Twenty One Pilots released “Shy Away” on April 7, 2021 as the first single off of their sixth album “Scaled and Icy.” It debuted at No. 15 on SiriusXM’s Alt18 Countdown on April 10, 2021, jumped to No. 2 the next week and reached No. 1 on May 8, 2021. Fueled by Ramen released the song.
Tyler Joseph told the BBC he wrote the song for his younger brother. It started as a tutorial in the recording studio and grew into advice for his sibling. It also includes unintentional background vocals from Joseph’s 1-year-old daughter at the start of the song, which is one example of the pandemic’s influence on the band’s creative process. Joseph and bandmate Josh Dun worked remotely with Joseph doing the writing and producing and Dun providing drum tracks.
The track is being well received.
Tyler Golsen in Far Out rated the album a 7.6 out of 10 and applauded the group for continuing in the vein of 2020’s “Level of Concern,” another Alt18 No. 1 song. Michael Davies in the Harvard Crimson called the song a “litmus test” for the band’s move to “upbeat, electronic pop style.”
Twenty One Pilots “Shy Away” debuted at No. 20 on Billboard’s US alternative chart and hit No. 1 on May 1, 2021. It’s in the Top 100 on charts around the world.
Credits
Songwriter: Tyler Johnson
Producer: Tyler Johnson
Record label: Fueled by Ramen
Lyrics
When I get home
You better not be there, we’re placing bets you won’t
Shed your modesty
And the only thing to leave behind is your own skin
On the floor
Don’t you shy away
Manifest a ceiling when you shy away
Searching for that feeling
Just like an “I love you” (ooh, ooh)
That isn’t words (ooh, ooh)
Like a song he wrote, that’s never heard
Don’t you (sh)When you get home
You barely recognize the pictures they put in a frame
‘Cause you shed your modesty
Don’t circle the track
Take what you have
And leave your skin on the floor
Don’t you shy away
Manifest a ceiling when you shy away
Searching for that feeling
Just like an “I love you” (ooh, ooh)
That isn’t words (ooh, ooh)
Like a song he wrote, that’s never heard
When I get home
Boy, you better not be there, you’re long gone
Shed your modesty
Don’t circle the track
Just break the cycle in half
And leave your skin on the floor
Don’t you shy away
Manifest a ceiling when you shy away
Searching for that feeling
Just like an “I love you” (ooh, ooh)
That isn’t words (ooh, ooh)
Like a song he wrote
That’s never heard
That’s never heard
And I love you
There isn’t words
Like a song he wrote
That’s never heard
Don’t you shy away
Official Video
Related Links
Behind the scenes of the Shy Away video – Kerrang
