Train (Goldfrapp song)

Last updated
"Train"
Goldfrapp Train.png
Single by Goldfrapp
from the album Black Cherry
B-side "Big Black Cloud, Little White Lie"
Released14 April 2003 (2003-04-14) [1]
Genre
Length4:08
Label Mute
Songwriters Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory
Producers Goldfrapp, Gregory
Goldfrapp singles chronology
"Pilots"
(2001)		"Train"
(2003)		"Strict Machine"
(2003)

"Train" is a song written and performed by British musical group Goldfrapp for their second album Black Cherry (2003). It was released as the lead single in the second quarter of 2003 and reached the top thirty in the United Kingdom, where it became the duo's first top thirty single. The track was self-produced by the duo.

Contents

Composition and lyrics

"Train" marks the band's transition into a more synthpop-oriented style with a glam rock influence, contrasting with the previous album Felt Mountain's downtempo and trip-hop leaning style. The song features distorted, buzzing synths and a shuffle groove, which would become hallmarks of the duo's electroclash era from Black Cherry to 2005's Supernature . In live performances in this era, Alison Goldfrapp played a theremin in the outro. [5]

The lyrics of "Train" are based on Alison Goldfrapp's observations while in Los Angeles, California. She stated that the song describes wealth, drugs, and sex with "a sort of disgust of it and at the same time a sort of need to indulge in these things." [6] The original title of the song was "Wolf Lady", which makes reference to the lyrics in the second verse of the song. [7]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Train".

  1. "Train" – 4:08
  2. "Train" (Village Hall Mix) – 5:28
  3. "Big Black Cloud, Little White Lie" – 3:07
  4. "Train" (Video) – 4:09
  1. "El Train" (T.Raumschmiere Rmx) – 5:52
  2. "Train" (Ewan Pearson 6/8 Vocal) – 7:34
  3. "Train" (Ewan Pearson 4/4 Instrumental) – 5:27
  1. "Train" – 4:08
  2. "El Train" (T.Raumschmiere Rmx) – 5:52
  3. "Train" (Ewan Pearson 4/4 Instrumental) – 5:27
  1. "Train" – 4:11
  2. "Train" (Village Hall Mix) – 5:28
  3. "Big Black Cloud, Little White Lie" – 3:07
  4. "El Train" (T.Raumschmiere RMX) – 5:52
  5. "Train" (Ewan Pearson 6/8 Vocal) – 7:32
  6. "Train" (Ewan Pearson 4/4 Instrumental) – 7:10
  7. "Train" (Ewan Pearson 4/4 Vocal) – 7:10

Charts

Chart (2003)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC) [12] 21
UK Singles (OCC) [13] 23
US Dance Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [14] 10
US Hot Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [15] 64

Notes

  1. ↑ "Reviews – For Records Released on 14 April 2003" (PDF). Music Week . 5 April 2003. p. 7. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Phares, Heather. Goldfrapp - Black Cherry (2003): Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Phares, Heather. Goldfrapp - The Singles (2012): Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ↑ Perpetua, Matthew (9 February 2012). "Goldfrapp: The Singles". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2025. Their electroclash-era breakthrough hits "Train" and "Strict Machine" are built upon a mercilessly tight schaffel beat...
  5. ↑ Leonardo Drozino (2015-04-12). Goldfrapp Live At Glastonbury 2004 . Retrieved 2025-10-14– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ "Electronica Duo Goldfrapp About 'Black Cherry'" Archived 2005-05-25 at the Wayback Machine . Artist Interviews. 2003. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  7. ↑ Goldfrapp.Free.Fr – "Wolf Lady" test pressing
  8. ↑ Train (2003, CD) (UK CD single #1 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2003. 0724355208026.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Train (2003, CD2, CD) (UK CD single #2 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2003. 0724355208828.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Train (2003, Vinyl) (UK 12" single inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2003. 0724355208866.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ "Train by Goldfrapp". Apple Music . Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  12. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Goldfrapp: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  15. ↑ "Goldfrapp Chart History (Hot Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2020. [ dead link ]

References

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