Don't Miss It

"Don't Miss It" is a song by English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter James Blake from his fourth album, Assume Form.[1] It was written by Blake and produced alongside Dominic Maker of electronic music duo Mount Kimbie and Dan Foat.[2] A lyric video was released on 24 May 2018, having been premiered that day on an episode of his BBC Radio 1 residency.[3] However, it was only released as single by Polydor Records on 4 June of that year.[4] It is a piano ballad with additional drums accompanied by Blake's auto-tuned vocals.

"Don't Miss It"
Single by James Blake
from the album Assume Form
Released4 June 2018 (2018-06-04)
Genreexperimental pop
Length4:54
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)James Blake
Producer(s)
James Blake singles chronology
"If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead"
(2018)		 "Don't Miss It"
(2018)		 "Mile High"
(2019)

The song received acclaim from music critics, however, a mixed review by Pitchfork, which labelled the track as "sad boy music" was met with a critical response from Blake, who deemed the expression "unhealthy and problematic when used to describe men just openly talking about their feelings."[5]

Composition

"Don't Miss It" is a piano ballad composed in the key of E major with a tempo of 70 beats per minute while Blake's vocals span a range of G#3 to F#5.[6][7][8] The song is centered around a piano part and places a focus on Blake's auto-tuned and glitching vocals. Programmed and live drums, tape hiss and operatic samples are added and removed throughout the track.[9][10] Lyrically, the song is about how tempting it is to disappear.[11] Olivia Ovenden of Esquire noted that the track was similar to Blake's song "Retrograde" and deemed the song's lyrics "particularly angsty even for Blake".[12]

Critical reception

"Don't Miss It" received acclaim from music critics. Cerys Kenneally of The Line Of Best Fit wrote that the song "continues to encapsulate his raw talent" and added that "Blake has undoubtedly exceeded himself in terms of finding his signature sound."[13] Variance's Tyler Schmitt called the song "stunning", writing "if you're in need of a good playlist, we've got you covered. It's just James Blake's new song on repeat."[14] Philip Cosores, writing for Uproxx, featured the song on his "Best New Indie Music From This Week" list, writing "the tracks [sic] is another example of Blake turning his emotional vulnerability into a fine piece of art."[15] Hypebeast's Davis Huynh featured the track on his "Best New Tracks" list, writing "it does appear that James Blake is getting back into the groove of releasing new tracks – which is always a good thing."[16] Vulture placed the song on their "6 Best New Songs of the Week" list, calling the song "the saddest computer music that could possibly exist" and described the track as "initially unsettling, but then it all crystallizes."[17] Complex named it one of the best songs of the month of May, calling it "a gorgeous, haunting song."[18] Harriet Gibsone of The Guardian deemed the track one of the best of 2018.[19]

Pitchfork review and "sad boy" comment

In a mixed review for Pitchfork, Kevin Lozano wrote that "'Don't Miss It,' is another beautifully brutal song to add to Blake's large catalog of sumptuous sad boy music", adding that "while it's hard to deny the prettiness of Blake's music, the mopeyness of it all is starting to feel cloistered. Maybe he needs a night out."[20] The music magazine also tweeted "Yes, James Blake is still sad", to which Blake replied "Case in point".[21] Blake later posted a letter on Twitter, writing "I can’t help but notice, as I do whenever I talk about my feelings in a song, that the words 'sad boy' are used to describe it. I've always found that expression to be unhealthy and problematic when used to describe men just openly talking about their feelings." He added that "we are already in an epidemic of male depression and suicide" and that "we don't need any further proof that we have hurt men with our questioning of their need to be vulnerable and open."[5] Various other artists came out in support of the singer, including Olly Alexander from British synth-pop band Years & Years and English singers Mabel and Anne-Marie.[22]

Personnel
  • James Blake – vocals, piano, production, co-mixing
  • Dominic Maker – co-production
  • Dan Foat – executive production
  • Nathan Boddy – co-mixing
  • Joshua Smith – recording engineering
  • John Armstrong – assistant recording engineering
  • Eric Eylands – assistant recording engineering

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[23] 39
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References
  1. Findlay, Mitch (3 January 2019). "James Blake Tracklist Leaks, Revealing Andre 3000 & Travis Scott Features". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  2. "Don't Miss It". Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  3. Wilson, Scott (25 May 2018). "James Blake shares new track, "Don't Miss It"". Fact. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  4. "Don't Miss It - Single by James Blake". Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  5. Young, Alex (27 May 2018). "James Blake rails against "sad boy" label: "I've always found that expression to be unhealthy and problematic"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  6. "James Blake "Don't Miss It" Sheet Music in E Major (transposable)". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  7. Arcand, Rob (24 May 2018). "James Blake – "Don't Miss It"". Spin. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  8. Johnson, Ellen (25 May 2018). "Don't Miss James Blake's Quietly Thrilling New Song "Don't Miss It"". Paste. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  9. D'Souza, Shaad (25 May 2018). "Listen to James Blake's Stunning New Song "Don't Miss It"". Noisey. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  10. Hunt, El (25 May 2018). "Listen to James Blake's new track 'Don't Miss It'". NME. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  11. Colburn, Randall (25 May 2018). "James Blake shares "Don't Miss It" featuring Mount Kimbie: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  12. Ovenden, Olivia (25 May 2018). "James Blake Is Here With A New Track To Brighten Up Your Bank Holiday Weekend". Esquire. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  13. Kenneally, Cerys (25 May 2018). "James Blake drops shiver worthy ballad "Don't Miss It"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  14. Schmitt, Tyler (24 May 2018). "James Blake Has Released a Stunning New Track Called 'Don't Miss It'". Variance. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  15. Cosores, Philip (28 May 2018). "All Of The Best New Indie Music From This Week". Uproxx. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  16. Huynh, David. "Best New Tracks: A$AP Rocky, James Blake, Pusha T, Tyler, the Creator and More". Hypebeast. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  17. "6 Best New Songs of the Week: Pusha-T, A$AP Rocky, J Balvin, James Blake". Vulture. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  18. "Pigeons & Planes' Best Songs of the Month - James Blake - "Don't Miss It"". Complex. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  19. "The best albums and tracks of 2018: how our writers voted". The Guardian. 21 December 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  20. Lozano, Kevin (25 May 2018). "James Blake - Don't Miss It". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  21. "Singer James Blake slams 'sad boy' label amid 'epidemic of male depression and suicide'". Sky News. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  22. Blake, Jimmy; Holden, Steve (26 May 2018). "Why James Blake isn't a 'sad boy'". BBC News. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  23. "James Blake Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
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