Body Talk | ||||
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Studio album / Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 22 November 2010 | |||
Recorded | 2009–2010 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 61:40 | |||
Label | Konichiwa | |||
Producer |
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Robyn chronology | ||||
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Singles from Body Talk | ||||
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Body Talk is the seventh studio album (fifth internationally released) by Swedish singer Robyn, released on 22 November 2010 by Konichiwa Records. Robyn first announced in early 2010 that she would release three mini-albums throughout the course of 2010. However, it was later announced that a full-length album would be released instead of a third mini-album. The first two mini-albums of what was dubbed the Body Talk series, Body Talk Pt. 1 and Body Talk Pt. 2 , were released in June and September 2010. While being a separate studio album in its own right, the full-length release also serves as a compilation album, containing the "best songs" from the first two entries in the Body Talk series in addition to five new songs. In certain territories, the new songs were also available separately as an extended play released the same day, titled Body Talk Pt. 3 . The four songs and two acoustic versions from the project that were excluded from the original track listing were later included on the German iTunes and 2019 Record Store Day vinyl versions of the album.
In October 2019, the album was placed at number eight on Pitchfork 's list of "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". [2] In 2020, the album was ranked 196 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums of all time. [3] In 2024, the album was ranked 100 on Apple Music's 100 Best Albums of All Time list. [4] As of 2013, combined sales of the three parts of Body Talk series were 170,000 copies in the United States. [5]
"[...] It was never my goal to break some kind of a world record in how many songs I could release in a year. Although I think it would count as a pretty good attempt, it's been about the process for me. It's been very interesting to try and figure out a more organic way of making music. A way that is unbiased and has its starting point in what feels logical to me, but also to the listeners.
Even though it was never a conceptual idea, but a practical solution to the problem of getting bored with just doing one thing at a time, it has influenced not only the music, but all the visual content for the album as well. And the way I've communicated with press and listeners. [...]" [6]
In an interview with Swedish magazine Bon, Robyn announced that she had plans to release three new albums in 2010. [7] She said, "I got all these great songs so why not? [...] It's been 5 years since Robyn and I didn't want to wait with a release until they are all recorded, so I decided to start putting them out right away." [8] Robyn told Popjustice journalist Peter Robinson, "It's been a long time since I actually made a record! And I was thinking of how to shorten that time down and Eric, my manager, came up with the idea of what if I just start releasing songs, then I can tour them, then I can make some more songs. We started working like that. I think once it starts it will make more sense – you can just keep releasing stuff without the long breaks." [9] Robyn collaborated with Swedish producer Max Martin on the song "Time Machine". [10] Martin was responsible for producing Robyn's US breakthrough hits "Do You Know (What It Takes)" and "Show Me Love", which both charted inside the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996 and 1997. She said of the collaboration: "It was nostalgic to go back into the studio together. For me, it's perfect timing – I've come full circle. It's a way for me to show that I'm not trying to distance myself from where I come from. It's still all about the songs." [11]
On 20 October 2010, Robyn announced the details of Body Talk on her official website, along with the track listing and artwork. [6] She described the album as the "turbo version of the Body Talk album", as it includes five songs from each previous Body Talk album along with five new songs. [6]
Robyn announced the release of the single, "Indestructible", on 13 October 2010. [12] An acoustic version appeared on her previous album, Body Talk Pt. 2 . The song was released on 1 November 2010 in Scandinavia and one day later in the United States. [13] It is co-written by Klas Åhlund, and has been described as a "pulsating full power version [that] takes every ounce of that emotion and wraps it up in another exceptional disco-pop record worthy of any dance-floor or passion-laden sing-a-long." [12] The second single, "Call Your Girlfriend", was released on 1 April 2011. [14]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.1/10 [15] |
Metacritic | 86/100 [16] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [17] |
The A.V. Club | A [18] |
Entertainment Weekly | A [19] |
Evening Standard | [20] |
Financial Times | [21] |
The Guardian | [22] |
MSN Music (Expert Witness) | A− [23] |
Pitchfork | 8.7/10 [24] |
Rolling Stone | [25] |
Slant Magazine | [26] |
Body Talk received acclaim from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 86, based on 19 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". [16] Music critic Jonathan Keefe from Slant Magazine said the album is "a testament to Robyn's truly forward-thinking take on contemporary pop music and to her rare ability to infuse chilly, futuristic soundscapes with genuine emotion and soul." Keefe also said that Body Talk "impresses for its thematic focus and laser-precise editing" and that the album is "one of the year's finest, most progressive pop albums". [26] The A.V. Club also felt that the album is "hands-down the best dance-pop album of the year," and praised it as "euphoric, personal, and inspirational to the last beat", saying that it "proves there's still room for smart, mature songwriting and heartfelt performance in the high-gloss world of club music," and noting the presence of "real emotion (...) among the ones and zeros of electronic music." [18]
Entertainment Weekly said that "Spectacular Swedish import Robyn continues to languish in the cult-act remainder bin, but these 15 excellently curated tracks deserve to change that." [19] Pitchfork stamped it with its "Best New Music" label. [24] Rolling Stone said it was "the best dance-pop album of 2010", with every song being "both immaculately catchy and packed with quirks". [25] musicOMH said that Body Talk "shows just how easily [Robyn] can churn out hits more frequently than labels can process production teams." [27] AllMusic music critic Heather Phares said that "Releasing that much new music within six months was a feat in and of itself, but the fact that each part of Body Talk was so consistent made the whole project even more impressive." Phares said that the album's appeal "isn't just experimental: by picking the best of the project's songs, it feels like a greatest-hits collection and brand new album rolled into one." [17]
Publication | Rank |
---|---|
The A.V. Club [28] | 10 |
Billboard [29] | 3 |
Cokemachineglow [30] | 26 |
Drowned in Sound [31] | 60 |
Entertainment Weekly [32] | 3 |
MTV [33] | 3 |
musicOMH [34] | 3 |
Pitchfork [35] | 15 |
Popjustice [36] | 2 |
PopMatters [37] | 69 (for Body Talk Pt. 1 ) |
Rolling Stone [38] | 14 |
Slant Magazine [39] | 2 |
Spin [40] | 10 (for Body Talk Pt. 1) |
Body Talk was chosen the 2nd best album released in 2010 by Popjustice and Slant Magazine, [36] the 3rd best album released in 2010 by Entertainment Weekly, [32] MTV and Billboard , [41] [42] the 10th best album of 2010 by both The A.V. Club and Spin , [28] [40] and was also selected as the 14th best album of 2010, by Rolling Stone. [43] Pitchfork listed Body Talk as the eighth best album of the 2010s. [44] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 196 in the reboot of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. Apple Music included Body Talk as their 100th pick for their 100 Best Albums list made in 2024. [45]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Fembot" |
| K. Åhlund | 3:35 | |
2. | "Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do" |
|
| K. Åhlund | 4:11 |
3. | "Dancing on My Own" |
|
|
| 4:49 |
4. | "Indestructible" |
|
| K. Åhlund | 3:41 |
5. | "Time Machine" |
|
|
| 3:33 |
6. | "Love Kills" |
|
|
| 4:32 |
7. | "Hang with Me" | K. Åhlund | K. Åhlund | K. Åhlund | 4:21 |
8. | "Call Your Girlfriend" |
|
|
| 3:47 |
9. | "None of Dem" (featuring Röyksopp) | Robyn | Röyksopp | 5:13 | |
10. | "We Dance to the Beat" |
| K. Åhlund | K. Åhlund | 4:39 |
11. | "U Should Know Better" (featuring Snoop Dogg) |
|
|
| 4:01 |
12. | "Dancehall Queen" | K. Åhlund |
|
| 3:39 |
13. | "Get Myself Together" |
|
|
| 3:41 |
14. | "In My Eyes" |
|
|
| 3:58 |
15. | "Stars 4-Ever" |
|
|
| 4:00 |
Total length: | 61:40 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16. | "Cry When You Get Older" |
|
| K. Åhlund | 3:35 |
17. | "Hang with Me" (acoustic version) | K. Åhlund | K. Åhlund | K. Åhlund | 3:21 |
18. | "Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa" | Traditional | Traditional | K. Åhlund | 2:11 |
19. | "Include Me Out" |
|
| K. Åhlund | 3:31 |
20. | "Criminal Intent" | K. Åhlund |
|
| 3:43 |
21. | "Indestructible" (acoustic version) |
|
| K. Åhlund | 4:14 |
22. | "Bad Gal" (Savage Skulls and Douster featuring Robyn) | Robyn |
|
| 4:01 |
23. | "Dancing on My Own" (video) |
|
|
| 4:06 |
24. | "Hang with Me" (video) | K. Åhlund | K. Åhlund | K. Åhlund | 3:34 |
25. | "Indestructible" (video) |
|
| K. Åhlund | 3:36 |
26. | "Call Your Girlfriend" (video) |
|
|
| 3:34 |
Total length: | 111:06 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16. | "Dancehall Queen" (Diplo and Stenchman remix) (featuring Spoek Mathambo)) | K. Åhlund |
|
| 4:14 |
Total length: | 66:04 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Fembot" | 3:24 |
2. | "Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do" | 4:11 |
3. | "Indestructible" | 3:41 |
4. | "Dancehall Queen" | 3:39 |
5. | "Hang With Me" | 4:21 |
6. | "Stars 4-Ever" | 5:32 |
7. | "Dancing On My Own" | 4:49 |
8. | "Criminal Intent" | 3:43 |
9. | "Call Your Girlfriend" | 3:47 |
10. | "U Should Know Better" (featuring Snoop Dogg) | 4:01 |
11. | "Love Kills" | 4:32 |
12. | "Cry When You Get Older" | 3:35 |
13. | "Indestructible" (acoustic version) | 4:01 |
14. | "Hang with Me" (acoustic version) | 3:18 |
15. | "Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa" | 2:11 |
16. | "Stars 4-Ever" (acoustic version) | 5:33 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [57] | Gold | 15,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | 22 November 2010 | CD | [58] | |
United States | [59] | |||
United Kingdom | 29 November 2010 | Island | [60] | |
Japan | 1 December 2010 | Digital download | Universal | [61] |
Germany | 3 December 2010 |
| Embassy of Music | [62] |
Poland | CD | Universal | [63] | |
Italy | 7 December 2010 | Digital download | [64] | |
Australia | 10 December 2010 | CD | Modular | [65] |
Spain | 14 December 2010 | Digital download | Universal | [66] |
Various | 13 April 2019 | LP | Konichiwa | [67] |
Body Talk Pt. 3 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
EP by | ||||
Released | 22 November 2010 | |||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 18:42 | |||
Label | Konichiwa | |||
Producer | ||||
Robyn chronology | ||||
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Body Talk Pt. 3 is the third extended play (EP) by Swedish singer Robyn. It was released on 22 November 2010, simultaneously with Robyn's seventh studio album, Body Talk (2010). In November 2011, the EP garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album, while the second single, "Call Your Girlfriend", received a nomination for Best Dance Recording.
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Production | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Indestructible" |
|
| K. Åhlund | 3:41 |
2. | "Time Machine" |
|
|
| 3:33 |
3. | "Call Your Girlfriend" |
|
|
| 3:47 |
4. | "Get Myself Together" |
|
|
| 3:41 |
5. | "Stars 4-Ever" |
|
|
| 4:00 |
Total length: | 18:42 |
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
---|---|
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [68] | 27 |
UK Dance Albums (OCC) [69] | 11 |
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard) [53] | 7 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 22 November 2010 | Digital download |
| [70] |
Denmark | 24 November 2010 | CD | Parlophone | [71] |
Sweden | [72] | |||
Germany | 3 November 2010 |
| Embassy of Music | [73] |
Robin Miriam Carlsson, known professionally as Robyn, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, record producer, and DJ. Her 1995 debut album Robyn Is Here produced two Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles: "Do You Know " and "Show Me Love". Her second and third albums, My Truth (1999) and Don't Stop the Music (2002), were released in Sweden.
Robyn is the fourth studio album by Swedish singer Robyn. It was originally released in 2005 in Sweden and Norway only by Konichiwa Records. It was later released in other territories throughout 2007 and 2008. The album represented a departure from Robyn's previous urban and R&B musical style, and explored synth-pop and dance-pop music, with inspirations from electronic duo The Knife and rock band Teddybears. It also marks Robyn's first album release on her own record label, Konichiwa Records, which she founded in 2005.
"With Every Heartbeat" is a song by Swedish record producer Kleerup and Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn. It was first released on 10 January 2007 in Sweden and later on 30 July 2007 in the United Kingdom. It was released as the second single from the international edition of Robyn's self-titled fourth studio album and the lead single from Kleerup's self-titled debut studio album.
"Cobrastyle" is a song performed by Swedish band Teddybears, featuring Jamaican singer Mad Cobra. The song uses Mad Cobra’s earlier song “Press Trigger”, released in 2001. The song was released on their 2004 album Fresh, and reissued on their 2006 album Soft Machine. It was released as a single on 6 June 2006.
Swedish singer Robyn has released eight studio albums, one compilation album, six extended plays, 50 singles, nine promotional singles, and 45 music videos.
"Piece of Me" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007). It was released on November 27, 2007, by Jive Records as the second single from the album, but was actually the last song recorded. It was written and produced by Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant and Klas Åhlund as a response to the media scrutiny and sensationalism of the singer's private life, which they had witnessed firsthand after working with her over the years. The song, acting as the singer's manifesto, has biographical lyrics retelling Spears's mishaps. It can be classified as an electropop, dance-pop and EDM-pop song that features an "electro instrumental track" and runs through a down-tempo dance beat. Spears's voice is heavily synthesized and her pitch constantly shifts; backing vocals are provided by Bloodshy & Avant and Robyn.
Little Dragon are a Swedish electronic music band from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in 1996. The band consists of Yukimi Nagano, Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrik Wallin (bass) and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards).
Junior is the third studio album by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp. It was released on 18 March 2009 by Wall of Sound. Prior to its official release, the album was made available for listening on the duo's website on 13 March 2009.
Body Talk Pt. 1 is the fifth studio album by Swedish singer Robyn, released on 11 June 2010 by Konichiwa Records. It is the first part of the Body Talk series, which consists of three mini-albums. The only single from the album, "Dancing On My Own", was released on 1 June. Robyn promoted the album with the All Hearts Tour she co-headlined with Kelis. Body Talk Pt. 1 reached number one in Sweden and number four in Denmark and Norway. In the United States, it peaked at number three on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
"Fembot" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010). The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund, and produced by the latter. It was inspired by Robyn's personal experience of entering her thirties and contemplating children. With the song, she also argues against the notion that humans and robots are separate, explaining that technology has become more organic. "Fembot" is a song with an R&B vibe, and features Robyn rapping several double entendres in the verses, while proclaiming that "Fembots have feelings too" in the chorus. The song was released on 13 April 2010 as one of three promotional singles before the album's release.
"Dancing on My Own" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn, released on 20 April 2010 as the lead single from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010), the first in her Body Talk series. "Dancing on My Own" was produced by Patrik Berger, co-produced by Robyn, and mixed by Niklas Flyckt, with Robyn and Patrik sharing writing credits. The song's stark mid-tempo electropop version from her album was the first version of the single released followed by a layered mid-tempo synth-pop edit designed for radio and a downtempo piano ballad recording for Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 5 later that year. It depicts a female protagonist in a crowded club just before last call who is dancing on her own while watching her ex-boyfriend who she sought out dancing with and embracing another woman, pondering confronting him for the last time before her time runs out. The song was inspired by situations Robyn observed while on her previous tour then clubbing throughout Stockholm, her favorite "inherently sad gay disco anthems", and the dissolution of her engagement.
Body Talk Pt. 2 is the sixth studio album by Swedish singer Robyn, released on 6 September 2010 by Konichiwa Records. The album is the second part of the Body Talk trilogy, which consists of three mini-albums, all released during 2010. Robyn started working on songs for the album when Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010) was still in development, and she collaborated with Klas Åhlund, Kleerup, Savage Skulls, Diplo and Snoop Dogg. Musically, the songs on Body Talk Pt. 2 are upbeat and a mixture between electro, house, hip hop and disco.
"Hang with Me" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her sixth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 2 (2010). It was released as the album's lead single via digital download on 16 August 2010, in Sweden, and one day later in the United States. An acoustic version of the song had previously been included on Body Talk Pt. 1, in June 2010. The song was written and produced by Klas Åhlund, who wrote it for Swedish singer Paola Bruna who originally recorded it in 2002. Åhlund re-wrote it, added a chorus and made it more uptempo for Robyn's version. The electropop song carries a club beat, with synth arpeggios and energetic bass. Lyrically, it speaks of falling in love and being scared, and trust in a relationship.
"Indestructible" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her seventh studio album Body Talk (2010). The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund, and produced by Åhlund. It was released as the lead single from Body Talk on 1 November 2010 in Sweden and one day later in the United States. The song was previously heard, in an acoustic form, as the final track on Body Talk Pt. 2, released in September 2010. The song was one of the first to be recorded for the Body Talk series, but Robyn saved it for later to give it a chance of becoming a single.
"Dancehall Queen" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010). The song was written by Klas Åhlund, who produced it with disc jockey Diplo. The initial writing and production of the song arose from a discussion by Robyn, Diplo and Åhlund about Ace of Base. The song features a dancehall and reggae-infused sound with 1980s synths and bass. It was released as a promotional single before the album was launched in April 2010.
"Call Your Girlfriend" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her seventh studio album, Body Talk (2010). It was released as the album's second single on 1 April 2011. The song was written by Robyn, Klas Åhlund and Alexander Kronlund. Åhlund handled production, with assistance by Billboard. In the song, Robyn portrays a woman who begs her new partner to break up with an old girlfriend, and advises on how to do it gently. "Call Your Girlfriend" is an electropop ballad with synths and a buzzing rhythm.
"I Love It" is a song by Swedish synth-pop duo Icona Pop featuring vocals from British singer Charli XCX. It was released as a single in May 2012 as a digital download in Sweden, where it peaked at number two on the singles chart. The song was added to their debut studio album, Icona Pop, as well as their EP Iconic and their debut international album, This Is... Icona Pop. "I Love It" was written by Charli XCX, Patrik Berger, and Style of Eye, with production handled by the latter two.
Do It Again is an extended play (EP) by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp and Swedish singer Robyn, released on 23 May 2014 by Dog Triumph. The EP coincides with Röyksopp and Robyn's joint tour, the Röyksopp & Robyn Do It Again Tour 2014, featuring shows in Europe and North America. Following her Body Talk Tour, Robyn travelled to Bergen, Norway, where she began working on new music with Röyksopp in early 2013, having previously collaborated with the duo on the songs "The Girl and the Robot" (2009) and "None of Dem" (2010).
Honey is the eighth studio album by Swedish singer Robyn, and her first since Body Talk (2010). It was released on 26 October 2018 through Konichiwa, Island and Interscope Records. It features the singles "Missing U", "Honey", "Ever Again", "Beach 2k20", and "Baby Forgive Me". The song "Send to Robin Immediately" also served as part of the promotional campaign for the singer's clothing line collaboration with Björn Borg.
"Honey" is a mid-tempo house-pop and alternative-pop song with techno influences by Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn, released on 26 September 2018 as the second single from her eighth studio album of the same name. "Honey" is produced by Joseph Mount of Metronomy, co-produced and co-written by Robyn and her frequent collaborators Klas Åhlund and Markus Jägerstedt, and mixed by the late Phillip Zdar of Cassius. The song's premiere on 21 May 2018 during her surprise DJ set at ADVENTURE[s]' Robyn-themed pop-up club series' 'This Party is Killing You' at the Brooklyn Bowl resolved rampant social media speculation surrounding her team's arduous editing of it over a year after an early demo of the song, a drastically divergent version sonically, was partially used on 16 April 2017 on the series finale of HBO comedy-drama Girls (2012-2017) then a recording of that audio was taken off SoundCloud. Robyn's self-described "white whale", the song took over four years in total from its conception to complete, the longest in her career.