Power & Control

"Power & Control" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, professionally known as Marina and the Diamonds, from her second studio album, Electra Heart (2012). It was released on 20 July 2012 by 679 Artists and Atlantic Records as the second single from the record. Diamandis collaborated with former Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello while writing the track, and enlisted Greg Kurstin to oversee its production. An electropop and power pop track, "Power & Control" describes the struggle between romantic partners in achieving superiority in their relationship.

For the documentary on domestic violence, see Power and Control: Domestic Violence in America.

"Power & Control"
Single by Marina and the Diamonds
from the album Electra Heart
Released20 July 2012 (2012-07-20)
Genre
Length3:46
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Greg Kurstin
Marina and the Diamonds singles chronology
"Primadonna"
(2012)		 "Power & Control"
(2012)		 "How to Be a Heartbreaker"
(2013)
Music video
"Power & Control" on YouTube

"Power & Control" was hailed by contemporary music critics as a stand-out track from Electra Heart. However, the song peaked at number 193 on the UK Singles Chart, and failed to impact additional record charts internationally. An accompanying music video for "Power & Control" was directed by Casper Balslev and released on 30 May 2012. Its simplistic concept received generally favourable reviews from critics.

Background and composition

In June 2012, it was announced that "Power & Control" would be released as the second single from Diamandis' second studio album Electra Heart (2012).[1] It followed the lead single "Primadonna", which was premiered on 13 March 2012.[2] "Power & Control" was written by Diamandis and former Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello; it was produced by Greg Kurstin at Echo Studio in Los Angeles, California and was later mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Jessie Shatkin, John Hanes, and Kurstin handled the engineering of the track, while the latter was additionally responsible for the programming and played the keyboards, guitar, and bass. Tim Roberts and Phil Seaford are credited with assisting throughout the process.[3]

According to Diamandis, "Power & Control" details "the power struggle in relationships [where] there's always one person who wants the upper hand." It draws stylistic inspiration from "spacey synths and barely-there beats with a haunting chorus", which struck Robert Copsey from Digital Spy as a stark contrast from the musical elements showcased in "Primadonna".[4] Noted for its prominent experimentation with electropop and power pop styles,[5][6] the track has received comparisons to the catalogs of Swedish group ABBA and American recording artist Lady Gaga.[7][5] Diamandis' vocal delivery is treated with a "layered" effect throughout "Power & Control", and is complemented by its subtle "hammering beats", "dance floor pulsations", and piano instrumentation.[6]

Reception

"Power & Control" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Surprised by the relatively lackluster reviews Electra Heart received upon its release, Rich Juzwiak from Gawker recognized "Power & Control" as a highlight from its parent record; he felt that the exaggerated pronunciation of the word "make" in the refrain provided the track with "at least half of its hookiness", and praised the line "you may be good looking but you're not a piece of art" as "the best take-down I've heard in a pop song all year."[7] Josh Webb from WhatCulture simply opined that the song was "amazing", and focused less on the "deep psychological messages being conveyed" and more on his appreciation for "good pop music."[8]

Writing for MuuMuse, Bradley Stern classified the song as "a personal favorite from the album", and spoke favorably of its "surging chorus" that felt "ready to split at the seams at any second."[6] Robert Copsey from Digital Spy gave the track three out of five stars; he jokingly noted that Diamandis comes across as the dominant person in a relationship, citing the "anguish" in her vocals as an indication that "this man doesn't stand a chance."[9] However, Ben Hewitt from NME was disappointed by "Power & Control"; he felt that its production was "anaemic" and "piss-weak", and criticized the lyrics "Women and men we are the same / But love will always be a game" for sounding like an excerpt from a self-help book.[5] In 2012, the track was nominated for the Popjustice £20 Music Prize, although it lost to "Jealousy" by Will Young.[10]

"Power & Control" debuted at number 193 on the UK Singles Chart; it underperformed by comparison with "Primadonna", which peaked at number 11 in the United Kingdom.[11]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Power & Control" was directed by Casper Balslev;[12] it was released on 30 May 2012 as the sixth installment of her eleven-part "The Archetypes" video series.[13] A blue tint is applied throughout the clip;[8] it takes place in an empty mansion, presumably the same location where the music video for "Primadonna" was filmed.[14] A blonde Diamandis is seen engaging in a series of mind games with her romantic interest.[14] Rich Juzwiak from Gawker appreciated a reference to the music video for "Freedom! '90" by George Michael, which he complimented as "a nice touch".[7] Bradley Stern from MuuMuse stated that the clip was "absolutely gorgeous" despite its simplistic concept; he enjoyed the appearance of a Newton's cradle in the beginning of the video, and felt that it represented the lyrics "you can't have peace without a war" by exemplifying that the concept that "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction".[15] Writing for WhatCulture, Josh Webb thought that it was interesting to see an "understated" Diamandis in the clip, and stated that the overall product was an "aesthetically very pleasing" visual.[8] Referencing the emptiness of the mansion, Eliot Glazer from Vulture jokingly offered to "suggest an interior decorator".[16]

Track listing
"Power & Control" – Remix EP[17]
No.TitleLength
1."Power & Control" (Michael Woods Remix)6:38
2."Power & Control" (Eliphino Remix)4:42
3."Power & Control" (Brackles – Drum and Squares Remix)4:26
4."Power & Control" (Krystal Klear Remix)3:54
5."Power & Control" (Brackles – Dub Mix)4:49
Total length:24:29

Credits and personnel

Song credits

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Electra Heart.[3]

Recording
Personnel
  • Marina Diamandis – songwriter
  • Steve Angello – songwriter
  • Greg Kurstin – keyboards, programming, guitar, bass, engineering, producer
  • Jessie Shatkin – engineering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • John Hanes – engineering
  • Tim Roberts – assisting
  • Phil Seaford – assisting

Video credits

Credits adapted from Balslev's website.[12]

  • Casper Balslev – director
  • Natricia Bernard – choreographer
  • Will Bex – DP
  • Mark Connell – art director
  • Celestine Cooney – stylist
  • Darren Evans – hair
  • Jason Ewart – Steadicam op
  • Jen Farrell – production manager
  • Love – production company
  • Lasse Marcussen – grade
  • Nathan Matthews – gaffe
  • Paul McKee – executive producer
  • Alan Parks – commissioner
  • Niamh Quinn – make-up
  • Sarah Rollason – focus puller
  • James Rose – editor
  • Rachel Rumbold – producer
  • Lucy Sanderson – set dresser
  • Regina Sinatra – set dresser
  • Stephanie Zari – Ist AD

Charts
Chart (2012) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart (Official Charts Company)[11] 193

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
United Kingdom 20 July 2012 (2012-07-20) Digital download – remix EP
[17]
gollark: Ban C programmers?
gollark: I don't think you underßtand what ”justify” means.
gollark: What about against, say, China's CCP?
gollark: See, generally I am against that.
gollark: I don't like the rest of it either. Except for the "libertarian" and "democratic" bits.

References
  1. Bustos, Kristina (1 June 2012). "Marina and the Diamonds releases 'Power & Control' music video - watch". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  2. "Marina And The Diamonds debut new single 'Primadonna' online – listen". NME. IPC Media. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  3. Electra Heart (Media notes). Marina and the Diamonds. 679 Artists. Atlantic Records. 2012. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Copsey, Robert (26 June 2012). "Marina and the Diamonds: 'Power & Control' - Single review". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  5. "Marina And The Diamonds - 'Power & Control'". NME. IPC Media. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  6. Stern, Bradley (30 April 2012). "Marina And The Diamonds: Electra Heart (Album Review)". MuuMuse. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  7. Juzwiak, Rich (11 June 2012). "Today's Song: Marina & the Diamonds 'Power & Control'". Gawker. Gawker Media. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  8. Webb, Josh (15 June 2012). "Marina and the Diamonds – Power & Control: Music Video Review". WhatCulture. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  9. Copsey, Robert (26 June 2012). "Marina and the Diamonds: 'Power & Control' - Single review". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  10. "The 2013 Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize". Popjustice. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  11. "Chart Log UK: New Entries Update". Zobbel. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  12. "Music Video". CasperBalslev.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  13. "Part 6: ♡ "Power & Control" ♡". YouTube. Google. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  14. Bain, Becky (31 May 2012). "Marina And The Diamonds' "Power & Control" Video: Watch". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  15. Stern, Bradley (31 May 2012). "Marina And The Diamonds Premieres Video for "Power & Control"". MuuMuse. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  16. Glazer, Eliot (4 June 2012). "Watch a New Music Video From Marina and the Diamonds, 'Power and Control'". Vulture. New York Media. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  17. "iTunes - Music - Power & Control (Remix Bundle) - EP by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2014.

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