Former X Factor contestant and The Voice judge Olly Murs has released his first album in four years , Marry Me. But it's his new single "I Hate You When You're Drunk" that's really getting people talking. Written about an unknown person getting a little drunk and starting belting out a Whitney Houston song and dancing on a table, the Moores star labeled the song "relaxing" before its release. "I thought it was a fun song to write because a lot of times there are so many songs written by friends, family or loved ones," he said in a press release. "From a sober person's perspective, It’s a lighthearted look at someone we all know!”
However, certain lyrics strike some listeners as unnecessarily cruel: "You're dancing on the table, can't you see/You look like a mess, and you're singing Whitney?" goes the first verse. "Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate when you're drunk."
Prior to the song's release, Moores also shared a set of old videos that seemed to indicate that "I Hate You When You're Drunk" might also be partly about himself. "I don't just hate you, I hate when I'm drunk," he wrote. Back in September, Moores revealed that he had been sober for the past year, telling the Mirror : "It's just a personal thing. I'm not someone who has ever struggled with alcoholism, it's just that I felt like I wanted to do it for a year And challenge yourself with things that can lead to bad things happening.”
"Life has improved a lot. I don't miss it at all," he said, adding that he planned to have a drink when he marries partner Amelia Tank next year.
However, not everyone agreed with Moores' interpretation of the lyrics, with some accusing the singer of "misogyny" and "cruel" songwriting. "So she got drunk, took pictures and told stories. Is it that bad? If he can't handle it, let her do her thing in peace! Not my thing, but if you want to party don't let anyone stop it You,” one tweeted. Another noted: "It's a weird gender dynamic for men to say women can't get drunk."
Self-Esteem was one of the musicians who took issue with the lyrics, which she posted on her Twitter with the caption "Presented without comment." Broadcaster Shaun Keaveny expressed his belief in the "controlling" narrative, saying of the song: "I'm looking forward to her reply song, 'I Hate You When You Sing' ”
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Moores' fiancé Tank appeared to respond directly to Keaveny's tweet, sharing the following on her now-expired Instagram Story. "Thank you so much for your concern here, but I can confirm that I actually love my *non* controlling *fiance* more when he sings, and this latest single is actually my favorite single from the album one," she wrote. “I’m not losing any sleep over this, bbz, because I’m definitely not #itsjustabitoffun.”
Check out the full lyrics below:
Oh, all your words are slurred, I have makeup on my shirt
You were dancing on the table, didn't you see?
You look like a mess and you're singing a Whitney song? (Whoa, oh oh)
Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate when you're drunk
Oh, your eyes are full of drunkenness, should we stop there?
Because you have told the story four or five times
Yeah, I've heard it before, my ears are bleeding (Whoa, oh oh)
Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate when you're drunk
Because you want to buy champagne (Oh-ooh-oh)
You want to throw the lens back (oh oh)
Now you're taking pictures (oh-oh-oh)
Why am I the only one not smiling? (oh oh)
Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate when you're drunk
So stop acting like a fool
Because I hate you when you're drunk
Oh, the funny thing is you don't remember anything.
But baby, I still love you
'Cause I'll be here to get you when you do it all again
Wow oh oh
Because you want to buy champagne (Oh-ooh-oh)
You want to throw the lens back (oh oh)
Now you're taking pictures (oh-oh-oh)
Why am I the only one not smiling? (oh oh)
Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate when you're drunk
So stop acting like a fool
Because I hate you when you're drunk
Oh, when morning comes you'll blame it all on me
When you asked for a hug, I didn't get sympathy
Because I hate when you're drunk
Because you want to buy champagne
And you want to throw the lens back
Now you are taking pictures
Why am I the only one not smiling?
Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate when you're drunk
So stop acting like a fool
Because I hate you when you're drunk
Hey
Lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala
Lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala
Lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala, lala
Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate when you're drunk
So stop acting like a fool
Because I hate you when you're drunk
