? So I'm proud of this song in that way". The vocalist also expressed that he tried to implement many musical genres in the song; he elaborated: "Also, it does the whole mash-up genre thing that everyone is freaking out about. Truly, I just didn't know that there were rules to songwriting and, you know, so I just worked on transitioning from one genre to the next. I wanted to hear a song that did that. I've never heard a song do that before, I wanna hear that, so I made that".[3] Concerning the meaning of the lyrics, Joseph stated:

Composition

"Fake You Out" is a techno-pop song that lasts three minutes and fifty-one seconds.[4] [5] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc, it is composed in the key of F-sharp major (F) and written in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 115 beats per minute.[5] The quirky track is composed of a hook, momentary injections of synth-pop and sharp rapping, alongside light showers of record scratching and screams.[4] The musical arrangement has a pulsing beat at the bridge, and flirts with immediacy.

Lyrically, "Fake You Out" poignantly discusses the difficulty of telling people the truth about ourselves, even those whom we’re supposedly the most close to. Additionally, the song's lyrics reference suicidal temptations.[6] The individually expressive song comes tinged with determined youth.[7] "Fake You Out" maintains a dichotomy between managing to be both quirky and brutal.[8] Similar to its title, "Fake You Out" feigns happiness with its beat, when it is actually a rather sad song lyrically: "I, I'll never be, be what you see inside."[9]

Release and promotion

In January 2013, Twenty One Pilots released third studio album Vessel as their major-label debut under Fueled By Ramen, including the single "Fake You Out."[10] In the United Kingdom, the song was featured downloadable for free as the Single of the Week on iTunes.[11] The free download offer was provided through the same platform in Netherlands in the week of October 13, 2013.[12]

Critical reception

"Fake You Out" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. AllMusic's Fred Thomas highlighted "Fake You Out" as an album track pick. He stated, "banging tunes like 'Fake You Out' leaning closer to Coldplay or Fun. than they do to MGMT, but with an eye toward both sides of the coin."[13] Maria Sherman of Fuse remarked, "'Fake You Out" feels like a Killers tune with a purposeful-youth tinge; there's that pulsing beat on the bridge, and the immediacy they flirt with on other releases but comes full circle on Vessel."[14]

Commercial performance

"Fake You Out" charted on Billboards Christian Rock songs chart during 2015, peaking at number 21 and spending five weeks on it.[15] On February 27, 2019, "Fake You Out" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over 500,000 paid digital downloads.

Live performances

Twenty One Pilots provided a live rendidtion of "Fake You Out" before 5,000 fans at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois on October 2, 2014 during their Quiet Is Violent Tour. The closing performance was as part of a medley alongside a cover version of "Summertime Sadness" by American singer Lana Del Rey.[16] [17]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Vessel.[18]

Twenty One Pilots

Additional musicians

Charts

Weekly charts

Release history

CountryDateFormatRecord label
Sweden[19] September 15, 2013Digital downloadFueled by Ramen
Norway[20]
Denmark[21]
Finland[22]
United KingdomSeptember 17, 2013
NetherlandsOctober 13, 2013

Notes and References

  1. Vessel . . 2013 . Booklet . Fueled by Ramen. 075678683770.
  2. Track By Track Video Commentary, from Vessel (Bonus Tracks Version). Twenty One Pilots. iTunes Store. Fueled by Ramen. 2013.
  3. Vessel [Commentary Version]. Twenty One Pilots. Spotify. Fueled by Ramen. 2013.
  4. Twenty One Pilots – Vessel . Pettigrew . Jason . January 22, 2013 . . May 27, 2017.
  5. Web site: Twenty One Pilots 'Fake You Out' Sheet Music (Piano Solo) in F# Major - Download & Print. Joseph. Tyler. Musicnotes.com. May 27, 2017.
  6. Web site: Vessel Album Review (2013) . Holz . Adam R. . Plugged In. 2013-01-08. May 27, 2017 .
  7. Web site: Twenty One Pilots: Vessel . Testa . Jacob . January 16, 2013 . Mind Equals Blown . May 27, 2017 .
  8. Web site: Review:Twenty One Pilots – Vessel . January 7, 2013 . Mezzic . June 1, 2017 .
  9. Web site: Twenty One Pilots: Vessel . Roxburgh . Craig . February 5, 2014 . Mind Equals Blown . May 27, 2017.
  10. Web site: Twenty One Pilots to bring sold out Emotional Roadshow to Canalside. Smolinski . Jillian . June 20, 2016 . . May 27, 2017.
  11. Web site: UK: Download 'Fake You Out' for Free! . September 17, 2013 . . May 21, 2017.
  12. Web site: Apples Single van de Week: Fake You Out twenty one pilots . Gayadien . Amrish . October 13, 2013 . AppleSpot.nl . May 21, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170521013956/http://www.applespot.nl/53628/apples-single-van-de-week-fake-you-out-twente-one-pilots/ . May 21, 2017 . nl.
  13. Web site: Vessel . Thomas . Fred . . May 22, 2017 .
  14. Web site: Sherman, Maria. Twenty One Pilots' Albums, Ranked: Vessel (2013). Fuse. Fuse Media, LLC. December 3, 2015. December 29, 2015.
  15. Web site: Chart Search. Billboard.biz. May 21, 2017. dead. https://archive.today/20240528041502/https://www.webcitation.org/6qc4FrMRI?url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts%3Ff%5B0%5D=is_bmdb_track_id:6485841&f%5B1%5D=itm_field_chart_id:909&refine=1. May 28, 2024.
  16. Web site: Twenty One Pilots Chicago 2014 Aragon Ballroom . Kosiewicz . John . October 3, 2014 . Front Row Music News . July 31, 2017 .
  17. Web site: Twenty One Pilots en El Plaza. Galería y reseña . November 22, 2014 . Sopitas . July 31, 2017. es .
  18. Vessel . Vessel (Twenty One Pilots album) . Twenty One Pilots . 2013 . liner notes . . United States.
  19. Web site: Fake You Out – Single by twenty one pilots . September 15, 2013 . iTunes Store . sv . May 21, 2017 .
  20. Web site: Fake You Out – Single by twenty one pilots . September 15, 2013 . iTunes Store . May 21, 2017 .
  21. Web site: Fake You Out – Single by twenty one pilots . September 15, 2013 . . May 21, 2017 .
  22. Web site: Fake You Out – Single by twenty one pilots . September 15, 2013 . iTunes Store . May 21, 2017 .