"If I Had a Heart" is a song performed, written, and produced by Swedish recording artist Fever Ray (Karin Dreijer). It was released as the lead single from their self-titled debut album, Fever Ray (2009), marking Ray's debut single as a solo artist, after their work with their previous band, The Knife. The track was first released digitally in Sweden and across Europe on 15 December 2008 by Rabid Records,[1] followed by a digital EP release on 26 January 2009.[2] It was later released on CD, 7", and 12" formats in early 2009.[3] The single's B-side premiered three days prior to the single release on Stereogum and is a remix of the track done by English experimental duo Fuck Buttons, the duo's maiden work as remixers.[4]
The song takes on a generally unconventional, dark, and experimental style with its slow tempo, organ backing, repetitive synth beat, and distinct vocals. Dreijer teamed up with long-term production partner Christoffer Berg (well known for his work with The Knife) for the production of "If I Had a Heart". The single, like the rest of the tracks on Fever Ray, was written by Dreijer themself. The lyrics were inspired by observation of their young children — a motif evident in the lyrics "Dangling feet from window frame / Will they ever ever reach the floor / More give me more give me more".[5] Also featured on the single is a remix by Stockholm-based techno/electropop artist Familjen.[4] In a Q&A, Dreijer stated that they achieved the pulsating production in the song by sampling an acoustic guitar recording to make a loop.[6]
The single received universal acclaim from various music critics. Daily Music Guide likened the track to scenes from a film Jim Jarmusch would make, as well as to the Francis Ford Coppola film Apocalypse Now (1979). Their review went on to describe the song as "dark and hypnotic", and "[taking] an echo of a Native American cry, but still [...] maintaining the song's dark undertone."[9] Mark Pytlik of Pitchfork Media reviewed it as "a shivering, timely meditation on greed, immorality, and lust for power that dovetails nicely with AIG and Madoff."[10] Anthony Balderrama from Consequence of Sound positively opined that "the most notable quality of 'If I Had a Heart' is its similarity to some of the quieter tracks on Silent Shout, particularly 'From Off to On'", whilst describing it as "a four-minute dirge that bemoans inadequacy as much as it professes love."[11]PopMatters's Ian Mathers ranked "If I Had a Heart" among Ray's best work, boasting it as "[marrying her] more introspective side with something like the withdrawn inverse of Silent Shout's low, twinkling throb."[12] Graeme Thomson of The Observer labelled the track as an "ancient shamanic chant piped through an iPhone."[13]
In October 2011, NME placed it at number 145 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[14]
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For the song by Todrick Hall see Straight Outta Oz If I Had a Heart is a song performed written and produced by Swedish recording artist Fever Ray Karin Dreijer It was released as the lead single from their self titled debut album Fever Ray 2009 marking Ray s debut single as a solo artist after their work with their previous band The Knife The track was first released digitally in Sweden and across Europe on 15 December 2008 by Rabid Records 1 followed by a digital EP release on 26 January 2009 2 It was later released on CD 7 and 12 formats in early 2009 3 The single s B side premiered three days prior to the single release on Stereogum and is a remix of the track done by English experimental duo Fuck Buttons the duo s maiden work as remixers 4 If I Had a Heart Single by Fever Rayfrom the album Fever RayReleased15 December 2008Length3 50LabelRabidSongwriter s Fever RayProducer s Fever Ray Christoffer BergFever Ray singles chronology If I Had a Heart 2008 When I Grow Up 2009 Music video If I Had a Heart on YouTube Contents 1 Background 2 Critical reception 3 In popular culture 4 Track listings 5 Nominations 6 Charts 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditThe song takes on a generally unconventional dark and experimental style with its slow tempo organ backing repetitive synth beat and distinct vocals Dreijer teamed up with long term production partner Christoffer Berg well known for his work with The Knife for the production of If I Had a Heart The single like the rest of the tracks on Fever Ray was written by Dreijer themself The lyrics were inspired by observation of their young children a motif evident in the lyrics Dangling feet from window frame Will they ever ever reach the floor More give me more give me more 5 Also featured on the single is a remix by Stockholm based techno electropop artist Familjen 4 In a Q amp A Dreijer stated that they achieved the pulsating production in the song by sampling an acoustic guitar recording to make a loop 6 The official video directed by Andreas Nilsson was nominated for Best Indie Alternative at the 2009 UK Music Video Awards 7 8 Critical reception EditThe single received universal acclaim from various music critics Daily Music Guide likened the track to scenes from a film Jim Jarmusch would make as well as to the Francis Ford Coppola film Apocalypse Now 1979 Their review went on to describe the song as dark and hypnotic and taking an echo of a Native American cry but still maintaining the song s dark undertone 9 Mark Pytlik of Pitchfork Media reviewed it as a shivering timely meditation on greed immorality and lust for power that dovetails nicely with AIG and Madoff 10 Anthony Balderrama from Consequence of Sound positively opined that the most notable quality of If I Had a Heart is its similarity to some of the quieter tracks on Silent Shout particularly From Off to On whilst describing it as a four minute dirge that bemoans inadequacy as much as it professes love 11 PopMatters s Ian Mathers ranked If I Had a Heart among Ray s best work boasting it as marrying her more introspective side with something like the withdrawn inverse of Silent Shout s low twinkling throb 12 Graeme Thomson of The Observer labelled the track as an ancient shamanic chant piped through an iPhone 13 In October 2011 NME placed it at number 145 on its list 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years 14 In popular culture Edit If I Had a Heart is featured in the opening credits sequence of the television series Vikings 2013 The song has also been used in episodes of Breaking Bad Dark Misfits Person of Interest The Following The Originals Longmire Wentworth Born to Kill Black Sails Chilling Adventures of Sabrina The Originals and What If It has also been featured in the films Horns 2013 15 Laurence Anyways 2012 and the short animation Dildoman of the erotic anthology Dirty Diaries 2009 It also appears in the African Kingdoms expansion for Age of Empires II HD Edition and Need for Speed The Run s Buried Alive Trailer citation needed The song was covered by Florence and The Machine during the band s Lungs Tour Track listings EditiTunes EP If I Had a Heart 3 48 If I Had a Heart Familjen Remix 3 54 If I Had a Heart Fuck Buttons Remix 8 26Swedish promo CD single If I Had a Heart 3 50Swedish 12 singleA If I Had a Heart Fuck Buttons Remix 8 26 B If I Had a Heart Familjen Remix 3 54UK 7 singleA If I Had a Heart Original Version 3 50 B If I Had a Heart Fuck Buttons Remix 8 26Nominations EditYear Category Genre Recording ResultUK Music Video Awards2009 Best Indie Alternative Music Video If I Had a Heart NominatedCharts EditChart 2015 PeakpositionBelgium Back Catalogue Singles Ultratop Wallonia 16 41References Edit If I Had A Heart Single by Fever Ray UK iTunes Store Apple Inc Retrieved 22 August 2010 If I Had a Heart EP by Fever Ray UK iTunes Store Apple Inc Retrieved 22 August 2010 Fever Ray If I Had A Heart at Discogs Discogs Retrieved 21 November 2009 a b If I Had a Heart Remix News feverray com Retrieved 21 November 2009 dead link Fever Ray Biography feverray com Retrieved 21 November 2009 feverray 17 January 2018 it s an acoustic guitar i recorded sampled and made a loop from Tweet via Twitter If I Had a Heart on YouTube UK Music Video Awards 2009 here are the nominations promonews tv Retrieved 7 January 2019 Fever Ray If I Had A Heart Rabid Records Daily Music Guide Retrieved 21 November 2009 Pytlik Mark 20 March 2009 Fever Ray Fever Ray Pitchfork Media Retrieved 21 November 2009 Balderrama Anthony 20 January 2009 Album Review Fever Ray Fever Ray Consequence of Sound Retrieved 21 November 2009 Mathers Ian 26 March 2009 Fever Ray Fever Ray PopMatters Retrieved 21 November 2009 Thomson Graeme 15 March 2009 Electronic review Fever Ray Fever Ray The Observer guardian co uk Retrieved 21 November 2009 150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years NME COM Soundtracks of Horns Retrieved 11 October 2014 Fever Ray If I Had a Heart Ultratop Hung Medien Retrieved 5 March 2018 External links EditIf I Had a Heart Fever Ray YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title If I Had a Heart amp oldid 1148945859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
