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Dancing on My Own

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"Dancing on My Own"
Song

"Dancing on My Own" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1. Co-written with and produced by Patrik Berger, the electropop ballad was released in the United States on 1 June 2010 and in the rest of the world on 14 June as the album's lead single.[1]

"Dancing on My Own" received positive reviews from contemporary critics who compared the style and lyrics to "With Every Heartbeat". The song became Robyn's first number one hit in Sweden, and peaked at number two in Denmark. It reached number three in the US on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and became her fourth UK top ten hit, peaking at number eight. It also charted in Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Norway and Scotland.

Background

The main idea behind the song is Robyn watching the man she loves dancing with another woman, while he is oblivious of her presence on the dance floor. According to Robyn, the song is inspired by "inherently sad, gay disco anthems such as Ultravox's Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, Sylvester and Donna Summer".[2]

In an interview with Pitchfork Media Robyn said the song is about being lonely in a club, and explained:

"People get drunk and turn into themselves in a way, and they go to experience some kind of emotion. But it's not always about fun. There's a destructive side to it. But I'm more into the empowerment of going out, because it's always been the place where I could be myself and get inspired. Even if I'm sad, dancing is a way to let stuff out."[3]

Critical reception

"Dancing on My Own" was met with positive reviews, with most critics comparing it to Robyn's previous singles "Be Mine!" and "With Every Heartbeat" due to its vulnerable lyrics. Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song five out of five stars, writing "'Dancing On My Own' is a misty-eyed electro-disco tune that's every bit as emotive as 'With Every Heartbeat' and 'Be Mine' [...] If your bottom lip's not quivering like the bassline by the time the second chorus hits, you've taken waaay too many mood stabilisers."[4] NME critic Luke Lewis referred to the song as "a comet-trail of sadness and exhilaration that's easily the equal of Robyn's breakthrough hit, 'With Every Heartbeat'."[5] The Guardian's Michael Hann stated that song's "pulsing synths and electronic percussion manage to sound both jackbooted and ineffably melancholy."[6] Jer Fairall wrote for PopMatters that "[t]he aggressive stun-gun rhythm of 'Dancing on My Own' can't hide a classic drama-played-out-on-the-dancefloor scenario inherited from standard bearers like ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' and Madonna's 'Into the Groove', nor is it cold enough not to melt at the touch of Robyn's warm, yearning vocals or the song's shimmering keyboard chime."[7] Matthew Horton of BBC Music described "Dancing on My Own" – along with "Fembot" and "Cry When You Get Older" – as "scorchingly catchy, and laced with Robyn's familiar cordial of sparkling hook mixed with unutterable poignancy."[8] Bradley Stern of MuuMuse called it "the sequel to her first collaboration with Kleerup, “With Every Heartbeat,” featuring a moody, plodding synthesized beat and a ceaseless burst of rapid-fire, machine gun electronica."[9]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Max Vitali and released on 21 May 2010.[10] Executive Producer: Nils Ljunggren, Producer: Sofia Bjorkman, DOP: Erik Sohlström, Choreographer: Maria “Decida” Wahlberg, Set designer: Ellinor Eklund; Bodil Gustafsson Fürst

Live performances

Robyn performed the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 16 June 2010. The song was performed at Capital 95.8 FM during a live session on 23 June 2010.[11] The first live performance on U.S. television was on the Late Show with David Letterman on 19 July 2010.[12]. On 12 September 2010, Robyn performed a remix with in-house DJ deadmau5 at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

In other media

This song was featured in the seventh episode of the fourth season of the CW's Gossip Girl, during a sex scene between Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf.

Track listing

Personnel

Source: [13]

Charts and certifications

Radio Add Dates

Region Release Date
United States November 2nd

See also

References

  1. ^ "New video is here!". Robyn.com. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  2. ^ "Dancing On My Own: Single out to download now!!". Robyn.com. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  3. ^ Dombal, Ryan (28 June 2010). "Pitchfork: Interviews: Robyn". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  4. ^ Levine, Nick. "Robyn: 'Dancing On My Own'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  5. ^ Lewis, Luke (12 June 2010). "Album Review: Robyn – 'Body Talk Pt 1' (Konichiwa/Island)". NME. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  6. ^ Hann, Michael (11 June 2010). "Robyn: Body Talk Pt 1". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  7. ^ Fairall, Jer (14 June 2010). "Robyn: Body Talk, Pt. 1". PopMatters. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  8. ^ Horton, Matthew (9 June 2010). "Review of Robyn – Body Talk, Part 1". BBC Music. BBC Online. Retrieved 18 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  9. ^ Stern, Bradley. "Robyn: Dancing on My Own (Single Review)". MuuMuse. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Robyn's Dancing On My Own by Max Vitali". Promo News. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Watch Robyn's live session from the Rimmel Room". Capital 95.8 FM. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  12. ^ "Robyn Dancing on my Own Late Night David Letterman". Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  13. ^ Body Talk Pt. 1 (Media notes). Konichiwa Records. 2010. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Robyn – Dancing On My Own" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ^ "Robyn – Dancing On My Own". Tracklisten.
  16. ^ "Robyn – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Robyn. [dead link]
  17. ^ "Robyn – Dancing On My Own". VG-lista.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. ^ "Robyn – Dancing On My Own". Singles Top 100.
  20. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  21. ^ "Robyn: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  22. ^ "Robyn Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  23. ^ "Hitlisten. NU - Track Top-40". Tracklisten. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
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