Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff Describes ‘Stop Making This Hurt’ as ‘a Little Sinister’
“Stop Making This Hurt” includes plenty of horns and funky bass lines. However, when Jack Antonoff of Bleachers first created this track, he described its lyrics as “a little sinister.” Here’s what we learned about the Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night song.
Jack Antonoff of Bleachers wrote ‘Stop Making This Hurt’
Bleachers released songs like “Rollercoaster” and “I Wanna Get Better,” performing on Saturday Night Live in 2022. As one of the tracks in 2021’s Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night, Antonoff took to YouTube, explaining the creative process behind “Stop Making This Hurt.”
The includes the bass line that changed the song’s tone and some of the inspiration behind the lyrics. While listening to the chorus, Antonoff paused after the lyric ‘say goodbye like you mean it.”
“Because that’s the ticket, right? The only way to stop making this hurt is to… move on — say goodbye like you mean it,” the writer explained. “It’s a little sinister. ‘Stop trying on this hurt?’”
How Jack Antonoff changed the ‘sinister’ meaning of ‘Stop Making This Hurt’
With lyrics asking people to say goodbye like they mean it, Antonoff wanted to do more than just reflect on the experiences of others. There had to be a way to change the feeling of the track.
“And then I thought, ‘ok, it’s too sinister,’” Antonoff continued. “I’m not owning anything, I’m just saying, ‘you stop doing this…’ so who am I in the song? And this is where the song becomes a song.”
The artist then played the bridge, which included the line “but if we take the sadness out of Saturday night.” Saying the album title again “changes the whole tone of the song,” according to Antonoff.
The Bleachers frontman said that he recognizes in his family members and collaborators that everyone is trying their best, and they “barely survived.” For that, Antonoff wanted to celebrate with some horns and by featuring friends in the final chorus.
Bleachers showcased that musical celebration in the “Stop Making This Hurt” music video, filmed in New Jersey’s Bendix Diner. Antonoff danced on tables while other band members appeared throughout the restaurant. Bleachers also used this song to end concerts, including their 2021 Shadow of the City performance.
Jack Antonoff explained other Bleachers songs including those from ‘Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night’
Other songs from Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night got a YouTube video explanation featuring Antonoff. Antonoff explained the Bruce Springsteen feature on “Chinatown” and some of the production behind “91.”
In 2022, this band will be performing across North America and in the United Kingdom, with Antonoff making it his New Years’ resolution to write another Bleachers album. Until then, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night is available on most major streaming platforms.
