Yellow Flicker Beat

"Yellow Flicker Beat"
Single by Lorde
from the album The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Released 29 September 2014 (2014-09-29)
Format Digital download
Recorded 28–29 August 2014;
Lakehouse Recording Studios, Asbury Park, New Jersey
Genre
Length 3:52
Label Republic
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Lorde singles chronology
"Glory and Gore"
(2014)		 "Yellow Flicker Beat"
(2014)		 "Magnets"
(2015)
The Hunger Games soundtracks singles chronology
"We Remain"
(2013)		 "Yellow Flicker Beat"
(2014)		 "The Hanging Tree"
(2014)

"Yellow Flicker Beat" is a song by New Zealand singer Lorde. Written by Lorde and Joel Little and produced by Little and Paul Epworth, the song was released on 29 September 2014 as the lead single from the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 by Republic Records. "Yellow Flicker Beat", which features an electronic production, is characterised as an art pop and electropop song. Its style was compared to that of Lorde's earlier releases such as her song "Biting Down" from The Love Club EP (2013) and her debut studio album, Pure Heroine (2013). The lyrics of the track refer to the rise of The Hunger Games' heroine Katniss Everdeen.

The track was well received by music critics, who praised its lyrical content for being more mature than that of Lorde's previous releases. Commercially, "Yellow Flicker Beat" peaked at number thirty-four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the record charts of several nations, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. A music video for the song was directed by Emily Kai Bock and was released on 7 November 2014. Four days later, the makeover of the song titled "Flicker (Kanye West Rework)" co-produced by Lorde and Kanye West was released. Lorde performed the song at the 2014 American Music Awards on 23 November 2014. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards,[1] and Best Song at the 20th Critics' Choice Awards.[2]

Background and release

On 31 July 2014, it was announced that Lorde would be recording songs for the soundtrack for the film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.[3] On 23 September 2014, Lorde announced that the song, titled "Yellow Flicker Beat", would be released on 29 September 2014.[4]

The song was written by Lorde and Joel Little and produced by Paul Epworth.[5] "Yellow Flicker Beat" was recorded at the Lakehouse Recording Studios in New Jersey on 28 and 29 August 2014. The song was engineered by Matt Wiggins and Erik Kase Romero.[6] On 29 September 2014, "Yellow Flicker Beat" was released digitally on the iTunes Stores worldwide by Republic Records.[7] The same day, it was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio and US adult album alternative (AAA) and modern rock stations.[8][9]

Composition
"Yellow Flicker Beat"
"Yellow Flicker Beat" expresses art pop and electropop styles and lyrically talks about the rise of Katniss Everdeen
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"Yellow Flicker Beat" lasts for a duration of 3:52 (three minutes and fifty two seconds).[7] The Sydney Morning Herald's reviewer Bernard Zuel characterised it as an electropop song and noted the electronic production on the song.[10] Meanwhile, Billboard's Jason Lipshutz shared that the track explored Lorde's art pop sensibilities.[11] The song features Lorde's "brooding croon" over minimal synthesisers and rattling drums.[12] Alex Young and Michelle Geslani from Consequence of Sound labelled the song a throwback to Lorde's debut album Pure Heroine (2013).[13] Brennan Carley from Spin compared the style of "Yellow Flicker Beat" to that of Pure Heroine (2013) for the "typically sweeping themes and moody, electronically enhanced melodies." He eventually draw comparisons between the track and "Biting Down" (from The Love Club EP).[14] Lipshutz wrote that the hook from the song reminded of Lorde's "Team" (2013).[11]

The lyrics of "Yellow Flicker Beat" reference the rise of The Hunger Games' heroine Katniss Everdeen.[11] The song begins with a slow and measured start, which features the "touched by pain" lyrics "I'm a princess cut from marble / smoother than a storm." As the drums start, Lorde sings "This is the start." Zuelit opined that the line was "also the beginning of the end of something. Not their innocence, already sacrificed for a higher goal, but definitely any easy comfort."[10] Carley pointed out that the lines "The scars that mark my body / They're silver and gold" and "My blood is a flood of rubies, precious stones" showcased "a big step towards more mature lyrics."[14]

Reception

Lorde performing live at the Hearst Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California

Writing for Spin, Carley praised the metaphorical and mature lyrics of "Yellow Flicker Beat".[14] Meanwhile, Reed complimented on the song's production, writing that the song "fits comfortably within the 17-year-old's sonic wheelhouse."[12] On behalf of The Sydney Morning Herald, Zuel labelled the track "another smart musical, as much as career, step by Lorde".[10] Billboard's Steven J. Horowitz opined that Lorde's voice complemented the song's beat well, and rated it three and a half out of five stars.[15] Chris Schulz of The New Zealand Herald wrote that "Yellow Flicker Beat" sounded too similar to Lorde's previous work, and lamented the lack of a catchy hook and chorus. Lydia Jenkin, also from the Herald, pointed out that its purpose was to promote the Mockingjay soundtrack, not a Lorde studio album, and lauded the song as "a perfect musical depiction of Katniss Everdeen".[16] The single was ranked at number 4 on Cosmopolitan's list The 50 Best Songs of 2014.[17]

In the United States, "Yellow Flicker Beat" debuted at number seventeen on the Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. In doing so, Lorde logged the highest launch by a female artist on the chart since 1995 when Juliana Hatfield's "Universal Heart-Beat" also debuted at number seventeen. Additionally, the single appeared on the Adult Alternative Songs at number nineteen with 5.2 million radio audience impressions in first-week audience.[18] On the Billboard Hot 100, the single peaked at number thirty-four.[19] "Yellow Flicker Beat" also fared on several national record charts, including Australia (number thirty-three),[20] Canada (number fifty-one),[21] Ireland (number eighty-three),[22] and the United Kingdom (number ninety-nine).[23] The single was a success in New Zealand, peaking at number four on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[24] It was certified gold by the Recorded Music NZ.[25]

Music video

The music video for "Yellow Flicker Beat" was directed by Emily Kai Bock,[26] and was released on 7 November 2014 at midnight (NZDT), when Lorde turned eighteen years old.[27] The video starts with Lorde singing in a faintly lit motel room, where her hair is done up in a pompadour. Afterwards, the clip showcases Lorde in several different locations: a kitchen, a highway, an airplane hangar and a 1920s-inspired cocktail party.[28] For each location, Lorde is seen with different styles, costumes and makeups.[29] During several scenes, Lorde "shows off her twitchy, witchy dance moves."[30]

Billboard's Zach Dionne complimented the fashion choice on the video, calling it "awesome".[31] Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone opined that the music video had little to do with The Hunger Games' concept; however, it did capture "the alienation and defiance that fuels Katniss."[32] Likewise, Andrew Untergerger from Spin wrote that the clip was "disappointing [because] there's no actual Hunger Games footage in there", yet complimenting on its overall production and called it "cinematic."[29] On behalf of MTV News, Abby Devora wrote that Lorde "is [...] truly coming into her own" and named it a welcome change from Lorde's previous videos.[28]

Live performances

On 2 October 2014, Lorde performed "Yellow Flicker Beat" for the first time at Hearst Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California.[33] Later that month, she gave a live rendition of the track at the ACL Music Festival.[34] Lorde performed the song at the 2014 American Music Awards on 23 November 2014.[35] Billboard described the performance as "...an honest, impeccable portrayal of Lorde’s most idiosyncratic qualities.", referring to it as "scary good".[36]

Kanye West rework

Lorde and Kanye West produced a version of the song titled "Flicker (Kanye West Rework)", which was also included on the Mockingjay – Part 1 soundtrack album, at a Malibu, California studio.[37] The track was made available for purchase on 11 November 2014 as one of the pre-order tracks from the soundtrack.[38] Talking about the collaboration with West, Lorde commented, "He's so private I feel weird talking about how he does stuff. I feel lucky to even be in a room with him."[39] The track incorporates stripped-down production, "creepy textural" synthesisers and "booming, echo-laden" beats and does not feature West's vocals.[40] According to a number of critics, the production on it is reminiscent of West's album Yeezus (2013).[39][41][42] Emilee Lindner from MTV News deemed the rework as "creepy in an epic way."[43]

Track listing

Digital download[7]
  1. "Yellow Flicker Beat" – 3:52

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 25
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[44] 35
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[45] 3
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 21
Canada Rock (Billboard)[46] 21
France (SNEP)[47] 93
Germany (Official German Charts)[48] 38
Hungary (Single Top 40)[49] 16
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 83
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 4
New Zealand Digital Songs (Billboard) [50] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 27
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 71
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 34
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[52] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[53] 48
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[54] 56

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[55] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[56] Platinum 15,000*

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

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Australia[7] 29 September 2014 Digital download Republic
Belgium[57]
Canada[58]
Finland[59]
Germany[60]
New Zealand[61]
Portugal[62]
Spain[63]
Switzerland[64]
United Kingdom[65]
United States[66]
Italy[8] Contemporary hit radio Universal
United States[9] Adult album alternative
Modern rock

References

  1. ↑ "2015Golden Globe nominations". 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "2015 Critics' Choice Awards". 15 January 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Michaels, Sean (1 August 2014). "Lorde appointed as 'sole curator' of music for next Hunger Games film". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Young, Alex (23 September 2014). "Lorde announces new single, 'Yellow Flicker Beat'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Yellow Flicker Beat (Single download notes). Lorde. Republic Records. 2014.
  6. ↑ Angermiller, Michele Amabile (5 September 2014). "Inside Lorde's 'Hunger Games' Recording Session". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single". Australia: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 Aldi, Giorgia. "Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat (Universal)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  9. 1 2 Radio add dates for "Yellow Flicker Beat" in the US:
  10. 1 2 3 Zuel, Bernard (29 September 2014). "Yellow Flicker Beat Review: Lorde finds her inner Katniss". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 Lipshutz, Jason (29 September 2014). "Lorde Unleashes 'Yellow Flicker Beat' from 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay' Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  12. 1 2 Reed, Ryan (29 September 2014). "Lorde Shares Alluring New Single, 'Yellow Flicker Beat'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Young, Alex; Geslani, Michelle (29 September 2014). "Lorde releases new single 'Yellow Flicker Beat'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 Carley, Brennan (29 September 2014). "Lorde Bares Her Fangs on 'Hunger Games' Single 'Yellow Flicker Beat'". Spin. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  15. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (3 October 2014). "The Best and Worst Singles of the Week -- From Lorde to One Direction". Billboard. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Schulz, Chris; Jenkin, Lydia (9 October 2014). "Lorde's new song: For and against". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "The 50 Best Songs of 2014". Cosmopolitan. December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  18. ↑ Trust, Gary (8 October 2014). "Lorde Leaps Onto Radio With 'Yellow Flicker Beat'". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Lorde – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Lorde. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Australian-charts.com – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Lorde – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Lorde. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Chart Track: Week 41, 2014". Irish Singles Chart.
  23. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart UK Top 100". Official Charts Company. 11 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  24. 1 2 "Charts.org.nz – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 October.
  25. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  26. ↑ Beauchemin, Molly (6 November 2014). "Lorde Shares 'Yellow Flicker Beat' Video". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "Lorde to release new music video at midnight". The New Zealand Herald. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  28. 1 2 Devora, Abby (6 November 2014). "Lorde's 'Yellow Flicker Beat' Video Is Darker Than Ever". MTV News. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  29. 1 2 Unterberger, Andrew (6 November 2014). "Lorde Puts the Hair, Makeup, and Costume People to Work in 'Yellow Flicker Beat' Video". Spin. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Lorde shows off new look in Yellow Flicker Beat video". The New Zealand Herald. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  31. ↑ Dionne, Zach (6 November 2014). "Lorde's 'Yellow Flicker Beat' Video Is Here". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  32. ↑ Blistein, Jon (6 November 2014). "Lorde Ditches the Glitz in 'Yellow Flicker Beat' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  33. ↑ Villa, Lucas (6 October 2014). "Lorde delivers first live performance of 'Yellow Flicker Beat'". AXS. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  34. ↑ Haupt, Melanie (13 October 2014). "ACL Live Shot: Lorde, 17-year-old New Zealander waxes cool blue and icy". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  35. ↑ Strecker, Erin (23 November 2014). "Lorde crushes 'Yellow Flicker Beat'". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  36. ↑ "Lorde Won The AMAs Without Winning Any Awards". Billboard. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  37. ↑ Goodman, Lizzy (31 October 2014). "Billboard Cover: Lorde on Her 'Hero' Kanye West, the 'Hunger Games' Soundtrack and Hype-Proofing Her Career". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  38. ↑ "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1". United States: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014.
  39. 1 2 Hiatt, Brian (7 November 2014). "Lorde Talks 'Hunger Games,' Nirvana and Plans for a New LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  40. ↑ Hughes, Josiah (11 November 2014). "Lorde - 'Flicker' (Kanye West rework)  • Music / Video". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  41. ↑ Camp, Zoe (11 November 2014). "Kanye West's Rework of Lorde's 'Flicker' From Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1 Surfaces". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  42. ↑ "Listen to Kanye West's haunting rework of Lorde's 'Flicker'". Fact. 11 November 2014.
  43. ↑ Lindner, Emilee (11 November 2014). "Kanye West Makes Lorde's 'Yellow Flicker Beat' Even More Menacing: Listen". MTV News. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  44. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  45. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  46. ↑ "Lorde – Chart history" Billboard Canada Rock for Lorde. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  47. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  48. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  49. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  50. ↑ "New Zealand Digital Songs". Billboard. 18 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  51. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  52. ↑ "Lorde – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Lorde. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  53. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2014". nztop40.co.nz. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  54. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  55. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  56. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  57. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single". Belgium: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  58. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single". Canada: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 30 September 2014.
  59. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single". Finland: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  60. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single" (in German). Germany: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  61. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single". New Zealand: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  62. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single" (in Portuguese). Portugal: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014.
  63. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single" (in Spanish). Spain: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014.
  64. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single" (in German). Switzerland: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  65. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single". United Kingdom: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014.
  66. ↑ "Yellow Flicker Beat – Single". United States: iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 30 September 2014.
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