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In for the Kill (song)

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"In for the Kill"
Song

"In for the Kill" is a song by English synthpop duo La Roux from their eponymous debut album (2009). The song was released as the album's second single on 15 March 2009. It became the duo's breakthrough single, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Dubstep producers Skream and Skrillex both made remixes of the track. In 2011, "In for the Kill" was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.[1]

Background

Frontwoman Elly Jackson told Steve Harris of Xfm radio that the song is "about telling someone how you feel regardless of what you get back, and not waiting to find out if they want you or not."[2] The track is heavily influenced by the title theme of the 1980s animated television series Pole Position,[3] with the music video paying homage to the show as well.

Critical reception

"In for the Kill" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Digital Spy reviewer David Balls described the song as "slightly odd, endlessly exciting" and stated that it "manages to sound quaintly old-school and positively futuristic all at the same time."[4] Francis Jolley of Clickmusic praised it as "80s synth pop at its most glorious", naming it "the most exciting single around."[5] In a review for Exclaim!, Cam Lindsay wrote that the track "features some icy, high-pitched woos from Jackson and pulse-pounding beats" which make it sound "delicious".[6] MSN Music called it a "damn fine electro pop humdinger" and complimented Jackson's powerful vocals which "hit the ground running and burst with effervescence from the opening note."[7]

In October 2011, the NME placed the song at number sixty-four on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[8]

Commercial performance

"In for the Kill" debuted at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 28 March 2009.[9] Four weeks after its debut, the song peaked at number two with 51,724 copies sold.[10][11] The single spent four consecutive weeks atop the UK chart, before falling to number three with sales of 44,310 copies.[12] In January 2011, "In for the Kill" was named the eleventh best-selling download in the United Kingdom of all time.[13] The song had sold 875,523 copies in the UK as of July 2014.[14] In Ireland, the track debuted at number 47 on 16 April 2009 and peaked at number 13, four weeks later.[15][16]

"In for the Kill" was less successful in continental Europe, charting at number 43 in Belgium, number 53 in Austria, number 68 in Slovakia and number 92 in Germany.[17][18] It nevertheless reached number eleven in Norway,[17] as well as number nine on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.[19] The single debuted at number fifty in Australia on 29 June 2009, but fell off the chart the next week. On 13 July 2009 it re-entered the chart at number 46, peaking at number 36, two weeks later.[20] In the United States, "In for the Kill" topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart on the issue dated 27 November 2010, becoming the duo's second number-one hit on the chart after "Bulletproof".[21]

Music videos

The first music video for "In for the Kill" was directed by Kinga Burza and produced by Sarah Tognazzi.[22] The 1980s-inspired video features Jackson singing the song while driving a Toyota MR2. It begins with Jackson driving down a dark road at night. At the beginning of the chorus, she puts on a pair of sunglasses, removing them at the chorus' end. During the instrumental section of the song, she waves her hand out of the car window, at which point the road ahead and the cloud-covered moon is visible. Jackson continues to drive until she comes across another version of herself standing in the middle of the road. The video concludes with Jackson driving the car, her eyes glowing white.

A second video was released on 7 October 2010 to promote the US release of the single, featuring a slightly altered version of the song. The video was directed by LEGS and filmed at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City.[23][24]

Alternative versions

Dubstep musician Skream produced the most well-known remix of the song, titled the Let's Get Ravey remix, which was included on the CD single and digital EP. The remix was featured during the closing credits of the Entourage episode "Hair", originally aired 8 August 2010,[25] as well as in television commercials for the 2009 fantasy video game Bayonetta and in the trailer for the 2012 film Dredd.[26][27] It is also part of the soundtrack to Matchstick Productions' 2011 ski film Attack of la Niña.[28]

Skream's remix received positive reviews from music critics. The Observer reviewer Gareth Grundy called it a "proper remix, the kind that nudges the original song into thrilling new territory."[29] Cam Lindsay of Exclaim! wrote that while the original version "features some icy, high-pitched wails from Jackson and pulse-pounding beats [...] it's the 'Let's Get Ravey Mix' [...] that really kills it."[6] Skream also produced an alternate remix, That Doesn't Sound Like Skream's Remix, which appeared on the physical and digital EP releases of "In for the Kill".[30][31]

French musician Lifelike's self-titled remix, which is over six minutes long, was released as a 12-inch single and digital download by French electronic music label Kitsuné,[32][33] and it was also included on the 2009 compilation album Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7.[34] The official remix of the song for the US featuring rapper Kanye West premiered exclusively on the Entertainment Weekly website on 12 October 2010,[35] and was released digitally on 2 November.[36]

Cover versions

The song was covered on the Live Lounge segment of BBC Radio 1's The Jo Whiley Show on four separate occasions: on 18 May 2009 by Australian R&B singer Daniel Merriweather,[37] on 30 January 2010 by Swedish indie pop trio Miike Snow,[38] on 12 May 2010 by American R&B singer Kelis,[39] and on 8 September 2013 by English indie pop trio London Grammar.[40]

"In for the Kill" has been sampled by several rappers.[41] Atlanta rapper Donnis sampled it on his song "For the Kill" from his 2010 mixtape Fashionably Late.[42] Later that year, it was sampled on French Montana's song "Goin' In for the Kill" featuring Chinx Drugz and Cheeze, which appears on French Montana's mixtape Coke Boys.[41][43] The track was sampled by production duo Cool & Dre for rapper Game's "The Kill" from his 2011 mixtape Purp & Patron.[44] In April 2011, Jackson confirmed that Dr. Dre had sampled "In for the Kill" for his upcoming album Detox.[45]

Track listings

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of La Roux.[51]

  • Elly Jackson – vocals, production
  • Ben Langmaid – production
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • John Hanes – mix engineering
  • Tim Roberts – assistant mix engineering

Charts and certifications

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United Kingdom 15 March 2009 Digital EP Polydor [30]
16 March 2009
[46][48]
France 20 April 2009
Kitsuné [31][32][33]
Germany 8 May 2009 Digital EP Universal [47]
Japan 20 May 2009 EP
[49]
Australia 5 June 2009 Digital EP Universal [63]
Germany 12 June 2009 CD single [64]
United States 14 September 2010 Digital EP – remixes
[50]
2 November 2010 Digital single – featuring Kanye West [36]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Grammy Awards 2011: Selected winners". BBC News Online. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  2. ^ "In For The Kill by La Roux". Songfacts. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  3. ^ Price, Simon (28 June 2009). "Album: La Roux, La Roux, (Polydor)". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  4. ^ Balls, David (19 February 2009). "La Roux: 'In For The Kill'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  5. ^ Jolley, Francis (26 March 2009). "La Roux – In For The Kill". Clickmusic. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  6. ^ a b Lindsay, Cam (20 March 2009). "La Roux – "In for the Kill"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  7. ^ "La Roux – "In For The Kill"". MSN Music. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2009. [dead link‍]
  8. ^ "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. IPC Media. October 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  9. ^ "2009 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. 28 March 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  10. ^ Jones, Alan (20 April 2009). "No change at the Top". Music Week. UBM. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014. (subscription required)
  11. ^ a b "2009 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Green Day Breakdown at number one". Music Week. Intent Media. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Top 100 Downloads of All Time". BBC Radio 1. 2 January 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  14. ^ a b Jones, Alan (28 July 2014). "Official Charts Analysis: Sheeran's X sells 33k copies to spend fifth week at No.1". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 28 July 2014. (subscription required)
  15. ^ "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 16 April 2009". Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 14 May 2009". Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  17. ^ a b c "La Roux – In For The Kill" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Rádio – Top 100: La Roux – In For The Kill" (in Slovak). IFPI Slovakia. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  19. ^ a b "European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ a b "La Roux – In For The Kill". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  21. ^ Murray, Gordon (1 August 2014). "La Roux Lights Up With No. 1 Debut". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  22. ^ Knight, David (9 February 2009). "La Roux's In For The Kill by Kinga Burza". Promo News. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  23. ^ Brown, Jimmy (15 October 2010). "La Roux's In For The Kill by LEGS". Promo News. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  24. ^ "La Roux goes to New York to revitalize In For The Kill". MTV Europe. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  25. ^ "Entourage: S7 Ep 84: Hair: Music". HBO. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  26. ^ Hashimoto, Yusuke (4 January 2010). "Bayonetta TV Commercial". Platinum Games. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  27. ^ "What's That Song in the New 'Dredd' Trailer?". ScreenCrush. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  28. ^ "Attack Of La Nina" (in German). Sportpantoffel. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  29. ^ Grundy, Gareth (15 March 2009). "Electronic review: La Roux, In For the Kill (Skream remix)". The Observer. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  30. ^ a b c "In for the Kill – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  31. ^ a b c "La Roux – In For The Kill (EP)". Kitsuné. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  32. ^ a b c "La Roux – In For The Kill (12")". Kitsuné. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  33. ^ a b c "Kitsuné: In for the Kill (Lifelike Remix) – Single by La Roux". iTunes Store France. Apple. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  34. ^ "Various Artists – Maison Compilation 7". Kitsuné. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  35. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (12 October 2010). "La Roux feat. Kanye West, 'In for the Kill': An EW exclusive stream". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  36. ^ a b c "In for the Kill (feat. Kanye West) – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store US. Apple. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  37. ^ "Live Lounge – Daniel Merriweather". BBC Radio 1. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  38. ^ "Live Lounge – Miike Snow". BBC Radio 1. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  39. ^ "Live Lounge – Kelis". BBC Radio 1. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  40. ^ "London Grammar cover La Roux's In For The Kill in the Live Lounge". BBC Radio 1. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  41. ^ a b Ahmed, Insanul (28 January 2011). "VOTE: Who Rocked La Roux's "In For The Kill" The Best?". Complex. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  42. ^ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (21 June 2010). "Premiere: Donnis, "Tha Kill" MP3". The Fader. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  43. ^ "Coke Boys [Explicit]: French Montana: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  44. ^ "Game – The Kill [Prod. Cool & Dre]". HipHopDX. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  45. ^ "La Roux talks about 'hilarious' Dr. Dre collaboration". Newsbeat. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  46. ^ a b "In For The Kill". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  47. ^ a b "In For The Kill von La Roux" (in German). 7digital Germany. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  48. ^ a b "La Roux – In For The Kill (7", Shape, Pic, Ltd)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  49. ^ a b デビュー！ (in Japanese). P-Vine Records. Retrieved 9 September 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ a b "In for the Kill Remixes – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store US. Apple. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  51. ^ La Roux (CD liner notes). La Roux. Polydor Records. 2009. 2703635.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  52. ^ "ARIA Top 20 Dance Chart". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  53. ^ "La Roux – In For The Kill" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  54. ^ "Chartverfolgung / La Roux / Single" (in German). Musicline.de. PhonoNet. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  55. ^ "La Roux – In For The Kill". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  56. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20090412/41/
  57. ^ "La Roux – Chart history: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  58. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Dance Singles 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  59. ^ "Chart of the Year 2009 – the year's biggest selling singles". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  60. ^ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on 29 December 2009, presented by DJ Nihal.
  61. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  62. ^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
  63. ^ "In For The Kill by La Roux". zdigital Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  64. ^ "La Roux | In For The Kill" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
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