"Lemonade" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Sophie | ||||
from the album Product | ||||
B-side | "Hard" | |||
Released | 4 August 2014 | |||
Genre | Dance-Pop | |||
Length | 1:58 | |||
Label | Numbers | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sophie Xeon | |||
Producer(s) | Sophie Xeon | |||
Sophie singles chronology | ||||
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"Lemonade" (stylized in all caps) is a song by Scottish producer SOPHIE. It was released as a single on 4 August 2014 by the label Numbers, and was backed by the B-side "Hard". The single features vocal contributions from Nabihah Iqbal on "Lemonade" and PC Music artist GFOTY on "Hard". [1] [2] The song appeared on various best-of year-end single polls. [3] "Lemonade" was subsequently featured in a 2015 McDonald's television advert.
In a positive review, Resident Advisor stated that "this twisted little banger is bound to turn many listeners off—among its parts are high-pitched vocals barking out phrases like 'ca-ca-candy boys' and synths that fizz like pop rocks." [4] AllMusic noted that "both songs schizophrenically flitted between bubblegum pop hooks and more aggressive elements, and both became huge critical successes." [3] Complex described "Lemonade" as "unashamedly silly and hyperactive." [5]
Both tracks appeared on the Billboard Twitter Real-Time charts. [6] "Lemonade" and "Hard" placed 68th and 91st respectively on the 2014 Pazz & Jop critics poll. "Lemonade" was included in the top ten of year-end singles lists by The Washington Post , Resident Advisor , and Complex ; [7] [8] [5] "Hard" was included in the top ten on lists by Dazed and Dummy. [9] [10] Pitchfork ranked "Lemonade"/"Hard" at 21 on its list of the best songs of 2014. [11]
"Lemonade" appeared in a 2015 commercial for McDonald's to promote the brand's lemonade. [12]
Following Sophie's death in 2021, "Lemonade" posthumously entered the UK Physical Singles chart at #44, [13] and the UK Vinyl Singles Chart at #37 [14]
"Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" is a song by Italian electronic music producer Spiller with lead vocals performed by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Various versions of the single were later featured on the German reissue and some UK editions of Ellis-Bextor's debut solo album, Read My Lips. The single was released on 14 August 2000 by Positiva Records and was involved in a highly publicised chart battle against "Out of Your Mind", the first single by Victoria Beckham outside the Spice Girls, in the United Kingdom.
"Born Slippy .NUXX" is a song by the British electronic music group Underworld. It was first released as the B-side to another track, "Born Slippy", in May 1995. The fragmented lyrics describe the perspective of an alcoholic.
James Blake Litherland is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first received recognition for his 2010 series of extended plays (EPs)—including CMYK and Klavierwerke. He signed with A&M Records to release his self-titled debut album (2011) the following year, which was met with critical praise and peaked within the top ten of the UK Albums Chart. He departed the label in favour of Republic Records, through which he released his second album, Overgrown (2013) to further critical and commercial success; it likewise peaked within the chart's top ten and moderately entered the US Billboard 200. His third album The Colour in Anything (2016) was followed by his fourth, Assume Form (2019), which became his highest-charting release on both charts. His fifth and sixth albums, Friends That Break Your Heart (2021) and Playing Robots Into Heaven (2023) followed thereafter.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra are a New Zealand psychedelic rock band formed in Auckland, primarily composed of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Ruban Nielson, and bassist Jacob Portrait. The band is based in Portland, Oregon. Nielson started the band in 2009, initially as a solo project. The band's first album was released in 2011 on Fat Possum Records; four subsequent studio albums have been released on Jagjaguwar, the most recent being V (2023).
"Harlem Shake" is a song recorded by American DJ and producer Baauer. It was released as his debut single on May 22, 2012, by Mad Decent imprint label Jeffree's. The uptempo song—variously described as trap, hip hop or bass music—incorporates a mechanical bassline, Dutch house synth riffs, a dance music drop, and samples of growling-lion sounds. It also samples Plastic Little's 2001 song "Miller Time", specifically the vocal "then do the Harlem shake", which is an allusion to the dance of the same name. Baauer added a variety of peculiar sounds to the song so that it would stand out.
Karen Marie Aagaard Ørsted Andersen, known professionally as MØ, is a Danish singer and songwriter. She signed a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment in 2012, releasing her debut extended play, Bikini Daze (2013), and her debut studio album, No Mythologies to Follow (2014).
Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as Sophie, was a Scottish music producer, songwriter, and DJ. Sophie's work is known for its brash take on pop music and distinguished by experimental sound design, "sugary" synthesized textures, and incorporation of influences from underground dance styles. It would help pioneer the 2010s hyperpop microgenre.
PC Music is a record label and art collective based in London and run by producer A. G. Cook. It was founded in 2013, uploading its first releases to SoundCloud that year. Artists on its roster have included Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, Danny L Harle, EASYFUN, Namasenda, and Planet 1999. The label's releases have been showcased on the compilations PC Music Volume 1 (2015), Volume 2 (2016), and Volume 3 (2022). Since 2024, the label is now only dedicated to archival projects and special reissues.
Alexander Guy Cook is an English music producer and the head of the UK record label PC Music. Cook released his first solo singles in 2014. He has also collaborated with PC Music artists such as Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, EASYFUN, Danny L Harle and felicita. He formed the one-off project QT with musician Sophie and performance artist Hayden Dunham, producing the 2014 single "Hey QT".
"King Kunta" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar, taken from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). It was released as the album's third single on March 24, 2015. Lamar co-wrote the song with Thundercat, while Terrace Martin, Michael Kuhle, and Sounwave served as producers. The song features interpolations and references to lyrics written by Michael Jackson, James Brown, Fred Wesley, John Starks, Ahmad, Redfoo, and Johnny Burns, who are all credited as songwriters.
Polly-Louisa Salmon, better known by her stage name GFOTY, an abbreviation of Girlfriend of the Year, is a British pop singer. From 2013 to 2018, she released music through the PC Music label. She now independently releases her music. Much of her work has been in the form of mini-mixes.
Vroom Vroom is the second extended play by English singer Charli XCX, released on 26 February 2016 by Vroom Vroom Recordings. It features production work from Scottish producer Sophie.
Lemonade is the sixth studio album by American singer Beyoncé. It was released on April 23, 2016, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, accompanied by a 65-minute film of the same title. It follows her self-titled fifth studio album (2013), and is a concept album with a song cycle that relates Beyoncé's emotional journey after her husband's infidelity in a generational and racial context. Primarily an R&B and art pop album, Lemonade encompasses a variety of genres, including reggae, blues, rock, hip hop, soul, funk, Americana, country, gospel, electronic, and trap. It features guest vocals from James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, the Weeknd, and Jack White, and contains samples and interpolations of a number of hip hop and rock songs.
"Sorry" is a song by American singer Beyoncé from her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). It was written and produced by Diana Gordon, MeLo-X, and Beyoncé, with Hit-Boy serving as a co-producer and Stuart White as an additional producer. Columbia Records serviced the song to radio stations as the album's second single on May 3, 2016. "Sorry" is an electro-R&B song with a thumping rhythm created by drum beats, synthesizers and bells. The song's lyrics revolve around the protagonist dealing with the betrayal of a partner with another woman.
"Don't Hurt Yourself" is a song by American artist Beyoncé featuring Jack White for her sixth studio album, Lemonade. The song was produced by Jack White, Beyoncé, and Derek Dixie, and written by White, Beyoncé, and Diana Gordon. The song contains samples of "When the Levee Breaks" written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, and performed by Led Zeppelin. Some critics compared the song to Beyoncé's "Ring the Alarm" (2006). The song received a nomination for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in the category of Best Rock Performance. Billboard ranked "Don't Hurt Yourself" at number 61 on their "Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list.
"Freedom" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was written by Jonny Coffer, Beyoncé, Carla Marie Williams, Dean McIntosh and Lamar; it contains samples of "Let Me Try", written by Frank Tirado, performed by Kaleidoscope; samples of "Collection Speech/Unidentified Lining Hymn", recorded by Alan Lomax in 1959, performed by Reverend R.C. Crenshaw; and samples of "Stewball", recorded by Alan Lomax and John Lomax, Sr. in 1947, performed by Prisoner "22" at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Its production was handled by Beyoncé, Coffer and veteran hip hop record producer Just Blaze.
"Bipp" is a song by Scottish, LA-based producer SOPHIE. It was released as a single on 17 June 2013 as SOPHIE's first release on the label Numbers, backed by the B-side "Elle". Upon release, the song became a critical success, appearing on numerous end-of-year single polls and bringing Sophie early attention.
Dominik Dvorak, known by their stage name felicita, is an English record producer and DJ based in London. They came to prominence through early collaborations with Nabihah Iqbal, Palmistry and Sophie. In 2014, they released the Frenemies EP with Gum Artefacts on digital platforms and vinyl.
Blane Muise, better known by her stage name Shygirl, is an English singer, DJ, rapper, songwriter and co-head/founder of record label and collective Nuxxe. Shygirl's music incorporates elements of dance music, industrial hip-hop, experimental pop, grime and deconstructed club. She has also been associated with the hyperpop music scene. Shygirl rose to prominence after working with close collaborator and friend Sega Bodega, as well as other well-known experimental producers Arca and Sophie, and gaining attention from the likes of Rihanna, who has used various Nuxxe tracks for her Fenty Beauty commercials and fashion shows. Shygirl has released various singles since 2016, and two EPs titled Cruel Practice and Alias. Her debut studio album Nymph was released on 30 September 2022 to widespread acclaim from music critics.
Nabihah Iqbal is an English musician, writer and broadcaster from London, England. A former legal professional, she has studied at both SOAS and The University of Cambridge. She first released music under the alias Throwing Shade in 2013 whilst contributing vocals to Sophie's early releases such as Lemonade. She switched to her birth name for her debut album Weighing of the Heart.