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Mile High (song)

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"Mile High"
Single by James Blake featuring Travis Scott and Metro Boomin
from the album Assume Form
Released17 January 2019
GenreTrap
Length3:13
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
James Blake singles chronology
"Don't Miss It"
(2018) 		"Mile High"
(2019) 		"Lullaby for My Insomniac"
(2019)
Travis Scott singles chronology
"Yosemite"
(2018) 		"Mile High"
(2019) 		"First Off"
(2019)
Metro Boomin singles chronology
"So Good"
(2018) 		"Mile High"
(2019) 		"Space Cadet"
(2019)
Music video
"Mile High" on YouTube

"Mile High" is a song by written and performed English singer-songwriter and electronic music producer James Blake featuring American rapper and singer Travis Scott and American record producer Metro Boomin, released on 17 January 2019 through Polydor Records as the second single from the former's fourth studio album, Assume Form (2019). It was produced by Blake and Metro alongside Dan Foat, Dre Moon, and Wavy.[1]

Musically, "Mile High" is a trap track which features influences from each artist's musical style. Following the track's premiere on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show as that day's "World Record", the track was met with positive reviews from music critics, with most praising the three artists' chemistry.

In 2020, New Zealand singer Benee covered the song for Australian youth broadcaster Triple J's segment Like a Version.

Background and recording

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In an interview with Zane Lowe of Beats 1, James Blake revealed that the song was created during a recording session that was not initially meant to have anything to do with the album Assume Form. He was listening to Travis Scott singing over Metro Boomin's beat when, impressed, he asked to sing over it.[2][3] He hailed Scott as "exceptionally talented at melodies" in an interview with Apple Music[4] and also told Dazed that he was impressed at Scott's musical range, saying "he'd just released Astroworld, which is like banger after banger, and then he comes and does this really vulnerable, sweet love song."[5] Blake also praised Metro Boomin, saying "the beat is a huge part of why that track feels the way it does."[4]

Composition

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"Mile High" has been described as "a slow-burning soul trap banger" with "the signature Travis Scott bass hits and murky, rainy-weather James Blake mood."[6] Rolling Stone noted that the track features "more of Blake’s DNA than his collaborators’", adding that the track "is an exercise in restraint."[7] Conversely, Spin described it as "a quieter, dispassionate version of [...] most Travis Scott music."[8] MTV noted that Scott "and his blunt rhymes [...] are balanced by Blake's gentle crooning."[9] Vocally, the two artists' vocals range from a deep tone to a falsetto.[10]

Release and reception

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The song was released just twelve hours prior to the release of Assume Form through Polydor Records.[11][12] It premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show, where Lowe reportedly played the song three times over and said "James Blake, you’ve done it again."[13]

"Mile High" was met with positive reviews from music critics, most praising the three artists' chemistry. Consequence of Sound deemed it the best track of the week, writing that it "proves that Scott can fit in on more than just his signature bangers, with an almost comforting delivery that’s more inviting than assertive."[14] Stereogum gave it the same accolade, noting that "There’s a stuttering sample of something — a flute maybe? — that echoes like a birdcall through a rainforest. It’s lovely."[10] Raisa Bruner featured it on Time's "5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week" list, calling it "a love song [...] but also a flex — not just in terms of lyrical content, but also in terms of just how understated Blake can be."[15] Robert Marshall of Hypebeast hailed the track as " perfect marriage of the trio’s distinct sounds, while also proving Blake’s sonic progression."[16] Ben Devlin of MusicOMH echoed these views, writing that "it shows remarkable chemistry."[17]

Music video

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A music video for "Mile High" was released on 3 February 2019, just hours before Scott's performance at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show,[18] and had previously been teased on Blake's social media.[19][20] It was directed by Nabil and is set at and filmed in the Mile High Cafe in Idyllwild, California.[21] The visual has been compared by Rolling Stone and HotNewHipHop to the "sunken place" scene in the 2017 horror film Get Out.[22][23] The video begins with Blake sitting in the Mile High Cafe with a cup of tea before Scott bangs on the cafe's window to gain his attention. Scott then sits down at Blake's table and discusses the colour of the sky and the idea of not owning a cell phone. While stirring his tea, Blake drifts off to a dark dreamworld inside his mind and begins to perform the song with Scott. Meanwhile, Scott tries to regain Blake's attention in the real world.[24][19]

Charts

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Benee version

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On 31 January 2020, New Zealand singer Benee featured on Australian youth broadcaster Triple J's segment Like a Version, where she performed a cover of the song, in addition to a performance of "Glitter".[33][34]

References

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  1. ^ "Assume Form / James Blake". Tidal. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  2. ^ Martin, Felicity (18 January 2019). "Five takeaways from James Blake's 'Assume Form'". Dummy Mag. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  3. ^ Findlay, Mitch (17 January 2019). "James Blake Reflects On Crafting Bangers With Travis Scott & Metro Boomin". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Assume Form - Album by James Blake". iTunes Store. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  5. ^ Cliff, Aimee (17 January 2019). "How James Blake loosened up and learned to speak his mind". Dazed. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  6. ^ Williams, Aaron (17 January 2019). "James Blake Flies A 'Mile High' With Travis Scott And Metro Boomin". Uproxx. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  7. ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan (17 January 2019). "James Blake Recruits Travis Scott, Metro Boomin for 'Mile High'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  8. ^ Daramola, Israel (17 January 2019). "James Blake - "Mile High" (ft. Travis Scott & Metro Boomin)". Spin. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  9. ^ Roth, Madeline (17 January 2019). "Travis Scott Raps About An 'Ass Fatter Than A Peach' On James Blake's New Song". MTV. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  10. ^ a b "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  11. ^ "James Blake - "Mile High" (Feat. Travis Scott & Metro Boomin)". Stereogum. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Mile High (feat. Metro Boomin & Travis Scott) - Single". iTunes Store. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  13. ^ Armstrong, Megan (17 January 2019). "James Blake Enlists Travis Scott & Metro Boomin for Hypnotic Song 'Mile High': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  14. ^ Dzubay, Laura; Dountz, Brad; Reed, Parker (18 January 2019). "Song of the Week: James Blake Invites Us in on "Mile High" with Travis Scott". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  15. ^ Bruner, Raisa (18 January 2019). "5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week". Time. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  16. ^ Marshall, Robert (17 January 2019). "James Blake Drops Travis Scott & Metro Boomin-Assisted "Mile High" Single". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  17. ^ Devlin, Ben (20 January 2019). "James Blake – Assume Form". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  18. ^ Young, Alex (3 February 2019). "James Blake and Travis Scott share video for "Mile High": Watch". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  19. ^ a b James Blake - Mile High (feat. Travis Scott and Metro Boomin) on YouTube
  20. ^ Josephs, Brian (3 February 2019). "James Blake and Travis Scott Connect in a Cafe for "Mile High" Video". Complex. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  21. ^ DeVille, Chris (3 February 2019). "James Blake - "Mile High" (Feat. Travis Scott & Metro Boomin) Video". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  22. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (3 February 2019). "See James Blake, Travis Scott Float in the Underworld in 'Mile High' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  23. ^ "James Blake & Travis Scott Dive Into The Sunken Place In "Mile High" Video". HotNewHipHop. 3 February 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  24. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (3 February 2019). "James Blake And Travis Scott Lose Touch With Reality In Their 'Mile High' Video". Uproxx. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  25. ^ "James Blake feat. Metro Boomin & Travis Scott – Mile High" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  26. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  27. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 4, 25 januari 2019". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  29. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  30. ^ "James Blake Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  31. ^ "James Blake Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  32. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  33. ^ English, Laura (31 January 2020). "Benee takes on James Blake for Triple J's Like a Version". Music Feeds. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  34. ^ Riddell, Rose (31 January 2020). "Watch: BENEE cover James Blake's "Mile High" + perform "Glitter" live for Triple J". Coup Demain Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
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