In a lengthy Instagram post about his new single “Don’t Take the Money,” Bleachers frontman and co-writer Jack Antonoff said that the song is “meant to have an intense push and pull between euphoria and sadness,” which so succinctly describes the tone and timbre of this single and the best of Bleachers’ music.
This debut single from Bleachers’ upcoming sophomore album “Everybody Lost Somebody” is co-written by Lorde, who teamed up with Antonoff for her two recent singles. The pop star, who is also looking to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump on her second studio album, provides complementary vocals on the track.
Now “Don’t Take the Money” isn’t as much as about the idea selling out your art for a paycheck as it is a personal mantra, a reminder for Antonoff to follow his gut in both his artistic vision and his larger life. “Not following a deep gut feeling destroys your art and the people around you, so I say it in my head constantly,” said Antonoff. “Sometimes about something very specific relating to music, sometimes about a bigger question about marriage or depression.”
Antonoff’s relationship is what takes center stage on the track. As the song goes, it follows the trajectory of a fight with his girlfriend, with all of the anguish and self-sabotage that some of us put ourselves through. It dances with that push and pull between euphoria and sadness and rides it all the way to resolution. Sometimes the strength of these bonds and connections, much like the single’s sweeping chorus, persist.
On the music side, “Don’t Take the Money” couples a vibrant pop hook with Antonoff’s signature melancholic bridge vocals. Its lyrics are sincere and relevant, pulling together a solid lead single for what looks to be a promising album.
For longtime fans, “Don’t Take the Money” will not disappoint, and if you have never heard them, this is a great place to jump in and experience what Bleachers is all about. If you like it, just sit back and relax because this is just the first taste of what looks to be a busy year for Bleachers.
Check out Bleachers on tour on May 20 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Ill.
