| "You're in Love with a Psycho" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byKasabian | ||||
| from the albumFor Crying Out Loud | ||||
| Released | 17 March 2017 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | Columbia,Sony | |||
| Songwriter | Sergio Pizzorno | |||
| Producer | Sergio Pizzorno | |||
| Kasabian singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 10-inch vinyl single cover | ||||
"You're in Love with a Psycho" is a song by Englishalternative rock bandKasabian. It was released on 17 March 2017 as the first single from their sixth studio album,For Crying Out Loud (2017). It peaked at No. 62 on theUK Singles Chart in 2017, the first time a lead single from a Kasabian album failed to reach the top 40 in the country. It was certified platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI) for chart sales exceeding 600,000 units in the UK in August 2022. It also won "Best Song of 2017" at theQ Awards.[1]
The music video was heavily criticised in the UK media bymental health advocates and charities for reinforcingstereotypes around mental illness, and were branded by the director of theTime to Change mental health charity as "unhelpful, damaging, and disappointing".
The song received its first radio airplay on 17 March 2017, having leaked the day before. The song was also released on 17 March 2017 as a digital download, CD single, and 10" vinyl and made available on most streaming services. The single reached number 62 in the UK Singles Chart spending 5 weeks on the top 100 and reached number 24 on theScottish Singles Chart.
Kasabian guitarist and songwriterSerge Pizzorno explained toThe Independent, "The story of that song is a man or a woman who has visions of being theprodigal son, thinking he's friends withAxel Foley... having an argument outside anoff-licence and recitingBukowski to win back the person they love."
The song received mixed to positive reviews from critics upon release. Will Hankey fromThe Edge gave the song 3/5 stars, stating that the track "starts very well, opening with aKrautrock-like surge forward that soon anchors into Kasabian's familiar territory of live hip-hop beats [but] while this is amiable and still an enjoyable listen, the song still never really goes anywhere".[2]
411 Mania gave the song 6.5/10 in a mixed review by David Hayter, stating, "The guitars provide more of a wash than an assault andTom's vocals are gentle and endearing, contrasting the severity of the lyric sheet. [...] The music, on this occasion, is faultless (delicate, gently hypnotic and softly seductive); the lyrics vary from clunky to outright atrocious."[3]
The single was nominated and won best song of 2017 at theQ Awards 2017.
The music video for the single was released on 30 March 2017 and was directed byW.I.Z. It features frequent Kasabian collaboratorNoel Fielding and actorStephen Graham, as well as members of Kasabian andBhangra dance group Four by Four. They all play inmates of the fictional West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, a nod to the title ofthe band's third album. The inmates have become infatuated with the resident nurse, dancing and serenading her to no avail. At the end of the video, it is revealed that the nurse is in fact in love with the inmate played by Graham.[4]
As of December 2022, the music video has been viewed over 15.1 million times onYouTube.[5]
The video was heavily criticised in the UK media bymental health advocates and charities for reinforcingstereotypes around mental illness.[6]
Cal Strode, Senior Media Officer at theMental Health Foundation, said, "The video shows a lack of imagination and inspired creative input, falling back on outdated and damaging stereotypes to grab people's attention. [...] We've come a long way in terms of public attitudes towards mental health and reducing stigma, but when people pose as psychiatric inpatients as props for a music video, it reminds us there's still a long way to go."
Sue BakerOBE, director of theTime to Change mental health charity, said, "As so many musicians have recently talked openly about their experiences of mental health problems it is disappointing to see this video. The use of the word 'psycho' in a song and accompanying music video featuring people pretending to be psychiatric inpatients is unhelpful, damaging and disappointing when society is moving on from this sad and tired stereotype. We are sure the insult and harm was unintentional, or misjudged irony, but we are raising it as we know it will only serve to fuel stigma."[7]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You're in Love with a Psycho" | 3:37 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You're in Love with a Psycho" | 3:37 |
| 2. | "Are You Looking For Action?" | 8:22 |
Kasabian
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[8] | 16 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[9] | 24 |
| Scotland Singles (OCC)[10] | 24 |
| Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] | 92 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 62 |
| UK Physical Sales Chart (Official Charts Company)[13] | 33 |
| UK Vinyl Chart (Official Charts Company)[14] | 4 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
