Pinky up

Album

Single

Label

Geffen Records

Genre

Eurodance

Media Type

DD

Duration

2:11

Composer(s)

David Wilson;Justin Tranter;MagsySorana;Skyler Stonestreet

Entered Chart

Apr 25, 2026

Peak Date

Apr 25, 2026

Released

April 9, 2026

Catalog #

Geffen

"Pinky Up" is Katseye's high-energy club-pop celebration of confidence, self-worth, and living boldly in the moment. The central image takes the classic "pinky up" gesture and gives it a modern rewrite. Instead of signaling inherited wealth or old-school etiquette, it's about mindset: treating yourself like something valuable and worthy of luxury. The "Pinky Up" phrase has surprisingly practical origins. When tea reached Europe in the 17th century, it was served in small, handleless porcelain bowls imported from China. They were so small that drinkers couldn't grip them with a full fist, leaving the pinky to extend naturally. European porcelain makers added handles in the early 18th century, but the aristocracy kept the gesture anyway, turning it into an inadvertent class marker that others copied. "Pinky up" has settled firmly into popular culture simply as a shorthand for acting fancy or classy, which is precisely how Katseye deploy it. Justin Tranter wrote "Pinky Up" with Magsy, Sorana, and Skyler Stonestreet. Tranter is a prolific songwriter whose credits include hits for Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber and Chappell Roan. "Hitman" Bang, Dwilly and Frantis produced the song. "Hitman" Bang is the founder and chairman of HYBE Corporation, the label co-releasing Katseye's music. Bang earned his "Hitman" nickname in the early 2000s for prolific chart-topping work at JYP Entertainment, before founding Big Hit Music and launching BTS. He has production credits on multiple Katseye tracks prior to "Pinky Up," though he is listed as a producer rather than a songwriter on their material, it is likely his role functions more as senior approval and executive creative input rather than hands-on production. Dwilly and Frants handle much of the sonic detail, with Dwilly contributing drum programming, keyboards, synths, and background vocals, and Frants adding bass and additional programming. It's the sort of division of labor that keeps everything running smoothly, like a well-organized tea service, but louder. The music video was directed by Bardia Zeinali, known for his visually inventive work for the likes of Kacey Musgraves and Troye Sivan. The visual is set against a house party backdrop, giving each member a standout moment amid bright, kitsch styling with heavy internet-culture influence. One of the most talked-about scenes features member Daniela in the trunk of a car surrounded by stuffed animals and eating chocolate-covered frozen fruit before joining the group's choreography. The video features a mid-clip break with cameos from Vivian Jenna Wilson (trans model, social media creator, and public Katseye fan), musician Mel 4Ever, model Katalina, drag queen VHEX, and DJ Saturn Risin9. Wilson, who previously blew up with over 18 million TikTok views dancing to Katseye's "Gnarly," described her appearance as "the role of a lifetime," and joked the crew pushed through freezing outdoor temperatures because, "We simply looked too hot for hypothermia." Released on April 9, 2026, "Pinky Up" was the first Katseye release without member Manon Bannerman, who went on a temporary hiatus earlier in 2026 to "focus on her health and well-being."

I-I-I-I bet it goes like this

Pinky up, up
Pinky up, up
Pinky up, up
Pinky up, up
Put this pinky up

One day, soon, the world's gonna end
I'm gonna make out with my new bestest friends
I wanna live large, right before it all burns down
(Up, up, pinky up)
Go hard like we're robbin' the Louvre
We Mona Lisa with a cute attitude
I wanna get high right before we're in the ground
(Ooh)

Ooh, we're screaming from cloud nine
No one could touch us if they tried
Ooh, but it's a state of mind
(I-I-I-I bet it goes like this)

Pin-pinky up, up
Pinky up, up
Pin-pin-pin-pinky up, up
Pinky up, up

Us against the world, shaking ass in the parking lot
If we get arrested, haha, baby, laugh it off
I love you, you love me, we batshit, oui, oui
And I'd kill 'em for you if it got that deep
Fancy is a frequency
A mind of delusion, philosophy
I kinda know nothing, just like Socrates
(The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing; ooh)

Ooh, we're screaming from cloud nine
No one could touch us if they tried
Ooh, but it's a state of mind
(I-I-I-I bet it goes like this)

Pin-pinky up, up
Pinky up, up
Pin-pin-pin-pinky up, up
Pinky— (One, two, one, two, three, four)
Pin-pinky up, up
Pinky up, up
Pin-pin-pin-pinky up, up
Pinky up, up
Pin-pin-pin-pinky—