Tuesday (feat. Danelle Sandoval)

The song "Tuesday" by Burak Yeter, featuring Danelle Sandoval, is fundamentally about escapism and the defiance of routine. The lyrics tell the story of a person who works relentlessly throughout the week, including late nights and weekends, leaving no time for conventional social activities. The central theme is the act of carving out a moment of celebration and freedom on a seemingly mundane weekday: Tuesday. The line, "Club goin' up, on a Tuesday," serves as a powerful, repetitive hook that encapsulates this idea. It's a celebration of spontaneity and the rejection of the idea that fun is reserved only for Fridays and Saturdays. The song captures a modern work culture where traditional schedules are often blurred, and personal time must be seized whenever possible. It's a testament to finding joy and excitement in unexpected moments, transforming an ordinary day into a memorable event. The presence of a partner who "ain't choosey" further emphasizes a desire for uncomplicated, accepting companionship in these stolen moments of leisure.

The narrative unfolds from the perspective of someone deeply entrenched in a demanding work life, constantly working overtime and traveling, which causes a sense of detachment from their life back home. This relentless grind, working "Monday night on the corner flippin' hard" and pulling "graveyard shifts every other weekend," leaves no room for traditional weekend festivities. The protagonist expresses a feeling of being disconnected and laments not being around. The core of the song is a celebration of finding a moment of release and excitement on an unconventional day—Tuesday. The recurring declaration, "Club goin' up, on a Tuesday," becomes a mantra of rebellion against the mundane 9-to-5 structure. It's about creating your own weekend, your own moment of euphoria, whenever the opportunity arises.

This Tuesday night party is shared with a partner who is described as not being "choosey," suggesting an easy-going and accepting companionship. They are simply there to enjoy the moment, free from judgment or preference. The atmosphere is one of carefree indulgence. The mention of drugs, "squad goin' up, somebody pass the hookah," and the protagonist noting, "I got the loudest of the loud, you know my gas stink," paints a picture of a typical club scene. However, the singer clarifies their own position, stating, "I don't do the Molly... but I might take a sip of this just to get me goin'." This indicates a desire to let loose without completely losing control, seeking just enough of a buzz to break free from the exhaustion of the workweek.

The song contrasts the drudgery of work with the liberation of the party. The protagonist has created their own style and flow, a life that doesn't conform to societal norms of work-life balance. The repetition of the central phrase emphasizes that this isn't a one-time event; it's a lifestyle choice. Tuesday is their time to shine, to feel alive, and to connect with their partner and friends in a vibrant, energetic setting. The feeling is one of triumph over the monotony of daily obligations, finding a pocket of freedom and joy in the middle of an otherwise uneventful week.

The history of Burak Yeter's "Tuesday" is a multi-layered story of viral success and reinvention. The song's journey began with American rapper iLoveMakonnen. In 2014, he recorded the original track, which featured a laid-back, hazy trap beat produced by Sonny Digital and Metro Boomin. The song gained significant traction after Canadian rapper Drake heard it and released a remix, which propelled it into the mainstream and led to iLoveMakonnen signing with Drake's OVO Sound label.

In December 2014, American singer-songwriter Danelle Sandoval, then a student, recorded a simple, acoustic cover of the song on her iPhone and uploaded it to YouTube. Her soulful and melancholic interpretation gave the track a completely different emotional weight. This cover version went viral in its own right, amassing millions of views.

Turkish-Dutch DJ and producer Burak Yeter discovered Sandoval's popular acoustic cover. Seeing its potential, he decided to create a remix. He transformed the song into a deep house and dance-pop anthem, building a hypnotic and danceable beat around Sandoval's distinct vocal performance. Yeter's version was officially released in the summer of 2016. It quickly became a massive international hit, especially across Europe, Russia, and other regions, topping charts in numerous countries. The song was one of the most Shazamed tracks worldwide in 2017, solidifying its status as a global club and radio phenomenon that significantly boosted the careers of both Yeter and Sandoval.

The song's lyrical rhythm is simple and conversational, often following a loose, almost free-verse structure within the verses, which contrasts with the rigidly structured chorus. The primary rhyme scheme is found in the recurring chorus, which is highly repetitive but effective as a hook. The verses have a more sporadic rhyme pattern, focusing more on storytelling (e.g., "outta town" and "not around"). The song's overall rhythm is dictated by its electronic production. It is set in a 4/4 time signature, which is standard for house and dance music, making it highly danceable. The tempo is a relaxed but steady 99 BPM, falling into the deep house category that encourages a more hypnotic, groovy feel rather than a high-energy frenzy. The interplay between Sandoval's smooth, flowing vocal rhythm and the persistent, metronomic beat of the electronic track is a key element of the song's appeal, creating a laid-back yet infectious groove.

Musically, Burak Yeter's version is a prime example of mid-2010s deep house and tropical house. It is built upon a steady, four-on-the-floor kick drum pattern, characteristic of dance music, with a tempo of around 99 BPM. The production features a prominent, infectious synthetic lead melody that forms the main instrumental hook, particularly in the drop. The bassline is smooth and rolling, typical of the deep house genre. The arrangement uses a classic EDM structure of buildup, drop, and breakdown, creating anticipation and release for the listener. Danelle Sandoval's vocal delivery is airy, smooth, and has a slightly melancholic tone, which creates an intriguing contrast with the upbeat, dance-oriented instrumental.

Lyrically, the song employs repetition as its main literary device. The phrase "Club goin' up, on a Tuesday" is repeated extensively, functioning as a powerful and memorable chorus that drills the song's central theme into the listener's mind. The narrative voice is direct and confessional, using simple, conversational language to describe the grind of work and the release of partying.

Burak Yeter's "Tuesday" became a massive international commercial success and a defining track of the mid-2010s dance-pop and deep house sound. After its release in 2016, the song topped the charts in numerous countries, including Germany, Austria, and Russia, and reached the top 10 in dozens of others across Europe and beyond. It was certified multi-platinum in several nations, including Germany, Italy, and Poland. The track's popularity was fueled by its viral spread on YouTube and its dominance on streaming services and radio airwaves, becoming the 10th most Shazamed song globally in 2017. This success story—a Turkish-Dutch producer remixing a Filipino-American singer's acoustic YouTube cover of an American rapper's song—highlights the globalized and democratized nature of modern music distribution. The song established both Burak Yeter and Danelle Sandoval as major names on the international music scene and remains a staple in club and recurrent radio playlists, celebrated for its infectious beat and unique origin story.

The primary symbol in the song is the day "Tuesday" itself. Traditionally one of the most unremarkable days of the workweek, it is re-contextualized as a symbol of rebellion, spontaneity, and freedom. Choosing to have a wild night out when most people are settled into their work routine is a metaphor for breaking from societal norms and creating one's own rules for happiness and celebration. The phrase "Club goin' up" is a vivid image representing a peak moment of collective energy and euphoria. It's not just a literal description of a busy club; it symbolizes a high point of personal liberation and escape from the pressures of daily life described in the lyrics, such as working overtime and being away from home. The juxtaposition of the mundane (Tuesday) with the exciting (the club going up) is the core metaphorical engine of the song, highlighting the theme of finding extraordinary moments within the ordinary.

The most significant recurring phrase is undoubtedly "Club goin' up, on a Tuesday." This line serves as the song's title, chorus, and central theme, repeated relentlessly to become an unforgettable hook. Its repetition reinforces the core idea of midweek rebellion and celebration. Another recurring motif is the contrast between work and partying. Lines like "Always workin' OT, overtime and outta town" and "ain't no party on the weekend" establish the context of a demanding work life, which makes the Tuesday night release more meaningful. This work-versus-play motif is the narrative backbone of the song. The mention of a partner who "ain't choosey" also recurs, highlighting the theme of easy, uncomplicated companionship in these moments of escape. Musically, the main recurring element is the synthesized melodic hook that plays during the drop, which is as central to the song's identity as the lyrical chorus.