"Call Your Girlfriend" is a song by Swedish recording artist
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson (born 12 June 1979), known as Robyn (), is a Swedish pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and DJ. She arrived on the music scene with her 1995 debut album, ''Robyn Is Here'', which produced two ''Billboard'' Hot 100 t ...
, taken from her seventh studio album, ''
Body Talk'' (2010). It was released as the album's second single on 1 April 2011. The song was written by Robyn,
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund (born 11 April 1972) is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears. As a songwriter and producer, he has worked with artists such as Robyn, Sugababes, J ...
and
Alexander Kronlund
Alexander Erik Kronlund (born 10 December 1971 in Bredäng) is a Swedish producer and songwriter.
Kronlund co-wrote Meja's million-selling debut album on Sony and co-wrote two songs for Britney Spears' second album, '' Oops!... I Did It Again ...
. Åhlund handled production, with assistance by Billboard. In the song, Robyn portrays a woman who begs her new partner to break up with an old girlfriend, and advises on how to do it gently. "Call Your Girlfriend" is an
electropop ballad with synths and a buzzing rhythm.
The song received positive reviews from critics, who praised it for its lyrics and heartfelt message. The song reached number forty-three on the
Sverigetopplistan chart, number eight on the Flanders
Ultratip
Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium. Ultratop is a non-profit organization, created on the initiative of the Belgian Entertainment Association (BEA), the Belgian member organization of ...
chart and number one in the Pmachinery Top 30. In the United States, it reached number one on
Hot Dance Club Songs, becoming Robyn's highest-peaking song on the chart. The accompanying music video was released on 2 June 2011 and features Robyn dancing alone in a warehouse. The song has been performed on the
NewNowNext Awards
The NewNowNext-Awards is an American annual entertainment awards show, presented by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-themed channel Logo TV. Launched in 2008, awards are presented both for LGBT-specific and general interest achievements i ...
, ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', ''
RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...
'', and ''
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. ...
''. The song was nominated for the
Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording (formerly known as Best Dance Recording) is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists f ...
at the
2012 Grammy Awards
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles being broadcast on CBS honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. LL Cool J hosted t ...
.
Background and composition
In an interview with Teen.com, Robyn said that love and life inspired her to write the song. In January 2011, Robyn confirmed that it would be released as the second single from ''
Body Talk'', and that a music video for the song was in the works.
Originally intended for a 16 May 2011 release, the single was released digitally on 1 April 2011, in Finland,
and three days later in Sweden.
"Call Your Girlfriend" was written by Robyn,
Alexander Kronlund
Alexander Erik Kronlund (born 10 December 1971 in Bredäng) is a Swedish producer and songwriter.
Kronlund co-wrote Meja's million-selling debut album on Sony and co-wrote two songs for Britney Spears' second album, '' Oops!... I Did It Again ...
and
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund (born 11 April 1972) is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears. As a songwriter and producer, he has worked with artists such as Robyn, Sugababes, J ...
, with the latter producing the song. Billboard is credited as the co-producer.
The song is an
electropop and
synth-pop ballad, described as "soaringly tuneful" and "cold-blooded".
In the song, Robyn portrays a woman who is enjoying her new partner, but is concerned how this person's current girlfriend will be hurt by it.
As a solution, she begs her partner to break up with the girlfriend and gives tips on how to do it gently.
According to Scott Plagenhoef 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 ...
, the song carries a "buzzing rhythm",
synths and "a killer chord change." Plagenhoef wrote that Robyn "
sas graceful about this role as when she plays the other points in the love triangle." He described it as "one of the most adult, thoughtful
pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former descri ...
breakups since the
Field Mice's "Willow", but naturally without the twee-pop OGs' sense of melancholy."
Reception
Critical reception
Ben Norman of
About.com
Dotdash Meredith (formerly About.com) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, home, food, finance, tech, beauty, ...
called the song "pensive pop" and said that it "demands
hat
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
you sing along from the very beginning." He noted that the lyrics focuses on "the little bit of bad one must do to embrace the good".
Marc Hogan of Pitchfork called it "one of ''Body Talk''
's most inspired moments".
Genevieve Koski of ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
'' wrote that ''Body Talk'' "reaches its apex at its midpoint with “Call Your Girlfriend,” which turns the breakup-anthem conceit on its ear in a manner that makes getting dumped seem inspiring." Heather Phares of
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
called it a "thoughtful twist on a love triangle that finds Robyn enjoying new love while being concerned for someone hurt by it."
Evan Sawdey 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 ...
called it "remarkable" and "one of those rare Robyn tracks that finds a way to use its overtly commercial pop framework to tell a rather emotional, pointed relationship tale that is heads-and-shoulders above most of what’s on mainstream radio today."
Call Your Girlfriend received its first play on
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...
on July 4, 2011 as
Scott Mills' Record of the Week. It was confirmed that it will be officially released in the UK on August 1.
On November 30, 2011, the song was nominated for the
Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording (formerly known as Best Dance Recording) is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists f ...
for the
54th Grammy Awards.
Chart performance
"Call Your Girlfriend" debuted at number forty-three on the
Sverigetopplistan chart in Sweden, on the issue dated 22 April 2011.
On the issue dated July 2, 2011, the track peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, thus became her first single to reach the top spot of
Hot Dance Club Play
Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as th ...
Chart, and also her highest peaking and most successful single there. On the issue on 18 July 2011, the song debuted at number thirty-nine in
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, Robyn's fourth single in that country. It is currently peaking at number seventeen on the issue date 15 August 2011, becoming Robyn's highest single in the country since "
Show Me Love".
Music video
The music video for "Call Your Girlfriend" was directed by
Max Vitali.
It premiered on 2 June 2011, and features Robyn
dancing
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its reperto ...
alone in a
soundstage
A sound stage (also written soundstage) is a soundproof, large structure, building, or room with large doors and high ceilings, used for the production of theatrical film-making and television productions, usually located on a secured movie stu ...
.
The video was choreographed by Maria "Decida" Wahlberg. Robyn confirmed a video for the song alongside the single announcement in January 2011.
Tom Breihan of Pitchfork wrote that the video "is one long unbroken tracking shot of the Swedish pop queen dancing, singing, and looking like her heart is about to break. The only thing she has to keep her company is an elaborate lighting rig. It's a true command performance, a hall-of-fame effort from an artist at the absolute peak of her powers."
Tamar Anitai of MTV Buzzworthy said that "
he clipappears to be shot, incredibly, all in one take". The writer said that has a "stripped-down approach". Anitai also wrote, "In a stark, gorgeously lit gymnasium, Robyn approaches the gym-floor-turned-dance-floor with the focus of a seasoned gymnast approaching the mat before an Olympic
floor routine."
Jon Blistein of ''
Billboard'' magazine also gave a positive review naming Robyn a "true pop star" and referring to the video as "so simple, yet nearly impossible to look away."
Live performances
Robyn performed "Call Your Girlfriend" on the 2011
NewNowNext Awards
The NewNowNext-Awards is an American annual entertainment awards show, presented by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-themed channel Logo TV. Launched in 2008, awards are presented both for LGBT-specific and general interest achievements i ...
. On 13 April 2011, she performed the song alongside "
Dancing on My Own
"Dancing On My Own" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn, released on 20 April 2010 as the lead single from her fifth studio album, '' Body Talk Pt. 1'' (2010), the first in her ''Body Talk'' series. "Dancing On My Own" was produced b ...
" on ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', wearing a pastel blue top and matching lipstick. Robyn performed "Call Your Girlfriend" as well as fellow
''Body Talk'' single "Dancing On My Own" on the December 10th, 2011 episode 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. ...
.
Covers
French Canadian singer
Marie-Mai
Marie-Mai (born Marie-Mai Bouchard on July 7, 1984, in Varennes, Quebec) is a Canadian singer from Quebec. She was initially known as one of the finalists of the first season of the Quebec reality show '' Star Académie''.
Background
Marie-M ...
released a French version of the song titled “Sans Cri Ni haine” (No shouts nor hate) as a promotional single for her fourth studio album ''Miroir''. The song peaked at number one in Quebec for 7 weeks and was released in France as well. In October 2012, the song was awarded with the ''Felix Award'', Quebec's most important awards for the Popular song of the year.
Singer-songwriter
Star Anna has performed the song live, most notably on
KEXP
KEXP-FM (90.3 MHz) is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Seattle, Washington, United States, specializing in alternative and indie rock programmed by its disc jockeys for the Seattle metropolitan area. The station is owned by the no ...
.
A 2011
viral video
A viral video is a video that becomes popular through a viral process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites such as YouTube as well as social media and email.Lu Jiang, Yajie Miao, Yi Yang, ZhenZhong Lan, Alexander Haupt ...
features ''
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. ...
'' actor
Taran Killam
Taran Hourie Killam (born April 1, 1982) is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is known for his television work on ''The Amanda Show'', ''How I Met Your Mother'', ''MADtv'', ''New Girl'', ''Saturday Night Live'', and ''Single Parents''. ...
dancing to the song with the almost exact repetition of the same dance moves as Robyn.
In January 2012, the Swedish group
Erato covered the song in an
a cappella version using hand claps and empty butter tubs as rhythmic accompaniment in a viral YouTube video.
The video, itself, was later covered by young sisters
Lennon and Maisy Stella.
Suede
Suede (pronounced ) is a type of leather with a fuzzy, napped finish, commonly used for jackets, shoes, fabrics, purses, furniture, and other items. The term comes from the French , which literally means "gloves from Sweden". The term was firs ...
guitarist
Richard Oakes covered the song with his project
Artmagic as the b-side to their single "Down In The River" in October 2012.
In November 2012, Newspaper Editor and Blogger, Harrison Mooney, created a parody, titled "Call the Union," in response to the 2012 NHL Lockout.
Minneapolis Band
The New Standards released a cover version titled "Call Your Boyfriend" on their 2012 album ''
Sunday Morning Coming Down'' and frequently performs the song live.
British singer, Cher Lloyd, performed an acoustic cover of the song in February 2013.
In May 2013,
Michelle Chamuel performed the song on the
fourth season of ''The Voice'' during the top 12 week.
Singer-songwriter
Lucy Wainwright Roche
Lucy Wainwright Roche (born December 16, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter. Preceded by two EPs, ''8 Songs'' and ''8 More'', Roche released her debut album, ''Lucy'' in October 2010. In 2013, she starred as Jeri in the ''Stuff You Should Kno ...
(daughter of
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Snowden Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actor. He has released twenty-six studio albums, four live albums, and six compilations. Some of his best-known songs include "The Swimmin ...
) released an acoustic version.
Singer-songwriter
John-Allison Weiss
John-Allison Weiss (born April 13, 1987) is a Los Angeles-based indie pop singer, songwriter, and performer. To date, they have released three full-length albums and several EPs. Their most recent LP, ''New Love'', was released on October 2, 201 ...
included an acoustic cover version on their 2014 EP "Remember when".
Maya Rudolph and
Emma Stone covered the song with "the Cups Song rhythm" on the sixth episode of NBC's "
Maya & Marty
''Maya & Marty'' is an American television variety show that premiered on NBC on May 31, 2016. The series was co-hosted by comedians Maya Rudolph and Martin Short, and produced by Lorne Michaels. The show features various comedy sketches, musi ...
"; 07/12/16.
In the 2016 video artwork To Me You Mean The Most by Adam Castle & Ed Twaddle one of the artists sings along to the song. The artwork was featured in the 2017
Bloomberg Bloomberg may refer to:
People
* Daniel J. Bloomberg (1905–1984), audio engineer
* Georgina Bloomberg (born 1983), professional equestrian
* Michael Bloomberg (born 1942), American businessman and founder of Bloomberg L.P.; politician and m ...
New Contemporaries
New Contemporaries is an organisation in the UK that works to support emerging artists at the beginning of their careers by introducing them to the visual arts sector and to the public through a variety of platforms, including an annual exhibition ...
exhibition.
On the 17th October 2018, Jade Bird debuted her cover of this song live on BBC Radio 1, playing the piano live with a string section.
In 2019, the song was covered in the episode "Chapter Fifty: American Dreams" from the third season of the television series ''
Riverdale'', performed by
Camila Mendes and
Vanessa Morgan
Vanessa Morgan Mziray (born March 23, 1992), known professionally as Vanessa Morgan, is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Beatrix "Bird" Castro in the MTV teen drama series ''Finding Carter'', as Amanda Pierce in the Family teen ...
.
Track listing
*Digital download
#"Call Your Girlfriend" – 3:47
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (
Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix Dub) – 5:36
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (
Feed Me Remix) – 4:55
*Germany CD single
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (
Kaskade
Ryan Gary Raddon (born February 25, 1971), better known by his stage name Kaskade, is an American DJ, record producer and remixer. ''DJ Times'' voted Kaskade "America's Best DJ" in 2011 and 2013. ''DJ Mag'' named Kaskade fifty-first on its 20 ...
Remix) – 5:38
*UK digital EP
#"Call Your Girlfriend" – 3:47
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Feed Me Remix) – 4:55
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Kaskade Remix) – 5:38
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Sultan & Ned Remix) – 5:36
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (
Azari & III
Azari & III (pronounced "Azari and Third") was a Canadian music group, formed in 2008, which performed house, electronic and dance music. They released their self-titled debut album in 2011 and earned recognition on the dance music scene with the ...
Remix) – 4:41
*US digital remix EP
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Feed Me Remix) – 4:55
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Kaskade Remix) – 5:38
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Sultan & Ned Remix) – 5:37
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Sultan & Ned Remix Dub) – 5:37
*AUS Remixes
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Edit) – 3:30
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Kaskade Remix) – 5:38
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Kaskade Edit) – 3:36
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Feed Me Remix) – 4:55
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Azari & III Remix) – 4:41
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Sultan & Ned Remix) – 5:36
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Sultan & Ned Remix Dub) – 5:37
#"Call Your Girlfriend" (Sultan & Ned Remix Edit) – 3:53
Credits and personnel
*Robyn – music and lyrics
*
Alexander Kronlund
Alexander Erik Kronlund (born 10 December 1971 in Bredäng) is a Swedish producer and songwriter.
Kronlund co-wrote Meja's million-selling debut album on Sony and co-wrote two songs for Britney Spears' second album, '' Oops!... I Did It Again ...
– music
*
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund (born 11 April 1972) is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears. As a songwriter and producer, he has worked with artists such as Robyn, Sugababes, J ...
– music, lyrics, production, instruments and programming
*Billboard – co-production, instruments and programming
*Niklas Flyckt – mixing
*
Jayce Lewis
Jason Charles Lewis known professionally as Jayce Lewis (born 29 September 1984) is a Welsh musician from Bridgend, South Wales. In 2009 his self-produced single titled "Icon" (also included on EMI Records' ''Smash Hits 2009'' compilation) ach ...
- Synth Programming, Remix
Source
Charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
See also
*
List of number-one dance singles of 2011 (U.S.)
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2011 singles
Robyn songs
Song recordings produced by Billboard (record producer)
Songs written by Alexander Kronlund
Songs written by Klas Åhlund
Songs written by Robyn
Synth-pop ballads