7 Shocking Truths Behind Tove Lo's 'Stay High Habits' And Her 2025 Queen Of The Clouds Anniversary

The raw, uncensored lyrics of Tove Lo's breakout single, "Habits (Stay High)," remain one of the most talked-about and controversial moments in 2010s pop music, offering a visceral look into a period of extreme hedonism following a devastating breakup. The track, which became a global sleeper hit, is more than just a party anthem; it’s a graphic, almost journalistic account of a self-destructive coping mechanism, where the Swedish singer-songwriter sought to numb her pain through a whirlwind of sex, drugs, and reckless behavior. As of December 15, 2025, the song's legacy is being revisited with the upcoming 10th-anniversary edition of her debut album, *Queen of the Clouds*, bringing its dark, honest themes back into the spotlight. The fascination with the "stay high habits" stems from the song's unapologetic honesty—a stark contrast to the polished pop of the era. Tove Lo, known for her "grunge-influenced pop," laid bare her darkest moments, solidifying her reputation as the "gritty party queen" of the genre. Understanding the true context of the song, from its poetic origins to its lasting cultural impact, is essential to grasping the artistry of Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson, the woman behind the provocative persona.

Tove Lo: Full Biography and Career Profile

Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson, known professionally as Tove Lo, is a celebrated Swedish singer and songwriter who has become a leading voice in the electro-pop and dance-pop genres. Her music is distinguished by its raw, sexually charged, and emotionally honest lyrical content, often exploring themes of love, sex, self-destruction, and feminism.

• Full Name: Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson
• Stage Name: Tove Lo (Lo means 'lynx' in Swedish)
• Born: 29 October 1987
• Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
• Genre: Electro-pop, Dance-pop, Indie-pop, Synth-pop
• Debut Album: Queen of the Clouds (2014)
• Breakthrough Singles: "Habits (Stay High)," "Talking Body"
• Notable Albums: Lady Wood (2016), Blue Lips (2017), Sunshine Kitty (2019), Dirt Femme (2022)
• Recent Projects (2025): Release of the HEAT EP with SG Lewis; 10th-anniversary edition of Queen of the Clouds featuring unreleased tracks "Jealousy" and "Write Me Off."
• Major Collaborators: Charli XCX, Flume, Coldplay, Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, SG Lewis.
• Accolades: Multiple Grammy nominations and awards in Sweden.

7 Shocking Truths About the 'Stay High Habits' and the Song's Real Meaning

The track "Habits (Stay High)" is the cornerstone of Tove Lo's career, defining her artistic identity as an unvarnished storyteller. The "habits" she describes are not fictionalized; they were a genuine, tumultuous period in her life. Here are the seven truths behind the song that continue to shock and resonate with fans globally:

1. The Lyrics Were Originally a Breakup Poem

The verses of "Habits (Stay High)" were not written as a song initially; they originated as a raw, personal poem Tove Lo penned while struggling with a painful breakup. This intimate starting point is why the lyrics feel so visceral and detailed, acting as a direct diary entry rather than a calculated pop song. The poem's transformation into a track cemented her style of infusing deep, grunge-like emotionality into a catchy, electronic pop framework.

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2. The Hedonism Was "All True"

Contrary to the belief that the song's graphic descriptions—such as "I eat my dinner in my bathtub, then I go to sex clubs"—are exaggerated for shock value, Tove Lo confirmed that the period of self-medication and reckless behavior depicted was entirely real. She described it as a genuine attempt to cope with emotional pain by pursuing hedonistic extremes. The core message is not glorification, but a depiction of desperation and the search for numbness.

3. It Was the Opposite of a Pop Hit Formula

When "Habits" was released, its explicit content and dark subject matter were highly unconventional for mainstream pop radio. The song's success was a slow burn, gaining traction through word-of-mouth and its uncompromising honesty. It was the sleeper hit of 2014 that tapped a nerve with listeners who appreciated its gritty, unglamorous portrayal of emotional fallout, proving that pop could be both catchy and profoundly personal.

4. The Song Launched the "Queen of the Clouds" Era

The success of "Habits (Stay High)" and its follow-up single "Talking Body" propelled Tove Lo's debut album, *Queen of the Clouds*, to international success. The album title itself is an entity that reflects the song's theme, with "Queen of the Clouds" being a reference to a state of being high or emotionally detached. The album's structure uses a three-part narrative—The Sex, The Love, and The Pain—with "Habits" falling squarely into the latter, establishing a thematic arc that defined her early career.

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5. The Controversial 'Clean' Version Exists

Due to its explicit drug references ("stay high all the time" and "spending all my money on cheap thrills"), a heavily censored version of the song was created for radio play in many markets. This clean version, often titled "Stay High," removed or altered the most sensitive lines, a necessary step for its massive commercial success, but one that arguably diluted the song's raw, intended meaning.

6. The 2025 Anniversary Revisit

The enduring power of "Habits (Stay High)" is highlighted by the recent announcement (as of late 2025) of the 10th-anniversary edition of *Queen of the Clouds*. This celebration includes the release of unreleased tracks like "Jealousy" and "Write Me Off," which will provide a deeper context to the emotional landscape Tove Lo was navigating during the period that birthed her signature song. This re-release is a major event for fans, offering a fresh look at the album's origins.

7. It Continues to Influence New Collaborations

Even a decade later, the song's impact is a constant reference point in Tove Lo's career. Her recent projects, such as the 2025 *HEAT* EP with producer SG Lewis, and her co-writing work on the new single "I Don't Go Out" with Flume and Googly Eyes, are built on the foundation of raw honesty established by "Habits." Her willingness to tackle dark, complex themes, from the sci-fi love stories of her *Dirt Femme* album to her work with The Trevor Project, all trace back to the fearless vulnerability she first showcased with her infamous "stay high habits."

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The Lasting Impact of Tove Lo's Uncensored Pop

Tove Lo’s career has been a masterclass in turning personal pain into universal pop anthems. The "stay high habits" she documented in her breakthrough hit were a catalyst, not just for her own fame, but for a shift in mainstream pop. She proved that audiences craved authenticity, even when that authenticity was messy, dark, and uncomfortable. Her willingness to be vulnerable about sex, drugs, and emotional distress paved the way for other artists to embrace a more unvarnished, confessional style.

From the explicit themes of "Talking Body" to the nuanced, feminist exploration of her latest album, *Dirt Femme*, Tove Lo has maintained a consistent, idiosyncratic style. Her collaborations with industry heavyweights like Coldplay, Charli XCX, and Kylie Minogue show her influence stretches across genres and generations. As she celebrates the legacy of *Queen of the Clouds* in 2025, the conversation will inevitably return to the song that started it all: "Habits (Stay High)," a testament to the power of brutal honesty in art.

The song remains an essential entity in the modern pop canon, a reminder that the most catchy melodies can sometimes hide the most profound and self-destructive emotional narratives. Her longevity and continued relevance in the music scene—from co-writing with Dua Lipa on "Borderline" to releasing the charity-focused *HEAT* EP—confirm that her brand of "uncensored pop" is a permanent fixture, all thanks to the shocking, yet relatable, habits she chose to share with the world.