Fembot (song)
"Fembot" | |
---|---|
Promotional single by Robyn | |
from the album Body Talk Pt. 1 | |
Released | 13 April 2010 |
Genre | |
Length | 3:35 |
Label | Konichiwa |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | Klas Åhlund |
"Fembot" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010). The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund, and produced by the latter. It was inspired by Robyn's personal experience of entering her thirties and contemplating children. With the song, she also argues against the notion that humans and robots are separate, explaining that technology has become more organic. "Fembot" is a song with an R&B vibe, and features Robyn rapping several double entendres in the verses, while proclaiming that "Fembots have feelings too" in the chorus. The song was released on 13 April 2010 as one of three promotional singles before the album's release.
"Fembot" was met with positive reviews from critics, with some of them highlighting its humor and lyrical content. Critics also noted the continued "android theme" present on a few of Robyn's previous songs, including the Röyksopp collaboration "The Girl and the Robot" (2009). Commercially, "Fembot" performed well on the charts, managing to reach number three on the Sverigetopplistan chart and number ten in Norway. Robyn performed the song for the first time on talk show Skavlan in April 2010 and later included it on the setlists for the All Hearts Tour (2010) and the Body Talk Tour (2010).
Background
In an interview with music webzine
People expect things of you, like kids and like marriage, and I found myself just thinking of that a lot while making this record, so ["Fembot"] is about that in a way, but it's also fun. I'm playing around with the concept of being a woman, and what it means to physically be able to carry kids, but at the same time that’s not always what you see yourself as.[3]
The song was uploaded the song onto Robyn's official website on 17 March 2010.[4] It was later released to digital retailers in the United States on 13 April 2010,[5] and in Sweden three days later.[6] It was one of three promotional singles released before the release of Body Talk Pt. 1 and the official first single, "Dancing on My Own".[7]
Composition
"Fembot" was written by Robyn and
Reception
Michael Gragg of
"Fembot" debuted at number seven on the Swedish singles chart chart on the issue dated 23 April 2010, becoming the week's highest debut.[20] The following week, it rose four positions to number three, which became its peak. The song spent seven weeks on the chart, before dropping out in June 2010.[21] In Norway, "Fembot" debuted at number nineteen on the Norwegian singles chart and peaked at number ten.[22] The song debuted and peaked at number ninety-nine on the European Hot 100 Singles chart on the issue dated 15 May 2010.[citation needed]
Live performances
Robyn performed the song on 16 April 2010 on the Norwegian-Swedish talk show
Track listing
- Digital download[5]
- "Fembot" – 3:35
Credits and personnel
- Robyn – lyrics
- Klas Åhlund – music, lyrics, instruments, programming, and production
- Niklas Flykt – mixing
Source[8]
Charts
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
---|---|
European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[30] | 99 |
Norway (VG-lista)[22] | 10 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] | 3 |
References
- ^ Bray, Ryan; Brennan, Collin (15 August 2018). "10 Pop Albums for People Who Hate Pop Music". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ Pitchfork Media, Inc. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ Buzzmedia. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ Pitchfork Media, Inc. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Robyn - Fembot MP3 music downloads". us.7digital. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- ^ "Robyn - Fembot MP3 music downloads". se.7digital. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- Buzzmedia. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ a b Body Talk Pt. 1 (booklet). Robyn. Konichiwa Records. 2010.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Wenner Media. Retrieved 3 April 2011.[dead link]
- About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the originalon 7 August 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ a b Fairall, Jer (14 June 2010). "Robyn: Body Talk, Pt. 1". PopMatters. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ a b Gardner, Noel (9 June 2010). "Robyn - Body Talk (Part 1)". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Koski, Genevieve (15 June 2010). "Robyn: Body Talk Pt 1". The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- Pitchfork Media, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Chinen, Nate (13 June 2010). "Critic's Choice - New CDs". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Fortier, Lindsey (16 July 2010). "Robyn, "Body Talk Pt. 1"". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ "Robyn - Body Talk Pt 1". MusicOMH. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the originalon 16 October 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Muther, Christopher (14 June 2010). "Robyn, 'Body Talk, Pt 1'". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com - Singles Top 60 - 23 April 2010". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Robyn – Fembot". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Robyn – Fembot". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- ^ Magnusson, Cassandra (16 April 2010). "Robyn: pratar om att skaffa barn". Nyheter24 (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- Buzzmedia. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ Kevin, Bronson (16 July 2010). "Robyn and Kelis Launch 'All Hearts' Tour in L.A." Spin. Spin Media LLC. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- MTV Networks. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ Mason, Kerri (9 November 2010). "Robyn Revs Up Miami's Fillmore". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Schoonmaker, Vaughn (11 November 2010). "Robyn Brings Love, Dance, and Body Talk To New York". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ Ganz, Caryn (7 February 2011). "Robyn Takes the Party to New York City". Spin. Spin Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ^ "Robyn – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Robyn. Retrieved 20 February 2011. [dead link]