Mars Argo Wiki
Register
Advertisement

"Using You" is a song by Mars Argo, featured as the fourth track of their 2011 EP, Linden Place, and the second of its 2015 edition. A remix of the song, produced by Johnny K, was released as a single on December 21st, 2014.[1]

On November 13th, 2023, the Johnny K remix of "Using You" was officially re-released,[2] notably removing Titanic Sinclair's vocals and credits,[3] as well as the song's original cover artwork, which was replaced by a pitch black square.[4]

Background

Prior to the release of Linden Place, the song was previewed in the Computer Show episode "Do You Ever Feel Empty?", released in January 2011, in the form of an instrumental snippet playing throughout the video.[5]

An acoustic performance was uploaded to YouTube on May 26, 2011,[6] the audio of which was later included as a track on the 2012 re-release of the Internet Sessions EP.[7]

The song was re-recorded in 2012 with rearranged verses and new production by Johnny K, being intended for the band's second studio album. This new version was originally theorized to be scheduled for a March 2013 single release date with an unknown Johnny K song meant to be its B-side, as teased in an interview with Noisey,[8] however this was delayed for unknown reasons. The Johnny K version of the song saw an eventual release as the band's final single together on December 21st, 2014.

Nearly a decade later, in October 2023, Johnny K shared an Instagram post tagged with "studiovibes", to which Argo commented, "Why U here bro 😎". Karkazis explained he was auditioning for a Batman movie, adding he and Argo "should do a song while [he's] in town".[9] Two weeks later, on November 4th, a new mix of his version of "Using You", now lacking Sinclair's backing vocals, was leaked on cloud storage website Dbree.[10] On November 13th, the song was officially re-released with no prior announcement.[4] Days later, Argo shared a statement in an Instagram story,[11] additionally thanking listeners for 100,000 streams:[12]

"[To be honest], I'm not listening. And I can't listen. But I know that you are, and that you've wanted to. And I'm so grateful for that. After years of wanting to bury this song, and it having the opposite trajectory, I feel proud that I'm finally at a place where I am able to take this step."
[To be honest], I'm not listening. And I can't listen. But I know that you are, and that you've wanted to. And I'm so grateful for that. After years of wanting to bury this song, and it having the opposite trajectory, I feel proud that I'm finally at a place where I am able to take this step.
Argo on the 2023 re-release of "Using You"[11]

Three weeks after re-release, in December of the same year, the song reached one million streams,[13] which the artist celebrated on Instagram.[14] Argo thanked her followers for five million streams in February 2024.[15]

Lyrics

What's with these homies who be dissin' my boy?
Do they know I'm aggravated with the negativity and the noise?
They tell me "Find a wealthy man", but they don't seem too happy

Am I naïve to think that he could be the love of my life?
There is a voice inside my head that's tellin' me that it's right
I never thought I'd tell him how scared I am of losing him

You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure

I was afraid to put myself on the line for a boy
Until he put me in my place and showed me how to enjoy myself
I think I need your help; I think she's coming back

I love you and I hate you and I'm losing my mind
And you tell me all the time that this will pass and that I'm gonna be fine
We're such a mess together, you make me lose my temper

You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure

Someday we'll both be older
I wonder if we'll be together looking back on the past
But I don't care if I don't live to see another day
I love you in the worst way
You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure

You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure
You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure
Of using you for pleasure
Of using you for pleasure

What's with these homies who be dissin' my boy?
Do they know I'm aggravated with the negativity and the noise?
They tell me "Find a wealthy man", but they don't seem too happy

I was afraid to put myself on the line for a boy
Until he put me in my place and showed me how to enjoy myself
I think I need your help; I think she's coming back

You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure

Am I naïve to think that he could be the love of my life?
There is a voice inside my head that's tellin' me that it's right
I never thought I'd tell him how scared I am of losing him

You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure

Someday we'll both be older
I wonder if we'll be together looking back on the past
But I don't care if I don't live to see another day
I love you in the worst way

I love you and I hate you and I'm losing my mind
And you tell me all the time that this will pass and that I'm gonna be fine
We're such a mess together, you make me lose my temper

You're the only one who's making me come
To my sinful senses
I'll never love anyone the same
I'll never feel ashamed of using you for pleasure
Of using you for pleasure
Of using you for pleasure

Official versions

  • Linden Place version – 3:47
    • Instrumental – Unknown
      • "Do You Ever Feel Empty?" snippet – 0:11
  • Internet Sessions acoustic – 3:56
  • Johnny K remix – 3:28
    • 2023 mix – 3:28

Music video

The official music video for the song was filmed on October 28th, 2013,[16][17] and uploaded to Digital Twigs's Vimeo account on January 14th, 2014,[18] being finally reposted to the Grocerybag YouTube channel on January 13th, 2015.[19] Argo stated via her Facebook account that releasing the video was "a bit emotional" for her but she was "happy that people seem pretty happy about it".[20] The video currently has over 24 million views on YouTube and was directed by Ryan Wehner,[21] with production handled by Jennifer Lollie.

The video takes place on October 28th, 2023, exactly 10 years into the future of the video's actual recording date and seems to depict testing on the technology known as the Syntrolux Express, meant to provoke and record the emotional responses by average people listening to live music played by singers and bands. This is achieved with a unique sound system directed into a room the test subject is locked alone inside. Argo's test subject, portrayed by Shonnie Solomon, becomes increasingly violent during testing to the song "Using You" and, in an attempt to calm him, the lab technician, portrayed by Mina Joo, has a similar uncontrollable shift in behavior listening to the music after accidentally falling over and losing her protective headphones.

Cover shoot

Promotional stills by Ryan Wehner

Behind the scenes photos

Gallery

Trivia

  • The song interpolates the opening line to Weezer's hit track "Buddy Holly".
  • The final master of the Johnny K remix was completed on February 1st, 2013.[22]
  • The blue dress Argo wears in the music video was later given to her friend, Sideara St. Claire, who has since been photographed wearing the dress on multiple occasions, mainly on Instagram.
  • Three versions of the song were registered to Audiam in September 2019.
  • The song went viral on the Chinese app TikTok in 2019, with users using the song in their videos.[23]
    • When Argo was asked how she felt about its virality on the app, she stated on her Tumblr account that it felt "fucking weird".[24]
  • The song is, with "Love in Black and White", "Nothing Without You", "Pls Don't Forget Me" and "Stuck on You", the only song after the Technology Is a Dead Bird era to feature notable vocals from Sinclair, prior to its 2023 re-release.
  • "Runaway Runaway", "Stuck on You" and "Using You" are the only songs still on iTunes from the original band.
  • The 2023 re-release of "Using You" has been included in official Spotify playlists,[25][26] with Argo temporarily becoming the face of 'Reblog' in late 2023.[26]
  • Argo has confirmed Using You's re-release is official by saying it is "[serious]".[27]
    • Additionally, the song occasionally shows its original release date on streaming services, December 21st, 2014, in place of November 13th, 2023. It is unknown whether this is a mistake or intentional.[28]

References

  1. Mars Argo (December 21, 2014). "Using You - Single". iTunes. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  2. FRIENDSHIP. (November 13, 2023). "🌐 #NewRelease ✅Mars Argo 🎧... (cont.)". Twitter. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  3. Mars Argo News (November 13, 2023). "Titanic's vocals in this song have also been... (cont.)". Twitter. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Mars Argo (November 13, 2023). "Using You - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  5. grocerybagdottv (January 28, 2011). "Do You Ever Feel Empty?". YouTube. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  6. grocerybagdottv (May 26, 2011). "Mars Argo - Using You (Acoustic)". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  7. Mars Argo (February 9, 2012). "Internet Sessions". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  8. Shriya Samavai (February 14, 2013). "Mars Argo are Done Being Cool - Watch Their New Video for Runaway, Runaway". Vice. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  9. johnnykarkazis (October 19, 2023). "#cassette #studiovibes". Instagram. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. "Mars Argo Using You (Without Titanic Sinclair Vocals) mp3". Dbree. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. 11.0 11.1 marsargo (November 16, 2023). "TBH, I'M NOT LISTENING AND I CAN'T LISTEN BUT... (cont.)". Instagram. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  12. marsargo (November 16, 2023). "THANK YOU!". Instagram. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  13. The Internet is Boring. (December 4, 2023). "Thanks for 1,000,000". Tumblr. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  14. marsargo (December 5, 2023). "1,000,000 IN 3 WEEKS!!!... (cont.)". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  15. marsargo (February 19, 2024). "Thank you!". Instagram. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  16. Seeya Later (October 24, 2013). ""@marsargo: Shooting a music video for our song "Using You" this weekend ohmygosh so excited #usingyou" sweet". Twitter. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  17. Digital Twigs (October 28, 2013). "Currently in studio with @marsargo! Shooting a music video for their new song #UsingYou". Instagram. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  18. Digital Twigs (January 14, 2014). "Mars Argo “Using You”". Vimeo. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  19. grocerybagdottv (January 13, 2015). "Mars Argo - Using You (Official)". YouTube. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  20. Mars Argo (January 17, 2015). "Thanks for all of the love on the "Using You" music video, releasing it was a bit emotional for me so I am happy that people seem pretty happy about it". Facebook. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  21. Ryan Wehner (January 13, 2015). "Screenshot from the video I directed for @marsargo @andrewtomayko DPd. @themikepasley Prod designed". Twitter. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  22. "01 Using You.wav". Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  23. Vemuta (July 18, 2019). "Your the only one, who’s making me (Using you for pleasure) Tik Tok Trend Compilation". YouTube. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  24. The Internet is Boring. (September 16, 2019). "how does it feel having Using You become popular from the app Tiktok?". Tumblr. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  25. "Limelight". Spotify. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  26. 26.0 26.1 "reblog". Spotify. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  27. The Internet is Boring. (March 8, 2024). "I noticed Using You is on Spotify now, was just... (cont.)". Tumblr. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  28. Mars Argo (December 21, 2014). "Using You - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved March 12, 2024.

Navigation

LindenPlaceLogo
Tracklist "Formal Girl" ☆ "A-Okay" ☆ "Beauty Is Empty" ☆ "Using You" ☆ "Love in Black and White"
Non-album "Electric Car" ☆ "Lovers Forever" ☆ "Probiotic" ☆ "Spider in My Bathtub"
Misc "Pioneer Sugar"
Other releases
Technology Is a Dead BirdInternet SessionsLinden PlaceMars Argo CDDebut solo album

InternetSessionsLogo
Tracklist "Machine" • "Suicide Birds" • "Electric Car" • "Technology Is a Dead Bird" • "Using You" • "Everything Turns to Gold"
Other releases
Technology Is a Dead BirdInternet SessionsLinden PlaceMars Argo CDDebut solo album

Debut solo album (formerly Guppy)
Singles "Angry" "I Can Only Be Me"
Possible tracks "Momma" "IDK You"
Misc "Cabin Boyz" "Using You" (2023 mix)
Other releases
Technology Is a Dead BirdInternet SessionsLinden PlaceMars Argo CDDebut solo album

Advertisement