Symphonies (song)

"Symphonies"
Single by Dan Black
from the album UN
Released 2009
Recorded 2008
Genre Alternative dance, hip hop, electronica
Length 3:41
Label
Writer(s) Dan Black
Producer(s) Dan Black
Dan Black singles chronology
"Yours"
(2008)		 "Symphonies"
(2009)		 "U + Me ="
(2009)
Remix EP cover
Cover for the remix EP, featuring Kid Cudi.

"Symphonies" is a song by British wonky pop musician Dan Black, released as the first single from his 2009 debut album UN.

Evolving from his previous single "HYPNTZ", the track was written, composed, and produced by Black himself. It is an alternative dance track that features prominent use of sampling from other artists such as the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Rihanna.

The track was released as the U.S. iTunes "Single of the Week" for the week of December 28, 2009, and the video was released on iTunes for free for the week of March 15, 2010. A remix of the song was recorded with Kid Cudi, and was released as a bonus track in the United States.

The track has also been used in the "A More Exciting Place to Live" ad campaign by Virgin Media in the UK. It was also used in 2010 comedy film Easy A and used on the NBA 2K11 soundtrack.

Conception and production

In 2008, Black originally recorded a song called "HYPNTZ", which interpolated lyrics from The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize" and sampled the drum beat from Rihanna's "Umbrella".[1] However, the night before the video was shot, Wallace's estate informed Black of its objection to the song. Black reworked new lyrics for the song and added vocals, retitling it "Symphonies".

The track prominently samples the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra's cover of the main theme from the film Starman written by Jack Nitzsche. The sample appears throughout the track, mainly during the chorus.

An instrumental version of the track currently features on a Virgin Media advertisement. The remixed version of the song with Kid Cudi has also been used in 2K Sports video game, NBA 2K11.

Music video

The song's music video features many fictional movie trailers, with each movie's title being the line of the song that is said while the trailer is shown.

The video was nominated for Best Special Effects in a Video and Breakthrough Video at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost in both categories.

Track listing

CD single

  1. "Symphonies" - 3:43

7" Single[2]

A. "Symphonies" - 3:43
B. "Symphonies" (Passion Pit Remix) – 4:24

Limited Edition 12" Single[3]

A1. "Symphonies" (Passion Pit Remix) – 4:24
A2. "Symphonies" (Hot City Remix) – 5:16
B. "Symphonies" (Duff Disco Remix) - 6:03

United Kingdom Remix EP[4]

  1. "Symphonies" (Passion Pit Remix) – 4:24
  2. "Symphonies" (Hot City Remix) – 5:16
  3. "Symphonies" (David E Sugar Remix) - 5:50
  4. "Symphonies" (Duff Disco Remix) - 6:03

United States Remix EP

  1. "Symphonies" - 3:39
  2. "Symphonies" (featuring Kid Cudi) - 3:46
  3. "Symphonies" (Chris Lake Remix) (featuring Kid Cudi) - 6:44
  4. "Symphonies" (Dada Life Remix) (featuring Kid Cudi) - 4:24
  5. "Symphonies" (Gigi Barocco Remix) (featuring Kid Cudi) - 4:42
  6. "Symphonies" (Passion Pit Remix) - 4:22

Chart positions

Chart (2010) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Alternative Songs 34

References

  1. ↑ Jeffries, David. "Dan Black: Biography". Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Symphonies - 7"". Discogs, A&M Records, Polydor Ltd. (UK). Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Symphonies - 12"". Discogs, A&M Records, Polydor Ltd. (UK). Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Symphonies - EP". iTunes, Apple Inc., Polydor Ltd. (UK). Retrieved April 9, 2015.
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