The Motto

"The Motto" by Tiësto and Ava Max is an unapologetic party anthem that champions a philosophy of living in the moment, celebrating success, and embracing a carefree, hedonistic lifestyle. The lyrics explicitly revolve around the idea of letting loose, spending money, and enjoying the fruits of one's labor without reservation. Ava Max described the song as "empowering," stating it's about "not caring, doing you, having a good time, and letting the world know!" Similarly, Tiësto referred to it as a "party anthem keeping us dancing into 2022 as we close out a crazy year!" The core message is a universal call to escape the daily grind and indulge in moments of extravagant joy. It’s about working hard ("We been up all damn summer, makin' that bread and butter") and playing harder, with the recurring phrase "That's the motto" acting as a mantra for this lifestyle. The song avoids deep lyrical complexity, instead focusing on creating a vortex of fun and irresponsible, in-the-moment pleasure.

The narrative unfolds around a central philosophy for life, encapsulated in the repeated phrase, "That's the motto." This motto champions a lifestyle of uninhibited celebration and indulgence. The story begins by establishing the core tenets of this philosophy: enjoying drinks without dilution or complications, popping expensive champagne like Moët, and embracing a state of blissful disorientation, whether through substances like "gelato" or the sheer excitement of the moment. The protagonist is fully committed to this lifestyle, stating they have to do what's necessary to maintain this level of enjoyment.

The setting is a perpetual party, a gathering with no intention of ending soon. Friends are summoned to join, with the explicit plan to stay awake and celebrate throughout the entire weekend. This creates a communal atmosphere of shared hedonism, where everyone is on the same page, driven by the same creed. The core of this creed is then detailed in the chorus: spending money freely ("drop a few bills"), celebrating with champagne, and acting as if one has just won the lottery. This lavishness is presented as the well-earned result of hard work, a reward for a summer spent "makin' that bread and butter." The question, "Tell me, did I just stutter?" serves as a defiant confirmation, emphasizing the conviction behind this motto.

The scene shifts to a more personal, yet equally extravagant, experience. The protagonist is in a Range Rover, feeling euphoric and disconnected from physical sensations, enjoying the rush of the open air. The party moves to a private space where a "birthday cake"—a metaphor that could signify more celebrations or another form of indulgence—is brought out. The intensity of the experience is so potent that the night feels endless. There's a conscious decision to avoid the negative consequences, like "bloodshot eyes," by simply holding onto their drink and metaphorically taking flight, soaring on the high of the moment.

The cycle of the pre-chorus and chorus repeats, reinforcing the central theme. The commitment to the party, the friends, and the weekend-long celebration is unwavering. The motto of dropping bills and popping bottles is not just a one-time event but a continuous loop, a lifestyle choice. It's a testament to a summer of hard work culminating in deserved, extravagant fun. The narrative concludes by reaffirming this principle, a declaration of living life on one's own celebratory and unapologetic terms.

"The Motto" was released on November 4, 2021, as the third single from Tiësto's seventh studio album, Drive (2023). The song was a collaborative writing effort by Tiësto (Tijs Verwest), Ava Max (Amanda Ava Koci), Claudia Valentina, Peter Rycroft (who is also known as the producer Lostboy), Pablo Bowman, and Sarah Blanchard. Production was handled by Tiësto and Lostboy. Tiësto had the track and was looking for the right vocalist. When he shared the record with Ava Max, she said she "fell in love and couldn't stop playing it." Tiësto praised Max as an "exciting young talent" whose "beautiful voice adds such depth to the song." Interestingly, songwriter Claudia Valentina had recorded the original version before it was given to Tiësto and Ava Max. Tiësto first performed the track live at a festival in Las Vegas on October 23, 2021, a couple of weeks before its official release. The song was released by Atlantic Records and Tiësto's own label, Musical Freedom.

The song's structure is built for the dancefloor, with a consistent and infectious rhythm. The tempo is upbeat, characteristic of the EDM and dance-pop genres, with a reported BPM of 118. The lyrical rhythm is syncopated and punchy, designed to align perfectly with the electronic beat. The rhyme scheme in the verses is straightforward, often using couplets (AABB), such as "trouble" with "bubbles" and "double" with "got to", which makes the lyrics memorable and easy to follow. The chorus employs a similar structure: "bottles" rhymes with "lotto," and "butter" near-rhymes with "stutter." This simple, effective rhyme scheme contributes to the song's powerful hook. The repetition of the title phrase, "That's the motto," at the end of rhyming couplets in the chorus acts as a rhythmic and thematic anchor, reinforcing the song's central message with a declarative punch. The interplay between Ava Max's staccato vocal delivery and Tiësto's driving four-on-the-floor beat creates a propulsive energy that is central to the song's appeal.

"The Motto" blends musical and literary techniques to create a compelling dance-pop anthem. Musically, the song is built on Tiësto's signature dance soundscape, characterized by a driving, "bouncing, thumping production" and a prominent, fat bassline often associated with the slap house subgenre. This provides a powerful, energetic foundation for Ava Max's pop vocals. Critics noted the fusion of Max's pop prowess with Tiësto's house style as a key to the song's success. Her vocal delivery is confident and rhythmic, riding the beat with a "too-cool-for-this-club flow." The production is described as an "exercise of simplicity" with a catchy hook and swelling basslines that make it an earworm. There's also a noted "steely synth note" that adds a darker undertone, hinting at the potential consequences of such excess, which adds a layer of conflict to the otherwise straightforward party track. The arrangement is concise, clocking in under three minutes, a common feature in contemporary pop to maximize streaming appeal.

"The Motto" achieved significant commercial success and cultural penetration, becoming a global party anthem. The song performed well on charts worldwide, reaching the top 10 in countries like Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. In the United States, it peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart. It received platinum certification in the US from the RIAA for sales exceeding one million units. The track also received a nomination for Best Collaboration at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards.

The song's music video, directed by Christian Breslauer, gained significant attention for its concept, which features Tiësto and Ava Max time-traveling to a 1920s hotel party. The video includes a visual reference to the iconic final photograph from the film The Shining (1980). Several music videos were released, including a "Part II" focused on vogue-style dancing and a "Drag Version" featuring notable drag performers, further extending its cultural reach. The song's popularity also led to a global remix challenge hosted by Beatport, encouraging producers to create their own versions.

While "The Motto" is largely direct in its message, it uses several symbols and metaphors to construct its world of lavish partying.

• "Poppin' that Moët" and Champagne Bottles: Champagne, particularly premium brands like Moët & Chandon, is a classic symbol of luxury, celebration, and success. Its inclusion immediately establishes a tone of opulence and festivity.
• "Throwin' that money like you just won the lotto": This simile powerfully illustrates a complete disregard for financial constraints, symbolizing ultimate financial freedom and the peak of a celebratory mood. It's not just about spending but about the carefree and performative act of doing so.
• "Makin' that bread and butter": This common idiom for earning a living is used to justify the extravagance. It grounds the hedonism in a narrative of hard work, suggesting the partying is a well-deserved reward, not just aimless indulgence.
• "My birthday cake is comin' out": This phrase can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it's another element of celebration. Metaphorically, it can symbolize a climactic moment or the arrival of another form of pleasure or treat during the party.
• "Hold my drink, let's fly": This line uses the metaphor of flight to represent escaping worries and reaching a higher state of euphoria, lifted by the party's energy and atmosphere.

The most significant recurring motif is the lyrical phrase "That's the motto." This line acts as the song's central thesis, repeated frequently to hammer home the philosophy of carefree living and partying. Its repetition, often delivered with a defiant tone, turns the song into a mantra for listeners. Another recurring theme is the juxtaposition of hard work and lavish reward, encapsulated in the line "We been up all damn summer, makin' that bread and butter." This phrase reappears in the chorus to justify the extravagant celebrations. Musically, the song is built around a recurring heavy, bouncing bassline, a signature of Tiësto's recent work in the slap house style, which serves as the track's instrumental hook. The idea of non-stop partying ("we ain't gonna sleep all weekend") is another recurring lyrical element that reinforces the song's hedonistic theme.