"Birth in Reverse" is a song written
and performed by
St. Vincent, issued as the lead
single from her fourth album, ''
St. Vincent''. A video featuring the audio was released on , one day prior to the single's official release.
A music video was released on December 16, 2014. On , St. Vincent performed the song on the season finale of ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. ...
''.
Music video
The music video for "Birth in Reverse" was directed by Willo Perron, who was also the creative director for artwork surrounding ''
St. Vincent''. The video shows Annie Clark dancing and playing guitar along to the song against a starry background.
Critical reception
The song has received positive reviews from critics. Devon Maloney of
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
called the song "vibrant",
while Robin Smith of
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
commented that the song was "meant to be understood" and complimented the song's "space-fabric-ripping
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...
".
"Birth in Reverse" placed 56th on ''
The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, th ...
''s 2014
Pazz & Jop
Pazz & Jop was an annual poll of top musical releases, compiled by American newspaper ''The Village Voice'' and created by music critic Robert Christgau. It published lists of the year's top releases for 1971 and, after Christgau's two-year abs ...
critics' poll.
Track listing
7" vinyl
Digital download
References
{{authority control
2013 songs
2013 singles
Republic Records singles
St. Vincent (musician) songs
Songs written by St. Vincent (musician)
Song recordings produced by John Congleton