Khalid Donnel Robinson was born on February 11, 1998, in Fort Stewart, Georgia. He is of African-American and Mexican descent. His family moved to El Paso, Texas, when he was small, and he attended high school there. He began making music at an early age, writing his first song at the age of 15 and posting it on SoundCloud.
In July 2016, Khalid released his debut single, "Location". The song was an immediate success, peaking at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. It also peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. The song has received over 645 million streams on Spotify.
Khalid's debut studio album, American Teen, was released on March 3, 2017. The album peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. It was also certified gold in the UK and Australia. The album was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best Urban Contemporary Album.
In 2018, Khalid released his second studio album, Suncity, which debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, and was certified gold by the RIAA. His third studio album, Free Spirit, was released in April 2019 and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. He also released his fourth studio album, Up All Night, in October 2019.
Throughout his career, Khalid has collaborated with numerous artists, including Normani, H.E.R., Calvin Harris, and Disclosure. He has appeared on television shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He has also appeared in commercials for the video game Just Dance 2020 and the streaming service Hulu.
In 2020, Khalid won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video for his song "Talk". He also became the youngest artist ever to have three albums certified platinum by the RIAA.
Khalid is an advocate for mental health awareness, and has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety and depression. He has also been involved in numerous charity initiatives, including the El Paso Shooting Victims' Fund and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Don't Pretend
Khalid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I never had you, I used to pretend that you're mine
I feel like there's nothing for me here but still I try
I feel like there's nothing for me here but still I try
Bruising my finger, hitting your line
If I'm holding back I might just lose my mind
Keeping my phone alive (alive)
Thought I heard you ringing (you)
You know I hear things sometimes
Call my line, call my line
Come alive, come alive
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Keeping you on my radar
Lately, you're so damn cold
You used to hold me down
You're far, so it's been awhile
I still remember your voice
How you talk so soft in the morning
You're the only one I'm wanting
Love stays still and I'm frozen
But I'm opening thoughts that I keep within
I guess I gotta be a man
I tried as hard as I can
Keeping my phone alive (you)
Hoping that you call this time
Thought I heard you ringing
You know I hear things sometimes
Call my line, call my line
Come alive, come alive
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend (come alive, oh)
Show me, don't pretend (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Show me, don't pretend
In "Don't Pretend," Khalid sings about his longing for someone that he feels like he is losing when he's offline. Despite never having a relationship with this person, he still pretends as if they are together, which is likely why he feels like he's losing them when he's offline. The song features a sense of desperation as he holds onto the hope that this person will call him. He feels stuck in a place of longing, acknowledging that he feels there's nothing for him in his current situation, but still tries. The lyrics "Keeping you on my radar/Lately, you're so damn cold/You used to hold me down" express the emotional fall of this relationship, with him longing for the closeness they once had.
The lines "Bruising my finger, hitting your line/If I'm holding back I might just lose my mind" express Khalid's desperation to hear from this person. He doesn't want to hold back his feelings and thoughts because he fears that he will lose himself. The song is powerful in conveying the feeling of being lost and helpless when it comes to love.
Overall, "Don't Pretend" is a deep dive into Khalid's emotional state when he's longing for someone he can't have. It tackles the feeling of being in a one-sided relationship and the emotional toll that it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel like I'm losing you whenever I'm offline
The singer fears that he is losing the attention of the person he desires whenever he doesn't have access to them online.
Though I never had you, I used to pretend that you're mine
Despite never actually being in a relationship with the person he desires, the singer used to imagine that they were together.
I feel like there's nothing for me here but still I try
Despite feeling like there's no hope, the singer still puts in effort to pursue the person he desires.
Bruising my finger, hitting your line
The singer is trying as hard as he can to reach out to the person he desires, to the point where he is hurting himself in the process.
If I'm holding back I might just lose my mind
The singer fears that if he doesn't express his feelings and desires, he will go crazy.
Keeping my phone alive (alive)
The singer is constantly checking and making sure his phone is charged and ready in case the person he desires contacts him.
Hoping that you call this time (oh, I)
The singer is desperate for the person he desires to contact him, with each new attempt bringing renewed hope.
Thought I heard you ringing (you)
The singer is so desperate to hear from the person he desires, that he imagines and hears their ringtone even when it's not actually ringing.
You know I hear things sometimes
The singer admits that he may not always be thinking clearly and may even be hearing things that aren't there because of his desperation.
Call my line, call my line
The singer desperately pleads for the person he desires to contact him.
Come alive, come alive
The singer is hoping that the person he desires will come alive and reach out to him.
Show me, don't pretend
The singer wants the person he desires to show him real love and affection rather than just pretending.
Keeping you on my radar
The singer is constantly aware of the presence and movements of the person he desires.
Lately, you're so damn cold
The singer notices that the person he desires is acting cold and distant towards him lately.
You used to hold me down
The singer remembers a time when the person he desires used to be supportive and loving towards him.
You're far, so it's been awhile
Because the person he desires is far away, it's been a long time since they've seen each other and things have changed.
I still remember your voice
Despite the distance, the singer still vividly remembers the voice of the person he desires.
How you talk so soft in the morning
The singer reminisces about how the person he desires used to talk to him softly in the mornings.
You're the only one I'm wanting
The person the singer desires is the only one he truly wants and cares about.
Love stays still and I'm frozen
The singer feels like his love for the person he desires is not being reciprocated, causing him to feel frozen and stuck.
But I'm opening thoughts that I keep within
Despite feeling stuck, the singer is trying to express his feelings and not keep them bottled up inside any longer.
I guess I gotta be a man
The singer feels pressure to be strong and mature in order to pursue the person he desires.
Keeping my phone alive (you)
Again, the singer is constantly checking and making sure his phone is charged and ready for when the person he desires reaches out to him.
Show me, don't pretend (come alive, oh)
Once again, the singer wants the person he desires to show him real affection and love rather than just pretending. He wants them to come alive and connect with him.
Show me, don't pretend (yeah, yeah, yeah)
This line again reinforces the singer's desire for authenticity and real love from the person he desires.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Khalid Robinson, Mohamed Ahmed, Ryan Vojtesak, Saif Musaad, Shane Lindstrom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unnamed439
Somebody will need this:
[Verse 1: Khalid]
I feel like I'm losing you whenever I'm offline
No one ever had you; I used to pretend that you're mine
I feel like there's nothing for me here but still I try
I feel like there's nothing for me here but still I try
Bruising my finger hitting your line
If I'm holding back, I might just lose my mind (So alone)
[Chorus: Khalid & SAFE]
Keeping my phone alive (Alive)
Hoping that you call this time (Oh, I)
Thought I heard your ringing (You)
You know I hear things sometimes
Call my line, call my line
Come alive, come alive
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
[Verse 2: Khalid]
Keepin' you on my radar
Lately you're so damn cold
You used to hold me down
You're far so it's been a while
I still remember your voice
How you talk so soft in the morning
You're the only one I'm wanting
Love stays still and I'm frozen
But I'm opening thoughts that I keep within, I
Guess I gotta be a man
I tried as hard as I can
[Chorus: Khalid & SAFE]
Keeping my phone alive (You)
Hoping that you call this time
Thought I heard you ringin'
You know I hear things sometimes
Call my line, call my line
Come alive, come alive
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend (Come alive, oh-yeah)
Show me, don't pretend (Yeah, yeah)
Show me, don't pretend
@unnamed439
[Verse 1: Khalid]
I feel like I'm losing you whenever I'm offline
No one ever had you; I used to pretend that you're mine
I feel like there's nothing for me here but still I try
I feel like there's nothing for me here but still I try
Bruising my finger hitting your line
If I'm holding back, I might just lose my mind (So alone)
[Chorus: Khalid & SAFE]
Keeping my phone alive (Alive)
Hoping that you call this time (Oh, I)
Thought I heard your ringing (You)
You know I hear things sometimes
Call my line, call my line
Come alive, come alive
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
[Verse 2: Khalid]
Keepin' you on my radar
Lately you're so damn cold
You used to hold me down
You're far so it's been a while
I still remember your voice
How you talk so soft in the morning
You're the only one I'm wanting
Love stays still and I'm frozen
But I'm opening thoughts that I keep within, I
Guess I gotta be a man
I tried as hard as I can
[Chorus: Khalid & SAFE]
Keeping my phone alive (You)
Hoping that you call this time
Thought I heard you ringin'
You know I hear things sometimes
Call my line, call my line
Come alive, come alive
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend
Show me, don't pretend (Come alive, oh-yeah)
Show me, don't pretend (Yeah, yeah)
Show me, don't pretend
@stretchh2o
Who else is listening in 2023? Best album ever! 4 years 🎉❤
@dash-FTX860
Me
@michaelceredon5921
Khalid always has that music where you drive for hours with your windows down and just vibe 😌
@princedrayprincedray5316
Forralz ...there's nothing like it ..
@princedrayprincedray5316
☻😉
@kaelpillay1114
On God bro. He's such a vibe
@ParsaMayahi
Hey guys I just made a music video for this song, I would really appreciate it if you give it a watch and let me know how you felt about it 🙏🏻❤️
@betul7378
Michael Ceredon this .
@canni2328
It starts with SATURDAY NIGHTS, he’s talking about a girl who has issues at home and he notices and he cares about her and all her issues. In TWENTY ONE, he talks about her and all her problems and how he can relate to her. Then in PARADISE, he talks about the same girl and how she’s wasting away her life by pretending she isn’t dealing with the issues she has. And how he wants to go deeper into a relationship with her. And then it goes to BETTER, they’re not quite in a relationship but they’re still seeing each other and they’re doing all the relationship things just without the title. Khalid is falling in love here. And then it goes to BLUFFIN’, Khalid wants to know if the girl actually wants to be in a relationship and he doesn’t want to be led on. And then in TALK, Khalid at this point is rushing to be in love with this girl but notices that she doesn’t want to take that jump into a relationship, so he urges for them to talk about what they’re doing and where they’re at. In MY BAD, they start experiencing communication problems and it seems to keep getting worse on both sides. And then in DON’T PRETEND, she’s starting to ghost Khalid and he notices it and he wants her to call him and express the feelings she has but he knows she won’t. In INTRO, Khalid knows that she’s about to leave and just wants her to tell the truth and be straight up. Khalid knows he carries a lot of baggage and wants the girl to either accept it or leave him. In HEAVEN, Khalid doesn’t want the girl to leave him but he knows she will and he’s trying to “bargain” with the lord to make him an offer so he can be happy because he knows she’s going to hurt him. And then in BAD LUCK, the girl officially leaves Khalid and he has to deal with a broken heart. He got attached too fast and he feels like all his past relationships never work out because he keeps falling in love with the wrong one, hence having bad luck. In OUTTA MY HEAD, he’s hurting after the break up. All he thinks about is her and what they had. In RIGHT BACK, he wants to be with her so bad. And he promises that he won’t move fast this time. In ALIVE, Khalid reveals that he’s just by himself sulking in his sadness bc he knows she left him for good. He blames himself for living out of spite and wishes that he could’ve spoken up and say the things he wanted to say. In SELF, he realizes that he needs to work on himself to become a better person and that he’s not doing it for validation of love from someone, he’s doing it for himself in order to grow as a person. In HUNDRED, he also realiZes that life moves on and he can’t stay in his place of sadness, he needs to move on in order to be happy. And then finally, in FREE SPIRIT. He has officially moved on and let go of his attachment to her. He reminisces on the good times that they had, but ultimately knows that life goes on. The lesson here is that if we put our happiness in the hands of someone else and we move too fast to fall in “love” with the idea of love, in the end we’d get seriously hurt. We have to put our feelings first and never sacrifice them in the fear of hurting others because we will be hurt. And if we do get hurt, life eventually moves on and we have to reminisce on the good times and not be sad. Because at the end of the day all we have is ourselves and we have to take care of ourselves and our happiness first. We gotta let go in order to be happy.
love
a (instargam @cannislup)
@nae0000
Woah! I love that analysis.