The teaser for “Crush Culture” was first released on October 24, 2018.
When asked about the inspiration for the song during a Sidewalk Talk interview with Lauren Engel, Conan shared:
"I’ve never dated anyone before. I’m like nineteen and I still haven’t even had my first kiss yet. But like, throughout high school all my friends were always dating people and going through a lot of boyfriends and girlfriends and things like that so I was always super bitter about it, you know, I’d see them and I was like “Ugh, disgusting, y'all are so in love” and I didn’t have it at all.
I think "Crush Culture" came out of this spot of bitterness. I think everyone’s who’s single kinda looks at people who are in love and you kinda wanna be happy for them but you’re more just kinda like “God, like y'all are so disgustingly in love. I wanna be you but I can’t so I’m just gonna beat you up, you know.”
"I grew up around a lot of old people and so the thing about old people is that they just like, they don’t give a fuck, like they don’t care, you know? They’ll tell you exactly what they think about you and so growing up me and my friends always kinda heard the same things from them like: oh, you’re generation’s so worthless, like, you don’t know how to work for what you have, and you guys are all depressed, and it’s, like, a little bit true but also you know, not completely. Our generation works really hard and so, I think Gen Why and Crush Culture are both songs that I wrote from the point of view of someone who lives in a small town. And I think all small town kids, and I think most people my age, you know, 19, like, we all kind of feel the same things about our generation and everyone kind of looks down on our generation."
"So I’m 19 years old and I still have not had my first kiss yet which isn’t the coolest thing in the world to admit but, I don’t know, I just haven’t had my first kiss yet. I don’t know why, if someone wants to kiss me they can, I’m down, but yeah. My friends were all dating tons of people in high school and they, like, ran through a whole bunch of boys and girls and just watching them be in so in love and, like, so mush-y gush-y in the hallways and everywhere we go kind of just made me a really bitter person overtime, you know? Just watching them be so in love, and because of that I think when I see couples I kind of just wanna, like, punch them in the face. Which isn’t a good thing, you know, you should be happy for them. Love is good. It’s just not good when you’re not in it. So that’s why I wrote “Crush Culture.” It’s a song that I wrote for people who just aren’t in love yet and for people who, when they see love they kinda just, like, want to throw up everywhere."
Crush Culture
Conan Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My god don't look at your phone
No one's gonna call you
Quit checking your volume (crush)
I don't care if I'm forever alone
I'm not falling for you
'Cause this baby is loveproof (culture)
I don't care what you're saying
I don't wanna participate in your game of manipulation (crush)
And no I don't want your sympathy, all this love is suffocating
Just let me be sad and lonely
'Cause
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doing, tryna get me to pursue ya
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
Oh no, don't look in their eyes
'Cause that's how they get you
Kiss you then forget you (crush)
But all they're feeding you is beautiful lies
So hide in the bathroom
'Til they find someone else new (culture)
I don't care what you're saying
I don't wanna participate in your game of manipulation (crush)
And no I don't want your sympathy, all this love is suffocating
Just let me be sad and lonely
'Cause
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doing, tryna get me to pursue ya
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
Shut your damn mouth
You're talking too loud
And no one cares if you two made out
I'm sick of the kissing cult
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doing, tryna get me to pursue ya
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doing, tryna get me to pursue ya
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
In "Crush Culture," Conan Gray tackles the toxicity and manipulation that can come with modern dating culture. The song urges its listeners to reject the pressure to constantly pursue romantic partners and to stand up against the societal norms of the dating world. Gray sings about the frustration of being constantly bombarded with texts and calls, and the desire to just be left alone. He wants to avoid participating in the game of manipulation that is all too common in relationships, and instead chooses to stay love-proof and prioritize his own happiness. The chorus reveals that the pressure and expectation to pursue a crush can be suffocating and overwhelming, causing the singer to want to "spill [his] guts out" and reject the cult-like culture of constantly pursuing romantic partners.
One of the most striking features of "Crush Culture" is its hook-filled melody which contrasts with the song's heavy lyrics. Gray's delivery is both playful and biting, emphasizing the song's message without making it too heavy. The song is also notable for the way it subverts the typical love song structure, with the singer rejecting love instead of attempting to obtain it.
Line by Line Meaning
My god don't look at your phone
Stop checking your phone for notifications
No one's gonna call you
You won't get a call or text from your crush
Quit checking your volume (crush)
Stop obsessing over your crush's social media presence
I don't care if I'm forever alone
I'm not desperate to have a relationship
I'm not falling for you
I'm not going to fall for your manipulative tactics
'Cause this baby is loveproof (culture)
I won't let the culture of obsessing over crushes affect me
I don't care what you're saying
I'm not buying into your lies
I don't wanna participate in your game of manipulation (crush)
I don't want to be a part of your manipulative behavior
And no I don't want your sympathy, all this love is suffocating
I don't want your consolation or pity; the obsession with love in our culture is overwhelming
Just let me be sad and lonely
I'm okay with being sad and alone
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
The pressure to conform to crush culture is making me want to speak my mind
I know what you're doing, tryna get me to pursue ya
I know you're trying to manipulate me into pursuing you
Oh no, don't look in their eyes
Avoid making eye contact with your crush
'Cause that's how they get you
That's their tactic for reeling you in
Kiss you then forget you (crush)
They'll kiss you and forget about you
But all they're feeding you is beautiful lies
They're telling you what you want to hear, but it's not true
So hide in the bathroom
Just avoid them in general
'Til they find someone else new (culture)
They'll move on once they find someone else, as per the culture
Shut your damn mouth
Just be quiet
You're talking too loud
You're trying too hard to impress others
And no one cares if you two made out
No one else is interested in your relationship
I'm sick of the kissing cult
I'm tired of the constant focus on romantic relationships
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
To express my feelings completely and honestly
I know what you're doing, tryna get me to pursue ya
I know you're trying to manipulate me into pursuing you
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
The pressure to conform to crush culture is making me want to speak my mind
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Conan Gray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sampadaaaaa
Lyrics
My God, don't look at your phone
No one's gonna call you
Quit checking your volume (crush)
I don't care if I'm forever alone
I'm not falling for you
'Cause this baby is loveproof (culture)
I don't care what you're sayin'
I don't wanna participate in your game of manipulation (crush)
And no, I don't want your sympathy, all this love is suffocating
Just let me be sad and lonely
'Cause
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doin', trying to get me to pursue you
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
Oh, no, don't look in their eyes
'Cause that's how they get you
Kiss you then forget you (crush)
All they feedin' you is beautiful lies
So hide in the bathroom
'Til they find someone else new (culture)
I don't care what you're saying
I don't wanna participate in your game of manipulation (crush)
And no, I don't want your sympathy, all this love is suffocating
Just let me be sad and lonely
'Cause
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doin', trying to get me to pursue ya
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
Shut your damn mouth
You're talking too loud
And no one cares if you two made out
I'm sick of the kissing cult
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doin', trying to get me to pursue ya
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
I know what you're doin', trying to get me to pursue ya
Crush culture makes me wanna spill my guts out
Spill my guts out, spill my guts out
@tessaviolet
YESSS
@mmvxi7104
OH MY GODHSJEJEH TESSA
@tresvanveen7338
IDFHAIS TESSA
@georgina21
Tessa!
@badfacethel777
Two legends
@ezabellakhan8488
holy shit wat
@robing9837
humans: *date*
conan: wait that’s iLlIeGaL
@cheesecake1446
Illegal XD STILL A GREAT COMMENT THOUGH 😂
@gennavievegwenn4564
“Wtf is this allowed? Wtf is that allowed?!”
@ave8477
just if they’re straight