"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 Ray | ||||
| from the album Fever Ray | ||||
| Released | 15 December 2008 | |||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | Rabid | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Fever Ray | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Fever Ray singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "If I Had a Heart" on YouTube | ||||
Background
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&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]
Track listings
edit- iTunes 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) – 8:26
- Swedish promo CD single
- "If I Had a Heart" – 3:50
- Swedish 12" single
- A. "If I Had a Heart" (Fuck Buttons Remix) – 8:26
- B. "If I Had a Heart" (Familjen Remix) – 3:54
- UK 7" single
- A. "If I Had a Heart" (Original Version) – 3:50
- B. "If I Had a Heart" (Fuck Buttons Remix) – 8:26
Nominations
edit| Year | Category | Genre | Recording | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Music Video Awards | ||||
| 2009 | Best Indie/Alternative | Music Video | If I Had a Heart | Nominated |
Charts
edit| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium Back Catalogue Singles (Ultratop Wallonia)[15] | 41 |
References
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.[permanent dead link]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Fever Ray – If I Had a Heart". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 March 2018.