Sad Day (FKA Twigs song)

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"Sad Day"
Single by FKA Twigs
from the album Magdalene
Released4 November 2019 (2019-11-04)
GenreArt pop
Length4:16
LabelYoung Turks
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • FKA Twigs
  • Benny Blanco
  • Nicolas Jaar
  • Skrillex
FKA Twigs singles chronology
"Home with You"
(2019) 		"Sad Day"
(2019) 		"If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)"
(2020)

"Sad Day" (stylised in all lowercase) is a song by English singer FKA Twigs. Released on 9 November 2019 by Young Turks, it serves as the fourth and final single from Twigs' second studio album, Magdalene.[1] The song was written and produced by Twigs, Koreless, Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat, Nicolas Jaar, Skrillex and Noah Goldstein.

Composition[edit]

"Sad Day" is a slow art pop track with elements from electronic, pop, R&B, and industrial music.[2][3][4] The lyrics of the song are about Twigs calling for her lover as he moves further away.[2][3] Stacey Anderson of Pitchfork wrote that, on the song, "twigs’ eyes are open and her heart is tired."[2] Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein wrote that the song "finds Twigs caught in the throes of unrequited love, deep passion and heartbreak."[5] Musically, Twigs' vocals on the song are distorted, and the production was described as "shift[ing] between an atmospheric synthscape and industrial stomp," with digital effects that "suggest insistent rain, and a sly, scratchy bass drop [that] pierces the optimistic haze."[2][5] Charlotte Krol of NME called it an "enciting," and "jittering, intimate track."[6] In an interview with Beats 1, Twigs revealed that she considers the bridge on "Sad Day" to be the most emotional part of Magdalene for her.[7]

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for "Sad Day" was released on August 28, 2020. The video, which is more than 6 minutes long, was called a short film and was directed by Hiro Murai.[8][9] In a press statement, Twigs revealed that the video was the culmination of all of her training and dancing, and that she had undergone three years of Wushu training. The video for "Sad Day" was partially inspired by a lyric from another Magdalene single, "Home with You", in which Twigs sings, "never seen a hero like me in a sci-fi."[9][10]

Synopsis[edit]

In a Pitchfork cover story, Twigs described the concept for the video as that of a "couple whose emotional conflict is represented by a spectacular wushu duel."[11] The video sees Twigs duelling Teake, a dancer Twigs cast over social media, in swordfight around London.[8][9][10] At the end of the video, Teake cuts Twigs in half in an apartment, but instead of flesh and blood, Murai stated that they wanted Twigs' insides to look "ethereal and otherworldly," resulting in something pink that bubbles and blooms inside Twigs' body.[8][12][13]

Reception[edit]

The music video was well received. Twigs found praise for her swordsmanship and mastery of Wushu.[8][9][10][13][14][15] Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote, "FKA twigs has always made incredible music videos, and "sad day" ranks right up there with her best."[14] Gregory Lawrence of Collider called the music video "surreal, inventive, and [a] psychologically exacting look at love, obsession, and ennui." and compared it to the works of David Lynch.[15] In reference to the ending of the music video, Emily Lordi, writing for T: The New York Times Style Magazine, said, "the turn to the fantastic is signature Twigs."[13]

Critical reception[edit]

Pitchfork gave "Sad Day" "Best New Track" and they described Twigs's vocal as "her own defiance and anger, before she slips effortlessly back into airy entreaties".[2]

Year-end lists[edit]

Year-end lists for "Sad Day"
Publication List Rank Ref.
Pitchfork The 100 Best Songs of 2019 67 [16]
Rolling Stone 50 Best Songs of 2019 31 [17]

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[18] 16

References[edit]

  1. ^ Saponara, Michael (4 November 2019). "FKA Twigs Deals With Heartache on Pensive New Song 'Sad Day'". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Anderson, Stacey (5 November 2019). ""sad day" by FKA twigs Review". Pitchfork.
  3. ^ a b "FKA Twigs - sad day". Story of Song. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  4. ^ "FKA twigs wields a mighty sword in new video for "Sad Day": Watch". Consequence of Sound. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  5. ^ a b Blistein, Jon (4 November 2019). "FKA Twigs Unveils New 'Magdalene' Cut 'Sad Day'". Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ Krol, Charlotte (4 November 2019). "Listen to FKA Twigs' jittering new song 'sad day'". NME.
  7. ^ Shaffer, Claire (8 November 2019). "FKA Twigs Talks Growing Up, Learning Martial Arts in Beats 1 Interview". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d Yoo, Noah. "FKA twigs Is a Flying Sword-Fighter in New "sad day" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  9. ^ a b c d "FKA Twigs stuns with swordsmanship in music video for 'Sad Day'". NME. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  10. ^ a b c Dazed (2020-08-28). "Watch FKA twigs dance with swords in her music video for 'sad day'". Dazed. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  11. ^ Myers, Owen. "The Sacred and Profane Genius of FKA twigs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  12. ^ Capper, Addison (7 September 2020). "Hiro Murai on Wushu Inspirations for FKA twigs' 'Sad Day'". Little Black Book. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Lordi, Emily J. (19 October 2020). "FKA Twigs Has Reached New Heights". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  14. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (28 August 2020). "Watch FKA twigs' Incredible, Surreal, Hiro Murai-Directed "sad day" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Watch This FKA twigs Music Video for Sad Day, Directed by Hiro Murai". Collider. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  16. ^ Pitchfork. "The 100 Best Songs of 2019". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  17. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan; Blistein, Jon; Dolan, Jon; Doyle, Patrick; Ehrlich, Brenna; Exposito, Suzy; Freeman, Jon; Grow, Kory; Hermes, Will; Holmes, Charles; Hudak, Joseph; Klinkenberg, Brendan; Leight, Elias; Martoccio, Angie; Sheffield, Rob; Shaffer, Claire; Shteamer, Hank; Spanos, Brittany (2019-12-06). "The 50 Best Songs of 2019". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  18. ^ "FKA Twigs Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
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