Released: 2019
Features: John Mayer
“Outta My Head” by Khalid, featuring none other than the bluesy John Mayer, is a wrapped gift of pop-focused R&B. It’s a sultry track with an unyielding chorus that reverberates with pure, unadulterated infatuation.
The song circulates around the all-consuming obsession the narrator feels towards the object of his affection. Khalid is so deeply caught up in his feelings that he feels the need to exclaim, “I just can’t get you outta my head.” This is more than just a casual crush; it’s an attraction so deep it’s chaotic, it’s maddening. His life is better with this person in it (“‘Cause days get brighter when you’re here”), making the sentiment even more potent.
Let’s look at “You locked the door and it’s rainin’ / But baby I’m not complainin’, no / We hit the road and we’re racin’.” Here Khalid couches their relationship in almost cinematic terms, painting a visual image of a couple, cocooned in their car, locked in their own world while the rain pours around them. With one foot on the gas, they’re escaping into their own romantic bliss, leaving the world behind.
The verse “Can you feel the tension? / You’ve got my attention / I know we’re just friends but I’d rather be together” reveals a complicated twist. Khalid wants more but he is stuck in the murky waters of the friend-zone, which is always a difficult space to navigate. And trust me, pop music is littered with countless tales of unrequited love that stemmed from such predicaments.
The track is further elevated with John Mayer’s distinctive guitar licks adding to the overall romantic ambiance. Mayer’s signature blues licks not only provide a rich textural depth but they also enhance the emotional intensity of the lyrics, creating a compelling pop ballad that is both passionate and bittersweet.
So to wrap it up, “Outta My Head” is a pop anthem for the lovelorn, for those knee-deep in the depths of infatuation where every moment not spent with the object of their affection feels like an eternity. Khalid uses pop music to express these emotions, reminding us all about the human condition and the tantalizing torment of unrequited love. And let’s be real, who among us hasn’t been there at least once?
