Rapture (iiO song)

"Rapture"
Single by iiO
from the album Poetica
Released October 29, 2001
Format Maxi single
Genre
Length 3:12
Label Universal Records
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Markus Moser
iiO singles chronology
"Rapture"
(2001)		 "At the End"
(2002)
Music sample
Iio - "Rapture"

"Rapture" (sometimes referenced as "Rapture (Taste So Sweet)") is a song by American recording duo iiO. It was chosen as the lead single from their debut studio album, Poetica (2001). The song was written by both the members; Nadia Ali and Markus Moser, while production was handled just by Moser. The song was released on October 29, 2001 by Universal Records. Musically, the song is a dance-oriented song, which was very popular around the early 2000s. The song also incorporates musical genres of dance-pop, electronica, disco, house, and trance music.

With the song winning positive reviews from music critics, citing it as catchy and one of the best songs of the year, the song was a commercial success. The song charted inside the top ten in countries including Romania, United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Ireland. It managed to chart inside the top fifty on the US Billboard Hot 100. A music video was also shot, showing the group in a futuristic city with visual lighting.

In 2010, the song was re-released by former iiO frontwoman Nadia Ali as a single from her remix compilation, Queen of Clubs Trilogy: the Best of Nadia Ali Remixed. The song was her most successful solo release peaking at number three in Romania, while charting in several European countries.

Background and composition

At the time, 17-year-old Nadia Ali was working in the New York offices of Versace, when a co-worker introduced her to producer Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his productions for a girl group.[1] The two teamed up and started a group that was originally named "Vaiio", named after the Sony VAIO laptop Ali used to write lyrics on.[2] They later dropped the "va", on the advice of their label, to avoid causing problems in the future with Sony.[3] Working with Moser, she wrote the lyrics and the vocals for the songs.

Musically, the song has been described as a dance-oriented song. According to Discogs, the main genre of the song is classed as electronic music, while the sub influences have been described as progressive house and trance music.[4] According to John Bush at Allmusic, "[Rapture] is pure pop, in a dance sense: a post-trance version of vocoder-ized disco, complete with modulating Moroder bassline, an evocative female vocal, and an unmissable hook repeated endlessly."[5]

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from music critics. John Bush from Allmusic awarded the song two stars out of five, however. Steward Mason from the same publication highlighted the song as an album standout, saying "The gathered single sides, "Kiss You," "[Rapture]," "Smooth," and "At the End," are here in new and more pop-oriented mixes that show off not only Moser's knack for melody, but also the duo's key asset: singer [Nadia Ali]'s alluring purr of a voice."[6]

StickyBoots from About.com said "'Rapture'... surely you've heard this track countless times, whether in the club, on the radio, or on your favorite mix compilation, and surely you have some specific memory that it conjures up."[7]

Chart performance

Commercially, the song was a huge success worldwide. In Europe, the song peaked inside the top 100 in all countries. The song peaked inside the top forty in countries including The Netherlands, Belgium (both Wallonia and Flanders), Sweden, Finland and Denmark.[8] The song peaked inside the top fifty in the United States, peaking at forty-four on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song then peaked at two in the United Kingdom and the Hot Dance Club Songs.

The song was successful in both Australia and New Zealand. The song entered inside the top twenty on the Australian Singles Chart, while entering inside the top forty on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The song eventually peaked inside the top ten in both countries, at three and eight respectively.[9]

Music video

The video to "Rapture" was directed by Andy Hylton and features the duo, one of the few electronica videos that does so, since usually models are hired to appear in the video, and the artists do a cameo. The video develops in a technological city where Nadia Ali is seen in a room full of machines that scan her, digitize her, and project a hologram of her high above the city, while Markus Moser is seen in a car driving through the city.

The 2008 release of Rapture Reconstruction features a limited re-edited video as a multimedia bonus. It does not change the "storyline" of the clip, but includes many different angles and scenes to the original version.

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Rapture" (original radio edit) 3:12
2. "Rapture" (original extended) 6:48
3. "Rapture" (John Creamer & Stephane K French Edit) 3:51
4. "Rapture" (John Creamer & Stephane K Edit) 4:28
5. "Rapture" (John Creamer & Stephane K Remix) 9:54
6. "Rapture" (Riva Edit) 4:05
7. "Rapture" (Riva Remix) 7:36
8. "Rapture" (Deep Dish Space Remix) 12:29
9. "Rapture" (Deep Dish Miami Dub) 10:51
10. "Rapture" (Aloud Remix) 5:50
11. "Rapture" (Soulside Remix) 6:35
12. "Rapture" (Armin van Buuren Edit) 4:15
13. "Rapture" (Armin van Buuren Remix) 9:24
14. "Rapture" (Armin van Buuren Made Radio Edit) 3:09
15. "Rapture" (Paul van Dyk Remix) 7:29
16. "Rapture" (Paul van Dyk Remix) (vinyl bonus track) 10:14
Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition
No. Title Length
1. "Rapture" (Starkillers Dirty Girl Made Single Edit) 3:32
2. "Rapture" (Starkillers Dirty Girl Remix) 8:33
3. "Rapture" (Starkillers Undone Made Single Edit) 3:03
4. "Rapture" (Starkillers Undone Remix) 9:36
5. "Rapture" (Hardware & Orue Electro Remix) 8:18
6. "Rapture" (Hardware & Orue Electro Dub) 8:16
7. "Rapture" (Friscia & Lamboy Remix) 10:44
8. "Rapture" (Friscia & Lamboy Dub) 10:37
9. "Rapture" (Lametta Harmony Remix) 5:53
10. "Rapture" (Lametta Made2Chill Remix) 3:58

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
scope="row"Australia (ARIA)[10] 3
scope="row"Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 59
scope="row"Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 4
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 21
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 28
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[15] 1
scope="row"Denmark (Tracklisten)[16] 10
scope="row"France (SNEP)[17] 50
scope="row"Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 12
scope="row"Germany (Media Control Charts)[19] 51
Greece (IFPI Greece)[20] 3
scope="row"Ireland (IRMA)[21] 9
scope="row"Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 21
scope="row"New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 8
Romania (UPFR)[24] 2
scope="row"Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] 12
scope="row"Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 25
scope="row"Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 64
scope="row"UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 44
US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[30] 27
US Billboard Mainstream Top 40[30] 17
scope="row"US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[31] 2

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Silver 200,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Nadia Ali re-release

"Rapture"
Single by Nadia Ali
from the album Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx Edition and Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Diamond Edition
Released 3 December 2010
(see release history)
Format Digital download
Genre
Label Smile in Bed Records
Writer(s)
  • Nadia Ali
  • Markus Moser
Producer(s)
  • Tristan Garner
  • Gareth Emery
  • Tim Bergling
Nadia Ali singles chronology
"Fantasy"
(2010)		 "Rapture"
(2010)		 "Pressure"
(2011)
Music video
"Rapture" (Avicii Remix) on YouTube

Nadia Ali re-released the song as a single from her remix compilation Queen of Clubs Trilogy. Released as the only single from the compilation, it was remixed by Avicii, Gareth Emery and Tristan Garner. Ali said she chose the three to remix the track because they were considered tastemakers in electronic dance music.[33] She said she also chose to re-release the track because she wanted to introduce it to a new generation of music listeners who were not familiar with the original iiO version.[34]

Music video

The music video for "Rapture" was shot in December, 2010 in Sacramento, California and directed by Brando Neverland.[35] The video premiered on January 24, 2011 on YouTube and was set to the Avicii Remix. The concept of the video portrays Ali's elevation as the "Queen of Clubs".

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Rapture" (Avicii New Generation Radio Edit) 3:42
2. "Rapture" (Avicii New Generation Remix) 7:08
3. "Rapture" (Tristan Garner Elevation Radio Edit) 3:42
4. "Rapture" (Tristan Garner Elevation Remix) 8:02
5. "Rapture" (Gareth Emery Radio Edit) 3:37
6. "Rapture" (Gareth Emery Remix) 7:16

Charts

Chart (2010–12) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Dance Chart)[36] 21
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[37] 28
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[38] 17
scope="row"France (SNEP)[39] 24
scope="row"Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 77
Romania (UPFR)[41] 3
scope="row"Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[42] 23
scope="row"Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 63
scope="row"UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[44] 7
scope="row"UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[45] 3
scope="row"UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[46] 40

Year-end chart

Chart (2011) Position
Romanian Top 100[47] 40

Release history

Region Date Label Format
Netherlands[48] December 3, 2010 Armada Music Digital download
Belgium[49]
United States[50] December 8, 2010 Smile in Bed Records
Germany[51] December 21, 2010 PinkStar Records
Spain[52] January 12, 2011 Blanco Y Negro
Norway[53] January 14, 2011 Catchy Tunes
Sweden[54]
United Kingdom[55] March 27, 2011 Ministry of Sound Recordings
Australia[56] April 8, 2011 Ministry of Sound Australia

Cover versions

See also

References

  1. ↑ "WebCite query result". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "iiO". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "WebCite query result". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/iiO-Rapture/master/59264
  5. ↑ "Rapture - iiO - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Poetica - iiO - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "IIO – Rapture Reconstruction Platinum Edition". About. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  8. ↑ http://danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=iiO&titel=Rapture&cat=s
  9. ↑ http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=iiO&titel=Rapture&cat=s
  10. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – iiO – Rapture". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – iiO – Rapture" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  12. ↑ "iiO Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for iiO. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Ultratop.be – iiO – Rapture" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Ultratop.be – iiO – Rapture" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Ultratop.be – iiO – Rapture" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – iiO – Rapture". Tracklisten. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Lescharts.com – iiO – Rapture" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  18. ↑ "iiO: Rapture" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > iiO > Rapture – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2002-02-22. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  21. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 45, 2001". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – iiO search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – iiO – Rapture". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Romanian Top 100". Romanian Top 100. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – iiO – Rapture" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – iiO – Rapture". Singles Top 60. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – iiO – Rapture". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2001-11-10" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  29. ↑ "iiO Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "iiO - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  31. ↑ "iiO Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for iiO. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  32. ↑ "British single certifications – iiO – Rapture". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Rapture in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  33. ↑ Nair, Shwetha (18 December 2010). "I like shy guys: Nadia Ali". iDiva. Times Internet Limited. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  34. ↑ "Making of Nadia Ali "Rapture" Music Video". Smile in Bed. February 11, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Rapture" (Avicii Remix) Official Music Video Smile in Bed July 26, 2011
  36. ↑ "Australian Dance Chart" (PDF). ARIA Charts. Pandora. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Nadia Ali – Rapture" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Nadia Ali – Rapture" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Nadia Ali – Rapture" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  40. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Nadia Ali – Rapture" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Romanian Top 100". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  42. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201217 into search.
  43. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Nadia Ali – Rapture". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  44. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-01-14" UK Dance Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-02-11" UK Indie Chart.
  46. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-03-03" UK Singles Chart.
  47. ↑ "ROMANIAN TOP 100 – clasamentul anului 2011". Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  48. ↑ Rapture - Single by Nadia Ali iTunes Store Retrieved April 26, 2011
  49. ↑ Rapture - Single by Nadia Ali iTunes Store Retrieved April 26, 2011
  50. ↑ Rapture (Extended Mixes) by Nadia Ali Beatport Retrieved April 26, 2011
  51. ↑ Rapture - EP by Nadia Ali iTunes Store Retrieved April 26, 2011
  52. ↑ Rapture - EP by Nadia Ali Juno Download Retrieved April 26, 2011
  53. ↑ Rapture - EP by Nadia Ali iTunes Store Retrieved April 26, 2011
  54. ↑ Rapture - EP by Nadia Ali iTunes Store Retrieved April 26, 2011
  55. ↑ Rapture - EP by Nadia Ali iTunes Store Retrieved April 26, 2011
  56. ↑ Rapture - EP by Nadia Ali iTunes Store Retrieved April 26, 2011

External links