Crowded Places
| "Crowded Places" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Banks | ||||
| Released | April 7, 2017 | |||
| Length | 4:22 | |||
| Label | Harvest | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Jack Antonoff | |||
| Banks singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Crowded Places" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Banks. It was released as a single on April 7, 2017. The song was written by Banks, Tim Anderson and Jack Antonoff, and produced by the latter.[1]
Background and composition[edit]
"Crowded Places" was written and released specifically for the penultimate episode of the HBO series Girls, although Banks had already released The Altar, her sophomore studio album, six months prior.[2][3] The episode was aired on April 9, 2017.[4]
The song was written by Banks, Anderson and Antonoff, and produced by the latter. The song is a ballad, which lasts for 4 minutes and 22 seconds.[1][5] William Defebaugh of V Magazine described it as "stripped down and raw".[6][7] Lyrically, "Crowded Places" talks about social anxiety and a relationship gone wrong because of this.[6] The song begins with Banks singing softly "Hey, Hey, Hey". During the chorus, she sings, "Cause I've been scared of crowded places/ Come with me, I'll take you home".[8]
Critical reception[edit]
Matthew Scott Donnelly of PopCrush described the song as "a quiet, moving lullaby".[4] For Laurence Day of The Line of Best Fit, the song is "darkly euphoric".[5] William Defebaugh V Magazine said that "Crowded Places" listens as of an open–hearted confessional, playing to the singer's strength in creating intimacy in sonic spaces–even more so than anything she's released prior.[6] Taylor Bryant of Nylon Magazine described "Crowded Places" as an intimate track that puts Banks' vulnerability on full display.[7]
Credits and personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]
- Jilian Banks – songwriting, vocals
- Tim Anderson – songwriting
- Jack Antonoff – songwriting, production, programming
- Chris Spilfogel – mixing
- Laura Sisk – engineering
- Seth Perez – engineering
Release history[edit]
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | April 7, 2017 | Harvest | [10] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Crowded Places – Single by Banks". iTunes Store (US). April 7, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ Hertweck, Nate (September 5, 2017). "Banks: Writing 'Crowded Places', Coming Into Her Body". Grammy.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ Howard, Lindsay (April 7, 2017). "Listen: BANKS Releases Tender New Single 'Crowded Places'". Variance. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Donnelly, Matthew Scott (April 10, 2017). "That Banks Song on Last Night's 'Girls' Episode Is Really Putting People Through It". PopCrush. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Day, Laurence (April 7, 2017). "Banks is back with powerful new pop ballad 'Crowded Places'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c Defebaugh, William (April 7, 2017). "'Crowded Places' Might Be BANKS's Most Beautiful Song Yet". V. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Bryant, Taylor (April 7, 2017). "Listen To Banks' Beautiful New Track". Nylon. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ McCafferty, Kelly (May 22, 2017). "BANKS Explores Love vs. Success with Aching & Poetic 'Crowded Places'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ "Crowded Places / Banks TIDAL". Tidal. April 7, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ "Crowded Places - Single by Banks on Apple Music". iTunes Store (United States). April 7, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
