King (song)

For other songs, see King (disambiguation).
"King"
Single by Years & Years
from the album Communion
B-side TCTS Remix (7", CD)
Released 27 February 2015
Format
Genre
Length 3:35
Label
Writer(s)
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 from their debut studio album Communion. 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, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland.

Background

In an interview with Rolling Stone, frontman Olly Alexander said: "When we recorded [the song], no one felt good about it. It sounds lame! And we could never fix it. We shelved it for awhile. When we came back to it, we just took a different approach: 'Let's try to make it an Eighties dance-pop track.' And we just started out with that, cut it all up, arranged it. Used that balearic flute vibe, like a bird in the forest." Synth player Mikey Goldsworthy revealed that the backing track "[is] actually Olly's voice sampled and fucked up."[2]

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."[3] Time named "King" the 10th-best song of 2015.[4]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Nadia[5] and choreographed by Ryan Heffington.[5]

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. The song was featured on the accompanied album.[6] In September 2015, Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen covered the song on BBC Radio 1.

Track listing

  1. "King" – 3:34
  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)[9] 9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12] 17
Brazil (Hot 100 Airplay)[13] 4
Bulgaria (IFPI)[14] 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 80
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[16] 20
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[17] 16
Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 6
Europe (Euro Digital Songs)[19] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 14
France (SNEP)[21] 40
Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 9
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[23] 19
Hungary (Single Top 40)[24] 25
Ireland (IRMA)[25] 3
Italy (FIMI)[26] 21
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[27] 88
Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)[28] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 5
Mexico Top 20 Inglés (Monitor Latino)[31] 9
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 18
Norway (VG-lista)[33] 15
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[34] 2
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[35] 1
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[36] 1
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[37] 14
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[38] 27
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 26
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 9
Taiwan (Taiwan Top 10)[41] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[42] 1
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[43] 14
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 37

Year-end charts

Chart (2015) Position
Australia (ARIA)[45] 71
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[46] 75
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[47] 39
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[48] 79
Denmark (Tracklisten)[49] 27
Germany (Official German Charts)[50] 38
Ireland (IRMA)[51] 16
Israel (Media Forest)[52] 38
Italy (FIMI)[53] 55
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[54] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[55] 17
Poland (ZPAV)[56] 14
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[57] 78
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[58] 45
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[59] 11
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs[60] 31
US Dance/Electronic Digital Songs[61] 40

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[63] Platinum 30,000*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[64] Platinum 60,000^
Germany (BVMI)[65] Gold 200,000^
Italy (FIMI)[66] Platinum 50,000double-dagger
New Zealand (RMNZ)[67] Gold 7,500*
Poland (ZPAV)[68] 3× Platinum 60,000*
Sweden (GLF)[69] 2× Platinum 80,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[70] Platinum 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Platinum 600,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+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[72]
United States 21 April 2015 Mainstream radio
5 May 2015 Dance radio

References

  1. ↑ "Official Charts Analysis: Years & Years score... - mediaor". mediaor.com.
  2. ↑ Drake, David (28 July 2015). "Years and Years on Crafting Dance-Pop with Indie-Rock Edge". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Top 10 Songs of 2015 (So Far)". Billboard.com.
  4. ↑ "Best Songs of 2015". Time. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Premiere: Years And Years Dance Like They're Possessed In Sia-Esque New Music Video". Buzzfeed Music. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  6. ↑ ""King (Live from BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge)" from BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge 2015 by Various Artists on iTunes".
  7. ↑ "iTunes - Music - King - Single by Years & Years". iTunes Store (United Kingdom).
  8. ↑ "iTunes - Music - King (Remixes) - Single by Years & Years". iTunes Store (United Kingdom).
  9. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Years & Years – King". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Years & Years – King" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Years & Years – King" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Years & Years – King" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  13. ↑ "Years & Years – Chart history" Brasil Hot 100 Airplay for Years & Years.
  14. ↑ "Airplay Top 5 - 20.04.2015 - 26.04.2015". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Years & Years – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Years & Years. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201515 into search.
  17. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201517 into search.
  18. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Years & Years – King". Tracklisten.
  19. ↑ "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Euro Digital Songs for Years & Years.
  20. ↑ "Years & Years: King" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  21. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Years & Years – King" (in French). Les classement single.
  22. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Years & Years – King". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  23. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 15, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Years & Years – King". Top Digital Download. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Years & Years – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Years & Years.
  28. ↑ "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Luxembourg Digital Songs for Years & Years.
  29. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Years Years search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  30. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Years & Years – King" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  31. ↑ "Top 20 México Inglés. Semana del 11 al 17 de Mayo, 2015" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Years & Years – King". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  33. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Years & Years – King". VG-lista.
  34. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  35. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2015-03-14". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  36. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 2015{{{week}}} into search.
  37. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 2015{{{week}}} into search.
  38. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Years & Years – King" Canciones Top 50.
  39. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Years & Years – King". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  40. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Years & Years – King". Swiss Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "Taiwan Top 10". Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2015-03-14" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  43. ↑ "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs for Years & Years. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  44. ↑ "Years & Years – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Years & Years. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  45. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  46. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2015" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  47. ↑ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS".
  48. ↑ "Annual Reports 2015". Ultratop. Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  49. ↑ "Track Top-100 2015" (in Danish). Hitlisten.NU. IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  50. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  51. ↑ "Best of 2015 – Singles". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  52. ↑ "Yearly Charts – 2015: Top Tracks International". Media Forest. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  53. ↑ "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.
  54. ↑ "Top 100 Songs Year End 2015". top40.nl. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  55. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2015" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  56. ↑ "Airplay – podsumowanie 2015 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2015" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  58. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2015". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  59. ↑ "The Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2015 revealed". Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  60. ↑ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  61. ↑ "Dance/Electronic Digital Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  62. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2015 Singles".
  63. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2016". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  64. ↑ "Certification YEARS & YEARS "KING"".
  65. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Years & Years; 'King')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  66. ↑ "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
  67. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Years & Years – King". Recorded Music NZ.
  68. ↑ "Polish single certifications – Years & Years – King" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  69. ↑ "Guld/Platina certifiering".
  70. ↑ "Years & Years - King (The Magician Remix)".
  71. ↑ "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
  72. ↑ "King - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
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