Earthquake (Little Boots song)

Last updated
"Earthquake"
Little Boots - Earthquake.jpg
Single by Little Boots
from the album Hands
B-side "Catch 22"
Released16 November 2009 (2009-11-16)
Genre
Length4:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Greg Kurstin
Little Boots singles chronology
"Remedy"
(2009)
"Earthquake"
(2009)
"Shake"
(2011)

"Earthquake" is a song by English recording artist Little Boots from her debut studio album, Hands (2009). Written by Boots and Greg Kurstin and produced by Kurstin, the song was released in the United Kingdom on 16 November 2009 as the album's third and final single. It debuted at number eighty-four on the UK Singles Chart, dropping off the chart the following week.

Contents

Critical reception

"Earthquake" received very positive reviews from critics. Emily Mackay from the NME referred to the song as a "strikingly affecting, emotionally naked galactic banger." [1] Nick Levine from Digital Spy wrote that the song "begins with a colossal onslaught of synths and doesn't ease off." [2] Fraser McAlpine of the BBC Chart Blog believed that the track is "not as instant or as infectious as 'Remedy', and is instead a bit more inward-looking and even a bit glum in places, but Boots actually pulls off my favourite pop trick of contrasting some quite depressing lyrics with some quite jolly sounds." He also went on to compare it to The Human League. [3] Andrzej Lukowski of Drowned in Sound commented that "the wistful sigh and thrum of its chorus charging with hangdog allure a hook that could so easily have been fine-tuned into nagging infectiousness." [4] The Guardian 's Alex Petridis stated that the song "harnesses its fantastic tune to the plasticky, wildly uncool euphoria of late 90s trance." [5]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by David Wilson and had its premiere on 16 October 2009 on Boots's official YouTube channel and on Perez Hilton's website. It shows Boots singing in front of a big city, playing her Casio SK-5 and catching tears falling in slow motion, as well as galaxy lights and light strobes.

Commercial performance

"Earthquake" debuted at number eighty-four on the UK Singles Chart for the week of 22 November 2009, spending one week only on the chart and therefore failing to match the commercial success of her previous singles. [6]

Track listings

These are the track listings and formats of major single releases of "Earthquake". [7]

Charts

Chart (2009)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart [6] 84

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
United Kingdom13 November 2009 679 Artists, Atlantic Records Digital EP [8]
16 November 2009 CD single, [9] 7" single, [10] 12" single [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls Aloud</span> English-Irish girl group

Girls Aloud are an English-Irish pop girl group that was created through the ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. The line up consisted of members Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. In 2012, the group was named as the United Kingdom's biggest selling girl group of the 21st century so far, with over 4.3 million singles sales and 4 million albums sold in the UK alone. During their two decades together, the group achieved a string of twenty top ten singles on the UK Singles Chart, including four number ones. They also achieved seven certified albums, two of which debut at number one. They have been nominated for five Brit Awards, winning the 2009 Best Single for "The Promise".

<i>Change</i> (Sugababes album) 2007 studio album by the Sugababes

Change is the fifth studio album by British girl group Sugababes, released through Island Records on 1 October 2007. It was their first album to feature complete vocals by Amelle Berrabah, who joined the group following founding member Mutya Buena's departure in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Call the Shots</span> 2007 single by Girls Aloud

"Call the Shots" is a song by British-Irish girl group Girls Aloud from their fourth studio album, Tangled Up (2007). The song was written by Miranda Cooper, with inspiration from an article about the advance of women in business, and Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Lisa Cowling, and Giselle Somerville also received songwriting credits. Polydor Records originally intended to release it the lead single for The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (2006); however, "Something Kinda Ooooh" was selected instead. In September 2007, "Call the Shots" leaked online, and on 26 November of the same year, it was released as the second single from Tangled Up through Fascination Records, a week after the album's release.

<i>Slipway Fires</i> 2008 studio album by Razorlight

Slipway Fires is the third album by English indie rock band Razorlight. It was released on 3 November 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Boots</span> English singer-songwriter and DJ

Victoria Christina Hesketh, better known by her stage name Little Boots, is an English electropop singer-songwriter and DJ. She was previously a member of the band Dead Disco. Since performing as a solo artist, she has released four albums: Hands (2009), Nocturnes (2013), Working Girl (2015) and Tomorrow's Yesterdays (2022), and a number of associated EPs and remixes. Hesketh has toured internationally both as a DJ-only act as well as with a full band. Hands reached number five on the UK Albums Chart and the singles "New in Town" and "Remedy" became top twenty hits.

<i>Hands</i> (Little Boots album) 2009 studio album by Little Boots

Hands is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Little Boots. It was released on 5 June 2009 by 679 Recordings and Atlantic Records to generally positive reviews. Many critics complimented its "well-crafted" pop songs and "diverse" production. Hands primarily features songs about love, relationships and heartbreak, and takes influence from a variety of music styles such as disco, 1980s synth-pop and Eurodance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quicksand (La Roux song)</span> 2008 single by La Roux

"Quicksand" is a song by English synth-pop duo La Roux from their eponymous debut studio album (2009). 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. It peaked at number 153 on the UK Singles Chart upon limited release. When re-released on 23 November 2009, the single re-entered the chart at number 129.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New in Town (song)</span> 2009 single by Little Boots

"New in Town" is the debut single by English recording artist Little Boots from her debut studio album, Hands (2009). Written by Little Boots and Greg Kurstin and produced by Kurstin, the track was released as the album's lead single on 25 May 2009 in the United Kingdom. The song was inspired by the nights Little Boots spent in Los Angeles recording the album. "New in Town" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number thirteen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Boots discography</span>

English singer and songwriter Little Boots has released three studio albums, one live album, 10 extended plays, 10 mixtapes, 18 singles, four promotional singles and 16 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remedy (Little Boots song)</span> 2009 single by Little Boots

"Remedy" is a song by English recording artist Little Boots from her debut studio album, Hands (2009). Written by Little Boots and RedOne, the song was released as the album's second single on 15 June 2009 in Japan and on 17 August 2009 in the United Kingdom, becoming Little Boots' most successful single on the UK Singles Chart. A remix EP of the song was also made available on the US iTunes Store on 8 December 2009.

<i>Overcome</i> (Alexandra Burke album) 2009 studio album by Alexandra Burke

Overcome is the debut studio album by British singer Alexandra Burke, released 19 October 2009 on Syco Music. The release of the album came a year after Burke won the British talent show, The X Factor, with the recording process taking place between 2008 and 2009. Critics praised the album for showcasing Burke's vocal charm and characterisation, comparing her vocal to American singers Anastacia and Whitney Houston and its contemporary finish; using a variety of acclaimed producers including RedOne and Ne-Yo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broken Heels</span> 2010 single by Alexandra Burke

"Broken Heels" is a song performed by British singer Alexandra Burke, released as the second single from her 2009 debut album, Overcome. It was written by the Moroccan-Swedish producer RedOne, Bilal Hajji, Savan Kotecha and produced by RedOne. The single was released on digital download in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2010 and physically on the following day, on 18 January 2010. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart on 24 January 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Sheets</span> 2009 single by Ellie Goulding

"Under the Sheets" is the debut single by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding from her debut album, Lights (2010). Produced by Starsmith, it was released as the album's lead single. The song premiered on Huw Stephens's BBC Radio 1 show on 30 September 2009 and was released on the UK iTunes Store on 15 November 2009, peaking at number fifty-three on the UK Singles Chart. It was also used to promote the second season of 90210 on E4 in the UK. According to Goulding, the single was released on independent label Neon Gold Records rather than Polydor so that she would not be put under too much pressure.

<i>Happiness</i> (Hurts album) 2010 studio album by Hurts

Happiness is the debut studio album by English musical duo Hurts. It was released on 27 August 2010 by RCA Records. It was preceded by the release of the singles "Better Than Love" on 23 May 2010 and "Wonderful Life" on 22 August 2010. Collaborators include Jonas Quant and production team The Nexus, as well as a duet with Australian singer Kylie Minogue on the song "Devotion". To promote the release of the album, the track "Happiness" was made available as a free download via Amazon.co.uk on 1 August 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Still a) Weirdo</span> 2010 single by KT Tunstall

"(Still a) Weirdo" is a song by Scottish recording artist KT Tunstall. It was released as the UK lead single from her third studio album Tiger Suit (2010), on 19 September 2010. Written by Tunstall herself and Greg Kurstin, and produced by Kurstin, the song is an acoustic rock ballad and talks about still the same (weird) person after many years. It received critical acclaim, with the majority of the critics complimenting Tunstall for the ability to make an intelligent, simple song. It charted inside the top-forty on the UK Singles Chart at No.39 and as of 2023, remains her last UK top 40 hit. It charted also on the Belgian charts. In the music video, Tunstall travels back in time to the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With Ur Love</span> 2011 single by Cher Lloyd

"With Ur Love" is a song by English singer Cher Lloyd featuring vocals from American singer Mike Posner. The single was released on 4 October 2011, and was written by Shellback, Savan Kotecha, Max Martin and Posner and was produced by Shellback and Martin. Musically "With Ur Love" is a mid-tempo pop song, with elements of R&B and lyrically speaks about the euphoria of being in love. The song debuted at number four in the United Kingdom, becoming Lloyd's second top ten single. It also reached the top ten in Ireland and the top twenty in Flanders and New Zealand.

<i>Electronic Earth</i> 2012 studio album by Labrinth

Electronic Earth is the debut studio album by English recording artist Labrinth released 2 April 2012, via Syco Music. The album peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Nocturnes</i> (Little Boots album) 2013 studio album by Little Boots

Nocturnes is the second studio album by English singer and songwriter Little Boots. It was released on 3 May 2013 on her record label On Repeat Records. Featuring production from DFA's Tim Goldsworthy, Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford and Hercules and Love Affair's Andy Butler, the album "celebrates 90s house, seventies disco and futuristic electronics". According to Little Boots, the record is titled Nocturnes because it is "an album indebted to the night".

<i>Sheezus</i> 2014 studio album by Lily Allen

Sheezus is the third studio album by English singer Lily Allen, released on 2 May 2014 by Parlophone. The album is Allen's first work since her musical hiatus in 2009, after the release of her second studio album, It's Not Me, It's You (2009). In June 2012, Allen announced that she would be returning to music, revealing that she had been recording a new album and that she would be returning to the use of her professional name.

<i>Working Girl</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Little Boots

Working Girl is the third studio album by English singer and songwriter Little Boots, released on 10 July 2015 by on Repeat Records and Dim Mak Records.

References

  1. Mackay, Emily (27 May 2009). "Album review: Little Boots – 'Hands'". NME . IPC Media . Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  2. Levine, Nick (8 June 2009). "Little Boots: 'Hands'". Digital Spy . Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  3. McAlpine, Fraser (14 November 2009). "Little Boots – 'Earthquake'". BBC Chart Blog. BBC Online . Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  4. Lukowski, Andrzej (10 June 2009). "Little Boots – Hands". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  5. Petridis, Alexis (5 June 2009). "Little Boots, Hands". The Guardian . guardian.co.uk . Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  6. 1 2 "The Official Charts Company – Little Boots – Earthquake". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  7. "Earthquake [single] – Bundle". littlebootsmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  8. "Earthquake – EP by Little Boots". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  9. "Earthquake: Little Boots". Amazon.co.uk . Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  10. "Earthquake [7" VINYL]: Little Boots". Amazon.co.uk . Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  11. "Earthquake [12" VINYL]: Little Boots". Amazon.co.uk . Retrieved 14 November 2010.