King (Years & Years song)

"King"
Single by Years & Years
from the album Communion
B-side	TCTS Remix (7", CD)
Released	27 February 2015
Format	7" CD digital download
Genre	Dance-pop synthpop house
Length	3:35
Label	Polydor Interscope
Writer(s)	Michael Thomas Goldsworthy Mark Ralph Andrew Smith Oliver Alexander Thornton Resul Emre Turkmen
Producer(s)	Andy Smith Years & Years
Years & Years singles chronology
"Desire" (2014) "King" (2015) "Shine" (2015)

"King" is a song by British synthpop trio Years & Years. It was originally released as a single in January 2015. The song was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 1 March 2015 through Polydor Records.

The song entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart with a combined sales-streaming figure of 101,000 copies, making it Years & Years' first number-one single; 8,895 copies of the single were from streaming.^[1] Internationally, "King" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland.

Critical reception

"King" received very positive reviews from music critics. Billboard included "King" in its "Top 10 Songs of 2015 (So Far)" list in June 2015, stating "U.K. alt-pop trio Years & Years has yet to find a radio foothold in the States, but "King" sounds like it's destined to be played at arenas for years to come. When frontman Olly Alexander extends his arms and cries "Let go, let go, let go of everything" at the end of the single, it's almost impossible not to indulge in some type of uninhibited dance breakdown."^[2] Time named "King" the 10th-best song of 2015.^[3]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Nadia^[4] and choreographed by Ryan Heffington.^[4]

Synopsis

The video features main band singer Olly Alexander in an empty house with a couch being surrounded by backup dancers. The two other band members, Mickey and Emre are playing an electric keyboard in an empty pink room being surrounded by dancers. Olly levitates out of the house and walks down the street with the dancers following him. As they thumble with him, he plunges into an underground river where the dancers rise him back up to the house and they struggle with him until he is able to break them free and learn they were a hallucination.

Live performances and covers

Carly Rae Jepsen covered the song on BBC Radio 1.

The band have performed the song on multiple TV shows including The Graham Norton Show (10 April), The Voice of Italy (27 May). They also performed the song as part of their set at Radio 1's Big Weekend (23 May), Glastonbury Festival (27 June), Wireless (5 July), T in the Park (11 July) and Latitude Festival (19 July).

In April 2015, Nick Jonas performed an acoustic version of the song during Live Lounge on BBC Radio 1. In September 2015, Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen covered the song on BBC Radio 1.

Track listing

• Digital download^[5]

1. "King" – 3:34

• Digital download – Remixes^[6]

1. "King" (The Magician Remix) – 4:00
2. "King" (TCTS Remix) – 3:45
3. "King" (Oceaán Remix) – 3:25

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2015) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 9 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10] 17 Brazil (Hot 100 Airplay)[11] 4 Bulgaria (IFPI)[12] 1 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 80 Croatia (Airplay Radio Chart)[14] 1 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[15] 20 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[16] 16 Denmark (Tracklisten)[17] 6 Europe (Euro Digital Songs)[18] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[19] 14 France (SNEP)[20] 40 Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 9 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[22] 19 Hungary (Single Top 40)[23] 25 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 3 Italy (FIMI)[25] 21 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[26] 88 Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)[27] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 5 Mexico Top 20 Inglés (Monitor Latino)[30] 9 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 18 Norway (VG-lista)[32] 15 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[33] 2 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[34] 1 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[35] 1 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[36] 14 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[37] 27 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 26 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 9 Taiwan (Taiwan Top 10)[40] 3 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 1 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[42] 14 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 37

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position Australia (ARIA)[44] 71 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[45] 75 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[46] 39 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[47] 79 Denmark (Tracklisten)[48] 27 Germany (Official German Charts)[49] 38 Ireland (IRMA)[50] 16 Israel (Media Forest)[51] 38 Italy (FIMI)[52] 55 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[53] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[54] 17 Poland (ZPAV)[55] 14 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[56] 78 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[57] 45 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[58] 11 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs[59] 31 US Dance/Electronic Digital Songs[60] 40 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Australia (ARIA)[61] Platinum 70,000 Belgium (BEA)[62] Platinum 30,000 Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[63] Platinum 60,000 Germany (BVMI)[64] Gold 200,000 Italy (FIMI)[65] Platinum 50,000 New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] Gold 7,500 Poland (ZPAV)[67] 2× Platinum 40,000 Sweden (GLF)[68] 2× Platinum 80,000 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[69] Platinum 40,000 United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Platinum 600,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Ireland	27 February 2015	Digital download	Polydor
United Kingdom	1 March 2015
Australia[71]
United States	21 April 2015	Mainstream radio	Cherrytree Interscope
	5 May 2015	Dance radio

References

1. "Official Charts Analysis: Years & Years score... - mediaor". mediaor.com.
2. "Top 10 Songs of 2015 (So Far)". Billboard.com.
3. "Best Songs of 2015". Time. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
4. "Premiere: Years And Years Dance Like They’re Possessed In Sia-Esque New Music Video". Buzzfeed Music. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
5. "iTunes - Music - King - Single by Years & Years". iTunes Store (United Kingdom).
6. "iTunes - Music - King (Remixes) - Single by Years & Years". iTunes Store (United Kingdom).
7. "Australian-charts.com – Years & Years – King". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Years & Years – King" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
9. "Ultratop.be – Years & Years – King" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
10. "Ultratop.be – Years & Years – King" (in French). Ultratop 50.
11. "Years & Years – Chart history" Brasil Hot 100 Airplay for Years & Years.
12. "Airplay Top 5 - 20.04.2015 - 26.04.2015". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
13. "Years & Years – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Years & Years. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
14. "ARC 100 – datum izlaska: 27. travnja 2015" (in Croatian). HRT. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015.
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16. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201517 into search.
17. "Danishcharts.com – Years & Years – King". Tracklisten.
18. "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Euro Digital Songs for Years & Years.
19. "Years & Years: King" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
20. "Lescharts.com – Years & Years – King" (in French). Les classement single.
21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Years & Years – King". GfK Entertainment.
22. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
23. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
24. "Chart Track: Week 15, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
25. "Italiancharts.com – Years & Years – King". Top Digital Download. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
26. "Years & Years – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Years & Years.
27. "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Luxembourg Digital Songs for Years & Years.
28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Years Years search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Years & Years – King" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
30. "Top 20 México Inglés. Semana del 11 al 17 de Mayo, 2015" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
31. "Charts.org.nz – Years & Years – King". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
32. "Norwegiancharts.com – Years & Years – King". VG-lista.
33. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
34. "Archive Chart: 2015-03-14". Scottish Singles Top 40.
35. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 2015{{{week}}} into search.
36. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 2015{{{week}}} into search.
37. "Spanishcharts.com – Years & Years – King" Canciones Top 50.
38. "Swedishcharts.com – Years & Years – King". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
39. "Swisscharts.com – Years & Years – King". Swiss Singles Chart.
40. "Taiwan Top 10". Retrieved January 26, 2016.
41. "Archive Chart: 2015-03-14" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
42. "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs for Years & Years. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
43. "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Years & Years. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
44. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
45. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2015" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
46. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2015&cat=s
47. "Annual Reports 2015". Ultratop. Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
48. "Track Top-100 2015" (in Danish). Hitlisten.NU. IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
49. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
50. "Best of 2015 – Singles". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
51. "Yearly Charts – 2015: Top Tracks International". Media Forest. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
52. "Classifiche “Top of the Music” 2015 FIMI-GfK: La musica italiana in vetta negli album e nei singoli digitali" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
53. "Top 100 Songs Year End 2015". top40.nl. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
54. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2015" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
55. "Airplay – podsumowanie 2015 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
56. "Årslista Singlar – År 2015" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
57. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2015". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
58. "The Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2015 revealed". Retrieved 4 January 2016.
59. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
60. "Dance/Electronic Digital Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
61. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2015 Singles".
62. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2016". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
63. "Certification YEARS & YEARS "KING"".
64. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Years & Years; 'King')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
65. "Italian single certifications – Years & Years – King" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Years & Years in the field Filtra. Select 2015 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
66. "New Zealand single certifications – Years & Years – King". Recorded Music NZ.
67. "Polish single certifications – Years & Years – King" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
68. "Guld/Platina certifiering".
69. "Years & Years - King (The Magician Remix)".
70. "British single certifications – Years & Years – King". British Phonographic Industry. Enter King in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
71. "King - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2015.

External links

• "King" at Discogs (list of releases)