Reflektor (song)
"Reflektor" | ||||
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Single by Arcade Fire | ||||
from the album Reflektor | ||||
B-side | "Instrumental version" | |||
Released | September 9, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2013 | |||
Studio | Sonovox (Montreal) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
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Arcade Fire singles chronology | ||||
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"Reflektor" is a song by the Canadian
Background and composition
The band began working on the track in 2011, with
"Reflektor" is a dance-rock,[5] indie rock,[6] and disco song.[7] The track's lyrical content is, in part, influenced by the differences between Haitian life and that of the Western world, with vocalist and guitarist Win Butler noting, "I think that life [in Haiti] is incredibly difficult and it's more amazing to see people that don't have access to food or clean water throw a party. It's not like I'm trying to sing about their experiences. I was more learning from what I saw and applying it to my own life, lyrically. I'm not trying to tell other people's stories. We're just trying to allow an experience to change you."[1]
Reception
Critical
"Reflektor" received widespread critical acclaim.
Commercial
"Reflektor" charted in several countries, peaking within the top 20 in Canada and Ireland. The song was the band's highest-charting song in Canada,[11] their home country, and their first song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 99.[12]
Music video
A music video for "Reflektor" was released on September 9, 2013 through YouTube.[13] It was directed by Anton Corbijn,[13] with art direction done by Anastasia Masaro.[14] The video won the Best Art Direction award at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.[14] Katie Hasty of HitFix summarized the video, stating that "Corbijn's black-and-white version of the "Reflektor" experience has its own quirks, too, as the band dons oversized papier mache heads like puppet versions of themselves, hunting down the Disco Ball Man and putting the doll versions of themselves in a shiny coffin."[13] An interactive music video was also made available to the public, which was directed by Vincent Morisset. However, it was made only accessible through the web browser Google Chrome. For this video, the user oversees dancer Axelle Munezero's journey through the streets of Haiti.[13]
Packaging
Artwork
The single's
Fictional track listing
The remainder of the
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Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Reflektor" | 7:42 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Reflektor" (Instrumental) | 7:42 |
Credits and personnel
Personnel adapted from the single's liner notes.[16]
Arcade Fire
Additional musicians
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Recording personnel
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Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[34] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b Doyle, Patrick (October 22, 2013). "Win Butler Reveals Secret Influences Behind Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ^ Jenn, Pelly (September 9, 2013). "David Bowie Confirms Arcade Fire "Reflektor" Collaboration". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ Coulehan, Erin (September 10, 2013). "David Bowie Sang on Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor'". Rolling Stone. Brian Szejka. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ Bychawski, Adam (September 18, 2013). "David Bowie 'threatened to steal' 'Reflektor' from Arcade Fire". NME. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ a b Deusner, Stephen M. (September 9, 2013). "Arcade Fire - Reflektor". Paste. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
- ^ ""Reflektor" (CD Single) Music Review". Common Sense Media. September 25, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- ^ Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- ^ Dolan, Jon. "Jon Dolan's Four-and-a-Half Star Review of Reflektor". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ Terich, Jeff (September 10, 2013). "Arcade Fire, David Bowie Triumph On "Reflektor"". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "NME's 50 Best Tracks Of 2013". NME. November 26, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Arcade Fire – Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart history". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Arcade Fire – The Hot 100 chart history". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Hasty, Katie. "Arcade Fire's new single 'Reflektor' in full: Watch two music videos". HitFix. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ Complex. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c "The Reflektors – Reflektor". Discogs. September 9, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Reflektor" (single liner notes). Arcade Fire. Merge Records / Sonovox Records. 2013.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "The ARIA Report: Issue 1230 (Week Commencing 23 September 2013)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- Ultratip. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Ultratip. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs Charts : The Week of September 28, 2013". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Arcade Fire – Reflektor : Chart search". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Reflektor" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- Les classement single. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Chart Track: Week 37, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- Canciones Top 50. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ^ "Arcade Fire: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Arcade Fire Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Arcade Fire – Reflektor". Music Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2024.