Shelter (Finneas song)

"Shelter" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas from his debut EP, Blood Harmony (2019). It was released by OYOY as the third single from the EP on August 22, 2019. A pop track, The song received mainly positive reviews from music critics, several of whom praised the music and lyrical content. A music video for the track was uploaded to Finneas' YouTube channel on September 30, 2019, and was directed by Sam Bennett. In it, Finneas stumbles as backup dancers shove him and toss him roughly. Finneas toured the United States throughout October 2019, with his tour including performances of the track.

"Shelter"
Single by Finneas
from the EP Blood Harmony
ReleasedAugust 22, 2019
Recorded2016
GenrePop
Length3:07
LabelOYOY
Songwriter(s)Finneas
Producer(s)Finneas
Finneas singles chronology
"I Lost a Friend"
(2019)		 "Shelter"
(2019)		 "I Don’t Miss You at All"
(2019)
Music video
"Shelter" on YouTube

Background and composition

"Shelter" was first written back in 2016.[1][2] Finneas had heard that Swedish musician Avicii, was looking for songs to produce. Finneas wrote the track and sent it to Avicii's team.[2] Finneas has confessed that he doesn't know if Avicii ever heard it.[2][1][3][4][5] "Shelter" was released as the third single on Finneas' debut EP Blood Harmony for digital download and streaming through his record label OYOY on August 22, 2019.[6] The track was written and produced by Finneas.[6] Critical commentary described the track as a pop-based track.[3][7] "Shelter" features Latin-based guitars, drum beats, gospel choir effect[s] during the chorus, reverb’d handclaps, bluesy vocal embellishment and rapid phrasing in the bridge.[3][8] Tosten Burks writing for Spin noted the track sounds like an Ed Sheeran song.[8] And further comments the song is built around some "urgent acoustic guitar strumming" and a "plucky melody" that is very similar to the marimba line in Sheeran's number one hit "Shape of You", and is set at a dance tempo.[8] Lyrically, the track is about a love for a girl that brings Finneas peace but has an undercurrent of trouble. "They call us lucky/But I think we might be cursed/'Cause the way you love me/I could drink the river dry, still die of thirst".[9] The mood for the track only gets more urgent as it continues. "Give me, give me shelter/From the storm/Give me, give me shelter/ Keep me warm/I don't wanna think about a life without you/I don't wanna go to war but I'm about to".[9]

Critical reception

"Shelter" received mainly positive reviews from music critics. Writing for Substream Magazine, Valerie Magan described the track as "vulnerable", "heartbreak-tinged" and "easygoing".[4] Ben Kay of Consequence of Sound noted that Shelter was "considerably brighter than the material he produces for his sister [Billie] [Eilish]".[3] Madeline Roth of MTV labeled the track as a "galvanic, acoustic guitar-driven number".[9] Will Richards of NME called the song "vibrant" and "huffling", while he mentions that it's "production saves its average lyrics".[7] Nicole Almeida of Atwood Magazine stated that with "Shelter" it "prolongs the theme of love, and is a high energy, radio-ready take on seeing someone as your safe haven", and calls the production on the song a "remarkable offering a fresh take on a pop anthem about being way too deep in love".[10]

Promotion

A music video for "Shelter" was directed by Sam Bennett and was uploaded to Finneas' official YouTube channel on September 30, 2019.[11] The video was directed by Sam Bennett and choreographed by Monika Felice Smith, while shot in one take.[12] It begins with Finneas frantically walking through the Los Angeles river as groups of dancers, wearing jeans and teal turtlenecks, try to interrupt his journey. “Gimme gimme shelter from the storm/Gimme gimme shelter keep me warm/Come kiss me by the delta where the river’s torn/ But I’ll be whole as long as I’m yours/ Yours,” Finneas cries as the dancers turn shove and toss him roughly around the riverbed.[13] Roth compared the visual to the 1978 film "Grease" and praised the choreography, which she described as "elaborate" and "impressive".[12] Finneas toured throughout the United States during October 2019, in support of Blood Harmony. "Shelter" was one of the tracks he performed from the EP during the tour.[5]

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 22, 2019 Digital download and streaming OYOY
[6]
gollark: Well, if you want some horrible "trusted fingerprint scanners" thing, then bee you and also someone will break it.
gollark: Unless you want some accursed DRM-type scheme.
gollark: That... is not meaningful?
gollark: Either your thing just uses the fingerprint to authenticate that you are X person (horrible privacy issue), or I can generate fake fingerprints rapidly.
gollark: No, I mean unless their system would allow that.

References
  1. Earls, John (August 23, 2019). "Listen to the catchy debut EP by Billie Eilish's brother, Finneas". NME. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  2. Rowley, Glenn (October 4, 2019). "Finneas Breaks Down His Striking Debut EP 'Blood Harmony': Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. Kaye, Ben (August 22, 2019). "Finneas announces debut EP, Blood Harmony, shares "Shelter": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  4. Magan, Valerie (August 22, 2019). "Finneas releases 'Shelter,' announces debut EP 'Blood Harmony'". Substream Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  5. Shaffer, Claire (August 22, 2019). "Finneas Previews Debut EP 'Blood Harmony' With New Song 'Shelter'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  6. "Shelter by Finneas on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  7. Richards, Will (October 2, 2019). "Finneas – 'Blood Harmony' EP review: the Billie Eilish producer strikes out alone". NME. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  8. Burks, Tosten (August 22, 2019). "Here's What Billie Eilish's Brother's Music Sounds Like". Spin. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  9. Roth, Madeline (August 22, 2019). "Finneas Rides A 'Feverish' Wave of Love on New Song 'Shelter'". MTV. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  10. Almeida, Nicole (October 4, 2019). "Review: Blood Harmony is Finneas' Immaculate First Step Into His Cinematic, Beautiful World". Atwood Magazine. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  11. Rowley, Glenn (September 30, 2019). "Finneas Unveils 'Shelter' Video After Making 'Saturday Night Live' Debut With Sis Billie Eilish: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  12. Roth, Madeline (September 30, 2019). "Finneas Follows Up SNL With His Trippy, One Take 'Shelter' Video". MTV. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  13. Nattress, Katrina (September 30, 2019). "Finneas Gives Us An Exclusive Behind The Scenes Look At His 'Shelter' Video". iHeartRadio. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
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