Quicksand (La Roux song)

"Quicksand"
Single by La Roux
from the album La Roux
Released 15 December 2008 (2008-12-15)
Format
Recorded 2008; Elfin Studios
(Teddington, London, England)
Genre Synthpop
Length 3:05
Label Polydor
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Elly Jackson
  • Ben Langmaid
La Roux singles chronology
"Quicksand"
(2008)		 "In for the Kill"
(2009)
Alternative cover
Re-release cover

"Quicksand" is a song by English synthpop duo La Roux from their self-titled debut album, La Roux. Written and produced by Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid, the song was released as the album's lead single on 15 December 2008 by Kitsuné Music.[1] It peaked 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

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

"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 from the NME referred to "Quicksand" as "liquid-mercury-smooth but pierced by sharp vocals."[8]

Music video

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

Original release

  • French 12" single[10]
A1. "Quicksand" (Original) – 3:07
A2. "Quicksand" (autoKratz Drags to Riches Mix) – 4:44
B1. "Quicksand" (Beni's Sinking at 1.56 Mix) – 4:20
B2. "Quicksand" (Chateau Marmont Remix) – 3:34
  • French iTunes EP[11]
  1. "Quicksand" – 3:07
  2. "Quicksand" (AutoKratz Drags to Riches Mix) – 4:42
  3. "Quicksand" (Beni's Sinking at 1.56 Mix) – 4:18
  4. "Quicksand" (Chateau Marmont Remix) – 3:32
  5. "Quicksand" (Joe and Will Ask? Remix) – 5:01
  • UK iTunes single[12]
  1. "Quicksand" (Standard Version) – 3:05
  1. "Quicksand" (Original Version) – 3:06
  2. "Quicksand" (Mad Decent Remix No. 1) – 5:07
  3. "In for the Kill" (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix) – 5:02
A1. "Quicksand" – 3:08
A2. "Quicksand" (Mad Decent Mix No. 1) – 5:10
A3. "Quicksand" (Instrumental) – 3:08
B1. "In for the Kill" (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix) – 5:04
B2. "In for the Kill" (Instrumental) – 4:08

Re-release

  1. "Quicksand" – 3:07
  2. "Quicksand" (Boy 8 Bit Remix) – 5:58
  3. "Quicksand" (Beni's Sinking at 1.56 Mix) – 4:19
  • UK limited edition 7" single[17]
A. "Quicksand" - 3:07
  1. "Quicksand" – 3:07
  2. "Quicksand" (Boy 8 Bit Remix) – 5:58
  3. "Quicksand" (Alex Metric Remix) – 6:26
  4. "Quicksand" (Mad Decent Remix No. 1) – 5:12

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Belgian Tip Chart (Flanders)[19] 19
UK Singles Chart[20] 129

Release history

Country Date Label Format
Original release
France 15 December 2008 Kitsuné Music 12" single,[10] digital EP[11]
United States 14 April 2009 Cherrytree Records, Interscope Records EP,[13] digital EP[14]
9 June 2009 12" single[21]
United Kingdom 2 July 2009 Polydor Records Digital single[12]
Re-release
United Kingdom 22 November 2009 Polydor Records Digital EP[18]
23 November 2009 CD single,[22] 7" single[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Murphy, John. "La Roux – Quicksand (Kitsune)". musicOMH. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  2. ↑ Balls, David (10 September 2009). "La Roux 'won't re-release Quicksand single'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  3. ↑ "Quicksand by La Roux". Songfacts. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  4. ↑ Levine, Nick (23 November 2009). "La Roux: 'Quicksand'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  5. ↑ Petrides, Alexis (26 June 2009). "La Roux: La Roux". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  6. ↑ Paphides, Peter (25 June 2009). "La Roux: La Roux". The Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  7. ↑ Phares, Heather. "La Roux – La Roux – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  8. ↑ Turner, Luke (23 June 2009). "Album Review: La Roux – 'La Roux'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  9. ↑ Knight, David (3 December 2008). "La Roux's Quicksand by Kinga Burza". Promo News. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  10. 1 2 "Quicksand : La Roux" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Kitsuné: Quicksand – EP de La Roux" (in French). iTunes Store France. Apple Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Quicksand (Standard Version) – Single by La Roux". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  13. 1 2 "La Roux : Releases : Quicksand EP". Interscope Records. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  14. 1 2 "Quicksand – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store US. Apple Inc. 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. 1 2 "La Roux – Quicksand (7", Ltd, S/Sided, Etch)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  18. 1 2 "Quicksand – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  19. ↑ "La Roux – Quicksand" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  20. ↑ "Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009". The Official Charts Company. The Zobbel Website. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  21. ↑ "Quicksand/In for the Kill [Vinyl]: La Roux". Amazon.com. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  22. ↑ "Quicksand: La Roux". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2010.

External links

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