First released in 2015, Mike Posner’s hit song “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” was one of the most popular songs on the radio in 2016. Later remixed into an electronic dance track, the song quickly outshone Posner’s 2010 hit “Cooler Than Me,” peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and topping music charts in multiple countries.
With “I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” Posner was praised by fans and critics alike for his honest and emotional lyricism. Since then, Posner has used his life experiences and music to advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. In 2024, he took to social media to reflect on the song and its influence on his life and career 10 years after writing it.
Creation of “I Took a Pill in Ibiza”
In a YouTube interview in December 2016, Mike Posner spoke with Genius about the lyrics and story behind “I Took a Pill in Ibiza.”
“The last thing I thought is that this song would be popular,” Posner admitted. “I never thought they’d play it on the radio. I’m talking about taking ecstasy in the first line.”
The song’s content involves Posner taking a pill in Ibiza. Its lyrics depict the singer-songwriter’s experience in the music industry after his debut in 2010.
“I was ice-cold at the time. My career as an artist was largely considered over,” Posner said, alluding to the uneventful period after “Cooler Than Me” fell from the charts.
Between 2010 and 2015, Posner mainly produced and wrote music for other artists, like Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas, and Maroon 5.
“I had written a song with Avicii… in Sweden called ‘Stay With You,’ and he was playing in Ibiza, so I said, ‘I will just go there with you,’ because I was already in Europe,” Posner told Genius.
Posner joined Avicii at his gig in Ibiza and spent the evening moving between the crowd and the VIP section.
“And most people didn’t know who the f*** I was in Ibiza except for this guy who recognized me,” he said.
The guy held up a small bag of pills and offered him one. Drunk at the time, Posner said yes.
“I had never done that before, and I felt amazing,” Posner admitted.
He later found out the pill he took was ecstasy.
“I was in the crowd and—this was when I still drank, I don’t drink anymore—I’m looking at [Avicii] on the stage and I was just thinking, ‘Man, I f***ed this up man, that used to be me,’” Posner said on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast.
“Imagine the sadness of this moment. I’m just in the [general admission section] f***ed up at this show by myself,” he said. “I was hoping somebody would recognize me to make me feel good.”
Initial Impact and Reception
Posner released “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” on April 15, 2015, on his Vevo profile. The first iteration of the song was stripped back compared to Posner’s hip-hop and pop-inspired discography, featuring the American singer’s voice over an acoustic guitar.
“I Took a Pill in Ibiza” remained largely unnoticed by the music mainstream upon its initial release. A few months later, in July, Norweigan electronic dance music (EDM) duo Seeb remixed the track, and the tropical house version reached the top ten music charts in 27 countries.
The song charted at number one in a handful of countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom—where it stayed at the top for four weeks. In the United States, Seeb’s remix of “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Pop Songs chart.
The song outperformed Posner’s breakout hit, “Cooler Than Me,” and received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year in 2017. The song was platinum-certified six times in the U.S. and reached quadruple-platinum sales in the U.K. In terms of critical reception, however, some attitudes toward “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” were mixed.
Billboard ranked the song at 30 on its list of the top 100 pop songs in 2016.
According to Billboard, “The weirdness of 2016 might be best encapsulated by Mike Posner earning his first Hot 100 top 10 in nearly six years…for a song lamenting his status as a singer who already blew his shot.’”
“That’s due partly to the power of Seeb’s buoyant, tropical house-flavored remix, but the cautionary tale of post-fame and excess drives it home, even as it ironically became Posner’s biggest hit yet,” Billboard added.
Many people–including Posner himself–saw the irony in an upbeat dance song with such raw lyrics about substance abuse and feeling empty at the height of one’s success. At the same time, “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” continued to resonate with millions of listeners around the world.
“I wrote this sad thing, and it was me processing some dark and heavy emotion, and now people seem to be having their joyous memories out of my sadness,” he told The Detroit News. “That’s a very beautiful thing as an artist.”
Mike Posner’s Personal Journey Post-Release
When “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” was released, fans and the media wondered why Posner had not been active in releasing music after his debut album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff, was released in 2010.
“I Took a Pill in Ibiza” was part of Posner’s 2015 EP, The Truth, and featured in later remixes of The Truth. The song also appeared on Posner’s second album, All Night, Alone, in May 2016.
In a February 2016 interview with Billboard, Posner said he found himself in a “dark spot” after 31 Minutes to Takeoff. Posner said his label, RCA Records, shelved two new albums he made between his debut and the release of “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” because ‘they didn’t have a hit.’
Mike Posner began to explore new creative territory in 2017. In March 2017, Posner published a poetry book, Teardrops and Balloons. Continuing on that path, Posner also released a poetry album in early 2018.
His third album, A Real Good Kid, was released in January 2019. Posner recorded the album over two years, which he spent back home in Detroit, helping care for his terminally ill father. Alongside dealing with his father’s passing, Posner also struggled with the suicide of his friend and collaborator, Avicii, in 2018.
Reflections from Mike Posner: 10 Years Later
In a thread of posts on X (formerly Twitter) in February 2024, Posner reflected on his mental health journey and growth since writing “I Took a Pill in Ibiza.” The series of social media posts broke down the lyrics to the track, with Posner comparing how he felt at 26 to how he currently feels at 36, a decade after he wrote the song.
“On my 26th birthday, I wrote ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza’…10 years ago,” Posner said. “I feel proud to look at the song lyrics and know that NONE of them are true anymore. I’ve grown into a completely new man… one that I’m proud of.”
The song’s first verse says, “I’m living out in LA / I drive a sports car just to prove / I’m a real big baller ‘cause I made a million dollars and I spend it on girls and shoes.”
The singer-songwriter moved back to Detroit from Los Angeles with his family. Ten years later, if he buys himself something nice, it’s because he loves himself and deserves it. He no longer feels the need to convince others he’s good enough.
In the bridge to “I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” Posner sings, “But you don’t wanna be high like me/Never really knowing why like me/You don’t ever wanna step off that roller coaster and be all alone.”
These lyrics from a 26-year-old Posner paint a picture of a lonely, isolated artist self-medicating and searching for acceptance. On X, Posner set the record straight.
“[At 36, I’m] not even close to alone. [I] spent a decade creating a community of the most loving, high-powered friends in the world. Massive investment into [my] relationship with my mom and sister…best it’s ever been,” explained Posner.
The post-chorus verse to the song reads, “I’m just a singer who already blew his shot / I get along with old timers / ’Cause my name’s a reminder of a pop song people forgot.”
Though he may have considered himself a one-hit wonder after the success of “Cooler Than Me” in 2010, the pop star found a new purpose within himself upon deeper self-reflection and exploration.
“[At 36, I’ve] walked across America, climbed Everest, became inspiring to myself first, [and] as a byproduct became inspiring to others,” Posner said.
The Song’s Legacy and Influence
Throughout “I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” Posner repeats, “All I know are sad songs, sad songs.”
To his more than 600,000 followers on X, Posner assured them, “I know sadness and pain very well…It is my duty to teach others to do the same.”
“I know sad songs, but I also know redemption songs, songs of freedom, songs of faith, and songs of devotion,” he said. “I love you. If you’re going through s**t right now, keep going, you have no idea how good life may be in 10 years,” Posner concluded.
In response to Posner’s posts on X, more than a thousand people shared their appreciation for the musician’s openness about his mental health and experiences in the music industry.
One user replied, “This is literally my favorite song ever. Period. My wife, kids, parents, friends—they all know this song because I play it so often. I love it because it also reminds me of my 20s, a wilder time, and how much I’ve grown in 10 years. Thank you for sharing.”
Another user responded to Posner, writing, “Nothing but respect man. You’re an inspiration to those struggling with addiction [and] depression. Thank you.”
In early 2024, Posner also started a podcast on YouTube to continue his mental health advocacy and suicide prevention work. On The Mike Posner Podcast, the pop star takes a motivational approach to dealing with trauma, strengthening relationships, and practicing self-love.
Get in Touch with Us
At The Summit Wellness Group, we help patients overcome substance abuse and co-occurring mental health conditions. You don’t have to go through it alone if you’re struggling. To get started on your recovery, call our 24/7 helpline at (770) 830-3542 or email ContactUs@TheSummitWellnessGroup.com.