It is beyond any discussion that ‘Dancing On My Own’ is one of the greatest songs ever written - you can read the full explanation of why that is the case right here - but that song was taken from Robyn’s last studio album, Body Talk, which came out eight long years ago.
Since then, we’ve had a couple of very good EPs - with Royksopp and La Bagatelle Magique - but the world has been through some tough times lately and what it needed was some pure, unadulterated Robyn to cleanse its wounds and soothe its soul.
Now, at long last, those prayers have been answered as the iconic Swedish singer is back with ‘Missing U’.
Written and recorded in Paris and Stockholm, it’s been co-written and co-produced with Joseph Mount (Metronomy) and Klas Åhlund (Charli XCX, Madonna) and we are delighted to report that it is glorious.
Listen here immediately:
Is there a finer way to begin a track than with a bubbling up/down arpeggiated synthesizer line? I think not.
Stylistically, it’s probably closest to 2007’s number one single ‘With Every Heartbeat’, with a throbbing four-to-the-floor kick drum throughout, but the track holding back, never fully kicking into a kick/snare pattern - and it shares that familiar sense of longing and sadness that is a feature of Robyn’s best work, particularly with the chorus lyrics: “There’s this empty space you left behind, now you’re not here with me, I keep digging through our waste of time but the picture’s incomplete, cause I’m missing you.”
According to the woman herself, “‘Missing U’ is a song about this trippy thing that happens when people disappear, it’s like they become even more clear and you see them everywhere”.
In addition, she says the song is “also a little bit of a message to my fans, that I’ve missed them”.
We’ve missed you too Robyn - and an album as soon as possible would be nice.
Accompanying ‘Missing U’ is a short film that Robyn created with director Danilo Parra on a recent trip to New York, reconnecting with fans at a long standing Robyn club night - check that out right here:
Related:
- Betrayal, sadness, and defiance: Why it’s time to reclaim Robyn’s ‘Dancing on My Own’
- Who would win in a fight: ‘Now That’s What I Call Music! 100’ vs ‘Now That’s What I Call Music! 1’
(Image: Mark Peckmezian)
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