Adolescence is BAYNK’s most meticulous work to date. It revels in eccentric, distinctive details while adhering to traditional pop structures. Most arrangements consist of grainy synth loops, plucky subs, and house-inspired drums; his digital sounds are drenched in reverb and slapped with sidechain. On the Cosmo’s Midnight-assisted “How Does it Feel?” languid synth pulses and a funky bassline give way to some of the sharpest vocal melodies on the album. “Remember,” which features Rainsford, exhibits BAYNK’s talent for peeling a heavily layered song back to its component parts before climaxing into an ecstatic yet graceful drop. This is dance music for headphones, club music for late-night walks.
The best songs on Adolescence bend toward straightforward pop formulas and, tellingly, include non-electronic instruments. “Mine” is led by quiet piano and spacey guitar, while standout “Naked” blends acoustic elements and electric bass with shimmering synths. BAYNK gives his best vocal performances here: “Get caught up on trying to pin you down/Your fingers ’round my neck, they’re feeling soft now," he coos on “Naked,” evoking the warm upper register of Whitney’s Julien Ehrlich. He’s not a great singer, as Tinashe makes plain when she steals the show on “Esther”; he scrubs clean his imperfections with layers of automation, delay, and reverb. Still, BAYNK has a keen ear for melody and knows his limits, wisely ceding the mic to guests while he works the boards.
The album is nominally a concept record about the immediacy of youth and romantic first experiences. “I went through this period of not being able to write anything,” BAYNK told Apple Music. Being in a “stable and happy relationship” wasn’t conducive to inspiration, so to get around his writer’s block, he returned to the creative cocoon of “first love.” Lyrically, the album is imagistic and vague, depicting half-baked scenes of lying in the sun, holding hands in a car, and walking through fields. The narrative never coalesces into anything meaningful, and its emotional pull wanes quickly. First love invigorates but rarely sustains; it’s BAYNK’s elastic and original production that propels the album forward, the pulse of the beat begging us to feel something beyond recognition.
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BAYNK Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Played the game, you played your part
Heavy hearts and cautious dreams
Heads in clouds to make belief
Boy, you had it from the start
Have my head, you have my heart
All you looking for is meCan't you tell 'em what you need
What you need
Can't you tell 'em what you need
All you looking for is me
Can't you tell 'em what you need
Can't you tell 'em what you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
Had it from the start
Couldn't think of being apart
Breaking free from the unseen
Holding onto what has been
Boy, you know just who you are
Hold my hand, don't go to far
All you' looking for is me
Can't you tell 'em what you need
What you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
Boy, you had it from the start
Have my head, you have my heart
All you're looking for is me
Can't you tell 'em what you need
What you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
What you need
Tell 'em what you need
In BAYNK's song What You Need, the lyrics convey the idea of a relationship where the boy has always had a deeper understanding of their connection. He has played his part and held onto what they have had from the start. While he has been clear about all he is looking for, it seems the girl struggles to articulate her own desires. The girl acknowledges that he has her heart and head, and all she is looking for is him but still can't seem to tell others what she needs.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "What you need, Tell 'em what you need" as a call for the girl to be more express about her desires. The boy seems to already know what he wants, and he is waiting for the girl to speak her truth. The lyrics touch on themes of communication and vulnerability within relationships, emphasizing the importance of expressing oneself.
Overall, the song's message highlights the importance of communication, especially within romantic relationships, and promotes the idea of being vulnerable and honest with oneself and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy, you had it from the start
You've always had me, you've always been in my heart.
Played the game, you played your part
You've done everything right, you've followed all the rules.
Heavy hearts and cautious dreams
We both feel burdened and uncertain about the future.
Heads in clouds to make belief
We're daydreaming about our future together, hoping it will become reality.
All you looking for is me
Your happiness depends solely on me and our relationship.
Can't you tell 'em what you need
You find it hard to share your needs and desires with others.
Couldn't think of being apart
The thought of us separating is unbearable for you.
Breaking free from the unseen
We're trying to overcome any hidden obstacles in our relationship.
Holding onto what has been
We're holding onto our love and memories from our time together.
Boy, you know just who you are
You have a clear sense of your identity and values.
Hold my hand, don't go to far
Let's stay together, don't let distance come between us.
What you need
Your deepest desires and wants.
Tell 'em what you need
Expressing your needs to others, especially me.
Writer(s): Baynk
Contributed by Keira M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@BAYNK
Listen to Baynk on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/28yVvEvA2lT3K5RNIhV1Dj
@abbymwana5743
lyrics?
@PriyankaGupta-ew1li
Hermit Tarot brought me here❤💜💝💖😈
@ryalou4
Me too
@luriez
👍
@rottencoffee13
absolutely feel good music. keep it up mate.
@hakeemandbirdoverrated2142
This is some Flume Level Production. Absolutely Gorgeous and heavenly 😍
@alyxxjayde
Anyone else here from the red pill/blue pill reading?
@izakosmowska9735
me,hi:D
@Artsyalexus
Right here! Hermit Tarot is always pointing me in the direction to some sweet new music!!♥️