"No Control" | |
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Song by One Direction | |
from the album Four | |
Studio | Enemy Dojo (Calabasas, CA), Angel Face Studios (London) |
Length | 3:19 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
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"No Control" is a song by English-Irish boy band One Direction from their fourth studio album, Four (2014). It was written by Louis Tomlinson, Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Jamie Scott, Liam Payne, Julian Bunetta, and John Ryan. The song was not released as a formal single, however, fans pushed the song to be released as one starting an online campaign called #ProjectNoControl. It has charted in three countries.
"No Control" is the eighth track from their fourth studio album, Four . [1] In 2015, fans began a campaign via social media called #ProjectNoControl. [2] The campaign was to get the song to be released as an official single from Four. [2] Fans would set a "release date" to request the song on radio, stream and download it via Spotify and iTunes to get the song to number one on the charts. [3] The project was also a way to support Louis Tomlinson, following an internet feud with Naughty Boy. [3] Additionally, fans created unofficial cover art and music videos in support of the song. [3] The hashtag trended worldwide and even garnered a response from the band, taking the fans for their support. [2] [4] [5]
Speaking on The Late Late Show with James Corden , Tomlinson explained that fans decided to do their own release of the song because "they loved it so much" and it was never chosen as a single by the band. [6] On a different episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden, the band released a "music video" for the song as a part of a skit of Carpool Karaoke, featuring the band along with Corden performing a synchronised choreography in denim shirts. [7] [8]
"No Control" was written by Louis Tomlinson, Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Jamie Scott, Liam Payne, Julian Bunetta, and John Ryan, while production was handled by Bunetta, Ryan, Ian Franzino, and Afterhrs. [9] The song's BPM count is 143, and its key is E Major. [10] It was recorded at Enemy Dojo in Calabasas, California, and Angel Face Studios in London, while mixing was handled at the Dark Room. [9] One of the band's more explicit innuendo songs from the album, [11] the song is about sex. [12]
Brad Nelson of The Guardian described the track "as muscular and flexible as a Cheap Trick song", and compared the song's chorus to the Killers' "Mr. Brightside". [13] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard praised the song's production for its balance between the instrumentals and vocals. [14] It is also regarded as a "fan favourite" from the album. [15]
Due to the fan campaign, "No Control" topped the Billboard Twitter Real-Time chart, garning one million US streams in the week ending 17 May, and selling 5,000 digital downloads. [16] The song also peaked at number seven on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100. [17] The song reached number 135 on the UK Singles Chart. [18] It is the twentieth biggest One Direction song in the country. [19]
Credits for "No Control" adapted from album's liner notes. [9]
Chart (2014–15) | Peak position |
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Mexico Ingles Airplay ( Billboard ) [20] | 27 |
UK Singles (OCC) [18] | 135 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [17] | 7 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Mexico (AMPROFON) [21] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [22] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [23] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
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