"Need to Know" is a song by Doja Cat. It appears as the fifth track on her third studio album, Planet Her, released on June 25, 2021. It was previously released as the album's sole promotional single on June 11, 2021, and as the album's third single on August 31, 2021, after impacting American rhythmic contemporary radio stations. A music video was released on June 11, 2021.
Background[]
In April 2021, the song was confirmed after being mentioned during a cover story interview with Billboard.[1] On June 9, 2021, Doja Cat officially announced the release of "Need to Know" via a futuristic teaser on her Instagram, with the faint melody of the song briefly heard in the short clip.[2][3] Shortly after the teaser was published, Doja Cat noted in a tweet that the song "isn't even the next single" and it was "just some shit before the next more important single comes out for you to enjoy".[4][5]
On June 8, 2021, Doja Cat announced through a tweet that the track would be released on June 11, 2021.[6] Through another tweet made at the same time, Doja clarified that the song was not actually the next single, but "just something before the next more important single comes out for [us] to enjoy". The song was officially released to streaming platforms at midnight local time on June 11, 2021.[7]
Shortly before the song's release, Doja Cat had officially announced the release of the parent album Planet Her, and revealed its track listing and album art.[8] In August 2021, she performed the song in a pre-recorded video for VEVO.[9] "Need to Know" impacted rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States, as the album's third single on August 31, 2021.[10]
Composition and lyrics[]
"Need to Know" was described as a "bass-heavy R&B" song.[11] Lyrically, Doja Cat explores her pursuit of a new love interest or sexual partner whilst trying to determine if they have mutual agreement and understanding.[12] The song was considered distinguishable by its "raunchy" lyrics in which she describes her "bedroom antics". Some critics described it as "seductive" and "fiery", noting that Doja Cat "turns up the heat" and "takes it to the bedroom".[13]
Reception[]
"Need to Know" was released to widespread critical acclaim. Vulture crowned "Need to Know" as the best song of 2021 and deemed it "the best showcase of all the talents [Doja Cat]'s possessed for years", praising her "vocal contortionism" and "overflowing charisma".[14] In an album review for Uproxx, Bianca Gracie crowned "Need to Know" as the best song on Planet HER and described it as "an otherworldly joyride driven by the mad scientist that is Doja Cat", whom she proclaimed was "in true alien form" as she simultaneously channeled "a raunchy freak, cooing baby, helium sucker, and frantic spitter over a galaxy of ice-cold trap melodies".[15]
Meaghan Garvey of Billboard said that the song celebrates Doja Cat's femininity and revels in her sense of humor.[16] Writing for the same magazine, Jason Lipshutz noted that "Need to Know" is "rife with thinly veiled innuendos and sexual demands" and it "features one of Doja Cat's most liberated vocal performances - singing, rapping, pleading, crooning, remaining singular in her delivery and utterly fearless on the microphone".[17] In Billboard's review of the album, Billboard staff deemed the song "a prime example of how Doja doesn’t solely rely on the shock value of her lyrics to make her songs click; the theatricality of her delivery and vocal performances are what truly carry this song and the rest of Planet HER".[18]
Music video[]
The "futuristic" music video was premiered the same day as the single. The clip was directed by Miles & AJ and portrays Doja Cat as an alien partying during a night out on a "space-age club", also featuring cameos by Grimes and Ryan Destiny.[19] Doja Cat and her directors used Blade Runner and The Fifth Element as reference points while creating the music video. The set for the music video was built, as opposed to the usage of a green screen. Doja Cat's creative team hired Melissa Stearn to do prosthetics for the video.[20]
Behind the scenes[]
Videos[]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Yeah
[Chorus]
Wanna know what it's like (Like)
Baby, show me what it's like (Like)
I don't really got no type (Type)
I just wanna fuck all night
Yeah-yeah, oh-woah-woah (Oh, ooh, mmm)
Baby, I need to know, mmm (Yeah, need to know)
I just been fantasizin' (‘Size)
And we got a lotta time (Time)
Baby, come throw the pipe (Pipe)
Gotta know what it's like (Like)
Yeah-yeah, oh-woah-woah (Oh-woah-woah)
Baby, I need to know, mmm
[Verse 1]
What's your size? (Size), add, subtract, divide ('Vide)
Daddy don't throw no curves (Curves), hold up, I'm goin' wide (Wide)
We could just start at ten (Ten), then we can go to five (Five)
I don't play with my pen (Pen), I mean what I writе
Yeah-yeah, woah-woah-woah
I just can't help but bе sexual (Oh), tell me your schedule (Yeah)
I got a lotta new tricks for you, baby, just sayin' I'm flexible (I will)
I do what I can to get you off (I will), might just fuck him with my makeup on (I will)
Eat it like I need an apron on (Yeah, oh), eat it 'til I need to change my thong (Yeah, ayy)
We could do it to your favorite song (Yeah, ayy), take a ride into the danger zone
You know my n*gga be buggin' me, I just be wonderin' if you can fuck on me better
Itchin' for me like an ugly sweater, need it in me like a Chuck E. need cheddar, I need to know
[Chorus]
Wanna know what it's like (Like)
Baby, show me what it's like (Like)
I don't really got no type (Type)
I just wanna fuck all night
Yeah-yeah, oh-woah-woah (Oh, ooh, mmm)
Baby, I need to know, mmm (Yeah, need to know)
I just been fantasizin' (‘Size)
And we got a lotta time (Time)
Baby, come throw the pipe (Pipe)
Gotta know what it's like (Like)
Yeah-yeah, oh-woah-woah (Oh-woah-woah)
Baby, I need to know, mmm
[Bridge]
You're exciting, boy, come find me
Your eyes told me, "Girl, come ride me"
Fuck that feeling both us fighting
Could he try me? (Yeah) Mmm, most likely
[Verse 2]
Tryna see if you could handle this ass (Ahh), prolly give his ass a panic attack (Ahh)
Sorry if I gave a random erection, prolly thinkin' I'm a telekinetic (Umm)
Oh, wait, you a fan of the magic? Poof, pussy like an Alakazam (Yeah)
I heard from a friend of a friend that that dick was a ten out of ten
I can't stand it, just one night me
Clink with the drink, gimme a sip, tell me what's your kink, gimme the dick (Aaaah!)
Spank me, slap me, choke me, bite me (Ew)
Oh, wait, I can take it (Ah), give a fuck 'bout what your wifey's sayin' (Yeah)
[Chorus]
Wanna know what it's like (Like)
Baby, show me what it's like (Like)
I don't really got no type (Type)
I just wanna fuck all night
Yeah-yeah, oh-woah-woah (Oh, ooh, mmm)
Baby, I need to know, mmm (Yeah, need to know)
I just been fantasizin' (‘Size)
And we got a lotta time (Time)
Baby, come throw the pipe (Pipe)
Gotta know what it's like (Like)
Yeah-yeah, oh-woah-woah (Oh-woah-woah)
Baby, I need to know, mmm
References[]
- ↑ "Can't Stop the Feline: How Doja Cat Took Pop to a New Dimension"
- ↑ Billboard - "Doja Cat Teases New Single 'Need to Know' With a Futuristic Clip: Watch"
- ↑ "Doja Cat Teased New Single 'Need To Know' With A Space Age Clip"
- ↑ "Doja Cat Shares New Track and Video 'Need to Know' Ahead of Upcoming Album"
- ↑ "Doja Cat – 'Need To Know'"
- ↑ X/Twitter - need to know 6/11
- ↑ "Doja Cat announces new single 'Need To Know'"
- ↑ "Doja Cat reveals 'Planet HER' tracklist, with features from Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and more"
- ↑ "Doja Cat Heads To The Desert For A Live Performance Of 'Need To Know'"
- ↑ "Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover Future Releases"
- ↑ "Doja Cat shares video for new song "Need To Know," new album 'Planet Her' out this month"
- ↑ "Doja Cat tells us what we 'Need To Know' in new song lyrics
- ↑ "Doja Cat Turns Up The Heat On "Need To Know"
- ↑ "The Best Songs of 2021"
- ↑ "Doja Cat's 'Planet HER' Cements Her Weirdo Pop Star Status"
- ↑ "Can't Stop the Feline: How Doja Cat Took Pop to a New Dimension"
- ↑ "First Stream: New Music From Polo G, Lorde, Migos, Doja Cat and More"
- ↑ "Every Song Ranked on Doja Cat's 'Planet Her': Critic's List"
- ↑ Rolling Stone - "Doja Cat Blasts Back to the Future in New 'Need to Know' Video"
- ↑ "DOJA CAT'S "NEED TO KNOW" PROSTHETICS REQUIRED A TEAM OF 20"
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Tracks | Woman • Naked • Payday • Get Into It (Yuh) • Need To Know • I Don't Do Drugs • Love To Dream • You Right • Been Like This • Options • Ain't Shit • Imagine • Alone • Kiss Me More |
| Deluxe tracks |
You Right (Extended) • Up And Down • Tonight • Ride • Why Why |
| Scrapped tracks | Boom Boom • Heat Stroke • Hot and Crazy • Hustle • Like A Dog • Peanut Butter Jam • Prom • Thirsty • Throw That Ass • Vacation • Wake Up |
| Related tracks |
Whiskey |
| Artists | Doja Cat • Young Thug • Ariana Grande • The Weeknd • JID • SZA • Eve • Gunna |