"Slow Hands" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Niall Horan | ||||
from the album Flicker | ||||
Released | 4 May 2017 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:07 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Julian Bunetta [1] | |||
Niall Horan singles chronology | ||||
|
"Slow Hands" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released as a single on 4 May 2017 by Capitol Records. [2] The song was written by Horan, Alexander Izquierdo, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Ruth Anne Cunningham and Tobias Jesso Jr., while the production was handled by Bunetta. [3] It was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 9 May 2017 [4] as the second single from Horan's debut solo album Flicker (2017).
"Slow Hands" peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Horan's highest-charting single in those countries.
Prior to its release, Horan discussed the song in an interview with Mikey Piff on Sirius XM. The singer said that after listening to some of the material he had recorded for his debut album, he wanted to add "a bit more grit, funk and heavier bass." At the time he was listening to late 1970s and early 1980s music. "When Don Henley went solo in the early eighties, he just kinda had this funky kind of feel to it – heavy bass, heavy guitar – so I just thought, 'Let's give this a crack,'" Horan said of making the track. "I wanted it to be a little bit cheeky with the lyric." About the concept, he explained it is set in a bar and the song's theme changes up stereotypical roles. "The first line is...'we should take this back to my place' – and usually that's what the guy would say, but we flipped it that the girl would say that, and that's what she said right to my face." [5] [6]
"Slow Hands" is a bass-heavy funk-pop, pop and folk-pop song, with Horan singing in a lower register. [5] [7] [8] [9] A Billboard writer described it as an "R&B-inflected rock tune." [10] It is written in the key of C major at a tempo of 88 beats per minute. [11]
In Billboard , Taylor Weatherby noted "Slow Hands" focuses on a "funkier guitar vibe", compared to Horan's previous single "This Town." She also opined "the subtly-sexy song" shows an "edgier side of Niall." [12] Colin Stutz from the publication, added, "The combination of a thumping beat and Horan's raspy vocals makes the song hardly even sound like the same guy who sang ["This Town"]. But what "Slow Hands" shows is that Horan definitely won't just be sticking to the sweet singer-songwriter sound on his solo debut." [6] Rolling Stone 's Althea Legaspi also noted Horan "goes for a more muted sound. Above a stomp-and-clap beat and muted guitar, Horan allows his lower register to showcase his more seductive side on the track." [5]
In The Irish Times , Jennifer Gannon wrote that "it’s no radical departure, Niall hasn’t decided to go Gaga but it’s a step in a more Sheeran-style, crowd-pleasing direction. A gentle, foot-stomper about a lady with a magic touch, a lady who knows what she wants, she wants to get her hands all over Niall's "dirty laundry" and not in a bringing your washing home on a Sunday way. This isn't Timberlake's Sexy Back, it's Horan's Sweaty Back." [13]
Billboard's critics' list placed it second on "Every One Direction Solo Single, Ranked" in May 2017, stating that the "secret" highlight "[is] the way Niall's vocal on the first verse is ever so discretely chopped on the recording to a clipped staccato, a mysterious move that forces the singer into a less-is-more delivery that ends up being much more indeed." [14]
"Slow Hands" charted within the top 10 in the charts of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The single became his second top 20 entry as a solo artist on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 11 and surpassing his preceding single "This Town", which reached number 20. On 15 September 2017, the single was certified Platinum for combined sales and streaming equivalent units of over a million units in the United States. On the chart dated 7 October 2017, the single reached number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. [15] As of December 2017, it has sold one million copies in the US. [16]
Horan has performed "Slow Hands" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [17] [18] On 29 May 2017, the singer performed "Slow Hands", "This Town" and premiered the track "On the Loose" on The Today Show . [19] On 4 June 2017, Horan performed the song during the One Love Manchester benefit concert for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. [20] On 5 June he performed on BBC One's The One Show . [21] The singer also performed "Slow Hands" at the Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2017. [22]
On 22 June 2018, Horan performed the song with American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, at the first London show of her Reputation Stadium Tour at Wembley Stadium, as a surprise guest.
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [78] | 9× Platinum | 630,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA) [79] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [80] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [81] | 5× Platinum | 400,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [82] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [83] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
Ireland (IRMA) [84] | 3× Platinum | 45,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [85] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [86] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [87] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [88] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [89] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [90] | Gold | 5,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [91] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF) [92] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [93] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [94] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 4 May 2017 | Digital download | Original | Capitol | [23] |
23 June 2017 | Acoustic | [24] | |||
Jay Pryor remix | [25] | ||||
Basic Tape remix | [26] | ||||
United States | 9 May 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | [4] | |
Italy | 12 May 2017 | Universal | [95] |
"Drag Me Down" is a song recorded by English-Irish boy band One Direction as the lead single for their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M. (2015). The song was released worldwide on 31 July 2015 and was the band's first single since Zayn Malik's departure earlier that same year. "Drag Me Down" debuted atop the charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Austria, Australia, and New Zealand. It became the group's first number-one single in France and Australia, as well as their fourth number-one in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won the fan-voted 'Best Video Award' at the 2016 Brit Awards.
"Latch" is a song by English electronic music duo Disclosure, featuring vocals from English singer Sam Smith. It was released as a digital download on 8 October 2012, by PMR Records. The lead single from their debut studio album, Settle (2013), the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 26 and peaked at number 11. In the United States, "Latch" was a sleeper hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 2014. It also reached the top 10 in Canada and France.
"Hey Brother" is a dance song by Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii from his debut studio album, True (2013). American bluegrass singer Dan Tyminski provides vocals for the track. It was written by Avicii, Ash Pournouri, Salem Al Fakir, Vincent Pontare and Veronica Maggio. "Hey Brother" sees Avicii giving his brother advice.
"Story of My Life" is a song recorded by English-Irish boy band One Direction. It was released on 28 October 2013 by Syco Music and Columbia Records as the second single from the group's third studio album, Midnight Memories (2013). The song was written by band members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson, along with Julian Bunetta, Jamie Scott and John Ryan. The lyrics speak of a tumultuous relationship leading to lament and heartbreak.
"Steal My Girl" is a song written and recorded by English-Irish boy band One Direction. It is the lead single from their fourth studio album Four (2014). It was released worldwide on 29 September 2014. The single was written by band members Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne and regular collaborators Jonathan Cain, Wayne Hector, John Ryan, Ed Drewett and Julian Bunetta. It was produced by Bunetta, Ryan and Pär Westerlund.
"Night Changes" is a song recorded by British-Irish boy band One Direction. It was written by the band alongside Jamie Scott, Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, while the production was handled by Bunetta and Ryan. The song was released on 14 November 2014 as the second and final single from their fourth studio album Four. It also marked their last single with member Zayn Malik.
"Light It Up" is a song by American electronic music producing group Major Lazer, featuring vocals from Jamaican singer Nyla, which appears on Major Lazer's third studio album Peace Is the Mission. A remixed dancehall version of the song, to which additional vocals from British-Ghanaian Afrobeats artist Fuse ODG were added, was included on a re-released version of Peace Is the Mission and released as the album's third single overall on November 5, 2015.
"Goosebumps" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was sent to rhythmic radio on December 13, 2016, by Grand Hustle Records and Epic Records as the third single from Scott's second studio album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight.
"This Town" is the debut solo single by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released on 29 September 2016 by Capitol Records as the lead single from his debut solo album Flicker (2017). An accompanying music video of a live performance was released the same day. The song was written by Horan, Jamie Scott, Mike Needle, Daniel Bryer and produced by Greg Kurstin. It is Horan's first solo single, as well as the second solo single released by any of One Direction's remaining members, following the hiatus of the band, which was announced earlier in 2016. It peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, earning it his second highest-charting single as a lead artist to date, behind "Slow Hands". It also peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Strip That Down" is the debut solo single by English singer-songwriter Liam Payne featuring American rapper Quavo. It was released on 19 May 2017, via Capitol Records in the UK and Republic Records in the US. Ed Sheeran, who contributes additional vocals to the song, and producer Steve Mac contributed to the writing. It was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 23 May 2017. The song's accompanying music video was released on 2 June 2017. The lyrical content is supposed to reflect Payne's freedom to venture into raunchy musical elements after departing from the British-Irish boy band One Direction. The song appears as a bonus track on Payne's debut studio album LP1. As of October 2024, it has sold 11.5 million units worldwide.
"2U" is a song by French DJ and record producer David Guetta, featuring vocals from Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The song has EDM elements. It was written by Justin Bieber, Poo Bear, Cesqeaux and its producer Guetta and Giorgio Tuinfort. It was released on 9 June 2017 by What a Music, as the lead single from Guetta's seventh studio album, 7 (2018).
"Back to You" is the second solo single of English singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson featuring American singer Bebe Rexha and English DJ and producer Digital Farm Animals. It was written by Tomlinson, Digital Farm Animals, Pablo Bowman, Richard Boardman, and Sarah Blanchard, while the production was handled by Digital Farm Animals and Tommy Danvers. The single was released on 21 July 2017; its accompanying music video premiered the same date.
"On the Loose" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan from his debut studio album Flicker. It was written by Horan, John Ryan and its producer Julian Bunetta. The song was released to the US Mainstream Top 40 radio on 20 February 2018 as the album's fourth single. The radio version was released commercially on 16 February 2018 and was labeled as 'Alternative Version'.
"Lonely Together" is a song by Swedish DJ Avicii, featuring English singer Rita Ora. The song was released on 11 August 2017 as the second single from Avicii's EP, Avīci (01). A remix EP was released on 17 November 2017. "Lonely Together" was the last single Avicii released during his lifetime, before his death in 2018. The song was later included on Ora's second studio album, Phoenix (2018).
"Friends" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber and American record producer BloodPop. It was released through Genpop Corporation, RBMG Records, School Boy Records, Def Jam Recordings and Republic Records as a single on August 17, 2017. Bieber and BloodPop wrote the song alongside Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels, with production solely handled by BloodPop. "Friends" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. On October 20, 2017, Bieber and BloodPop released a remix of the song, which features Michaels.
"Too Much to Ask" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan. It was written by Horan and Jamie Scott, with production handled by Greg Kurstin. The song was released by Capitol Records on 15 September 2017, as the third single from Horan's debut studio album, Flicker (2017). Commercially, "Too Much to Ask" reached the top 10 in Hungary, Ireland, and Scotland as well as the top 20 in Australia, Belgium, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Slovakia.
As a solo artist, Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan has released three studio albums, two live album, three extended plays, sixteen singles, one promotional single and sixteen music videos.
"Nice to Meet Ya" is a song by Irish singer Niall Horan, released through Capitol Records as the lead single from his second studio album Heartbreak Weather on 4 October 2019. Horan co-wrote the track with Ruth-Anne Cunningham in one day.
"Our Song" is a song by English singer-songwriter Anne-Marie and Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan. It was released on 21 May 2021 as the third single from the former's second studio album, Therapy (2021). Produced by TMS, "Our Song" was written by the two singers along with Philip Plested and the three members of TMS. The ballad's lyrics have the vocalists reminiscing about a past relationship.
"Heaven" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released through Capitol Records as the lead single from his third studio album The Show on 17 February 2023.