Sleepover

"Sleepover"
General information
Artist	Hayley Kiyoko
Release Date	March 2, 2017 (single) March 30, 2018 (album)
Recorded	2017
Genre	Pop
Length	3:54
Labels	Empire, Atlantic
Composer(s)	Kiyoko, Brandi Flores, Dorr, Bernardy
Producer(s)	Dorr
Album	Expectations
Singles Chronology
Previous	"One Bad Night"
Current	"Sleepover"
Next	"Glory Days"
Expectations Chronology
"What I Need"
"Sleepover"
"Mercy/Gatekeeper"
Music Video

"Sleepover" was first released as a non-album single however, later became the first single and the fourth track off Hayley Kiyoko's debut album, Expectations. It was released on March 2, 2017 through Atlantic and Empire and was Kiyoko's first song of that year.

Background

The song was released on March 2, 2017 as an non-album single and was confirmed to the fourth track on Hayley's debut album on March 12, 2018, an entire year after the song was first released.

In Sleepover Kiyoko depicts the attempts of queer people who fell in love with a friend to show those friends just how deep their feelings are. However, that friend is unaware of their feelings and the queer people keep fantasizing about all the aspects of a romantic relationship and even if they will not ever have that in real life at least they got them in their heads.

"I tried to capture that intense feeling of yearning for someone, and how it just feels like you’re being swallowed by it."

—Kiyoko in an interview with Billboard when asked about Sleepover

"This is a really exciting piece for me because I’m able to speak my truth. Throughout my music, I’m in pursuit of a deeper truth — this is my truth."

—Hayley to Buzzfeed

"I’ve never truly believed that sexuality defines who you are. I do believe, though, that sexuality helps shape and build who you become. How you act, what you pursue, who you surround yourself with. [...] “Sleepover” is not a concept or an idea for me. It is my life. It defines a part of who I am today. I grew up a dreamer and found comfort through a safe haven in my head. It’s where I was able to find self-love and feel validated. This music video validates those feelings for me, even if in those moments the girl I fell for was unavailable. I made this video to help validate those fantasies. To create a space for the lovers, dreamers and seekers. Falling in love can be a bittersweet feeling, especially if you know it’ll never be reciprocated. I think we can all relate to that."

—Hayley talking about the song and the music video on Tumblr

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I don't wanna talk about it
I don't wanna think about it
I'm just feeling low, feeling low
Even when you're next to me
It's not the way I’m picturing
I'm just feeling low, feeling low
You wanna be friends forever?
I can think of something better
I'm just feeling low, feeling low
Sleeping here right next to me
But will you ever mess with me? No

[Chorus]
But at least I got you in my head, oh yeah
At least I got you in my head, in my head
Sleepovers in my bed, oh yeah
At least I got you in my head, in my head
In my head
In my head

[Verse 2]
Always there to brush your hair
Help you pick out what to wear
I just feel alone, feel alone
You will never understand
Even when you hold my hand
I just feel alone, feel alone
I don't wanna talk about it
I don't wanna think about it
I just feel alone, feel alone
Even when you're next to me
It's not the way I’m picturing, no

[Chorus]
But at least I got you in my head, oh yeah
At least I got you in my head, in my head
Sleepovers in my bed, oh yeah
At least I got you in my head, in my head
In my head
In my head

[Bridge]
Come on, let's sleep in my bed
Can I just be in my head with you?
Come on, let's sleep in my bed
Can I just be in my head with you?
And it breaks my heart, yeah it breaks my heart
I do this every single time, every time

[Chorus]
But at least I got you in my head, oh yeah
At least I got you in my head, in my head
Sleepovers in my bed, oh yeah
At least I got you in my head, in my head

Critical reception

This song was Kiyoko's first song to be released in 2017 and thus ended her music drought and was generally well received by her fans. However, the song did not chart.

Pop Crush refers to the song as "a bittersweet, sweet fantasy, baby—and one we can all relate to." Moreover, they praised it for "creating a poignant piece of pro-LGBTQ art that explores the inimitable, precious ache of one girl falling in love with another who will never feel quite the same way."

Other members of the LGBTQ+ community are thankful for how much they can relate to this song and have shared their own unrequited love stories and felt comfort in the song. Orlando Weekly furthermore praised Kiyoko that she is "willing to be specific, and it has made her a definitive lesbian voice in pop music."

In addition, Autostraddle refers to the song as an "unrequited queer girl love anthem" and is certain that Kiyoko is the "queer artist that’s leading us into a wonderful bright and openly queer future in music".

Music Video

The music video was released on March 2, 2017, the same day the song was released. It was self-directed by Hayley Kiyoko.

Cast

• Hayley Kiyoko as herself
• Christina Santini as Rose

Summary

Note:This article features a brief summary of the music video.

Click "show" to read the summary.

Hayley fantasizing about Rose

In her music video for Sleepover, Kiyoko portrays the feeling of yearning for someone but not knowing how to tell that person just how deeply you feel for them.

The music video depicts Hayley and Rose (portrayed by Christina Santini) who are having a sleepover. During the time they spend together Hayley fantasizes about kissing and feeling Rose close to her. Almost like she and Rose have a relationship but it's all just in Hayley's head. However, Hayley ultimiately knows that she won't those feelings are one-sided and that in order to keep their relationship she has to keep fantasizing about it.