View source for Messages (San Cisco song)

{{Short description|2020 single by San Cisco}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = Messages
| cover         = Messages by San Cisco.jpg
| alt           = A blonde woman in a black dress holds a landline phone to her ear, with the band's name and song title displayed in white text at the bottom right of the image
| type          = single
| artist        = [[San Cisco]]
| album         = [[Between You and Me (San Cisco album)|Between You and Me]]
| written       = 2018–2020<ref name="JJJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/san-cisco-announce-new-album-new-single-messages/12441930/ |title=San Cisco announce new album, Between You and Me |work=[[Triple J]] |date=10 July 2020 |accessdate=4 September 2020 |author=Fuamoli, Sose}}</ref>
| released      = 10 July 2020
| recorded      = 2018–2020<ref name="JJJ"/>
| studio        =
| genre         = {{hlist|[[Disco]]<ref name="G"/>|[[pop music|pop]]<ref name="TB"/>}}
| length        = 3:19
| label         = Island City Records
| writer        = * Jordi Davieson
* [[Scarlett Stevens]]
| producer      =
* [[James Ireland (musician)|James Ireland]]
* [[Steven Schram|Steve Schram]]
| prev_title    = [[On the Line (San Cisco song)|On the Line]]
| prev_year     = 2020
| next_title    = Alone
| next_year     = 2020
}}
"'''Messages'''" is a song by Australian [[indie pop]] band [[San Cisco]], released on 10 July 2020 as the second single from their fourth studio album ''[[Between You and Me (San Cisco album)|Between You and Me]]'' (2020).
==Background and release==
"Messages" was released on 10 July 2020, alongside the announcement of San Cisco's fourth studio album ''Between You and Me''.<ref name="NME">{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/san-cisco-announce-new-album-between-you-and-me-2704445/ |title=San Cisco announce new album, 'Between You and Me' |work=[[NME Australia]] |date=10 July 2020 |accessdate=4 September 2020 |author=Triscari, Caleb}}</ref> Lead vocalist [[Jordi Davieson]] said of the song in a [[press release]]: <blockquote>""Messages" is a [[tongue-in-cheek]] bop about shitty friends. Originally the lyrics were loosely inspired by my frustration with [drummer] [[Scarlett Stevens|Scarlett]] never replying to my messages, but when we decided the track would be much better with her singing vocals instead, she added in a few of her annoyances about me. It turned into quite a constructive process for our friendship! She still never replies to messages..."<ref name="NME"/></blockquote>
==Composition and lyrics==
''[[Gigwise]]'' described the song as having "[[synthesizer#1980s: Market growth and digital technology|eighties synth]] [which] mingles with [[disco]] bass and splashy [[percussion instrument|percussion]]" and "bittersweet" lyrics,<ref name="G">{{cite web |url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/3384276/first-play-san-cisco-are-so-done-with-your-shit-in-new-single-messages/ |title=First Play: San Cisco are so done with your shit in new single 'Messages' |work=[[Gigwise]] |date=8 July 2020 |accessdate=4 September 2020 |author=Atkinson, Jessie}}</ref> whilst [[music journalism|music critic]] Thomas Bleach noted the song as having a "[[pop music|pop]] aesthetic".<ref name="TB">{{cite web |url=https://thomasbleach.com/2020/07/12/single-review-san-cisco-messages/ |title=Single Review: San Cisco – Messages |work=Thomas Bleach |date=12 July 2020 |accessdate=4 September 2020 |author=Bleach, Thomas}}</ref> The lyrics "explore the annoyances of shitty friendships and highlights the frustrating reality of being [[wikt:leave someone on read|left on read]]."<ref name="TB"/>
==Critical reception==
Al Newstead of [[Triple J]] labelled the song "another upbeat pop".<ref name="JJJ"/>
Jessie Atkinson of ''[[Gigwise]]'' described the song as a "[[bubblegum music|bubblegum]] new cut", further stating "evokes the feeling of going out on the town even when you're feeling a bit [[wikt:down in the dumps|down in the dumps]]."<ref name="G"/>
Thomas Bleach called the song a "short and punchy pop track", additionally describing it as a "playful concept... executed in a really upbeat fashion."<ref name="TB"/>
==Music video==
The music video was released on 9 July 2020 and was directed by Duncan Wright.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO5fOGKU-kM |title=San Cisco – Messages (Official Video) |via=[[YouTube]] |date=9 July 2020 |accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref>
===Synopsis===
The music video depicts the band "performing at a dance with clips of drummer and singer Scarlett Stevens chatting on a lips designed phone whilst doing things like [[exercise|working out]].<ref name="CR">{{cite web |url=http://colorising.com/san-cisco-messages-video/ |title=San Cisco 'Messages' Video |work=ColoRising |date=10 July 2020 |accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref>
===Reception===
''Gigwise'' praised the music video as a "total [[Austin Powers]] affair: all [[1960s decor|lemon yellow décor]], [[hotpants]] and [[landline|lip phones]]."<ref name="G"/> [[Triple J]]'s Al Newstead labelled it a "cracking" video.<ref name="JJJ"/> ''ColoRising'' found the [[theatrical scenery|set]] to be "vibrantly designed" and "clever", saying it gives the video a "fun and cheeky appeal".<ref name="CR"/>
==Track listings==
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download<ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/messages-single/1517773295/ |title=Messages – Single by San Cisco on Apple Music |publisher=[[Apple Music]] |accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref>
| title1  = Messages
| writer1 = {{hlist|Jordi Davieson|[[Scarlett Stevens]]}}
| length1 = 3:19
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Album release
| title4  = Messages
| writer4 = {{hlist|Davieson|Stevens}}
| length4 = 3:19
}}
==Credits and personnel==
Adapted from the [[Between You and Me (San Cisco album)|parent album]]'s  [[liner notes]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Between You and Me (San Cisco album)|Between You and Me]] |others=[[San Cisco]] |year=2020 |type=booklet |publisher=Island City Records}}</ref>
'''San Cisco'''
* Jordi Davieson – writer, vocals
* Josh Biondillo – guitar, keys
* [[Scarlett Stevens]] – drums, vocals
'''Other musicians'''
* [[James Ireland (musician)|James Ireland]] – production
* [[Steven Schram|Steve Schram]] – production
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{YouTube|yO5fOGKU-kM|Official music video}}
{{San Cisco}}
{{Scarlett Stevens}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2020 singles]]
[[Category:2020 songs]]
[[Category:San Cisco songs]]
[[Category:Disco songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Scarlett Stevens]]