“SAD!” appears in XXXTentacion’s second studio album ‘?’ which was released in March 2018. This track was released as a single off of the album in early March, and the music video was released on June 28, 2018, after the passing away of XXXTentacion by a fatal shooting in Florida.
“SAD!” initially reached #17 on Billboard upon the release and after the passing away of XXXTentacion at the age of 20, the song jumped to #1 spot on Billboard Hot 100-a climb of 51 spots in a week. This is the second time a single has reached #1 spot after the passing away of the artist. The first time was during the passing away of The Notorious B.I.G where his 1997 hit “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems” achieved a similar feat.
“SAD!” is, in fact, a sad song and captures the emotions surrounding a fresh breakup. XXXTentacion speaks about the insecurities that follow after being dumped and thoughts of suicide crossing his mind.
Watch “SAD!” Music Video
Download “SAD!” Single on iTunes and Amazon
Buy ‘?’ Album on iTunes and Amazon
The music video for “SAD!” is a whole other experience. XXXTentacion has directed the music video which captures so many conceptualizations of the modern society and his view on them.
It is undoubtedly eerie to see that XXXTentacion attending his own funeral in the music video. This probably had nothing to do with the fatal shooting that happened on June 18, which took his life. However, this shows how a living person struggles with his own dead self.
There is a series of messages/dialogues that appear and disappear in the video on and off. XXXTentacion goes so far as to even create his own new word: “gekyume.” X himself explained the meaning of this word on social media later.
This elaborates that what he is about to say comes from a different state of mind. We find proof of this in statements such as below found in the video.
“the world is in need of change, humans must learn to love and compromise rather than destroy. blessings be upon those who have come to this visual presentation with good energy and love rather than malice. and those with negative intent, thank you, your energy has been transmuted in the amount of time that you’ve taken to give your energy. the world will soon be more loving, you will see.”
It is sad to realize that his last wish did not come true at all. But his death would not have been in vain if his message lives on.
After this statement in the video, X gets attacked by his own dead-self from within the coffin reaching out to choke the live X who has come to pay his final respects. Ironical, isn’t it?
Lyrics Review and Song Meaning of “SAD!”
Despite the bizarre and intuitive music video, the lyrics speak about a breakup that XXXTentacion is unable to move on from.
Chorus
X faces the harsh reality that he is unable to move on from his ex. The most publicized relationship of X was his last ex-girlfriend, Geneva Ayala, who was apparently abused by X. Even on X’s debut album ’17’ he confesses his inability move on from her, and he feels depressed because of this.
X also speaks about how suicide has been a form of coping with breakups recently. He spoke about suicidal thoughts in the debut album as well, in a track named “Jocelyn Flores,” a friend of X who committed suicide.
“I’m in pain, wanna put 10 shots in my brain
I’ve been trippin’ ‘bout some things, can’t change
Suicidal, same time I’m tame” – “Jocelyn Flores”
Verse
There is only one verse on “SAD!” which tells us about his relationship with his ex.
He confesses that he gave her everything, but she broke his heart and left him in pieces. He has not been able to move on ever since. He also admits that he is not healed enough to fix himself from this torment. He would rather weep it out of his system. But it does not seem like he has finished weeping, as for two albums he has not gotten over her.
X says you are truly found when you are in love. When that love fades away, he is utterly lost and broken. Love is sweet until it lasts, but the ending leaves most of us in scars. What X should have remembered is, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’
“SAD!” comprises only of a chorus and a verse lyrically. However, the unique music video and the subtitled messages in the video makes it a stand out success.
XXXTentacion was making music at a stretch at the time of his passing. Hence, we can expect more new music releases in the near future.
We absolutely love the creative direction XXXTentacion has taken in “SAD!” single. Let us know what you think about the song and the music video in the comments below.
Check out the full lyrics and more meanings of “SAD!” on Genius.