Yellow Flicker Beat
"Yellow Flicker Beat" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde released on 29 September 2014 as the lead single from the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 by Republic Records. Written by Lorde and Joel Little and produced by Little and Paul Epworth, it is as an art pop and electropop song with minimal synthesisers, drums, and vocal samples in its production. Music critics compared its instrumentation style to the singer's work on her 2013 debut album Pure Heroine. The track's lyrics refer to the rise of Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of The Hunger Games (2008–2010) young adult dystopian novel trilogy.
"Yellow Flicker Beat"
"Yellow Flicker Beat" was well received by music critics, who praised its lyrical content for being more mature than that of Lorde's previous releases. Commercially, the song peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the record charts of several nations, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. A music video for the song, directed by Emily Kai Bock, was released on 7 November 2014. Four days later, a remix of the song, titled "Flicker (Kanye West Rework)" and co-produced by Lorde and Kanye West, was released. Lorde performed the original version at the 2014 American Music Awards on 23 November 2014. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards and Best Song at the Critics' Choice Awards.
Critical reception[edit]
"Yellow Flicker Beat" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Writing for Spin, Carley praised the song's metaphorical and mature lyrics.[7] Rolling Stone writer Ryan Reed praised the track's production, writing that it "fits comfortably within the 17-year-old's sonic wheelhouse",[5] while Billboard editor Steven J. Horowitz opined that Lorde's vocals complemented the song's "synth-blotched beat" well, and rated it three and a half out of five stars.[14] Conversely, Chris Schulz of The New Zealand Herald wrote that "Yellow Flicker Beat" sounded too similar to Lorde's previous releases and lamented the lack of a catchy hook and chorus.[6] Echoing Schulz's statements, Lydia Jenkin, also from the Herald, noted that while its sound was reminiscent of the singer's early works, it was still "a perfect musical depiction of Katniss Everdeen".[6] "Yellow Flicker Beat" was nominated for Best Original Song at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards,[15] and Best Song at the 20th Critics' Choice Awards.[16] The song was ranked the 18th greatest song of 2014 by Australian alternative music station Triple J.[17]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, "Yellow Flicker Beat" debuted at number 17 on the Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. In doing so, Lorde logged the highest launch by a female artist on the chart since 1995 when Juliana Hatfield's "Universal Heart-Beat" also debuted at number 17. The single also appeared on the Adult Alternative Songs at number 19 with 5.2 million radio audience impressions in its first week.[18] On the Billboard Hot 100, the single peaked at number 34.[19] "Yellow Flicker Beat" also charted on several national record charts, including Australia,[20] Canada,[21] Ireland,[22] and the United Kingdom.[23] The single was a success in New Zealand, peaking at number four on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[24] It was certified platinum by the Recorded Music NZ,[25] and the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling 15,000 and 70,000 units, respectively.[26]
"Flicker (Kanye West Rework)"
11 November 2014
- 4:13
Republic
- Ella Yelich-O'Connor
- Joel Little
- Kanye West
- Noah Goldstein
- Michael Dean
- Kanye West
- Michael Dean
- Noah Goldstein
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) and Tidal.[69][70]
Recording and management
Personnel