Quicksand (La Roux song)

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"Quicksand"
Single by La Roux
from the album La Roux
Released 15 December 2008 (2008-12-15)
Format CD single, EP, 7" single, 12" single, digital download
Recorded 2008; Elfin Studios
(Teddington, London, England)
Genre Electropop, synthpop
Length 3:05
Label Polydor
Writer(s) Elly Jackson, Ben Langmaid
Producer Elly Jackson, Ben Langmaid
La Roux singles chronology
"Quicksand"
(2008)		 "In for the Kill"
(2009)
Alternative cover
Re-release cover

"Quicksand" is a song by English electropop duo La Roux from their self-titled debut album, La Roux. Written and produced by Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid, the song was released as the album's lead single on 15 December 2008 by Kitsuné Music.[1] It peaked at number 153 on the UK Singles Chart upon limited release.[2] When re-released on 23 November 2009, the single re-entered the chart at number 129.

Contents

[edit] Song information

Jackson told The London Paper that the song is about "having an intense moment with someone, when maybe you're watching a film or listening to music, and both of you are yearning for the other one, and it's almost painful to sit next to them."[3]

[edit] Critical reception

"Quicksand" was met with positive critical acclaim. Digital Spy music editor Nick Levine wrote that "[l]ike most of the songs on their debut album, it's a winning combination of pop smarts, stifling romantic obsession and production that mixes the sounds of '82 with the sonic punch of '09."[4] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commented that "the sparse dynamics and stabbing synthesisers of 'Quicksand' offer a reminder that not every aspect of the 80s has been mined to exhaustion in recent years."[5] Peter Paphides of The Times called the song "superb" and added, "Propelled along by a melody that shares some of its DNA with Prince's 'When Doves Cry', Jackson casts herself as the recipient of an overture from someone already in a relationship."[6] John Murphy, writing for musicOMH, described the song as "instantly addictive and catchy", while stating that "unlike a lot of electro acts out there, 'Quicksand' has real heart and emotion to it as well—certainly not a case of style over substance."[1] Allmusic's Heather Phares noted that the track "uses a relentlessly tight arrangement and Jackson's frosty soulfulness to give the song's obsession a shot of excitement."[7] Luke Turner from the NME referred to "Quicksand" as "liquid-mercury-smooth but pierced by sharp vocals."[8]

[edit] Music video

The music video of "Quicksand" was directed by Kinga Burza.[9] It was released on YouTube on 13 January 2009. The video shows Jackson on a tropical island with pineapples and the sun setting. Girls are dancing. Jackson is seen with a parrot on her shoulder, singing. It mostly features Jackson singing with the sun setting behind her.

[edit] Track listings

[edit] Original release

  • French 12" single[10]
A1. "Quicksand" (Original) – 3:07
A2. "Quicksand" (autoKratz Drags to Riches Mix) – 4:44
B1. "Quicksand" (Beni's Sinking at 1.56 Mix) – 4:20
B2. "Quicksand" (Chateau Marmont Remix) – 3:34
  • French iTunes EP[11]
  1. "Quicksand" – 3:07
  2. "Quicksand" (AutoKratz Drags to Riches Mix) – 4:42
  3. "Quicksand" (Beni's Sinking at 1.56 Mix) – 4:18
  4. "Quicksand" (Chateau Marmont Remix) – 3:32
  5. "Quicksand" (Joe and Will Ask? Remix) – 5:01
  • UK iTunes single[12]
  1. "Quicksand" (Standard Version) – 3:05
  1. "Quicksand" (Original Version) – 3:06
  2. "Quicksand" (Mad Decent Remix No. 1) – 5:07
  3. "In for the Kill" (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix) – 5:02
A1. "Quicksand" – 3:08
A2. "Quicksand" (Mad Decent Mix No. 1) – 5:10
A3. "Quicksand" (Instrumental) – 3:08
B1. "In for the Kill" (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix) – 5:04
B2. "In for the Kill" (Instrumental) – 4:08

[edit] Re-release

  1. "Quicksand" – 3:07
  2. "Quicksand" (Boy 8 Bit Remix) – 5:58
  3. "Quicksand" (Beni's Sinking at 1.56 Mix) – 4:19
  • UK limited edition 7" single[17]
A. "Quicksand" - 3:07
  1. "Quicksand" – 3:07
  2. "Quicksand" (Boy 8 Bit Remix) – 5:58
  3. "Quicksand" (Alex Metric Remix) – 6:26
  4. "Quicksand" (Mad Decent Remix No. 1) – 5:12

[edit] Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Belgian Tip Chart (Flanders)[19] 19
UK Singles Chart[20] 129

[edit] Release history

Country Date Label Format
Original release
France 15 December 2008 Kitsuné Music 12" single,[10] Digital EP[11]
United States 14 April 2009 Cherrytree Records, Interscope Records EP,[13] digital EP[14]
9 June 2009 12" single[21]
United Kingdom 2 July 2009 Polydor Records Digital single[12]
Re-release
United Kingdom 22 November 2009 Polydor Records Digital EP[18]
23 November 2009 CD single,[22] 7" single[17]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Murphy, John. "La Roux – Quicksand (Kitsune)". musicOMH. http://www.musicomh.com/singles/la-roux_1208.htm. Retrieved 9 April 2009. 
  2. ^ Balls, David (10 September 2009). "La Roux 'won't re-release Quicksand single'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a176806/la-roux-wont-re-release-quicksand-single.html. Retrieved 10 September 2009. 
  3. ^ "Quicksand by La Roux". Songfacts. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=14969. Retrieved 16 November 2009. 
  4. ^ Levine, Nick (23 November 2009). "La Roux: 'Quicksand'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a187684/la-roux-quicksand.html. Retrieved 17 May 2010. 
  5. ^ Petrides, Alexis (26 June 2009). "La Roux: La Roux". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/26/la-roux. Retrieved 17 May 2010. 
  6. ^ Paphides, Peter (25 June 2009). "La Roux: La Roux". The Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article6578062.ece. Retrieved 17 May 2010. 
  7. ^ Phares, Heather. "La Roux – La Roux – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/la-roux-r1567159/review. Retrieved 17 May 2010. 
  8. ^ Turner, Luke (23 June 2009). "Album Review: La Roux – 'La Roux'". NME. IPC Media. http://www.nme.com/reviews/la-roux/10596. Retrieved 17 May 2010. 
  9. ^ Knight, David (3 December 2008). "La Roux's Quicksand by Kinga Burza". Promo News. http://www.promonews.tv/2008/12/03/la-roux%e2%80%99s-quicksand-by-kinga-burza/. Retrieved 8 May 2009. 
  10. ^ a b "Quicksand : La Roux" (in French). Fnac. http://musique.fnac.com/a2521989/La-Roux-Quicksand-Maxi-vinyl. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
  11. ^ a b "Kitsuné: Quicksand – EP de La Roux" (in French). iTunes Store France. Apple Inc.. http://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/kitsune-quicksand-ep/id298822866. Retrieved 7 February 2010. 
  12. ^ a b "Quicksand (Standard Version) – Single by La Roux". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc.. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/quicksand-standard-version/id320374995. Retrieved 7 February 2010. 
  13. ^ a b "La Roux : Releases : Quicksand EP". Interscope Records. http://www.interscope.com/artist/releases/detail.aspx?pid=2135&aid=1129. Retrieved 8 February 2010. 
  14. ^ a b "Quicksand – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store US. Apple Inc.. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/quicksand-ep/id311213218. Retrieved 7 February 2010. 
  15. ^ "La Roux – Quicksand (12", Single)". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/La-Roux-Quicksand/release/1827889. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
  16. ^ "La Roux – Quicksand (CD, Single)". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/La-Roux-Quicksand/release/2041227. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
  17. ^ a b "La Roux – Quicksand (7", Ltd, S/Sided, Etch)". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/La-Roux-Quicksand/release/2017413. Retrieved 8 February 2010. 
  18. ^ a b "Quicksand – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc.. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/quicksand-ep/id340840125. Retrieved 7 February 2010. 
  19. ^ "La Roux – Quicksand" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=La+Roux&titel=Quicksand&cat=s. Retrieved 12 January 2010. 
  20. ^ "Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009". The Official Charts Company. The Zobbel Website. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2009.HTM. Retrieved 11 March 2010. 
  21. ^ "Quicksand/In for the Kill [Vinyl]: La Roux". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029LJAFY. Retrieved 8 February 2010. 
  22. ^ "Quicksand: La Roux". Amazon.co.uk. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002UNWIN2. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
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