"Alligator" is the second single taken from Canadian rock duo Tegan and Sara's sixth studio album '' Sainthood'' (2009). It was originally released in the

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in October 2009, a day before the release of the album, as a digital download. In March 2010, the single was released 17 track remix album in the United Kingdom,

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and

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as a digital download and 12" vinyl. The single charted at number 32 in the ''

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. Sara has stated that the song "was the first song I wrote for Tegan and Sara that didn't involve guitar whatsoever. There were lots of songs I'd written where I took guitars out or fooled with the instrumentation later on, but ''Alligator'' was the first song that I sat down and wrote without even thinking of the guitar. I picked a piano riff that I thought was cool, looped it, and just started building from there."

Critical reception

"Alligator" received positive reactions from critics.

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writer Tim Sendra called the song "catchy", while

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said "Sara's songs are woozy, inventive, heavily electronic affairs: cold, stark opener "Arrow", the seasick, disembodied "Night Watch" and the baroque disco of "Alligator" are all her tracks and all album highlights."

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said in a review of the album that ""On Directing" or "Alligator"" were "two obvious album highlights", and in a review of the track itself by Dan Weiss said "Nothing on Gossip's club-oriented new album will sound as good on the floor as the "over you, over you" chants designed to negate the alligator tears of the title here".

Music video

The video for "Alligator" starts off with Sara lying in a bed covered in snow, and Tegan inside of an igloo as they both sing the song. Sara then walks over to the igloo and takes out a brick to see Tegan. The igloo then collapses, and Sara tries to find Tegan in the bricks. She finds her and pulls her out, and they then lie atop the bricks. Interspersed with these scenes are scenes of Tegan and Sara dancing, first on their own and later with other people.

Track listing

Digital download # "Alligator" – 2:41 # Passion Pit Remix – 3:07 # Holy Fuck Remix – 3:23 #

Four Tet Kieran Hebden (born September 1977), known as Four Tet, is an English electronic musician. He came to prominence as a member of the post-rock band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist with charting UK albums such as '' Rounds'' ( ...

Remix – 5:19 # Murge Remix – 2:14 Alligator (Remixes) # Automatic Panic Extended Remix – 5:06 #

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Dub – 6:40 # Dave Sitek Remix – 3:39 #

Doveman Thomas Bartlett (born October 13, 1981), also known as Doveman, is an American pianist, producer, and singer. He has released four solo albums as Doveman, four albums as a member of The Gloaming, duo albums with the composer Nico Muhly and the ha ...

Remix – 3:19 # Hi-Def Remix – 3:37 # Josh Harris Club Remix – 6:31 # Kevin St. Croix Remix – 8:24 # Mad Decent K.K.S Remix – 5:50 # Toro y Moi Remix – 4:08 # VHS or Beta Remix – 5:20 Digital and vinyl # Holy Fuck Remix – 3:23 # Passion Pit Remix – 3:07 # Toro y Moi Remix – 4:08 # VHS or Beta Remix – 5:20 # Doveman Remix – 3:19 # Four Tet Remix – 5:19 # Murge Remix – 2:14 # Ra Ra Riot Remix – 2:47 # Automatic Panic Extended Remix – 5:06 # Hi-Def Remix – 3:37 # Dave Sitek Remix – 3:39 # Sara's Demo – 2:41 Digital album bonus tracks # Morgan Page Remix – 8:04 # Kevin St. Croix Remix – 8:24 # Mad Decent K.K.S Remix – 5:50 # Josh Harris Club Remix – 6:31 # Hamel Remix – 6:40

Charts

Release history

References

{{authority control Tegan and Sara songs 2009 songs Sire Records singles 2009 singles