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Yo-Yo (Nicola Roberts song)

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"Yo-Yo"
Song
B-side"Memory of You" (Solo version)
"Sticks + Stones" (Demo)

"Yo-Yo" is a song by British recording artist Nicola Roberts, released as the third and final single from Roberts' debut solo album Cinderella's Eyes on 6 January 2012. Originally, "Yo-Yo" was set to be Roberts' debut single, but "Beat of My Drum" was selected in its place. "Beat of My Drum" and "Lucky Day", Roberts' previous singles, garnered positive comments from critics, but failed to impact commercially. "Yo-Yo" was written by Roberts, Maya Von Doll and Dimitri Tikovoi while it was produced by latter, and was the first song to be composed by the group. Roberts also claimed the track had defined her musical style.

"Yo-Yo" is a 1950s-themed electropop and synthpop song in which Roberts sings about an undecided lover. The song received positive reviews from critics, who compared Roberts' vocals to those of singer Kate Bush. Commercially, it was a failure, charting at number 111 on the UK Singles Chart. A music video was released on 30 November 2011; the video sees Roberts repeatedly changing outfit for a party in which she finds her love interest cheating on her, ending with an aggressive confrontation. It garnered positive critical responses although the low-budget drew criticism. Roberts performed "Yo-Yo" at London's G-A-Y nightclub and on the Alan Titchmarsh Show, among other occasions.

Background and writing

"The song is about being in that position with a guy when you really don't know whether you're coming or going. Being in that position can make you really vulnerable. It's the dark, desperate and doubtful side of love."

Roberts explaining the lyrics and concept of the track.[1]

Nicola Roberts, who began her musical career as one fifth of the band Girls Aloud, struggled with loneliness and increasing isolation during her time with the group.[2] A busy schedule and constant media criticism found her describing the time as a "blur". Her exhaustion and troubles with negative media comments led to a state in which she had to harden herself, claiming that inside she was "dying". These events inspired her debut album Cinderella's Eyes.[2] "Yo-Yo" was the first song she had written with Maya von Doll and Dimitri Tikovoi for the album. The recording was also one of the first songs Roberts wrote, and it helped define her musical style.[3] Roberts blogged about the production of the track, writing that:

The production’s incredible. The beat is just so constant and powerful. That was the first song that I wrote with Dimitri and Maya. I felt like I’d found my sound. And I was kind of looking at it like an outfit. So it was, ‘if this was an outfit, what would this song need now?’ So we had the pretty dress, which was the chorus. We had the lovely shoes, which was the verse. ‘But what do we need to really set this song off? A big, fancy, bow in the hair would really set this song off.’ So when I got to the middle eight I wanted to go really erratic, almost like taTu on All The Things She Said. I wanted it to be proper fucked up and crazy – hands in the air.[3]

Release

Roberts' debut single, "Beat of My Drum", garnered acclaim from critics,[4] but failed to impact commercially, charting at 27 in the United Kingdom.[5] She released a follow-up single, "Lucky Day", which likewise garnered positive responses,[6] but was even less successful commercially, charting at number 40 on both the Scottish and UK Singles charts.[7][8] Writing as a guest blogger on the website Holy Moly in September 2011, Roberts announced that "Yo-Yo" would be released as the third single from Cinderella's Eyes, initially citing a November release date;[3] the release was later delayed until January 2012.[9] Roberts had originally intended for "Yo-Yo" to be the first single from the album, but "Beat of My Drum" was instead chosen at the "last minute". Roberts stated that "it felt right to go with" the latter song.[3] "Yo-Yo" was released digitally on 2 January 2012, with Roberts announcing on her official website that the single would be released in CD format featuring a live performance of the song in addition to the demo version of her song "Sticks + Stones" seven days later.[9] Additionally, two EPs were released on 6 January 2012.[10][11]

Composition and critical reception

"Yo-Yo"
A 20 second sample of the song's 1950-inspired chorus, which features a vocal performance similar to the ones of Kate Bush.[12]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Yo-Yo" features 808 drums with a "dramatic" 1950s-inspired pop "pastiche".[12] However, the 1950s concept "goes completely out of the window" for an "unhinged" bridge, which features a club mix which speeds up the drums featured in the song.[12] The lyrics of the track discuss an uncertain relationship, leading to vulnerability, with Roberts describing it as a "dark" song.[9] The song references a yo-yo; this is a metaphor for Roberts herself, a spinning yo-yo "on the finger of a hot 'n' cold lover".[13] Described as "confessional" by Robert Copsey of Digital Spy, the song has a "conversational" performance, and Roberts' vocals were compared to that of singer Kate Bush.[14]

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Emily Mackay, writing for NME, described the chorus as a "winning" one, and noted that "the impulse-speed space synths are broken-heartedly beguiling".[13] In a separate review, Lisa Wright from NME found that while the song didn't match the success of "Beat of My Drum". Wright said that the song is "Not a cuss-ridden introduction to Nicola’s re-emergence as an English Syd Tha Kyd, but a questionable metaphor about being like a crap ’90s toy."[15] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy found Cinderella's Eyes to be "frustratingly under-appreciated" with "Yo-Yo" being a "shining example of [Roberts'] pop sensibilities" calling it "unashamedly radio friendly".[16]

Music video

External videos
video icon The official "Yo-Yo" music video on YouTube, uploaded by Vevo.

Synopsis

The video begins with a man performing tricks with a yo-yo in a white room, accompanied by shots showing Roberts in a "fashionable looking house"[17] wearing a black silk dress.[18] Then rapid shots show her in various other outfits, including a purple velvet dress,[18] all the time showing the man performing tricks with the yo-yo. As the chorus begins, Roberts is shown in the kitchen of the house, along with several women dancing with her. Another shot shows a man and a woman walking through a street embracing each other. This is later interspersed with shots of a fully clothed Roberts standing in a shower cubiclem getting increasingly wet. Roberts is shown leaving the house and seeing the man with whom she had danced with another woman. She returns to the house, and the man and Roberts are seen in the kitchen area with Roberts throwing a series of objects at him.

Release and reception

"The general concept is really all about the story and just following the story of the song. It's a really emotional song... [so] one of the hardest things about today is to take it out of my situation and be able to perform the song through the cameras. I think the song means a lot to a lot of people, so fingers crossed the story really hits home"

Roberts discussing the concept of the video.[19]

Prior to the release of the video, Roberts released still images to website 3am. These showed her in what was described as "some sort of untidy, yet fashionable looking house", while one showed her with her legs above her head wearing "Kandee's caramel kisses shoes" and a third and final seeing her "cosying up next to a handsome chap".[17] The same day, Roberts gave two more exclusive stills to website Digital Spy; in one image, she was smelling roses, while, in the second, she was "playing with a pair of shoes".[20] The video was released on 30 November 2011.[21] After the official release, Nadia Mendoza of the Daily Mail stated the video was a departure from her previous two videos (for "Beat of My Drum" and "Lucky Day"), saying that it "looks and sounds a lot more grown up as she teases viewers by stripping to her bra and frolicking in the shower."[18] Mendoza found that Roberts was "becoming quite the chameleon" and had "trampled all over her innocent charm to create a sex siren", referencing her transformation throughout her videos.[18] Katherine St Asaph, of Pop Dust, found that the video's low budget had had a negative effect. She interpreted scenes with Roberts repeated changes clothing positively, noting "[i]t works because of the lyrics – what, besides other people, can mess with your feelings more than trying on clothes?"[22]

Live performances

Roberts performing in 2011 during a promotional tour for Cinderella's Eyes.

Roberts performed "Yo-Yo" at London's G-A-Y nightclub on 24 September 2011.[23] She pre-recorded a performance of "Yo-Yo" for UK television programme The Alan Titchmarsh Show during the same taping as a performance of "Lucky Day".[3] The taping came after deciding "Yo-Yo" would be released as the third single from the album, with Roberts saying, "I absolutely love performing Yo-Yo, it's my favourite one to do [...] So I feel really close to Yo-Yo. I feel like I lose myself when I'm performing it".[3] After the release of the single, Roberts performed on The Album Chart Show during a special dedicated to her, performing three tracks: "Yo-Yo", "Beat of My Drum" and "Sticks + Stones".[24] Roberts also performed the song on British chat show Loose Women[25] and on the Digital Music Awards.[26]

Charts

"Yo-Yo" debuted at its peak of number 111 on the UK Singles Chart.

Chart (2012) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 111

Formats and track-listings

Release history

Region Date Label Format
Ireland 6 January 2012[29] Polydor Records Digital download
United Kingdom 6 January 2012[10]
9 January 2012[28] CD single

References

  1. ^ "Nicola Roberts: Solo album made me ill". The Sun. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b Nicholson, Rebecca (4 June 2011). "Nicola Roberts: Diplo and Metronomy dance to the bang of my drum". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Roberts, Nicola (20 September 2011). "Guest Blog: Nicola Roberts, Lucky Day 2, Topshop and Titchmarsh". Holy Moly. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  4. ^ Williams, Andrew (26 June 2011). "Nicola Roberts: I thought I'd won the jackpot when I got in Girls Aloud". Metro. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Chart stats". UK Singles Chart. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Song of the Day "Lucky Day"". Popjustice. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "Nicola announces brand new single Yo-Yo". NicolaRobertsMusic.com. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  10. ^ a b c "Nicola Roberts 'Yo-Yo' EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Nicola Roberts 'Yo-Yo' Engine Room sessions EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  12. ^ a b c Chipping, Tim (20 May 2011). "Nicola Roberts: Cinderella's Eyes 3 Track Sampler, Pop Music has a new Queen". Holy Moly. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  13. ^ a b Mackay, Emily. "First Listen - Nicola Roberts, 'Cinderella's Eyes'". NME. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  14. ^ Copsey, Robert (24 September 2011). "Cinderella's Eyes - Album Review". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  15. ^ Wright, Emily (6 November 2012). "NME track reviews - Nicola Roberts 'Yo-Yo'". NME. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  16. ^ Copsey, Robert (8 November 2012). "Nicola Robers: 'Yo-Yo' review". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Nicola Roberts' video for Yo-Yo is all about comfortable poses". 3am. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  18. ^ a b c d Mendoza, Nadia (1 December 2011). "From innocent charm to sex siren! Nicola Roberts strips off in heartbreak video Yo-Yo, as cheating 'boyfriend' kisses another girl". Daily Mail. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  19. ^ Copsey, Robert (25 November 2011). "Nicola Roberts previews 'Yo-Yo' music video - watch". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  20. ^ Copsey, Robert (25 November 2011). "Nicola Roberts teases new Yo-Yo video". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  21. ^ Copsey, Robert (25 November 2011). "Nicola Roberts premieres 'Yo-Yo' music video". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  22. ^ St Asaph, Katherine (30 November 2011). "Nicola Roberts' great new single "Yo-Yo" now has a video". Pop Dust. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  23. ^ "Gallery: Nicola Roberts performs at G-A-Y!". Nicola Roberts UK. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  24. ^ "Watch Nicola's Album Chart Show special". NicolaRobertsMusic.com. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Nicola performs new single Yo-Yo on Loose Women". NicolaRobertsMusic.com. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Nicola live on TV at the Digital Music Awards". NicolaRobertsMusic.com. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  27. ^ "Chart Log UK: Chart entries update". Official Charts Company. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  28. ^ a b "CD Single Nicola Roberts Yo-Yo". Universal Records. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  29. ^ "Nicola Roberts 'Yo-Yo' EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved 16 January 2012.

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