Say What You Will (song)

Last updated

"Say What You Will"
Single by James Blake
from the album Friends That Break Your Heart
Released22 July 2021 (2021-07-22)
Length4:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • James Blake
  • Dominic Maker (co.)
  • Josh Stadlen (add.)
  • Jameela Jamil (add.)
James Blake singles chronology
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
(2020)		"Say What You Will"
(2021)		"Life Is Not the Same"
(2021)
Music video
"Say What You Will" on YouTube

"Say What You Will" is a song by English singer-songwriter and electronic music producer James Blake. It was written by Blake, Dominic Maker and Josh Stadlen. Its production was handled by Blake with co-producer Dominic Maker and additional production from Josh Stadlen and Jameela Jamil. The song was released on 22 July 2021 through Republic and Polydor Records, as the lead single from Blake's fifth studio album Friends That Break Your Heart . [1]

Contents

Composition

Upon its release, Blake revealed that the song was about "finding peace with who you are and where you're at regardless of how well other people seem to be doing, and the endless feeling of comparison." [2]

On his album commentary with Apple Music, Blake noted the track as "favorite song written in years". [3] He further added:

"It's the song that carries the most meaning in terms of my overall life. It’s more representative of my headspace as a whole, and I like songs that have a wider commentary baked into them. I was pleased with the reaction to it because I really tried to communicate where I am right now in an authentic way. At this point in my career, it can't be any other way. The formula to putting a song out has never changed. A good song will out in every single scenario. It needs to resonate with people, or it will disappear. And I know that feeling—I have released songs that for whatever reason have not resonated with people." [3]

Kitty Empire of The Guardian called the song as "a mellow anthem about self-worth". [4] Andrew Ryce of Resident Advisor described the track as "an elegant and hopeful song about self-acceptance". [5] Ella Kemp of NME called the track found Blake "at peace with potential haters, relishing criticism and setting himself free by choosing, quite simply, not to care anymore". [6]

Release

Blake announced the single on his Instagram, by sharing a photo of himself in front of a spread of magazines with music video co-star Finneas' face on the covers. [7] "Say What You Will" premiered on BBC Radio 1's Future Sounds with Annie Mac. [8]

Reception

"Say What You Will" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Andrea Cleary of The Irish Times praised Blake's vocal performances and compared it to Minnie Riperton. [9] Nathan Evans of Clash called the track "shows off the magic trick Blake's perfected by now" and commended Blake's vocal performances, described it as "unsettingly beautiful". [10] David Smyth of Evening Standard noted Blake's vocal experimentation on the song. [11] Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork called the song as the most "arresting" track of its parent album Friends That Break Your Heart. [12]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Say What You Will" was uploaded to Blake's official YouTube channel on 22 July 2021. [13] It was directed by Bear Damen. [14] The video stars singer and actor Finneas, alongside Blake. [15] In the video, Blake dramatizes his inferiority complex opposite Finneas. [16]

Live performances

Blake performed the track for the first time as an unreleased song during a concert at the Harvey Theater in Brooklyn, New York, United States on 17 December 2019. [17] He also performed it during an Instagram Live session on 6 April 2020. [18]

After the single release, Blake performed "Say What You Will" on the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 16 September 2021. [19] He also included the song on the setlist of his Friends That Break Your Heart Tour (2021). [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Kimbie</span> English electronic music duo

Mount Kimbie is an English electronic music duo consisting of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos. Formed in 2008, the duo expanded on the musical template of the UK dubstep scene, releasing early EPs Maybes and Sketch on Glass to critical praise the following year. Their debut album Crooks & Lovers in 2010 received further acclaim and was listed as one of the defining albums of the decade by DJ Mag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Blake (musician)</span> British musician (born 1988)

James Blake Litherland is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first received recognition for a series of 2010 EPs including CMYK and Klavierwerke, and he released his self-titled debut album in 2011 to critical praise. His second album Overgrown was released in 2013, bringing him to international attention, and later was awarded the Mercury Prize. He released his third album The Colour in Anything in 2016, his fourth Assume Form in 2019, his fifth Friends That Break Your Heart in 2021, and his sixth Playing Robots Into Heaven in 2023.

<i>James Blake</i> (album) 2011 studio album by James Blake

James Blake is the debut studio album by English musician James Blake. It was released in both the United Kingdom and the United States on his own label, ATLAS, supported by A&M Records, on 4 February 2011. The release was supported with the release of its first single, "Limit to Your Love", on 28 November 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billie Eilish</span> American singer-songwriter (born 2001)

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell is an American singer and songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single "Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom she collaborates on music and live shows. In 2017, she released her debut extended play (EP), Don't Smile at Me. Commercially successful, it reached the top 15 of record charts in numerous countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finneas O'Connell</span> American musician and actor (born 1997)

Finneas Baird O'Connell, also known mononymously as Finneas, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has written and produced music for various artists, most notably his sister, Billie Eilish. He has won eight Grammy Awards among 13 total nominations, including nominations for the Big Four categories. He has made history as the youngest act to win the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category. For his work with Eilish, he has won Record of the Year twice in a row, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. He was also nominated for Best New Artist for his solo work. Their song "No Time to Die" from the film of the same name earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and another Grammy.

"I Love You" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). Eilish co-wrote the song with her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also handled production. As the 13th track on the album, "I Love You" is an acoustic guitar-based ballad accompanied by various plane-related noises, where Eilish's lyrics describe the resistance to falling in love with someone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finneas O'Connell discography</span>

American singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer Finneas O'Connell has released one studio album, two soundtracks, one extended play and 25 singles. The singer began his career after he wrote and produced Billie Eilish's song "Ocean Eyes". Finneas and Eilish uploaded "Ocean Eyes" to SoundCloud in November 2015, and it became an instant hit.

<i>Blood Harmony</i> 2019 EP by Finneas

Blood Harmony is the debut extended play by American singer-songwriter Finneas. It was released by his record label OYOY, distributed by AWAL, on October 4, 2019. All of the material on the EP was produced and written by Finneas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Lost a Friend</span> 2019 single by Finneas

"I Lost a Friend" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas from his debut EP, Blood Harmony (2019). The song was written and produced solely by Finneas. It was released as the second single from the EP on May 3, 2019, through OYOY. An electropop ballad, the song's lyrics address Finneas losing touch with a childhood friend and regretting doing so, as well as wondering why he didn't do anything about it.

"Shelter" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas from his debut EP, Blood Harmony (2019). The song was released by OYOY as the third single from the EP on August 22, 2019. Finneas had heard that Avicii was looking for songs to produce. Afterwards, he wrote the song and sent it to Avicii's team. Lyrically, the song is about a lover that brings Finneas peace, but also trouble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything I Wanted</span> 2019 single by Billie Eilish

"Everything I Wanted" is a song by American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish, and co-written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced it. Darkroom and Interscope Records released the track as a standalone single on November 13, 2019, and later added it to the deluxe edition of Eilish's debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) in December that year. It is a house and electronica-influenced pop and alternative pop track with minimal piano and downtempo bass guitar instrumentation. Inspired by a nightmare she experienced, the song is about Eilish's strong relationship with O'Connell and his protectiveness of her from harm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break My Heart Again</span> 2018 single by Finneas

"Break My Heart Again" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas. It was released by OYOY for digital download and streaming as a single on February 9, 2018. The song was later included on the deluxe edition of Finneas' debut EP, Blood Harmony (2019). An indie pop ballad, the song's lyrics address Finneas breaking up with his girlfriend through on and off texting. The song received mainly positive reviews from music critics, several of whom praised the music and lyrical content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What They'll Say About Us</span> 2020 single by Finneas

"What They'll Say About Us" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas. It was released by OYOY as a single on September 2, 2020. The song was written and produced by Finneas. A lullaby-influenced ballad, the lyrics were inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests and Nick Cordero's death due to COVID-19. "What They'll Say About Us" was noted by music critics for its lyrical content. A music video for the song was released alongside the song and was directed by Sam Bennett in one take. It is the first single from his debut studio album Optimist.

<i>Tyron</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Slowthai

Tyron is the second studio album by British rapper Slowthai. It was released on 12 February 2021 through Method Records.

"Happier Than Ever" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her 2021 second studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's sixth single on July 30, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. An emo and pop-punk song with elements of jazz, it is about Eilish's anger towards a former partner due to a toxic relationship. It opens with soft vocals backed by classical and bass guitars, and transitions into a distorted pop-punk and rock production with electric guitars and snare drums midway. She wrote the song with its producer, Finneas O'Connell, after completing the American leg of her When We All Fall Asleep Tour (2019).

"Oxytocin" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her second studio album Happier Than Ever released on July 30, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. She wrote it with the producer―her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also provided backing vocals. An EDM, electronica, electropop, industrial pop and techno song, "Oxytocin" was the last track created for the album. While composing it, Eilish aimed to make it sound "insane" when performed live, envisioning sexual imagery for the lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Male Fantasy</span> 2021 single by Billie Eilish

"Male Fantasy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, included as the closing track on her second studio album Happier Than Ever (2021). A country-tinged, folk ballad about a break-up, it was written by Eilish and its producer, her brother Finneas O'Connell. In the verses, the narrator attempts to watch pornography to distract herself from her problems, and she criticizes how its standards around beauty and sexuality negatively affect people. She fantasizes about her past lover in the chorus, admitting that she can never hate them no matter how hard she forces herself to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Power</span> 2021 single by Billie Eilish

"Your Power" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the third single from her second studio album, Happier Than Ever (2021). It was released on April 29, 2021, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. A folk ballad backed by an acoustic guitar, the song is a plea for people to stop abusing their authority, and it mainly addresses men who exploit vulnerable women. Its lyrics narrate a damaging sexual relationship between a female high school student and an older man, exploring the topics of domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and statutory rape. Eilish wrote "Your Power" with its producer and her brother, Finneas O'Connell.

<i>Friends That Break Your Heart</i> 2021 studio album by James Blake

Friends That Break Your Heart is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter and producer James Blake. It was released by Republic Records and Polydor Records on 8 October 2021, after initially being scheduled for release on 10 September 2021 before being postponed due to delays in physical production as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break It Off (PinkPantheress song)</span> 2021 single by PinkPantheress

"Break It Off" is a song by English singer-songwriter PinkPantheress. It was officially released on 4 June 2021 through Elektra and Parlophone Records, as the lead single from her debut mixtape To Hell with It. An uptempo drum and bass and experimental pop song about heartbreak, it was written and produced by PinkPantheress and Adam F, and samples F's song "Circles". A snippet of the song went viral on TikTok, and it subsequently peaked at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. A visualizer for the song was directed by Malt Disney and released on 21 June 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Aswad, Jem (22 July 2021). "James Blake Drops New Song, 'Say What You Will'; Album and Tour in September". Variety . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Waite, Thom (23 July 2021). "James Blake shares the video for new track 'Say What You Will'". Dazed . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Friends That Break Your Heart by James Blake on Apple Music". Apple Music . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  4. ↑ Empire, Kitty (10 October 2021). "James Blake: Friends That Break Your Heart review – a breakup album with a difference". The Guardian . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Ryce, Andrew (27 July 2021). "James Blake - Say What You Will". Resident Advisor . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  6. ↑ Kemp, Ella (8 October 2021). "James Blake – 'Friends That Break Your Heart' review: fearless revelations and expansive sounds". NME . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Peters, Daniel (21 July 2021). "James Blake announces 'Say What You Will', a new collaborative single with Finneas". NME . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  8. ↑ Price, Joe (23 July 2021). "James Blake Releases New Song and Video "Say What You Will," Announces Album (UPDATE)". Complex . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Cleary, Andrea (8 October 2021). "James Blake: Friends That Break Your Heart – Still the bridesmaid". The Irish Times . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Evans, Nathan (8 October 2021). "James Blake - Friends That Break Your Heart". Clash . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  11. ↑ Smyth, David (8 October 2021). "James Blake - Friends That Break Your Heart review: A refining of his style, but no great leap". Evening Standard . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  12. ↑ D'Souza, Shaad (8 October 2021). "James Blake: Friends That Break Your Heart Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "James Blake - Say What You Will (Official Video)". YouTube. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "James Blake 'Say What You Will' by Bear Damon". Promo News. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  15. ↑ Curto, Justin (22 July 2021). "Finneas Is Better Than James Blake at Everything in 'Say What You Will' Video". Vulture . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  16. ↑ Moen, Matt (22 July 2021). "Go Behind the Scenes of James Blake's Video With Finneas". Paper . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  17. ↑ Sobolik, Thomas (18 December 2019). "James Blake covered Aqua's Barbie Girl in an intimate Brooklyn gig". The Face . Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Pauwels, Stefaan (8 April 2020). "James Blake - Instagram Live (April 6, 2020)". Knotoryus. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "James Blake - Say What You Will (Live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!)". YouTube. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  20. ↑ Barnett, Sylvie (18 October 2021). "Event Review: James Blake delivers spellbinding Hollywood Bowl performance". Magnetic. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.