What's Meaning Of Zendaya And Labrinth's I'm Tired? Here's What We Think
British singer-songwriter Labrinth has been making music for over a decade, during which he's garnered a large, dedicated fan base. Simon Cowell signed the rising star back in 2010 to Syco Music — the first artist in six years to sign to his label who did not make an original debut in any of his television shows, per Daily Mail. "[Cowell's] going to take my records to where they need to go...We've created a healthy relationship," Labrinth said of his signing during an interview with BBC in 2012. He added that his decision to ultimately sign with Cowell was because he was given "complete creative control" of his music."
His single "Beneath Your Beautiful" from his 2012 debut album "Electronic Earth" grew his fandom in the United States after the song peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although the musical powerhouse was gaining traction on the charts, it wasn't until he teamed up with performers Sia and Diplo to form the group "LSD" that his career skyrocketed to a whole new level. Their single "Thunderclouds" — a track from their self-titled album released in 2019 — has as of this report surpassed 400 million Spotify streams, and their official music video has over 22 million views. During that time, Labrinth had also snagged another major deal in his career and this time it was for one of the hottest shows on television: none other than the HBO drama "Euphoria."
'I'm Tired' is an ode to those who are hurting
The duet "I'm Tired," featuring Labrinth and "Euphoria" star Zendaya, first debuted on the 4th episode of the show's 2nd season. It set the tone for a heartbreaking scene in which Zendaya's character Rue, a teenager with severe depression and substance use disorder, has an implied opioid overdose. "Hey Lord/You know I'm tired/Hey Lord/You know I'm tired of tears," Labrinth sang, as Rue imagined herself in a church, walking toward the singer to give him a hug. Labrinth crooned in the first verse about Rue's thoughts when it came to how she believed her loved ones felt about her recurring relapses: "Hey Lord/You know I'm fighting/I'm sure this world is done with me."
In "Euphoria," Rue often grapples with both her apathy and awareness of the deadly consequences of her drug use. So when the second half of the song reprised during the show's Season 2 finale, it solidified a major theme — the character's internal struggle to stay alive. "Now the tide is rollin' in/I don't wanna win /Let it take me," Zendaya sang. With their soulful voices and soothing tones, "I'm Tired" served a larger purpose: As a track that tied in the current mental state of each of the show's characters, with Zendaya singing for them as a whole. "Let it take me/I'll be on my way/How long can I stay?/In a place that can't contain me," the song concluded.
'Euphoria' was renewed for a third season
Following the second season finale of "Euphoria" in February 2022, Zendaya shared a video featuring her and Labrinth in the studio working on a gospel version of "I'm Tired" (pictured above) while expressing awe at what they created. "Thank you bro for allowing me to write, create and share space with you on this very special song. I learn so much from you every time we work. Excited for what's to come," she wrote on her Instagram story about her collaboration with Labrinth, per People.
Labrinth, who was given the opportunity by "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson to score the show and produce a 26-track soundtrack album for the series, per Variety, also later expressed gratitude for his good fortune. "'Euphoria' was like a beautiful master class and crash course in figuring out things that I didn't have an idea how to do," Labrinth said in an interview with Rolling Stone. "Sometimes I had to do 25 pieces or ideas in a week, and to have to work on that much music was pretty taxing, but luckily I got through it. I didn't know I could do that," he added.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).