Mind Games (Banks song)

"Mind Games" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Banks for her second studio album, The Altar (2016). It was released as the album's third single on August 19, 2016. The song was written by Banks, Christopher Taylor, Tim Anderson and produced by the last two.[1]

"Mind Games"
Single by Banks
from the album The Altar
ReleasedAugust 19, 2016 (2016-08-19)
Length4:49
LabelHarvest
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Banks singles chronology
"Gemini Feed"
(2016)		 "Mind Games"
(2016)		 "To the Hilt"
(2016)

Background

Lyrically, the song is about singer’s love affair with manipulation, with the line "cause my addiction to these contradictions make it confusing."[2] In the song's chorus Banks sings repetitively "Do you see me now?", matching the dysfunctional romance of the song.[3] Gabriel Aikins from Substream Magazine wrote about the song "is an especially gripping slow-burn. It's powerful and deep in its minimalism, and it will definitely give you chills."[4] The singer wrote on her social networks about the song "I'm excited to share this with you. Writing it was a really important step for me in making this album. It makes me feel exposed putting it into the universe but see me now."[5]

Critical reception

Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic wrote about the song "When she shifts the gears of pain inward, she lays herself bare with unflinching honesty and vulnerability".[6] Andrew Paschal from PopMatters said that the song "attempts to marry the competing impulses of Banks's sonic personas".[7] Idolator's Stephen Sears wrote "The astonishing 'Mind Games' distills the pure essence of Banks, weaving subtle wit into her conversational lyrics: [You're claiming I'm a handful when you show up all empty handed.] This song belongs on a loop, her misery leading to catharsis as her voice, increasingly pained, wails [Do you see me now?] over and over."[8]

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Alternative Digital Songs (Billboard)[9]
16

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 19, 2016
Harvest [10]

References
  1. "Mind Games – Single by Banks". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  2. Kristy, Kristy (August 19, 2016). "Listen to BANKS' Sultry New Single, 'Mind Games'". Paste. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  3. Williott, Carl (August 19, 2016). "BANKS Will Not Be Ignored On 'Mind Games': Listen". Idolator. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  4. Aikins, Gabriel (August 19, 2016). "BANKS continues her dominant run with new song 'Mind Games'". Substream Magazine. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  5. Peoples, Lindsay (August 24, 2016). "Alt-Pop-Star Banks on Finding Her Way in Fashion". Nymag.com. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  6. Yeung, Neil Z. "The Altar – Banks". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  7. Paschal, Andrew (October 5, 2016). "Banks: The Altar". PopMatters. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  8. Sears, Stephen (September 30, 2016). "Banks' 'The Altar': Album Review". Idolator. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  9. "Search results: Alternative Digital Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  10. "Mind Games - Single by Banks on Apple Music". iTunes Store (United States). August 19, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
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