Talk:Are You Serious (Andrew Bird album)

Latest comment: 8 years ago by Ackatsis in topic Left Handed Kisses

Left Handed Kisses

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Left Handed Kisses previously had an article, but it has been deleted. Nevertheless, I think some of this info is useful -- we might be able to work some of it into the album article. See below. Ackatsis (talk) 10:58, 28 July 2016 (UTC)Reply

"Left Handed Kisses" is a song by American singer and songwriter Andrew Bird, featuring vocals by Bird and Fiona Apple. It was released as the second single on the album Are You Serious on February 25, 2016.[1] It is the sixth song on the album, and the starting song on the B-side on vinyl.[2]

Production

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"Left Handed Kisses" is a "meta-love song duet"[3] about Bird's inability to write a simple love song.[4] Not believing in romantic fate, he challenged himself to write a love song from the perspective of a sceptic.[5][6] Bird considers the song a "short play"[5][6] in which he portrays a former version of himself.[7]

Bird has stated, "The song began as an internal dialogue. At first it was just my voice. Then another voice came creeping in and I thought 'this should be a duet if I can find the right person.'"[4] Fiona Apple was Bird's first choice to appear on the song, and he contacted her through mutual friends.[5][8] The recording session itself was "a long whiskey-fueled night."[9]

The music video for "Left Handed Kisses", directed by Phil Andelman, was released on March 14, 2016, and features Bird and Apple sitting by a window and singing to each other.[9]

Reception

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Stacey Anderson, writing for Pitchfork Media, described "Left Handed Kisses" as the album's most curious track, which "posits Bird as the jaded bard and Apple the sentimental muse, albeit one sapped by his cynicism."[10] Joe Lynch for Billboard called the song "an immaculately produced piece of chamber pop with meditative, meta lyrics."[11] Anna Alger, writing for Exclaim!, considered the song a highlight of the album, "tender yet full of attitude."[12] Philip Cosores of The AV Club was more critical, calling it "too loose of a collaboration to pan out beyond an intriguing concept."[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Andrew Bird - Left Handed Kisses (ft. Fiona Apple)". YouTube. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  2. ^ "Are You Serious - Deluxe LP / 7" (Blue & Red)". Kingsroadmerch.com. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  3. ^ Peter Helman (2016) "Andrew Bird – “Left Handed Kisses” (Feat. Fiona Apple) Video" Stereogum, 14 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b Matthew Strauss (2016) "Andrew Bird and Fiona Apple Join for "Left Handed Kisses"" Pitchfork Media, 26 February 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Erin Lyndal Martin (2016) "Andrew Bird gets confessional, at last: 'I really wanted to make a less whimsical, more visceral, grab-you-in-the-gut kind of record'" Salon, 2 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. ^ a b Mischa Pearlman (2016) "Andrew Bird: A seriously not so serious man" Noisey, 11 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. ^ Maggie Lange (2016) "An escape from brunch and misery with Andrew Bird" GQ, 29 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Andrew Bird Talks Collaborating With Fiona Apple And New Album ‘Are You Serious’" Music Feeds, 31 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b Matthew Strauss (2016) "Andrew Bird and Fiona Apple Join for "Left Handed Kisses"" Pitchfork Media, 26 February 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016. Cite error: The named reference "Pitchfork2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ Stacey Anderson (2016) "Andrew Bird: Are You Serious review" Pitchfork Media, 6 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  11. ^ Joe Lynch (2016) "Andrew Bird Duets With Fiona Apple on 'Left Handed Kisses'" 26 February 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  12. ^ Anna Alger (2016) "Andrew Bird: Are You Serious" Exclaim!, 30 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  13. ^ Philip Cosores (2016) "Andrew Bird takes no musical risks on Are You Serious" The AV Club, 1 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.