Slow Hands (Niall Horan song)

"Slow Hands"
Single by Niall Horan
Released 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2017
Genre
Length 3:07
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s)
  • Niall Horan
  • Alexander Izquierdo
  • John Ryan
  • Julian Bunetta
  • Ruth Anne Cunningham
  • Tobias Jesso Jr.
Producer(s) Julian Bunetta[1]
Niall Horan singles chronology
"This Town"
(2016)		 "Slow Hands"
(2017)

"This Town"
(2016)		 "Slow Hands"
(2017)

"Slow Hands" is a song recorded by Irish singer and songwriter Niall Horan, released as a single on 4 May 2017 by Capitol Records.[2] The song was written by Horan, Alexander Izquierdo, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Ruth Anne Cunningham and Tobias Jesso Jr., while the production was handled by Bunetta.[3] It was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 9 May 2017.[4]

Background and composition

Don Henley's solo material after the Eagles inspired the song's composition

Prior to its release, Horan discussed the song in an interview with Mikey Piff on Sirius XM. The singer said that after listening to some of the material he had recorded for his debut album, he wanted to add "a bit more grit, funk and heavier bass." At the time he was listening to late 1970s and early 1980s music. "When Don Henley went solo in the early eighties, he just kinda had this funky kind of feel to it – heavy bass, heavy guitar – so I just thought, 'Let's give this a crack,'" Horan said of making the track. "I wanted it to be a little bit cheeky with the lyric." About the concept, he explained it is set in a bar and the song's theme changes up stereotypical roles. "The first line is...'we should take this back to my place' – and usually that's what the guy would say, but we flipped it that the girl would say that, and that's what she said right to my face."[5][6]

"Slow Hands" is a bass-heavy funk-pop song, with Horan singing in a lower register.[5][7] A Billboard writer described it as a "R&B-inflected rock tune."[8]

Critical reception

In Billboard, Taylor Weatherby noted "Slow Hands" focuses on a "funkier guitar vibe", compared to Horan's previous single "This Town." She also opined "the subtly-sexy song" shows an "edgier side of Niall."[9] Colin Stutz from the publication, added, "The combination of a thumping beat and Horan's raspy vocals makes the song hardly even sound like the same guy who sang ["This Town"]. But what "Slow Hands" shows is that Horan definitely won't just be sticking to the sweet singer-songwriter sound on his solo debut."[6] Rolling Stone's Althea Legaspi also noted Horan "goes for a more muted sound. Above a stomp-and-clap beat and muted guitar, Horan allows his lower register to showcase his more seductive side on the track."[5]

In The Irish Times, Jennifer Gannon wrote that "it’s no radical departure, Niall hasn’t decided to go Gaga but it’s a step in a more Sheeran-style, crowd-pleasing direction. A gentle, foot-stomper about a lady with a magic touch, a lady who knows what she wants, she wants to get her hands all over Niall’s "dirty laundry" and not in a bringing your washing home on a Sunday way. This isn’t Timberlake’s Sexy Back, it’s Horan’s Sweaty Back."[10]

Chart performance

"Slow Hands" charted within the top 10 in the charts of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The single became his second top 20 entry as a solo artist on the US Billboard Hot 100, surpassing his preceding single "This Town".

Live performances

Horan has performed "Slow Hands" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[11][12] On 29 May 2017, the singer performed "Slow Hands", "This Town" and premiered the track "On the Loose" on The Today Show.[13] On 4 June 2017, Horan performed the song during the One Love Manchester benefit concert for the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.[14] On 5 June he performed on BBC One's The One Show.[15] The singer also performed "Slow Hands" at the Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2017.[16]

Track listings

  1. "Slow Hands" – 3:07
  1. "Slow Hands" (Acoustic) – 2:40
  1. "Slow Hands" (Jay Pryor remix) – 2:40
  1. "Slow Hands" (Basic Tape remix) – 3:02

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 30
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24] 33
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[25] 9
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[26] 65
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27] 25
Denmark (Tracklisten)[28] 38
France (SNEP)[29] 66
Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 72
Hungary (Single Top 40)[31] 26
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[32] 37
Ireland (IRMA)[33] 3
Italy (FIMI)[34] 81
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[35] 80
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[36] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 36
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 8
Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[40] 32
Portugal (AFP)[41] 51
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[42] 3
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[43] 58
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[44] 28
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45] 37
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 40
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 47
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[48] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[49] 15
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[50] 26
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 11
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[52] 9

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[53] 2× Platinum 140,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] Gold 15,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Gold 400,000double-dagger

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

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 4 May 2017 Digital download Original Capitol [17]
23 June 2017 Acoustic [18]
Jay Pryor remix [19]
Basic Tape remix [20]
United States 9 May 2017 Contemporary hit radio Original [4]
Italy 12 May 2017 Warner [56]

References

  1. ↑ "One Direction's Niall Horan's new single 'Slow Hands' is finally here". Digital Spy. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Niall Horan's Next Single 'Slow Hands' Has a Release Date". Billboard. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "Slow Hands". Deezer.
  4. 1 2 "Niall Horan’s “Slow Hands” Ranks As Pop Radio’s Most Added Song". Headline Planet. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Legaspi, Althea (4 May 2017). "Hear Niall Horan's Sexy New Funk-Pop Song 'Slow Hands'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  6. 1 2 Stutz, Colin (4 May 2017). "Niall Horan Shares Sexy New Single 'Slow Hands'". Billboard. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Niall Horan gets funky on new track, 'Slow Hands'". Entertainment Weekly. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Martins, Chris (May 25, 2017). "Niall Horan Braces for Stardom Outside One Direction, With Advice From Justin Bieber & The Eagles". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ Weatherby, Taylor (4 May 2017). "5 Reasons Niall Horan's 'Slow Hands' is Even Better Than 'This Town'". Billboard. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Gannon, Jennifer (4 May 2017). "Niall Horan drips all over his dirty laundry on new song ‘Slow Hands'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Niall Horan Performs 'Slow Hands'". ellentube. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  12. ↑ Niall Horan: Slow Hands on YouTube
  13. ↑ Weatherby, Taylor (29 May 2017). "Watch Niall Horan's 'On the Loose' TV Debut, One Direction Sing-Along on 'Today'". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  14. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (4 June 2017). "One Love Manchester: Ariana Grande Opens Benefit Concert With 'Be Alright,' Joins Black Eyed Peas for 'Where Is the Love?'". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "Niall Horan - Slow Hands". BBC.
  16. ↑ "Niall Horan Got This Town Singing Along With His Gorgeous #CapitalSTB Set - Stunning!". Capital FM. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Slow Hands - Single". iTunes (US).
  18. 1 2 "Slow Hands (Acoustic) - Single". iTunes (US).
  19. 1 2 "Slow Hands (Jay Pryor Remix) - Single". iTunes (US).
  20. 1 2 "Slow Hands (Basic Tape Remix) - Single". iTunes (US).
  21. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  22. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  25. ↑ "Niall Horan – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Niall Horan. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201730 into search. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  27. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201728 into search. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  28. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 31, 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  29. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  30. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  31. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  32. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  33. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "Classifica settimanale WK 19" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  35. ↑ "Japan Hot 100". Japan Hot 100. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  36. ↑ "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  37. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 2017" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  38. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  39. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  40. ↑ "BillboardPH Hot 100". Billboard Philippines. July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  42. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2017-06-09". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  43. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201726 into search. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  44. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201719 into search. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  45. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  46. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  47. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  48. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2017-06-09" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  49. ↑ "Niall Horan – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Niall Horan. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  50. ↑ "Niall Horan – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Niall Horan. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  51. ↑ "Niall Horan – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Niall Horan. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  52. ↑ "Niall Horan – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Niall Horan. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  53. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  54. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  55. ↑ "British single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 August 2017. Enter Slow Hands in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  56. ↑ "Niall Horan "Slow Hands"" (in Italian). Radio Airplay s.r.l. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
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