| "Call Your Girlfriend" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Robyn | ||||
| from the album Body Talk | ||||
| Released | 1 April 2011 | |||
| Format | CD single, Digital download | |||
| Recorded | Apmamman Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) |
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| Genre | Electropop, synthpop | |||
| Length | 3:47 | |||
| Label | Konichiwa | |||
| Writer(s) | Robyn, Alexander Kronlund, Klas Åhlund | |||
| Producer | Klas Åhlund, Billboard | |||
| Robyn singles chronology | ||||
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"Call Your Girlfriend" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her seventh studio album, Body Talk (2010). It was released as the album's second single on 1 April 2011. The song was written by Robyn, Klas Åhlund and Alexander Kronlund. Åhlund handled production, with assistance by Billboard. In the song, Robyn portrays a woman who begs her new boyfriend to break up with his old girlfriend, and advises him on how to do it gently. "Call Your Girlfriend" is an electropop ballad with synths and a buzzing rhythm.
The song received positive reviews from critics, who praised it for its lyrics and heartfelt message. The song reached number forty-three on the Sverigetopplistan chart, and number eight on the Flanders Ultratip chart. In the United States, it reached number one on Hot Dance Club Songs, becoming Robyn's highest-peaking song on the chart. The accompanying music video was released on 2 June 2011 and features Robyn dancing alone in a warehouse. The song has been performed on the NewNowNext Awards, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and most recently on Saturday Night Live. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for the 54th Grammy Awards.
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In an interview with Teen.com, Robyn said that love and life inspired her to write the song.[1] In January 2011, Robyn confirmed that it would be released as the second single from Body Talk, and that a music video for the song was in the works.[2] Originally intended for a 16 May 2011 release,[3] the single was released digitally on 1 April 2011, in Finland,[4] and three days later in Sweden.[5]
"Call Your Girlfriend" was written by Robyn, Alexander Kronlund and Klas Åhlund, with the latter producing the song. Billboard is credited as the co-producer.[6] The song is an electropop ballad, described as "soaringly tuneful."[7] In the song, Robyn portrays a woman who is enjoying her new boyfriend, but is concerned that his ex-girlfriend might be hurt by it.[8] As a solution, she begs her man to break up with his old girlfriend and gives him tips on how to do it gently.[9] According to Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork, the song carries a "buzzing rhythm", synths and "a killer chord change." Plagenhoef wrote that Robyn "[is] as graceful about this role as when she plays the other points in the love triangle." He described it as "one of the most adult, thoughtful pop music breakups since the Field Mice's "Willow", but naturally without the twee-pop OGs' sense of melancholy."[10]
Ben Norman of About.com called the song "pensive pop" and said that it "demands [that] you sing along from the very beginning." He noted that the lyrics focuses on "the little bit of bad one must do to embrace the good".[9] Marc Hogan of Pitchfork called it "one of Body Talk's most inspired moments".[7] Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club wrote that Body Talk "reaches its apex at its midpoint with “Call Your Girlfriend,” which turns the breakup-anthem conceit on its ear in a manner that makes getting dumped seem inspiring."[11] Heather Phares of Allmusic called it a "thoughtful twist on a love triangle that finds Robyn enjoying new love while being concerned for someone hurt by it."[8] Evan Sawdey of PopMatters called it "remarkable" and "one of those rare Robyn tracks that finds a way to use its overtly commercial pop framework to tell a rather emotional, pointed relationship tale that is heads-and-shoulders above most of what’s on mainstream radio today."[12]
Call Your Girlfriend received it's first play on BBC Radio 1 on July 4, 2011 as Scott Mills' Record of the Week. It was confirmed that it will be officially released in the UK on August 1.
On November 30, 2011, the song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for the 54th Grammy Awards.
"Call Your Girlfriend" debuted at number forty-three on the Sverigetopplistan chart in Sweden, on the issue dated 22 April 2011.[13] On the issue dated July 2, 2011, the track peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, thus became her first single to reach the top spot of Hot Dance Club Play Chart, and also her highest peaking and most successful single there. On the issue on 18 July 2011, the song debuted at number thirty-nine in New Zealand, Robyn's fourth single in that country. It is currently peaking at number seventeen on the issue date 15 August 2011, becoming Robyn's highest single in the country since "Show Me Love".
The music video for "Call Your Girlfriend" was directed by Max Vitali.[14] It premiered on 2 June 2011, and features Robyn dancing alone in a warehouse.[15] The video was choreographed by Maria "Decida" Wahlberg. Robyn confirmed a video for the song alongside the single announcement in January 2011.[2] Tom Breihan of Pitchfork wrote that the video "is one long unbroken tracking shot of the Swedish pop queen dancing, singing, and looking like her heart is about to break. The only thing she has to keep her company is an elaborate lighting rig. It's a true command performance, a hall-of-fame effort from an artist at the absolute peak of her powers."[15] Tamar Anitai of MTV Buzzworthy said that "[the clip] appears to be shot, incredibly, all in one take". The writer said that has a "stripped-down approach". Anitai also wrote, "In a stark, gorgeously lit gymnasium, Robyn approaches the gym-floor-turned-dance-floor with the focus of a seasoned gymnast approaching the mat before an Olympic floor routine."[14]
Robyn performed "Call Your Girlfriend" on the 2011 NewNowNext Awards.[16] On 13 April 2011, she performed the song alongside "Dancing on My Own" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, wearing a pastel blue top and matching lipstick.[17] Most recently Robyn performed "Call Your Girlfriend" as well as fellow Body Talk single "Dancing On My Own" on the December 10th, 2011 episode of Saturday Night Live.
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Source[6]
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[21] | 8 |
| Denmark Airplay (Tracklisten)[22] | 18 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[23] | 17 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13] | 43 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[24] | 55 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[25] | 1 |
| Country | Release date | Format(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland[4] | 1 April 2011 | Digital download | Konichiwa Records |
| Norway[26] | 4 April 2011 | ||
| Sweden[5] | |||
| United States[20] | 10 May 2011 | Digital remix EP | Interscope Records |
| United Kingdom[19] | 17 June 2011 | Digital EP | Island Records |
| Germany[18] | 15 July 2011 | CD single | Warner Music International |
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