Torn (Ava Max song) explained

Torn
Cover:Ava Max Torn 2.png
Alt:An animated cartoon of Max wearing her superhero costume from the music video is seen with the song's title written underneath in white text. The words POW are seen in a turquoise comic book-styled font above Max's head
Type:single
Artist:Ava Max
Album:Heaven & Hell
Released:August 19, 2019
B-Side:Salt
Studio:A Studios, West Hollywood, California
Genre:
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Cirkut
Prev Title:Slow Dance
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Tabú
Next Year:2019

"Torn" is a song by American singer Ava Max, released on August 19, 2019, through Atlantic Records as the third single from her debut studio album, Heaven & Hell (2020). The song was written by Max, Madison Love, James Lavigne, Thomas Eriksen, Sam Martin, and the producer Cirkut. It is a dance and pop song with lyrics describing the internal struggle between wanting to stay and leave in a relationship. "Torn" charted in the top 10 in Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The song was certified double platinum in Poland and was certified gold in five countries.

An accompanying music video was directed by Korean-American director Joseph Kahn and released on August 27, 2019. The superhero-themed video was filmed in Milan for four days. Max portrayed dual identities; a regular woman and a superhero, as she sought revenge on her boyfriend. Max performed "Torn" as a medley in the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards and 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards shows, and at the 2019 Jingle Bell Ball.

Background and composition

Max teased "Torn" in the caption of a video posted on Instagram, asking her fans if they knew the name of the song she was about to release. A pre-order link for "Torn" was discovered, with Max subsequently sharing the cover art and a snippet of the song.[1] "Torn" was released on August 19, 2019.[2] It was written by Max, Madison Love, James Lavigne, Thomas Eriksen, Sam Martin, and the producer Cirkut. The song was recorded in Virginia Beach,[3] and West Hollywood, California in A Studios.

"Torn" is a dance[4] and pop[5] song, which uses elements of disco.[4] [5] The lyrics describe the internal struggle of wanting to leave while also wanting to stay with a lover,[4] which Max stated that the song "explores the struggle" between "love and hate".[2]

Critical reception and commercial performance

Shaad D'Souza of The Fader compared "Torn" to the discography of ABBA.[6] Writing for Us Weekly, Nicholas Hautman noted that it "subtly sample[d]" the group's 1979 song "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".[7] Max responded to the comparisons by stating that she listened to ABBA and Ace of Base during her childhood, and wanted to "add a little disco flair in there".[8] The song was included on Vogues Best Songs of 2019 listicle, where writer Christian Allaire stated that it "earworms its way into my head at least once a day".[9]

In Poland, "Torn" peaked at number three on the Polish Airplay Top 100 chart dated November 16, 2019, and was certified double platinum by the Polish Airplay Top 100 (ZPAV) for track-equivalent sales of 40,000 units in the country. The song reached number three in the Netherlands, number four in Slovakia, and number nine in Slovenia. On the Scottish Singles Chart issued September 6, 2019, "Torn" bowed at number 18, while the song peaked at number 87 on the UK Singles Chart dated September 13, 2019, where it remained for two weeks. "Torn" was certified gold in Austria, Brazil, France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Music video

Background

The Joseph Kahn-directed music video was shot in Milan for four days from June to August 2019, and was released on August 27, 2019.[10] It has been considered to be "superhero-themed".[11] Madeline Roth of MTV News described Max's character as a "woman scorned" who "goes undercover as a hero who kicks the shit out of some masked villains — including her shady boyfriend". Roth described the secret identity of Max's character as someone who "endur[ed] a venomous relationship" and survived a betrayal to "fight back". Max explained the process of creating the concept of the video, stating that she perceived the visuals while recording the song and knew exactly what she wanted.[12] She approached Kahn with the idea of creating two personas for an ordinary woman named 'Amanda', and a superhero named 'Ava Max'.[13] Max jokingly asked him to allow her to become a superhero, with the knowledge that it was difficult to accomplish. However, Kahn responded that he "always wanted to do that".[12]

Max performed her own stunts, spending the morning in the second day of the shoot practicing before shooting the video at 1:00am.[13] She is seen wearing various pieces of clothing from Trussardi, including archive items from the Eighties and Nineties, such as glittery pumps with the 'T' logo on the heel, a leather trench coat and a messenger bag with Trussardi's greyhound logo as the closure. Max stated that she "wanted something uniquely Italian with a rich history that was fashion-forward yet elegant. Trussardi was the only option".[14] A model of the Fiat Panda customized by Trussardi is briefly featured in the music video, which a portion was used in commercials.[15] [16] As of March 2023, the video has over 100 million views on YouTube.[17]

Synopsis

The video begins with a worn-out book opening the page to Chapter One. A brunette woman named Amanda (portrayed by Ava Max) is seen arguing with her boyfriend across the dining table, as he storms out to his car and drives off in the rain. Amanda then transforms into her superhero costume inside the mansion, consisting of a red cape, silver pants and signature blonde hair, half cut on her right side. In Chapter Two, several masked thugs commit a store robbery and make their getaway in a red sports car. Amanda confronts them in the middle of the highway and proceeds to overpower them, as comic-style text appears after each blow. Back at the mansion, news of the incident is broadcast, as her boyfriend watches on the couch. Back in her brunette hair, Amanda furiously scrubs the dishes as sparks appear from her hands, eventually cracking them in half.

The next scene starts with Amanda's boyfriend getting out of the car with another girl. Amanda is seen walking the dog out, as she cuts the seat belt from the same car. She emerges in a masked ball while wearing a half-mask, and encounters her boyfriend wearing a domino mask. The two walk out to the balcony, where the two embrace, as flashback scenes quickly play out from the beginning of the video. However, her boyfriend pushes her off the balcony, as Amanda falls into the ocean. Multiple jump cuts occur between scenes of Amanda plunging in the ocean, and laying inside a bath tub back in the mansion. Chapter Three depicts Amanda flying out of the ocean floor and back into her boyfriend's sight, as she proceeds to electrocute him by punching him in the mouth. The video ends with brunette Amanda walking out of the mansion with her boyfriend on the couch, as the book lands on the 'Fin' page before finally closing.

Live performances

Max gave her first televised performance of "Torn" on the pre-show at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "Sweet but Psycho".[6] During the performance, Max and the dancers appeared in silver costumes and gladiator boots, as they performed a choreographed dance with vocal runs.[18] While appearing on the red carpet at the same event, she wore a shiny superhero costume with a red cape attached,[19] which served as a tease for the music video released the next day.[12] Max performed "Torn" and "Sweet but Psycho" at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards, where she wore a red gown while performing on a white runway, which was described by Joe Lynch of Billboard as using "minimalist imagery to maximum effect".[20] At the 2019 Jingle Bell Ball, Max performed "Torn" in a medley with "So Am I" and "Sweet but Psycho",[21] performing with other artists such as The Script, Rita Ora, Regard and Mabel.[22]

Track listing

Digital download / streaming[23]

  1. "Torn" 3:18

Digital download / streaming – Kream remix[24]

  1. "Torn" (KREAM Remix) 2:49

Digital download / streaming – Hook n Sling remix[25]

  1. "Torn" (Hook N Sling Remix) 3:33

Digital download / streaming – Cirkut DJ mix[26]

  1. "Torn" (Cirkut DJ Mix) 3:29

Digital download / streaming – Adryiano remix[27]

  1. "Torn" (Adryiano Remix) 4:33

Streaming[28]

  1. "Torn" (KREAM Remix) 2:49
  2. "Torn" (Hook N Sling Remix) 3:33
  3. "Torn" (Cirkut DJ Mix) 3:29
  4. "Torn" (Adryiano Remix) 4:33
  5. "Torn" 3:18

German CD single[29]

  1. "Torn" 3:18
  2. "Salt" 3:00

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the German CD single.[29]

Publishing and recording locations

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019–2020)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[30] 34
Croatia (HRT)[31] 17
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[32] 20
Germany Airplay (BVMI)[33] 2
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[34] 21
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[35] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[36] 3
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[37] 27
Romania (Airplay 100)[38] 54
Slovenia (SloTop50)[39] 9

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Position
Poland (ZPAV)[40] 45
Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Position
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[41] 89

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)VersionLabel
VariousAugust 19, 2019OriginalAtlantic
ItalyAugust 30, 2019Radio airplayWarner[42]
VariousSeptember 5, 2019KREAM remix
September 12, 2019Hook N Sling remix
September 26, 2019Cirkut DJ mix
October 10, 2019Adryiano remix
GermanyJanuary 10, 2020CD singleOriginalAtlantic

Notes and References

  1. Web site: More New Music? Ava Max Is Releasing A Single Called 'Torn'. Idolator. Wass. Mike. August 15, 2019. August 19, 2019. September 4, 2020. https://archive.today/20200904001526/https://www.idolator.com/7855071/ava-max-new-single-torn. live.
  2. Web site: Ava Max Unleashes New Disco-Tinged Single 'Torn'. Leiber. Sarah Jae. BroadwayWorld. August 19, 2019. August 21, 2019. August 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190820194222/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Ava-Max-Unleashes-New-Disco-Tinged-Single-Torn-20190819. live.
  3. Web site: Rising pop star Ava Max releases her debut album today. The "Sweet But Psycho" singer calls Virginia Beach home.. Poulter. Amy. The Virginian-Pilot. September 18, 2020. September 19, 2020.
  4. Ava Max Rips Her Emotions in Two on New Song 'Torn': Listen. Billboard. Daw. Stephen. August 20, 2019. August 21, 2019. a disco-infused dance track. August 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190821002951/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8527853/ava-max-torn-listen. live.
  5. Web site: Best New Music This Week: Brockhampton, Vince Staples, Lana Del Rey, and More. Complex. Aramesh. Waiss. August 24, 2019. September 20, 2019. the disco-tinged pop track. September 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190920145811/https://www.complex.com/music/best-new-music-this-week-brockhampton-vince-staples-lana-del-rey/. live.
  6. Web site: Watch Ava Max play "Torn" and "Sweet But Psycho" at the 2019 VMAs. The Fader. D'Souza. Shaad. August 26, 2019. August 28, 2019. August 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827173657/https://www.thefader.com/2019/08/26/ava-max-torn-vmas-performance-2019-mtv-watch. live.
  7. Web site: Ava Max Shows Promise on Anthem-Filled Debut Album 'Heaven & Hell': Review. Hautman. Nicholas. Us Weekly. September 17, 2020. September 17, 2020.
  8. Web site: Ava Max opens up about her song 'Torn' and dealing with bullies. Hulton. Anna Sky. Hits Radio. September 27, 2019. October 1, 2019. October 1, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191001151509/https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/entertainment/celebrity/axa-max-hits-interview/. live.
  9. Web site: The 34 Best Songs of 2019. Allaire. Christian. Christian Allaire. Vogue. December 20, 2019. December 26, 2019. November 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191104180940/https://www.vogue.com/article/best-songs-2019. live.
  10. Ava Max Debuts Epic Comic Book-Themed Video For 'Torn': Watch. Daw. Stephen. Billboard. August 27, 2019. September 19, 2019. August 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190828060841/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8527853/ava-max-torn-listen. live.
  11. Web site: Pow! Ava Max Rolls Out Superhero-Themed "Torn" Video. Idolator. Wass. Mike. August 27, 2019. August 28, 2019. September 4, 2020. https://archive.today/20200904002424/https://www.idolator.com/7864648/ava-max-rolls-out-superhero-themed-torn-video?chrome=1. live.
  12. Web site: Ava Max Breaks Down The Empowering Message Behind Her Superhero-Inspired 'Torn' Video. MTV News. Roth. Madeline. August 27, 2019. September 19, 2019. September 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190914123414/http://www.mtv.com/news/3137305/ava-max-torn-video-interview/. dead.
  13. Web site: Ava Max on Going Back to Brunette and Becoming a Superhero for "Torn" Music Video. Teen Vogue. Bergado. Gabe. September 13, 2019. September 20, 2019. September 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190920145808/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ava-max-torn. live.
  14. Web site: Trussardi Debuts Customized Panda Car. Carrera. Martino. WWD. September 18, 2019. September 20, 2019. September 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190920151314/https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/trussardi-debuts-customized-panda-car-1203294393/. live.
  15. Web site: La canzone della pubblicità Fiat Panda Trussardi. Landoni. Luca. radiomusik.it. Italian. September 18, 2019. September 18, 2019. October 31, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031161708/https://www.radiomusik.it/la-canzone-della-pubblicita-fiat-panda/. live.
  16. Web site: Fiat Panda Trussardi, the new special series in the Ava Max video – Mondo Auto. UK 24 News. August 30, 2019. September 18, 2019. November 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211129201443/https://www.uk24.co/2019/08/fiat-panda-trussardi-the-new-special-series-in-the-ava-max-video-mondo-auto.html. dead.
  17. Web site: Ava Max - Torn [Official Music Video]]. YouTube. August 27, 2019. September 19, 2019. September 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190908094523/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBmWvvTV0P4. live.
  18. Web site: 2019 MTV VMAs. Beyond the Stage Magazine. September 2, 2019. April 13, 2021. September 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200915070304/https://www.beyondthestagemagazine.com/2019-mtv-vmas/. live.
  19. Web site: See All The Fiercest VMA Red Carpet Looks From Taylor, Normani, And More. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827081612/http://www.mtv.com/news/3136913/vma-2019-red-carpet-looks-taylor-normani/. dead. August 27, 2019. Roth. Madeline. MTV News. August 26, 2019. April 13, 2021.
  20. Ava Max Is 'Torn,' 'Sweet But Psycho' at 2019 MTV EMAs. Lynch. Joe. Billboard. November 3, 2019. November 4, 2019. September 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200904000906/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8542398/ava-max-torn-sweet-but-psycho-2019-mtv-emas. live.
  21. Web site: Ava Max Has The Entire 02 Singing Along At Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2019. Capital FM. December 7, 2019. July 15, 2020. September 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200904000913/https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/ava-max/jingle-bell-ball-2019-set-list/. live.
  22. Web site: Capital's Jingle Bell Ball With Seat Line-Up: Taylor Swift & Stormzy Are Playing The UK's Biggest Christmas Party. Capital FM. November 4, 2019. November 12, 2022.
  23. Web site: Torn – Single. Apple Music. September 21, 2019. September 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200904000922/https://music.apple.com/us/browse. live.
  24. Web site: Torn (KREAM Remix). Apple Music. September 21, 2019. September 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200904000907/https://music.apple.com/us/album/torn-kream-remix-single/1478788393. live.
  25. Web site: Torn (Hook N Sling Remix). Apple Music. September 21, 2019. September 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200904000924/https://music.apple.com/us/album/torn-hook-n-sling-remix-single/1478806831. live.
  26. Web site: Torn (Cirkut DJ Mix) - Single by Ava Max. Apple Music. April 11, 2020. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411193233/https://music.apple.com/us/album/torn-cirkut-dj-mix-single/1481091601. live.
  27. Web site: Torn (Adryiano Remix) - Single by Ava Max. Apple Music. April 11, 2020. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411193229/https://music.apple.com/us/album/torn-adryiano-remix-single/1482646513. live.
  28. Web site: Torn (The Remixes) - Single by Ava Max. Spotify. May 10, 2021.
  29. Web site: Ava Max: Torn (2-Track). jpc. German. January 11, 2020. January 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200111205253/https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/ava-max-torn/hnum/9601438. live.
  30. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 40 Digital Tracks. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 2, 2019. August 31, 2019. July 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200709165530/http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/50C3CEE865E9F7C3483B1F237ACDED4FE511F1B813FAF73185BED22556B39055/ARIA%20Digital%20Tracks%20Chart.pdf?seq=26. live.
  31. Web site: Croatia ARC TOP 100. HRT. October 1, 2019. September 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221811/https://radio.hrt.hr/clanak/arc-100-datum-30-rujna-2019/209616/. live.
  32. Web site: Ava Max Chart History (Euro Digital Songs). Billboard. January 3, 2020. January 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200103001337/https://www.billboard.com/music/ava-max/chart-history/IDS. live.
  33. Web site: Airplay Charts Deutschland Woche 47, 2019. Airplay Charts Germany Week 47/2019. Hung Medien & MusicTrace on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Germancharts.de. 22 January 2023. de.
  34. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs. is. Plötutíðindi. September 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20191021154229/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/. October 21, 2019.
  35. Mexico Ingles Airplay. September 21, 2019. September 17, 2019. Billboard. subscription. September 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190918030503/https://www.billboard.com/charts/mexico-ingles/2019-09-21. live.
  36. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 40, 2019. Dutch Top 40. October 18, 2019. October 18, 2019. October 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191010182359/https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2019/week-41. live.
  37. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. September 2, 2019. August 31, 2019. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830220543/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4741. live.
  38. Web site: Airplay 100 – 19 ianuarie 2020. Kiss FM. Media Forest. Romanian. January 22, 2020. January 19, 2020. February 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200206220544/https://www.kissfm.ro/podcasturi/6723. live.
  39. Web site: SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart. slotop50.si. November 15, 2019. August 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807064106/https://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2019&week=44. live.
  40. Web site: Najpopularniejsze albumy i single 2019 roku. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Polish. January 28, 2020. March 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200314110855/http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/aktualnosci.php?idaktualnosci=1813. live.
  41. Web site: Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020. February 22, 2021. Mahasz.
  42. News: Ava Max 'Torn'. Radio Airplay SRL. Mompellio. Gabriel. August 30, 2019. Italian. August 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830110707/http://radiodate.it/radio-date/ava-max-torn-189620-30-08-2019-radiodate/. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Torn (Ava Max song)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.