Alive (Goldfrapp song)
"Alive" is a synthpop song by English duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First. Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Richard X, the song was released as the album's second single on 7 June 2010. The music video premiered on YouTube on 20 May 2010. "Alive" was their first full release to have no CD format issued, instead supported by a digital remix EP and a limited edition 7" picture disc. The single failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart, but nevertheless became Goldfrapp's fifth single to top the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The track has been heavily used in promos for Australian television channel Eleven.
Critical reception
"Alive" received positive reviews from music critics. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy stated: "Beginning with a piano riff reminiscent of vintage Elton, 'Alive' builds towards a fantastic arms-in-the-air chorus on which Goldfrapp proclaims 'I'm feeling alive again' over gorgeously warm 80s-style synths."[1] Heather Phares of Allmusic wrote that the song "channels ABBA with percolating guitars, warm keyboards and synths that sparkle like falling stars or a shower of glitter."[2] Peter Paphides from The Times referred to "Alive" as Billy Joel's 1980 number-one hit "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" as if "marinaded in amyl nitrate and recast to lyrics that sound like a great lost Brutus jeans jingle."[3] BBC Music reviewer Ian Wade felt that "while 'Alive' initially echoes The Feeling, it soon expands into a broader wonder evocative of ELO's most-imperial phase."[4] Barry Nicolson of the NME noted that the track "treads along on an infuriatingly familiar-sounding piano hook modernised by Gregory's whip-smart production."[5] Andy Gill of The Independent opined that "the Elton-esque piano chords of 'Alive' [...] recall the indulgent, bogus innocence of 1970s AOR pop excess with Spandex-tight accuracy."[6] Spin magazine's Lindsey Thomas commented that the song "wears its influences proudly, flaunting the shimmery squiggles that denoted muse-y magic in Xanadu."[7]
Music video
Development
Impressed by their work on the music video for Florence and the Machine's song "Dog Days Are Over", Alison Goldfrapp asked the direction duo Legs to produce a script for the song "Alive".[8] Legs decided to create a dark video featured in a demotic world because "Alive" is "so infectiously happy and bright."[8] The video was inspired by heavy metal bands and the music video for Olivia Newton-John's song "Physical".[8][9]
The video was filmed over one day. The morning was dedicated to filming the dancers and extras, while the afternoon focused on Goldfrapp's stage performance. Ross McLennan, the director of photography, experimented with different styles of lighting to give the video an "incredible energy."[8] Special effects such as laser beams, blood and fang transformation were added in post-production by Absolute Post in New York City.[10]
Concept
The main idea behind the video is that Goldfrapp is a 1980s-inspired aerobics instructor who leads a group of black metal fans and vampires through a fitness routine.[9] The video begins with Goldfrapp standing in a dark room with smoke rising around her. In front of her are a group of men (the black metal fans) standing in a pentagram wearing black hooded capes. As the music begins to pick up, the men take off their capes and begin to dance.
After the chorus, Goldfrapp shoots white laser beams from her fingertips, summoning a group of female dancers to join the dancing group of goth men. As the video progresses, it is revealed that these female dancers are actually vampires. The vampires attack the dancing metalheads and consume their rainbow-coloured blood. All through this, Goldfrapp continues to sing and dance, urging the vampires to continue to perform the aerobics routine. The video ends with Goldfrapp revealing a pair of vampire fangs and laying down in a neon coffin.
Track listings
- "Alive" (Radio Edit) – 3:00
- "Alive" (Instrumental) – 3:28
- UK limited edition shaped 7" picture disc
- A. "Alive" – 3:28
- B. "Alive" (Joakim Remix - Edit)
- "Alive" – 3:28
- "Alive" (Joakim Remix) – 6:31
- "Alive" (Joakim NRG Dub) – 6:14
- "Alive" (Tensnake Remix) – 7:23
- "Alive" (Dave Audé Remix) – 7:57
- "Alive" (Arno Cost Remix) – 8:24
Personnel
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) |
Peak
position |
| US Hot Dance Club Play[13] |
20 |
|
References
- ^ Copsey, Robert (7 June 2010). "Goldfrapp: 'Alive'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a223285/goldfrapp-alive.html. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Head First – Goldfrapp – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/head-first-r1726312/review. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Paphides, Peter (12 March 2010). "Goldfrapp: Head First". The Times. Times Newspapers. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article7058437.ece. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Wade, Ian (12 March 2010). "Review of Goldfrapp – Head First". BBC Music. BBC Online. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/84gw. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Nicolson, Barry (19 March 2010). "Album Review: Goldfrapp – 'Head First' (Mute)". NME. IPC Media. http://www.nme.com/reviews/goldfrapp/11146. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Gill, Andy (19 March 2010). "Album: Goldfrapp, Head First (Mute)". The Independent. Independent News & Media. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-goldfrapp-head-first-mute-1923536.html. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Thomas, Lindsey (20 March 2010). "Goldfrapp, 'Headfirst' (Mute)". Spin. Spin Media LLC. http://www.spin.com/reviews/goldfrapp-headfirst-mute. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d Knight, David (25 May 2010). "Goldfrapp's Alive by Geremy Jasper & Georgie Greville (Legs)". Promo News. http://www.promonews.tv/2010/05/25/goldfrapp’s-alive-by-geremy-jasper-georgie-greville-legs/. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ a b Dombal, Ryan (20 May 2010). "Goldfrapp Do Vampire Aerobics in Awesome New "Alive" Video". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchfork.com/news/38870-goldfrapp-do-vampire-aerobics-in-awesome-new-alive-video/. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ DeMott, Rick (25 May 2010). "Absolute's VFX Make Goldfrapp's Vampire Video Look Alive – And Trippy". Animation World Network. http://www.awn.com/news/commercials/absolute-s-vfx-make-goldfrapp-s-vampire-video-look-alive-and-trippy-0. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ "Alive (Remixes) by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc.. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/alive-remixes/id374138472. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- ^ "Goldfrapp Album & Song Chart History – Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/goldfrapp/chart-history/408637?f=359&g=Singles. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- ^ "2010 Year End Charts – Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2010/hot-dance-club-play-songs. Retrieved 13 August 2011.