Cry Me Out

"Cry Me Out" is a song by English singer Pixie Lott from her debut studio album, "Turn It Up" (2009). Written by Lott, Mads Hauge, Phil Thornalley and Colin Campsie, and produced by Hauge and Thornalley, the song was released on 22 November 2009 as the album's third single. "Cry Me Out" peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
Background.
Lott explained the song to BBC News: "I always prefer to write songs about emotional situations and heartbreak [...] because I like getting into the character. When we were writing 'Cry Me Out', I said, 'I feel like singing about something sad but, obviously, still being strong'. So the guy has to cry to get over "me", instead of the other way around." She also told Digital Spy that the song's opening lyric "I got your e-mails, you just don't get females" was her favourite line on the "Turn It Up" album. Lott explained that she chose to release "Cry Me Out" as a single because she "wanted to do something really classy and mature for the next single, where I could get a bit more emotional."
Critical reception.
"Cry Me Out" received positive reviews from music critics. BBC Music's Paul Lester called the song "a superb ballad, as affecting as it is accomplished" and described its opening line as "witty and wise, a master class in how to put contemporary language to the service of a sublime melody." Digital Spy reviewer David Balls viewed the song as "a sultry, soulful affair that warms the cockles like a cup of cocoa on a cold winter's night", adding that "Lott's vocals have a rich and smoky tone beyond her years." Jack Foley of IndieLondon wrote that the song "taps into the clever songwriting tendencies her PR insists she has with some cheeky lyrics and a keen sense of beat and melody." The LINC Online referred to the track as "a decidedly retro-sounding gem of tune heading more in the direction of the epic ballad than her previous singles may suggest", whilst "Daily Star"s Sarah-Louise James dubbed it a "retro-tinged stomper".
Commercial performance.
Following the release of "Turn It Up", "Cry Me Out" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 117 for the week of 20 September 2009. The song peaked at number 12 on 6 December 2009, becoming Lott's first single not to reach number one and to miss the top 10 completely. On 26 February 2021, it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The single also debuted and peaked at number 31 on the Irish Singles Chart on 10 December 2009. "Cry Me Out" peaked at number four on the Danish Singles Chart on 14 January 2011, after being performed during the auditions of the fourth season of the Danish version of "X Factor".
Music video.
The black-and-white music video for "Cry Me Out" was directed by Jake Nava and filmed in Cuba. It premiered on 30 October 2009. The video opens with a close-up of a man crying, as Lott walks down a staircase in a classic-styled home wearing a black dress before sitting down at a mirror. She proceeds to dance ballet in a gothic-like dress in an empty room, intercut with scenes of her lying down on a lengthy dining table surrounded by men. Lott is seen walking through a hallway in the house as several other ballerinas dance around her. During the final chorus, Lott is sitting by a swimming pool where six dancers perform a synchronised swimming routine. The video ends with the same crying man as in the beginning, before returning to the shot of Lott at the mirror before she walks away.
Credits and personnel.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of "Turn It Up".