Latch (song)
"Latch" is a song by English electronic music duo Disclosure, featuring vocals from English singer Sam Smith. It was released as a digital download on 8 October 2012, by PMR Records. The lead single from their debut studio album, Settle (2013), the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 26 and peaked at number 11.[1] In the United States, "Latch" was a sleeper hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 2014.[2]
"Latch" | ||||
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Single by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith | ||||
from the album Settle | ||||
B-side | T. Williams club edit (12") | |||
Released | 8 October 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:16 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Disclosure | |||
Disclosure singles chronology | ||||
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Sam Smith singles chronology | ||||
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Background and composition
Originally, Disclosure thought that "Latch" was "too weird for the radio and not clubby enough for the clubs" because of its time signature. The band stated: "It's in 6/8 time — not even 4/4, the more commonly used time signature for house music." When first hearing Sam Smith's voice, Disclosure thought they were a woman and later were "amazed" that they were not.[3]
Howard has stated that Disclosure is "trying to bring some soul into the songwriting... using jazz chords and interesting melodies instead of boring, stabby EDM triads."[4] According to the sheet music published at MusicNotes.com, "Latch" is composed in the key of F minor with a tempo of 122 beats per minute.[5]
Critical reception
Michael Cragg of The Guardian wrote of the song: "it's a slowly unravelling ode to the thrill of wanting to figuratively (and possibly literally) latch on to someone else."[6] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times viewed the track as one of the duo's "least characteristic" songs, describing it as "less relaxed, more ambitious, more blatantly pop-oriented, with full-bodied vocals".[7] Jamieson Cox lauded the song in The Verge: "Latch" is a "song that remains this decade’s prototypical piece of dance-pop. There’s no such thing as a perfect song, but 'Latch' comes close: it’s economic, beguiling, and precise."[8]
Commercial performance
On 10 October 2012, Greg James announced that "Latch" was at number 39 on The Official Chart Update,[9] officially entering the UK Singles Chart at number 26 on 14 October 2012, climbing 13 places during the course of the week. In its second week, the song climbed nine places to number 17 and in its third climbed five places to number 12; it eventually peaked at number 11 in its fourth week. The song spent a total of 15 weeks within the top 40 and 32 weeks within the top 75. The song has sold over 600,000 copies in the UK alone, with it being certified Platinum by the BPI. This puts "Latch" among the best-selling singles to not reach the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. The single was also certified Gold by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.[10]
In 2014, "Latch" became a sleeper hit in the United States. The song was released as their debut single in the United States on 4 February 2014.[11] On the chart dated 2 August, it topped the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart during its forty-seventh week on the chart, marking the longest trip to the summit of that chart (where it remained through the chart dated 30 August). Having sold 990,000 units at the mid-way point of 2014, "Latch" reigned as one of the top-selling Dance/Electronic Songs according to Nielsen SoundScan.[12] The song became a contemporary hit radio crossover-hit. It was the duo's first, and Smith's second, top 10 single at pop, adult pop, rhythmic, urban and urban AC radio in the US, peaking at numbers three, 10, three and nine respectively. On the chart dated 9 August, "Latch" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Music video
A music video to accompany the release of "Latch" was first released onto YouTube on 9 October 2012, with a run time of 04:17.[13] The video short was directed by Ross McDowell and Ben Murray of London's Bullion Collective and features scenes of several couples flirting and embracing.[14][15] One of the couples is home inside an apartment, another meet in a crowded elevator and begin to kiss once the others on the elevator have left and the third couple is two young women who meet in a bar. Sam Smith does not appear in the video. As of July 2020, the video has more than 325 million views on YouTube.
Track listings
- Digital download[16]
- "Latch" (featuring Sam Smith) – 4:16
- Digital remixes[17]
- "Latch" (T. Williams club remix) – 4:07
- "Latch" (Jamie Jones remix) – 6:31
- Vinyl[18]
- "Latch" (featuring Sam Smith) – 4:16
- "Latch" (T. Williams club edit) – 4:07
- "Latch" (acoustic) – 3:43
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
Certifications and sales
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Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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United Kingdom | 8 October 2012[79] | Digital download | PMR |
United States | 4 February 2014[11] | Mainstream radio |
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11 March 2014[80] | Rhythmic contemporary |
References
- "Watch: Disclosure Reveal New Video For ‘Latch’", This Is Fake DIY, 9 October 2012, retrieved 30 October 2012
- "Disclosure Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- Weiss, Jeff (30 June 2014). "Disclosure on Songwriting & More: 'We Thought 'Latch' Was Too Weird for the Radio'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- Wete, Brad (27 June 2014). "Disclosure's Billboard Cover: 5 Things We Learned About the UK Dance Duo". Billboard.
- Disclosure "Latch" Sheet Music. musicnotes.com
- Michael Cragg. "New music: Disclosure – Latch – Music – guardian.co.uk". the Guardian.
- Caramanica, Jon (2012) "Nostalgic Sounds Dating to the Early 21st Century", The New York Times, 25 October 2012, retrieved 30 October 2012
- Cox, Jamieson (23 September 2015). "On Caracal, Disclosure are starting to leave dance music behind". The Verge.
- "Swedish House Mafia ahead of Adele in midweek chart – Music News – Digital Spy". Digital Spy.
- "Italian single certifications" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
- "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
- "Daft Punk, DJ Snake & Lil Jon Lead Mid-Year SoundScan Dance/Electronic Charts". Billboard.
- "Disclosure – Latch feat. Sam Smith (Official Video)". YouTube.
- Eaton, James (2012) "Video: Disclosure "Latch (feat. Sam Smith)"", XLR8R, 9 October 2012, retrieved 30 October 2012
- Murray, Robin (2012) "Disclosure – Latch", Clash, 10 October 2012, retrieved 30 October 2012
- "iTunes – Music – Latch (feat. Sam Smith) – Single by Disclosure". itunes.apple.com.
- "iTunes – Music – Latch (The Remixes) by Disclosure". itunes.apple.com.
- "Latch [VINYL]: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk.
- "iTunes – Music – In the Lonely Hour (Deluxe Edition) by Sam Smith". itunes.apple.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015.
- "Australian-charts.com – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "ARIA Dance Singles Chart – 06/10/14". ARIA Charts. 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in French). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201435 into search. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201433 into search. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Danishcharts.com – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch". Tracklisten. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Lescharts.com – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- "Irish-charts.com – Discography Disclosure". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- "Mexico Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Charts.nz – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201440 into search. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201428 into search. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Disclosure Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "End of Year Charts – Top 50 Dance Singles 2012". ARIA. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- "Jaaroverzichten 2012: Dance". Ultratop (NL). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "End of Year 2012" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- "Jaaroverzichten 2013: Dance". Ultratop (NL). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Dance/Electronic Songs: 2013 Year-end charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Classement Singles – année 2014" (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Årslista Singlar – År 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Dance/Electronic Songs: 2014 Year-end charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Pop Songs Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Rhythmic Songs Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- "Decade-End Charts: Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (2013-ON)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Canadian single certifications – Disclosure – Latch". Music Canada. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- "Certificeringer - Sam Smith "Latch (Acoustic)"" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Italian single certifications – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 21 May 2018. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Latch" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
- "New Zealand single certifications – Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- "Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- "British single certifications – Disclosure – Latch". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 September 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Latch in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- "American single certifications – Disclosure – Latch". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 21 September 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- "Certificeringer – Disclosure – Latch". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- "iTunes – Music – Latch (feat. Sam Smith) – Single by Disclosure".
- "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 13 February 2014.