Tonight (PinkPantheress song)
{{Short description|2025 single by PinkPantheress}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Tonight
| cover = Tonight - PinkPantheress cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = PinkPantheress
| album = Fancy That
| B-side =
| released = {{Start date|2025|04|04|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = * Dance-pop
| length = 2:56
| label = Warner
| writer = * PinkPantheress
- Aksel Arvid
- Count Baldor
- Brendon Urie
- Ryan Ross
- Spencer Smith
- Jon Walker
| producer = * PinkPantheress
- Count Baldor
- Aksel Arvid
| prev_title = Turn It Up
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title = Stateside
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|IrEFKJnl1H8|"Tonight"}}|type=single}}
}}
"Tonight" is a song by English singer PinkPantheress. It was released digitally through Warner Records on 4 April 2025 as the lead single from her upcoming second mixtape, Fancy That (2025). It was released to Italian radio airplay on 11 April 2025. PinkPantheress wrote and produced the track with Aksel Arvid and Count Baldor. Musically, "Tonight" is a dance-pop and bassline track that features synthesisers. It samples orchestral arrangements and strings from Panic! at the Disco's song "Do You Know What I'm Seeing?" from their album Pretty. Odd. (2008). In its lyrics, the song's narrator flirts with and makes sexual advances toward a crush.
Music critics generally praised "Tonight" for its production, with several publications selecting it as one of the best songs of its release week. The music video for "Tonight", directed by Charlotte Rutherford, accompanied the song's release. The period drama–inspired video contains several fashion and aesthetic choices that evoke the Regency era and the television series Bridgerton. It depicts PinkPantheress and her friends hosting a rowdy party at a manor house, where they kiss passionately and engage in pillow fights.
Background and release
PinkPantheress released her debut mixtape, To Hell with It, on 15 October 2021,{{cite magazine |last=Mamo |first=Heran |title=Viral U.K. Pop Sensation PinkPantheress Talks Debut Mixtape To Hell With It, Reinventing Classics and Writing Short |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9644781/pinkpantheress-interview-to-hell-with-it |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=15 October 2021 |archive-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016152720/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9644781/pinkpantheress-interview-to-hell-with-it/ |url-status=live }} followed by her debut studio album, Heaven Knows, on 10 November 2023.{{cite web |last=Higgins |first=Kayla |url=https://consequence.net/2023/11/pinkpantheress-heaven-knows-stream/ |title=PinkPantheress Releases Debut Album Heaven Knows: Stream |website=Consequence |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=10 November 2023 |archive-date=30 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130232307/https://consequence.net/2023/11/pinkpantheress-heaven-knows-stream/ |url-status=live }} She revealed that she was working on new music in July 2024, before cancelling her remaining 2024 concerts to focus on her health. She tweeted images of herself in a studio in January 2025, writing, "Oh, we are soooo back! [...] Thanks for waiting on me".{{cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Kyann-Sian |title=PinkPantheress Teases New Music for 2025: 'We Are Soooo Back' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/pinkpantheress-teases-new-music-for-2025-we-are-soooo-back-3826370 |magazine=NME |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=6 January 2025 |archive-date=9 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109163244/https://www.nme.com/news/music/pinkpantheress-teases-new-music-for-2025-we-are-soooo-back-3826370 |url-status=live }} In an interview with Mixmag in March of that year, she said that she had been writing about "letting expectations go" and "trying to strike a balance between being a pop star and also being experimental".{{cite magazine |last=Garner |first=Emily |date=4 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Samples a Panic! at the Disco Deep Cut on Her New Single, 'Tonight' |url=https://www.kerrang.com/pinkpantheress-samples-a-panic-at-the-disco-deep-cut-on-her-new-single-tonight |magazine=Kerrang! |access-date=9 April 2025 }}{{cite magazine |last=Ahmed |first=Aneesa |date=31 March 2025 |title=Letting Expectations Go: PinkPantheress Is Entering a New Era |url=https://mixmag.net/feature/pinkpantheress-cover-feature-interview-2025 |magazine=Mixmag |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406231804/https://mixmag.net/feature/pinkpantheress-cover-feature-interview-2025 |archive-date=6 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
PinkPantheress released "Tonight" digitally on 4 April 2025, as the lead single from her upcoming second mixtape, Fancy That (2025).{{cite web |last=Pointer |first=Flisadam |date=6 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Reveals the Tracklist for Her Upcoming Mixtape, and It Features a Fan-Favorite Song |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/pinkpantheress-reveals-mixtape-tracklist-2025/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406214239/https://uproxx.com/pop/pinkpantheress-reveals-mixtape-tracklist-2025/ |archive-date=6 April 2025 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Elaina |date=4 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Previews Imminent Project with Lead Single 'Tonight' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2025/4/pinkpantheress-tonight-single-music-video-stream |publisher=Hypebeast |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405131924/https://hypebeast.com/2025/4/pinkpantheress-tonight-single-music-video-stream |archive-date=5 April 2025 |url-status=live }} Warner Records released it to Italian airplay on 11 April 2025.{{Cite press release |first=Raffaella |last=Tenaglia |title= PinkPantheress 'Tonight' {{!}} (Radio Date: 11 April 2025) |url=https://radiodate.it/radio-date/pinkpantheress-tonight-238116-11-04-2025-radiodate/ |publisher=Airplay Control |access-date=9 April 2025 }} "Tonight" reached the national charts of the United Kingdom (35) and Ireland (88). In the United States, it peaked at number 5 on the Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart and number 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. "Tonight" additionaly reached number 7 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart, number 12 on the Japan Hot Overseas chart, and number 65 on the Lithuania Airplay chart.
Production and composition
PinkPantheress wrote and produced "Tonight" with Aksel Arvid and Count Baldor. The track samples orchestral arrangement and strings from Panic! at the Disco's song "Do You Know What I'm Seeing?" from their album Pretty. Odd. (2008), written by Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith, and Jon Walker. PinkPantheress engineered and programmed "Tonight" with Arvid, while Phil provided additional production. The song was mixed by Nickie Jon Pabón and mastered by Joe LaPorta.
"Tonight" is 2 minutes and 56 seconds long.{{Cite web |author=PinkPantheress |author-link=PinkPantheress |date=4 April 2025 |title=Tonight – Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/tonight-single/1803593737 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-date=4 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404064536/https://music.apple.com/us/album/tonight-single/1803593737 |url-status=live }} Prior to the song's release, PinkPantheress wrote on TikTok, "Ion wanna see no more song length jokes after this song comes out on Friday," alluding to her songs usually being about 2 minutes and 30 seconds long.{{cite magazine |last=Chelosky |first=Danielle |date=4 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress – 'Tonight' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2303014/pinkpantheress-tonight/music/ |magazine=Stereogum |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405083513/https://www.stereogum.com/2303014/pinkpantheress-tonight/music/ |archive-date=5 April 2025 |url-status=live }} It is a synth–driven dance-pop{{cite magazine |last=Peters |first=Daniel |title=Pinkpantheress Issues New Single 'Tonight' with Bridgerton-Inspired Music Video |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/pinkpantheress-issues-new-single-tonight-with-bridgerton-inspired-music-video-3852103 |magazine=NME |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=4 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405134722/https://www.nme.com/news/music/pinkpantheress-issues-new-single-tonight-with-bridgerton-inspired-music-video-3852103 |archive-date=5 April 2025 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=George |date=8 April 2025 |title=Official Trending Chart: Ed Sheeran, Sleep Token, Miley Cyrus and More Score Rising UK Hits |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-trending-chart-ed-sheeran-sleep-token-miley-cyrus-and-more-score-rising-uk-hits/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=9 April 2025 }} and bassline{{cite magazine |last=Dunn-Christensen |first=Millie |date=4 April 2025 |title=Notion Now #239: Miley Cyrus, PinkPantheress & Wet Leg |url=https://notion.online/notion-now-miley-cyrus-pinkpantheress-wet-leg/ |magazine=Notion |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406130154/https://notion.online/notion-now-miley-cyrus-pinkpantheress-wet-leg/ |archive-date=6 April 2025 |url-status=live }} song with a "bouncy" beat.{{cite magazine |last=Lai |first=Tiffany |date=8 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Returns with 'Tonight', a Flirty Club Anthem |url=https://theface.com/music/pinkpantheress-tonight-2hollis-review-fakemink-jawnino |magazine=The Face |access-date=9 April 2025 }} The track begins with orchestral strings before transitioning into its dance–heavy production.{{cite magazine |date=4 April 2025 |last=Taylor |first=Sam |title=PinkPantheress Has Returned with Her New Dance Single 'Tonight' |url=https://readdork.com/news/pinkpantheress-tonight-single/ |magazine=Dork |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405154413/https://readdork.com/news/pinkpantheress-tonight-single/ |archive-date=5 April 2025 |url-status=live }} The song's flirty lyrics are addressed to the narrator's shy crush, such as in its refrain ("You want sex with me/Come talk to me").{{cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |title=PinkPantheress Is the Belle of the Dance Floor in "Tonight" Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pinkpantheress-tonight-single-video-1235310760/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=4 April 2025 |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405053748/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pinkpantheress-tonight-single-video-1235310760/ |archive-date=5 April 2025 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Carr |first=Mary Kate |date=4 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Gets Her Bridgerton On in "Tonight" Music Video |url=https://www.avclub.com/pinkpantheress-tonight-music-video |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404184003/https://www.avclub.com/pinkpantheress-tonight-music-video |archive-date=4 April 2025 |url-status=live }} Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that PinkPantheress's vocals on the song were "almost nonchalant".{{cite web |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |last2=Ganz |first2=Caryn |author1-link=Jon Pareles |title=Miley Cyrus's Apocalyptic Pop, and 9 More New Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/arts/music/playlist-miley-cyrus-ed-sheeran-bruce-springsteen.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=4 April 2025 |archive-date=7 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407021703/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/arts/music/playlist-miley-cyrus-ed-sheeran-bruce-springsteen.html |url-status=live }}
Critical reception
Music critics generally praised "Tonight" for its production and selected it as one of the best songs of its release week. Robin Murray of Clash dubbed it a "ridiculously infectious [...] dose of pop futurism that arrives with a sly grin on its face."{{cite magazine |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=7 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Reveals Full Mixtape Tracklisting |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/pinkpantheress-reveals-full-mixtape-tracklisting/ |magazine=Clash |access-date=9 April 2025 }} Zachary Horvath from HotNewHipHop thought that it exemplified PinkPantheress's "addicting" production style and "wildly entrancing" vocal delivery, praising its "groovy" bassline and "colorful" instrumental.{{cite web |last=Horvath |first=Zachary |date=4 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Is Ready to Get It On 'Tonight' on Her Intoxicating Club Banger |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/899716-pinkpantheress-tonight-stream |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=9 April 2025 }} Elaina Bernstein from Hypebeast,{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Elaina |date=4 April 2025 |title=Best New Tracks: 2hollis, PinkPantheress, Duckwrth and More |url=https://hypebeast.com/2025/4/best-new-tracks-2hollis-pinkpantheress-duckwrth-miley-cyrus-shoreline-mafia |publisher=Hypebeast |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-date=4 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404104906/https://hypebeast.com/2025/4/best-new-tracks-2hollis-pinkpantheress-duckwrth-miley-cyrus-shoreline-mafia |url-status=live }} Derrick Rossignol from Uproxx,{{cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Derrick |date=7 April 2025 |title=All the Best New Music from This Week That You Need to Hear |url=https://uproxx.com/music/best-new-music-this-week-sexyy-red-pinkpantheress/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=20 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420221503/https://uproxx.com/music/best-new-music-this-week-sexyy-red-pinkpantheress/ |url-status=live }} and the editorial staff of Consequence selected "Tonight" as one of the best songs of its release week.{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2025/04/staff-picks-songs-of-the-week-april-4/ |title=Staff Picks: Best Songs of the Week March 29th – April 4th 2025 |website=Consequence |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=4 April 2025 |archive-date=5 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405001033/https://consequence.net/2025/04/staff-picks-songs-of-the-week-april-4/ |url-status=live }} Consequence{{'s}} staff praised PinkPantheress's "feathery" vocals and the combination of baroque strings with club–driven beats. Billboard listed "Tonight" as one of their "R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week", with Michael Saponara lauding its bassline and mature narrative.{{cite magazine |first1=Kyle |last1=Denis |first2=Angel |last2=Diaz |first3=Michael |last3=Saponara |first4=Christopher |last4=Claxton |date=8 April 2025 |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Eric Roberson, Ray Vaughn, Jai'Len Josey, Sauce Walka & More |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/best-new-rb-hip-hop-bigxthaplug-pinkpantheress-sir-maeta-1235941453/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 April 2025 }} Wonderland similarly lauded its production and "playful" lyrics, including "Tonight" on their list of the best newly released songs.{{cite magazine |title=PinkPantheress and Wet Leg Make Their Glowing Returns, 2hollis Shares a New Album, and Rachel Chinouriri Does What She Does Best: It's Wonderlist! |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2025/04/04/wonderlist-pinkpantheress-3/ |magazine=Wonderland |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=4 April 2025 }}
Music video
The music video for "Tonight", directed by Charlotte Rutherford, was released on 4 April 2025, the same day as the song's release.{{cite magazine |last=Renshaw |first=David |date=4 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress' "Tonight" Video Is Bridgerton Meets the Club |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/04/04/pinkpantheress-tonight-video|magazine=The Fader |access-date=9 April 2025 }}{{cite magazine |last=Keith |first=James |date=7 April 2025 |title=PinkPantheress Announces New Mixtape, Fancy That, Shares Single and Video, 'Tonight': Watch |url=https://djmag.com/news/pinkpantheress-announces-new-mixtape-fancy-shares-single-and-video-tonight-watch |magazine=DJ Mag |access-date=9 April 2025 |archive-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409235850/https://djmag.com/news/pinkpantheress-announces-new-mixtape-fancy-shares-single-and-video-tonight-watch |url-status=live }} The costumes in the period drama–inspired video incorporate corsets, powdered wigs, and pearls, which journalists described as reminiscent of the Regency era,{{NoteTag|References:}} the television series Bridgerton,{{NoteTag|References:}} and the 2006 film Marie Antoinette. The video depicts PinkPantheress and her friends riding on bicycles and carriages to a manor house, where they throw a chaotic party, kiss passionately, and engage in pillow fights. At the party, a DJ spins records on a phonograph, a woman's hair sets on fire, and a man inside of a portrait steps out of it.
Credits and personnel
Credits shown below are adapted from Qobuz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/tonight-pinkpantheress/m5cwx2chm14jc|title=Tonight {{!}} PinkPantheress|publisher=Qobuz|access-date=9 April 2025}}
{{div col}}
- PinkPantheress – vocals, songwriter, producer, engineer, programmer
- Aksel Arvid – songwriter, producer, engineer, programmer
- Count Baldor – songwriter, producer
- Joe LaPorta – mastering engineer
- Nickie Jon Pabón – mixing engineer
- Phil – additional producer
- Brendon Urie – songwriter
- Ryan Ross – songwriter
- Spencer Smith – songwriter
- Jon Walker – songwriter
{{div col end}}
Charts
Footnotes
{{NoteFoot}}