Supercut (song)

"Supercut" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde from her second album, Melodrama (2017). Lorde co-wrote the track with Jack Antonoff, both of whom also co-produced it with Joel Little, with additional production from Frank Dukes, Jean-Benoît Dunckel and Malay. "Supercut" is a synth-pop track that features elements of dance, electro house, electronica and new wave music, and interpolates the piano melody from her 2017 single, "Green Light".[1] Its name, supercut, is a word coined by Andy Baio and is defined as a compilation of short video clips of the same type of action.

This article is about the Lorde song. For the definition, see Supercut.

"Supercut"
El-P remix artwork
Song by Lorde
from the album Melodrama
Studio
Genre
Length4:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Melodrama track listing
12 tracks
  1. "Green Light"
  2. "Sober"
  3. "Homemade Dynamite"
  4. "The Louvre"
  5. "Liability
  6. "Hard Feelings/Loveless"
  7. "Sober II (Melodrama)
  8. "Writer in the Dark"
  9. "Supercut"
  10. "Liability (Reprise)"
  11. "Perfect Places"
Japan bonus track
  1. "Green Light" (Chromeo remix)
Spotify bonus track
  1. "Homemade Dynamite" (Remix)

Inspired by the heartbreak she felt after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend James Lowe, the lyrics are about Lorde reviewing her most joyful memories from a previous relationship and realizing the illusion is no longer present. Music critics praised the song, with many comparing Lorde's vocals to those of Swedish singer Robyn. "Supercut" was included in the official soundtrack of the video game FIFA 18. Lorde performed the song at the German radio station 1Live, and it was one of six songs used as part of a re-imagined Vevo series at the Electric Lady Studios, where she recorded most of her album. "Supercut" was also part of the set list for the Melodrama World Tour (2017–2018).

Background

In an interview with The Spinoff, Lorde recalled leaving a party late at night and driving around Auckland in a taxi listening to Paul Simon's Graceland (1986).[2] While driving, she heard "crazy beats" leaking onto the street. She wanted to feel as if one was "dancing through the walls of a party".[2] Once Lorde finished recording the track, she played it as she left gastro pub The Spotted Pig after midnight and felt the way she used to feel when she made music as a younger person.[2] She harboured an emotional reaction as she was relieved to express her emotions for the first time. She also said the track is one of two songs on the album where she speaks directly to someone. Most of the song was constructed using drums and then "filled in the blanks" with the piano.[2] Lorde said "Supercut" was a "sister song" to "Ribs" from her album Pure Heroine (2013).

Recording and composition
Jack Antonoff (pictured in 2012) co-wrote and co-produced "Supercut".

Lorde recorded "Supercut" in three locations around the United States. She began recording at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, New York City, with assistance from Barry McCready and Jack Antonoff. Antonoff also worked with Lorde at Rough Customer Studio in Brooklyn Heights, New York. Recording concluded at Weslake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with assistance from Ben Sedano and Greg Eliason. Serban Ghenea mixed the song at MixStar Studios with assistance from engineer John Hanes. The track was mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound in New York. Other personnel include Joel Little, as well as Frank Dukes, Jean-Benoît Dunckel, Malay, who provided additional production to the song.[3]

"Supercut" is composed in the key of C Major with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. Lorde's vocals span a range of A3 to E5 and its chord progression follows a basic sequence of C–Fsus2–Am-F.[4] It is a synth-pop and electropop song,[5] which has influences of other genres such as dance,[6] electro house,[7] electronica,[8] and new wave music.[9] According to Ava Muir of Exclaim, "Supercut" is driven by a "hauntingly infectious pulse".[10] Emily Reily from Paste called it a "fusion of ‘80s pop with an electro-house beat".[7] The track's lyrics revolve with remembering happy times from a previous relationship; the opening verse includes the line, "In my head, I play a supercut of us". In an analysis of the album, Lindsay Zoladz from The Ringer said the song is associated in popular culture with the "relationship’s 'perfect' moments captured in cropped, filtered Instagrams that we flick through after they [are] over".[11]

Reception

Critical response

"Supercut" received critical acclaim from music critics, with many calling it a stand-out track on Melodrama and praising its lyrical content.[12] Its production was compared to Swedish singer Robyn. Mike Neid from Idolator wrote that the track "[delivered] one of the most gracefully crafted lyrics on the album", and called it a "joyful release that offers a sliver of hope for new beginnings".[13] Writing for The Independent, Roisin O'Connor praised the song's unusual "quirks" in its production, which help "expose the inner workings of her music". O'Connor also said Lorde "respects pop for what it is and what it is capable of".[14] Chris Willman of Variety called it the album's "mini masterpiece" and the "late-arriving 11:00 number" as the album was sequenced in a theatrical format.[1]

The track appeared in several music critics' year-end lists. Stereogum placed the song at number two on their year-end list, calling the lyrics "genius, the music a propulsive mirage" and the overall effect "overwhelming and tingly".[15] Lindsay Zoladz from The Ringer also placed the song at number two on her list, describing it as "a precise distillation of the ways the internet shapes and warps how we experience life". Zoladz further called it a "great pop song in the spirit" of the Body Talk (2010) era of Robyn and felt "something liberating" about the track's conclusion.[16] NME included "Supercut" at number 29 on their year-end list,[17] while Vulture ranked it at number four on their year-end list. Dee Lockett from the publication stated that the track was a "misshapen puzzle whose beauty is greater for its flaws."[18]

Response from Baio

Andy Baio, the person who coined "the term", praised Lorde for using it in her song.[19] In an interview with Kaitlyn Tiffany from The Verge, Baio initially thought Lorde used the name in the song title without mentioning it in the lyrics when the album's track list was published in May 2017.[19] He later realized the term was used as the "central metaphor of the entire song" and praised her for understanding its meaning. Baio said the "elements of obsessiveness and comprehensiveness make [Lorde's memories] a supercut" and was pleased the word became part of the song's chorus. Ryan Gantz, writing for Vox, called it "fascinating how language chosen by some geeks to describe a new kind of expression can end up slowly saturating popular culture".[19]

Live performances and other usage
Norwegian pop punk quartet Sløtface (pictured) performed a rendition of "Supercut" on radio station Triple J

Lorde first performed "Supercut", along with two other tracks, at the Bowery Auditorium in New York City on the night of the singer's Melodrama album release party.[20] She also performed the track on 1Live, which was described as "breathtaking" and emotional.[21] "Supercut" was one of six songs Lorde performed as part of a re-imagined Vevo series at the Electric Lady Studios where she recorded most of her album.[22] For the Melodrama World Tour (2017–18), Lorde performed "Supercut" after her last costume change and a video interlude.[23] It was the first track she performed from the "prelude [of] the show's third and final part", which was composed of five songs.[24] The performance was accompanied by "subtle keyboards and shimmering synths" throughout its production.[25]

Norwegian pop punk band Sløtface covered the song at Australian radio station Triple J; Consequence of Sound described the cover as "cleaned up from the dance floor while forfeiting none of its emotional core". Sløtface's cover replaces the electronics of the production with a "reverberating guitar".[26] Lorde responded to the group's cover, calling it "rad".[27] It was included in the official soundtrack for the video game FIFA 18; NME described the track as "the one" and called it one of the soundtrack's "killer tunes".[28] The song was also featured in the soundtrack for the 2019 Netflix film Someone Great; director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that "Supercut" was a source of inspiration while developing the film's screenplay. As a result, she wrote the song into the film's script before "any of the people in the movie existed".[29]

El-P remix

Lorde posted a tweet on 27 February 2018 that a "small surprise" would be sent to fans who subscribed to her newsletter. The following day, a remix of the song, produced by El-P of the hip hop group Run the Jewels, was sent exclusively via email. It was made available for free download to commemorate the arrival of her North American tour.[30] Stereogum's Claymore Tully noted that the remix's tempo slowed down which turned the "fairly upbeat, dance-ready track" into a "sludgy slow-burner".[31] According to Eric Skelton of Pigeons and Planes, it features "layers of synths, roaring bass, and two high-energy new verses" from Killer Mike and El-P.[30] The remix received positive reviews, with music critics praising the group for adding a darker melody to the original upbeat composition.[32]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Melodrama.[33]

Management

Personnel

Charts
gollark: <@!446550512641376267> help
gollark: Nonpurpulously, somehow.
gollark: Oh no. Esobot incurses.
gollark: To reduce the costs, we just smush two lower energy photons from a cheaper laser together into a new better one. Much easier.
gollark: Inevitably.

References
  1. Willman, Chris (15 June 2017). "Album Review: Lorde Acts Her Age on 'Melodrama'". Variety. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. Oliver, Henry (19 June 2017). "The Spinoff Exclusive: Lorde explains the backstory behind every song on her new album". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  3. Melodrama (CD). Lorde. United States: Lava/Republic Records. 2017. B0026615-02.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Lorde "Supercut" Sheet Music in C Major (transposable)". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  5. Cinquemani, Sal (15 June 2017). "Lorde: Melodrama". Slant. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
    Wood, Michael (16 June 2017). "Lorde is stronger than she seems on 'Melodrama'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
    Myers, Owen (16 June 2017). "In A World Of Playlists, Lorde's Melodrama Commands Your Attention". The Fader. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  6. Kot, Greg (16 June 2017). "Review: Lorde and the 'Melodrama' of innocence lost". The Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
    G. Damas, Aline (30 June 2017). "Lorde's Highly-Anticipated 'Melodrama' Encapsulates the Pangs of Love". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  7. Reily, Emily (26 June 2017). "Lorde: Melodrama Review". Paste. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  8. Marvilli, Joe (21 June 2017). "Lorde: Melodrama - Music Review". No Ripcord. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  9. Zaleski, Annie (22 June 2017). "Album review: Lorde's 'Melodrama' sounds maddeningly shapeless". Las Vegas Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  10. Muir, Ava (19 June 2017). "Lorde: Melodrama". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  11. Zoladz, Linsday (19 June 2017). "Lorde Works in Mysterious Ways". The Ringer. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  12. Guan, Frank (16 June 2017). "Here's Why Lorde's 'Supercut' Is Melodrama's Best Track". Vulture. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  13. Neid, Mike (16 June 2017). "Lorde's 'Melodrama': Album Review". Idolator. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  14. O'Connor, Roisin (16 June 2017). "Lorde, Melodrama, album review: Unconventional pop that still bangs". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  15. DeVille, Chris (14 December 2017). "The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2017". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  16. Zoladz, Lindsay (4 December 2017). "The Best Songs of 2017". The Ringer. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  17. NME Staff (27 November 2017). "NME's Tracks of The Year 2017". NME. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  18. Guan, Frank; Hockley-Smith, Sam; Lockett, Lee (5 December 2017). "The 10 Best Songs of 2017". Vulture. New York Magazine. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  19. Tiffany, Kaitlyn (16 June 2017). "Andy Baio on sort of, kind of inspiring a Lorde song". The Verge. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  20. Helman, Peter (17 June 2017). "Watch Lorde Sing "The Louvre," "Supercut," & "Writer In The Dark" Live For The First Time In NYC". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  21. Miller, Jordan (3 July 2017). "Lorde's Performance Of "Supercut" on 1LIVE Is Breathtaking". Breathe the Heavy. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  22. Legaspi, Althea (16 August 2017). "See Lorde's New Videos for Six Reimagined 'Melodrama' Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  23. Wright, Daniel (28 September 2017). "Lorde at Alexandra Palace, London, review: Artist performs her clever, danceable pop at a perfect live show". The Independent. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  24. Goggins, Joe (27 September 2017). "Broadcast the Boom: Lorde, Live in Manchester". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
    Tunmore, Ollie (2 October 2017). "Review: Lorde brings Melodrama world tour to the Brighton Centre". Brighton & Hove Independent. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  25. Pinder, Calum (26 September 2017). "Live Review: Lorde Reigns at Melodrama Tour". The Mancunion. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  26. Kaye, Ben (8 September 2017). "Sløtface cover Lorde's "Supercut" for triple j's Like a Version: Watch". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  27. Trendell, Andrew (9 September 2017). "Lorde responds to Sløtface's 'rad' cover of 'Supercut'". NME. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  28. Bartleet, Larry (14 September 2017). "FIFA 18: 10 killer tunes on the soundtrack". NME. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  29. X. Wang, Amy (23 April 2019). "Why 'Someone Great' Cast a Lorde Song Before Gina Rodriguez or Lakeith Stanfield". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  30. Skelton, Eric (28 February 2018). "Run The Jewels Give Lorde's "Supercut" a Thundering Facelift". Pigeons and Planes. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  31. Tully Claymore, Gabriela (28 February 2018). "Lorde – "Supercut (El-P Remix)" (Feat. Run The Jewels)". Stereogum. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  32. Manno, Lizzie (1 March 2018). "Listen to Run The Jewels' Remix of Lorde's "Supercut"". Paste. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
    "Lorde teams up with Run The Jewels for new 'Supecut' remix". DIY. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  33. Melodrama (CD). Lorde. United States: Lava/Republic Records. 2017. B0026615-02.CS1 maint: others (link)
  34. "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  35. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
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