Dull Tool

"Dull Tool" is a song by American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, released on the soundtrack to the comedy film This Is 40 (2012).[1] It is the first track Apple wrote solely for a film.[2] "Dull Tool" was produced by Apple's long-time collaborator Jon Brion, and leaked online in November 2012, several weeks before the soundtrack hit stores on December 11.

"Dull Tool"
Song by Fiona Apple from the film This Is 40
Released	2012
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:22
Label	Capitol Records Universal Music
Songwriter(s)	Fiona Apple
Producer(s)	Jon Brion

Background and composition

Fiona Apple in 2012

American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple became involved with the comedy 2012 film This Is 40 after being sent a script by its writer and director, Judd Apatow. The two had met a few years previously during a benefit concert for a family clinic; Apatow was a self-described fan of her music. Some time after sending Apple the script,[3] film composer Jon Brion told Apatow that Apple had recorded a demo for the film. Apatow later commented in an interview with Pitchfork Media, "I didn't know she would write anything. The song was perfect, and I knew exactly where to put it."[3] He added that Apple had recorded a second song, but he could not find an appropriate place to insert it into the film; he called this song "equally as great as 'Dull Tool'. It was heartbreaking not to put it in, but I'm sure it'll reach people at some point. It's a beautiful song."[3] Brion, a long-time collaborator of Apple's,[4] produced "Dull Tool", as well as every other original song featured on the album.[5] The second song written by Apple for the film, "Cosmonauts", was also recorded with Jon Brion, but went unreleased at the time, eventually appearing in re-recorded form on Apple's acclaimed 2020 album, Fetch The Bolt Cutters.

Producer Jon Brion, 2004

"Dull Tool" has been perceived to reference a poorly-ended relationship,[6] in which Apple begins by discussing the game hide and seek and ends by "launching into a barrage of insults."[7] Lyrically, various music critics considered the "dense and fevered" song to be the "tortured antidote" or "painful sequel" to "Hot Knife", a song from Apple's 2012 album, The Idler Wheel....[6][7] Slate noted that the song included Apple's regular "fast-tumbling waltzes on the piano" as well as "an orchestra’s worth of mandolins, violins, electric guitars, and timpani."[7]

Release and reception

The song appears in This Is 40, but was not initially planned for inclusion in the film's soundtrack.[8][9] In October 2012, Pitchfork Media reported a supposed conflict between Apple and her record label, Epic Records. Apple had reportedly "lashed out at her label for pulling promotional support from her new album [The Idler Wheel...] in response to her placing a song on a soundtrack" that was being produced by two other music companies.[10] This led to speculation that Epic did not want the soundtrack to be released.[11] It leaked online in November 2012, several weeks before the soundtrack debuted in stores on December 11.[7][12]

In a review of the soundtrack, Rolling Stone called the song "sprightly but vicious",[13] while the Corpus Christi Caller-Times opined that the album was "smartly assembled" and Apple's song "convincingly echo[ed] domestic frustration".[14] Though Apple's music has been featured on other film soundtracks, "Dull Tool" marked the first time she could be eligible for an Academy Award.[2] The Huffington Post revealed that Universal had listed it among other pieces it submitted for consideration to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,[15] but it did not receive a nomination for Best Original Song.[16]

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "This Is 40 [Original Motion Soundtrack]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
2. "Fiona Apple's 'This Is 40' Song 'Dull Tool' Leaks". Rolling Stone. November 18, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
3. Fitzmaurice, Larry (December 11, 2012). "Interviews: Judd Apatow". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
4. Rosen, Christopher (October 22, 2012). "Fiona Apple & 'This Is 40': Original Song 'Dull Tool' Will Appear On Soundtrack". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
5. Davis, Edward (November 17, 2012). "Listen: Fiona Apple's "Dull Tool" From The 'This Is 40' Soundtrack; Paul Rudd Hearts Ween In New Poster". IndieWire. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
6. Golden, Zara (November 19, 2012). "Fiona Apple Digs In With "Dull Tool," Her New Song For Judd Apatow's This Is 40". VH1. Viacom. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
7. Wickman, Forrest (November 19, 2012). "Listen to a New Song From Fiona Apple". Slate. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
8. Battan, Carrie (October 23, 2012). "Fiona Apple Records Song for Judd Apatow Movie". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
9. Battan, Carrie (November 8, 2012). "Fiona Apple's Song for the Judd Apatow Movie This Is 40 Will Be Released After All". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
10. Battan, Carrie (October 24, 2012). "Did Fiona Apple's Label Epic Records Stop Her Judd Apatow Film Song From Being Released?". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
11. "Fiona Apple feuding with label over Apatow film song?". MSN. October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
12. Cruz, Araceli (November 19, 2012). "Fiona Apple's "Dull Tool" Leaks". Fuse. The Madison Square Garden Company. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
13. Rosen, Jody (December 11, 2012). "This Is 40 Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
14. De Leon, Jesse (January 25, 2013). "'This is 40' soundtrack signals middle age in style". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. The E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
15. Makarechi, Kia (November 18, 2012). "'Dull Tool': Fiona Apple's 'This Is 40' Song Arrives With Plenty Of Spunk". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
16. Dobbins, Amanda (January 10, 2013). "Turns Out the Academy Doesn't Like Cool Music". Vulture. New York Media. Retrieved February 1, 2013.