| "The Rarest Birds" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Alison Moyet | ||||
| from the album Other | ||||
| Released | 4 June 2017 | |||
| Genre | Synthpop | |||
| Length | 4:37 | |||
| Label | Cooking Vinyl | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Guy Sigsworth | |||
| Alison Moyet singles chronology | ||||
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"The Rarest Birds" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released in 2017 as the second single from her ninth studio album Other . It was written by Moyet, John Garden and Sean McGhee, and produced by Guy Sigsworth.
"The Rarest Birds" followed "Reassuring Pinches" as the second single from Other. The track debuted on Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 show on 3 June 2017 and released the following day as a digital download. [1] [2] A music video for the song premiered on 20 July. [3] Directed by Steve Gullick, the video was shot in Brighton and features Moyet's daughter Caitlin Ballard. [4] [5] In addition to the video, Moyet also performed the song on live on The Graham Norton Show . [6]
Speaking of the song, Moyet said it is a "paean to LGBTQ, to Brighton, to coming out after the darkest nights into the arms of those that delight in your flight". She further revealed to the music webzine Drowned in Sound that the song "celebrates a place where a person can be who they were meant to be. It celebrates solidarity when it comes to individualism. It holds hands and calls time on silence, stillness, fear. It celebrates beautiful girls born boys. Stronger boys for being born girls. Freedom to identify where best we fit." [7]
In a review of Other, Maxie Molotov-Smith of Fortitude magazine described "The Rarest Birds" as the "torch song of Other" and "possibly her best ballad to date". They added that the song was a "beaming ode to solidarity and identity, beginning with a smouldering glimmer before bursting into a beautiful aurora borealis in the chorus." [8] Record Collector commented of the song's "dense strings underpinning a gorgeous, panoramic melody". [9] SLUG Magazine wrote: "The poetry of "The Rarest Birds" reminds one of what a thoughtful lyricist Moyet has become over the years." [10]
Aaron Badgley of The Spill Magazine felt the song was "current", yet "brings to mind the torch songs of the '60s, with beautiful orchestration and arrangements". The writer also believed the song featured one of Moyet's "strongest ever vocal performances". [11] The Music stated: ""The Rarest Birds" could have been plucked from her early '90s powerful soul-rock peak". [12] Albumism picked the song as one of four "notable tracks" from the album, noting the song "celebrates the humanity of diversity". [13] The American newspaper Seattle Post-Intelligencer commented on the song's "pastoral melodies and epic chorus". [14]
Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet, formerly known as Alf, is an English singer noted for her powerful bluesy contralto voice. She came to prominence as half of the synth-pop duo Yazoo, but has since mainly worked as a solo artist.
Allan Arthur Guy Sigsworth is an English record producer and songwriter. During his career, he has worked with many artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Imogen Heap, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian, Alanis Morissette, Eric Whitacre, Alison Moyet, and AURORA. He has also collaborated with many celebrated instrumental musicians, including Talvin Singh, Jon Hassell, and Lester Bowie. He is a member of the duo Frou Frou, with Imogen Heap.
Alf is the debut solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 5 November 1984 by CBS Records. The album launched Moyet's solo career following the disbanding of synth-pop duo Yazoo. The album reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Love Resurrection", "All Cried Out", "Invisible" and "For You Only".
Raindancing is the second solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 6 April 1987 by CBS Records. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Is This Love?", "Weak in the Presence of Beauty", "Ordinary Girl" and "Sleep Like Breathing". In the United States, Raindancing was released by Columbia Records with a different cover art and a reordered track listing.
"Weak in the Presence of Beauty" is a song written by Michael Ward and Rob Clarke, and originally recorded by their band, Floy Joy. It was released in 1986 as the lead single from their album of the same name. In 1987, English singer Alison Moyet released a version of the song which was a hit across Europe and Australasia.
"It Won't Be Long" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, which was released in 1991 as the lead single from her third studio album, Hoodoo (1991). It was written by Moyet and Pete Glenister, and produced by Glenister. A music video was filmed to promote the single, while Moyet also performed the song on Wogan.
"This House" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released on 30 September 1991 as the fourth single from her third studio album, Hoodoo (1991). It was written by Moyet and produced by Dave Dix. The song reached No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart and also reached the top 40 in the Netherlands, peaking at number 31 on the Dutch Top 40.
"Falling" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released in October 1993 by Columbia Records as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Essex (1994). The song was written by Moyet and Pete Glenister, and produced by Ian Broudie. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by The Douglas Brothers.
"Whispering Your Name" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jules Shear. It was originally performed by Ignatius Jones in 1983, however Shear also recorded the song, which was issued as a single within months of Jones' recording and included on his 1983 album Watch Dog. It has been covered numerous times, including a charting version by Alison Moyet in 1994.
"Getting into Something" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released on 16 May 1994 as the third single from her fourth studio album, Essex. It was written by Moyet and Pete Glenister and produced by Ian Broudie.
"Do You Ever Wonder" is a song by English singer Alison Moyet, released in 2002 as the second single from her fifth studio album Hometime. It was written by Carlton McCarthy, and produced by Tim Norfolk and Bob Locke under the name The Insects.
"Solid Wood" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released on 14 August 1995 as the second and final single from her 1995 compilation album Singles. It was written by Moyet and produced by Ian Broudie.
The Minutes is the eighth solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 3 May 2013 by Cooking Vinyl.
"When I Was Your Girl" is a song by English singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released as the first single from her eighth studio album, The Minutes (2013), which debuted at number five in the UK Albums Chart on 12 May 2013. On 5 May 2013, "When I Was Your Girl" reached number 104 in the UK Singles Chart.
"Love Reign Supreme" is a song by English Pop singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, and is the second single released off her eighth studio album, The Minutes (2013).
"Changeling" is a song by English pop singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, and is the third single released off her eighth studio album, The Minutes (2013).
Other is the ninth studio album by English singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released on 16 June 2017, by Cooking Vinyl.
"Ode to Boy" is a song by English synth-pop duo Yazoo. Originally the B-side to their 1982 hit "The Other Side of Love", it was later included on their second and final studio album You and Me Both in 1983. Whereas Yazoo's version is a sparse atmospheric track with synths and percussion, vocalist Alison Moyet later recorded her own version of the song in an uptempo indie-rock style for her 1994 album Essex.
"Reassuring Pinches" is a song by English singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released as the first single from her ninth studio album, Other (2017).
"For You Only" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, which was released in 1985 as the fourth and final single from her debut studio album Alf. For its release as a single, a remixed version of the song was created, which was named the "New Version". The song written by Moyet, Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, and produced by Jolley and Swain.