Ride a White Horse

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“Ride a White Horse”
“Ride a White Horse” cover
Single by Goldfrapp
from the album Supernature
Released February 13, 2006
Format CD single, DVD single, Vinyl single, Digital download
Recorded Red Bus Studios, London
Genre Dancetronica
Length 4:41 (Album Version)
3:47 (Single Version)
Label Mute
Writer(s) Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory, Nick Batt
Producer Goldfrapp, Gregory
Goldfrapp singles chronology
"Number 1"
(2005)		 "Ride a White Horse"
(2006)		 "Fly Me Away"
(2006)
Alternate cover
DVD single cover
DVD single cover

"Ride a White Horse" is an electronic–dance song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt for Goldfrapp's third album Supernature (2005). The song was inspired by the disco era nightclub Studio 54.[1]

The song was released as the album's third single in February 2006 to positive reviews from music critics. It was a commercial success, reaching the top forty on the majority of the charts it entered. The song has been remixed a number of times and was featured in the American television program The L Word.

Contents

[edit] Background and writing

"Ride a White Horse" is an electronic–dance song that was inspired by the disco era. Alison Goldfrapp had grown up listening to T.Rex and Polish disco music, and many assumed that she based the song's lyrics around Bianca Jagger's infamous entrance into Studio 54 on a white horse. However, a more in-depth look at the lyrics will show that they are probably a clever metaphor which describes her love for heroin, known also as 'white horse' on the street. Hence the lines Lend me a whole new world// All night// Feel life// When is there ever sense// To love this world. [1][2] The song was composed as a collaborative effort between Goldfrapp and Will Gregory in late 2004 in a rented cottage in the countryside of Bath, England.[3] The song was written and recorded while Goldfrapp and Gregory were "jamming in the recording studio, bouncing song ideas off each other".[4]

"Ride a White Horse" is written in the common verse-chorus form and features instrumentation from synthesizers and a bass guitar.[5] The U.S. maxi CD single featured a cover version of "Boys Will Be Boys" as its B-side. The song was originally performed by British rock group The Ordinary Boys.

[edit] Music video

Alison Goldfrapp in the music video.
Alison Goldfrapp in the music video.

The music video for "Ride a White Horse" was directed by Diane Martel and filmed in London, England in December 2005.[6] The video features Alison Goldfrapp, dressed in a white dress, in multiple disturbing situations. The video begins with Goldfrapp, her back to the camera, singing into a microphone. As she sings, footage of rotting food is displayed behind her. She is then shown eating a slice of pizza covered in cigarette butts. The next scenes feature Goldfrapp pulling a large plastic dog, singing in front of a man covered in bandages rifling through a garbage can, and dancing with men dressed in their underwear. The video concludes with Golfrapp forcing the leg of bandaged man into a toilet.

The video premiered in the UK in early January 2006.[6] It was nominated at the Festival International des Arts du Clip in the "Off Competition" category the same year for its audacity and off beat sense of humour.[7] The complete version of "Ride a White Horse" featured in the music video has been released commercially through CD singles and digital downloads, and some include remixes by Serge Santiágo and Ewan Pearson.

[edit] Critical reception

"Ride a White Horse" received positive reviews from music critics. MusicOMH.com's Michael Hubbard called the song "one of the most glamorous and erotic tracks" on Supernature[8], and Stylus Magazine described the it as "memorable" because of its "combination of a decently danceable groove and some nicely arch vocals".[9] In a review for PopMatters, Adrien Begrand wrote that "Ride a White Horse" was "destined for club hit status", comparing Alison Goldfrapp's "cold, husky croon" to Kate Bush.[10]

[edit] Marketing and release

In March 2007, "Ride a White Horse" was featured on an episode of the American television program The L Word.[11] The episode titled "Literary License to Kill" featured the group performing the song at The Planet while the characters celebrated a birthday. A radio edit of the song was also featured on the program's soundtrack released in January 2007.[12]

"Ride a White Horse" was released as a various formats throughout the world. While most territories received a CD single and digital download release, the single was released as a limited edition vinyl single in February 2006 in the UK.[13] A DVD single was also issued and included behind the scenes footage of Goldfrapp on tour and a live music video for "Ride a White Horse".[14]

[edit] Chart performance

"Ride a White Horse" entered the UK Singles Chart on February 20, 2006 at number fifteen, remaining on the chart for three weeks.[15][16] The song proved popular on UK radio, charting at number twenty-three on the airplay chart.[17] In Ireland, the song reached number thirty-six on the singles chart before exiting the following week.[16] Although the song did not peak on any major singles charts outside of the UK, it did peak at number thirty-six on the World Chart Show airplay chart in April 2006.[18]

In the United States, "Ride a White Horse" was released as the album's final single in February 2007. The song did not perform as well as its predecessors on the Billboard Dance Chart, reaching only number twenty-nine. The song, however, did peak at number three on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.[19]

[edit] Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Ride a White Horse".

CD single #1
(CDMute356; Released February 13, 2006)

  1. "Ride a White Horse" (Single version) - 3:47
  2. "Slide In" (DFA remix edit) - 5:20

CD single #2
(LCDMute356; Released February 13, 2006)

  1. "Ride a White Horse" (Serge Santiágo re-edit) - 8:08
  2. "Ride a White Horse" (FK-EK vocal version) - 7:48
  3. "Ride a White Horse" (FK Disco Whores dub) - 7:42
  4. "Ride a White Horse" (Ewan Pearson Disco Odyssey Parts 1 & 2) - 15:13

Digital single
(Released February 13, 2006)

  1. "Ride a White Horse" (Single version) - 3:35
  2. "Slide In" (DFA remix edit) - 5:21

Digital EP
(Released February 13, 2006)

  1. "Ride a White Horse" (Serge Santiágo re-edit edit) - 6:55
  2. "Ride a White Horse" (FK-EK Vocal version edit) - 6:58
  3. "Ride a White Horse" (FK Disco Whores dub edit) - 6:55
  4. "Ride a White Horse" (Ewan Pearson Disco Odyssey, Part 1 edit) - 6:54

Vinyl single
(12Mute356; Released February 13, 2006)

  1. "Ride a White Horse" (Serge Santiágo re-edit) - 8:05
  2. "Ride a White Horse" (FK-EK Vocal version) - 7:45

U.S. maxi-single
(9323-2; Released February 2008, after being postponed from May 2006)

  1. "Ride a White Horse" (Single version) - 3:46
  2. "Boys Will Be Boys" - 2:51
  3. "Ride a White Horse" (FK-EK Vocal version) - 7:48
  4. "Ride a White Horse" (FK Disco Whores dub) - 7:41
  5. "Ride a White Horse" (Ewan Pearson Disco Odyssey Parts 1 & 2) - 15:13
  6. "Ride a White Horse" (Serge Santiago re-edit) - 8:07

DVD single
(DVDMute356; Released February 13, 2006)

  1. "Ride a White Horse" (Live in London)
  2. "Supernature Tour Access All Areas"
  3. "Number 1" (Mùm remix - audio) - 2:23

[edit] Personnel

The following people contributed to Ride a White Horse:[5]

[edit] Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position[18]
Irish Singles Chart 36
UK Singles Chart 15
Chart (2007) Peak
position[19]
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 29
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Single Sales 5

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Arjan Timmermans. "Interview with Goldfrapp. arjanwrites.com. December 9, 2005. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Sylvia Patterson. "Glam Slam". The Sunday Herald. September 4, 2005. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  3. ^ "Goldfrapp Unleash Supernature". Rolling Stone. March 7, 2006. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  4. ^ Michael Gallant. "Retro Disco Ooh La La". Keyboard Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2006.
  5. ^ a b Supernature (CD liner notes). Mute Records. August 2005.
  6. ^ a b Goldfrapp "Ride a White Horse" music video. mvdbase.com. Retrieved July 22, 2007.
  7. ^ 2006 Selection. Festival International des Arts du Clip. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  8. ^ Michael Hubbard. Goldfrapp – Supernature (Mute). MusicOMH.com. August 22, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
  9. ^ Edward Oculicz. Goldfrapp; Supernature. Stylus magazine. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
  10. ^ Adrien Begrand. Goldfrapp – Supernature. PopMatters. September 19, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
  11. ^ ""Ride a White Horse" on The L Word. goldfrapp.co.uk. March 1, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  12. ^ "Music From and Inspired by The L Word. goldfrapp.co.uk. January 18, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  13. ^ "Ride a White Horse" Vinyl Single. eil.com. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  14. ^ "Ride a White Horse" DVD Single. eil.com. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  15. ^ UK Singles Chart (February 20, 2006). acharts.us. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  16. ^ a b Chart Positions. acharts.us. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  17. ^ "Gnarls Barkley's Crazy loses some of its audience yet still has almost double that of its nearest challenger, in a chart in which Will Young, The Kooks and Kubb climb strongly". Music Week. April 29, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  18. ^ a b Chart Data: Goldfrapp. mariah-charts.com. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  19. ^ a b Goldfrapp Charts and Awards. All Music Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2007.

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Goldfrapp
Related articles – Alison Goldfrapp – Will Gregory – Goldfrapp discography
Studio albums
Compilations
Singles
"Lovely Head" – "Utopia" – "Human" – "Utopia (Genetically Enriched)" – "Pilots" – "Train" – "Strict Machine" – "Twist" – "Black Cherry" – "Ooh La La" – "Number 1" – "Ride a White Horse" – "Fly Me Away" – "Satin Boys, Flaming Chic" – "A&E" – "Happiness" – "Caravan Girl"
Related article