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No Bystanders

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"No Bystanders"
Song by Travis Scott featuring Juice Wrld and Sheck Wes
from the album Astroworld
ReleasedAugust 3, 2018
Genre
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"No Bystanders" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper Travis Scott from his third studio album Astroworld (2018). It features additional vocals from American rappers Juice Wrld and Sheck Wes. The song interpolates the song "Tear da Club Up" by Three 6 Mafia.

Background

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In an interview with Rolling Stone, Scott's A&R Sickamore spoke about the song's reference to "Tear da Club Up":

That's all Travis. He wanted the ultimate raging song. All he thought about that song was mosh pits. All the music we think about how it’s going to perform live. You always gotta think about that. Is it still gonna be a movie live? We did that song last night at Hard Summer — oh my God. It was one of the top songs of the night. There were huge mosh pits going crazy.[1]

Travis Scott has also used the phrase "No Bystanders" at his concerts to encourage people to "mosh out", dance and "rage".[2][3]

Composition

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Lyrically, the song is about how Travis Scott does not want people who do not party (referring to them as "bystanders") at his concerts, as well as his lifestyle. Juice Wrld sings the intro of the song ("The party never ends / In a motel, laying with my sins, yeah / I'm tryna get revenge / You'll be all out of love in the end").[2] In the chorus, Sheck Wes interpolates the chorus of "Tear da Club Up", chanting "Fuck the club up", and adds his "Bitch!" ad-lib as well.[3]

Critical reception

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The song was praised by critics for its energetic and "explosive" style, and has been considered suitable for moshing and wild partying at concerts.[3][4] Conversely, Ben Dandridge-Lemco, in his review of Astroworld for The Fader, wrote that Scott's collaboration with Sheck Wes and Juice Wrld "would seem like an obvious opportunity for him to run the table and show out", but "Instead, in the middle of an awkward skittering flow, he delivers the album's worst line: 'I told her it's B.Y.O.B., that mean buy your own booze.'"[5]

Live performances

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Travis Scott performed the song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[6]

Controversy

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In April 2019, DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia filed a $20 million lawsuit against Travis Scott for copyright infringement in the song, also pointing out that in his Grammys performance, Scott changed the lyrics to "tear the club up" instead of "fuck the club up."[7] The lawsuit was settled in September 2019.[8]

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 34
France (SNEP)[10] 105
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 31
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 22

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[14] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[15] Platinum 40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[16] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[17] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Leight, Elias (2018-08-07). "How Travis Scott (and His A&R) Got John Mayer, Drake and Stevie Wonder on the Same Album". Rolling Stone.
  2. ^ a b Chapman, Brynjar (2018-08-05). "Travis Scott & Juice WRLD Are Lonely Together On "No Bystanders"". HotNewHipHop.
  3. ^ a b c Hodge, Kyle (2020-08-03). "The 20 Best Travis Scott Songs of All Time". Highsnobiety.
  4. ^ "The 25 Best Travis Scott Songs". Complex. October 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (August 7, 2018). "Sometimes that mid be hitting: A review of Travis Scott's Astroworld". The FADER.
  6. ^ Grow, Kory; Kreps, Daniel (February 10, 2019). "Grammys 2019: Travis Scott Takes Audience to 'Astroworld' With Two Tracks".
  7. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie (2019-04-23). "Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul Sues Travis Scott Over "No Bystanders"". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ Minsker, Evan (2019-09-30). "Travis Scott and Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul Settle "No Bystanders" Lawsuit". Pitchfork.
  9. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "SNEP Top Singles: Week 32 (2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. August 10, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Swedish Heatseekers Chart - 3 August 2018".
  12. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  15. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Travis Scott – No Bystanders" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  16. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Travis Scott – No Bystanders". Music Canada. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  17. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 8, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter No Bystanders in the search box.
  18. ^ "British single certifications – Travis Scott – No Bystanders". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
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