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Quicksand (La Roux song)

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"Quicksand"
EP cover
Single by La Roux
from the album La Roux
Released15 December 2008 (2008-12-15)
Recorded2008
StudioElfin (Teddington, London)
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:05
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ben Langmaid
  • Elly Jackson
La Roux singles chronology
"Quicksand"
(2008) 		"In for the Kill"
(2009)
Alternative cover
Re-release cover
Music video
"Quicksand" on YouTube

"Quicksand" is a song by English synth-pop duo La Roux, released on 15 December 2008 by Kitsuné[1] as both their debut single and the lead single from their eponymous debut studio album (2009). Written and produced by members Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid, the track was a commercial disappointment despite acclaim from critics, peaking at number 153 on the UK Singles Chart upon limited release.[2] When re-released on 23 November 2009, the single re-entered the chart at number 129.

Song information

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Jackson told The London Paper that the song is about "having an intense moment with someone, when maybe you're watching a film or listening to music, and both of you are yearning for the other one, and it's almost painful to sit next to them."[3]

Critical reception

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"Quicksand" was met with critical acclaim. Digital Spy music editor Nick Levine wrote that "[l]ike most of the songs on their debut album, it's a winning combination of pop smarts, stifling romantic obsession and production that mixes the sounds of '82 with the sonic punch of '09."[4] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commented that "the sparse dynamics and stabbing synthesisers of 'Quicksand' offer a reminder that not every aspect of the 80s has been mined to exhaustion in recent years."[5] Peter Paphides of The Times called the song "superb" and added, "Propelled along by a melody that shares some of its DNA with Prince's 'When Doves Cry', Jackson casts herself as the recipient of an overture from someone already in a relationship."[6]

John Murphy, writing for musicOMH, described the song as "instantly addictive and catchy", while stating that "unlike a lot of electro acts out there, 'Quicksand' has real heart and emotion to it as well—certainly not a case of style over substance."[1] AllMusic's Heather Phares noted that the track "uses a relentlessly tight arrangement and Jackson's frosty soulfulness to give the song's obsession a shot of excitement."[7] Luke Turner of NME referred to "Quicksand" as "liquid-mercury-smooth but pierced by sharp vocals."[8]

Music video

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The music video of "Quicksand" was directed by Kinga Burza.[9] It was released on YouTube on 13 January 2009. The video shows Jackson on a tropical island with pineapples and the sun setting. Girls are dancing. Jackson is seen with a parrot on her shoulder, singing. It mostly features Jackson singing with the sun setting behind her.

Track listings

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Original release

[edit]

Re-release

[edit]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of La Roux.[19]

Recording and management

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  • Recorded at Elfin Studios (Teddington, London)
  • Mixed at Mr Dan's (London)
  • Published by Big Life Music Ltd.

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

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Chart (2009) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[20] 19
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 129

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
Original release
France 15 December 2008
Kitsuné [10][11]
United States 14 April 2009
  • EP
  • digital EP
[13][14]
9 June 2009 12-inch single [22]
United Kingdom 2 July 2009 Digital single Polydor [12]
Re-release
United Kingdom 22 November 2009 Digital EP Polydor [18]
23 November 2009
[23][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Murphy, John. "La Roux – Quicksand (Kitsune)". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  2. ^ Balls, David (10 September 2009). "La Roux 'won't re-release Quicksand single'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Quicksand by La Roux". Songfacts. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  4. ^ Levine, Nick (23 November 2009). "La Roux: 'Quicksand'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  5. ^ Petrides, Alexis (26 June 2009). "La Roux: La Roux". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  6. ^ Paphides, Peter (25 June 2009). "La Roux: La Roux". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  7. ^ Phares, Heather. "La Roux – La Roux – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  8. ^ Turner, Luke (23 June 2009). "Album Review: La Roux – 'La Roux'". NME. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  9. ^ Knight, David (3 December 2008). "La Roux's Quicksand by Kinga Burza". Promo News. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Quicksand : La Roux" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Kitsuné: Quicksand – EP de La Roux" (in French). iTunes Store (France). Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Quicksand (Standard Version) – Single by La Roux". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  13. ^ a b "La Roux : Releases : Quicksand EP". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  14. ^ a b "Quicksand – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  15. ^ "La Roux – Quicksand (12", Single)". Discogs. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  16. ^ "La Roux – Quicksand (CD, Single)". Discogs. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  17. ^ a b "La Roux – Quicksand (7", Ltd, S/Sided, Etch)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Quicksand – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  19. ^ La Roux (liner notes). La Roux. Polydor Records. 2009. 2703635.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "La Roux – Quicksand" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009". Zobbel. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  22. ^ "Quicksand/In for the Kill [Vinyl]: La Roux". Amazon (US). Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  23. ^ "Quicksand: La Roux". Amazon (UK). Retrieved 13 February 2010.
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