Strict Machine
"Strict Machine" | ||||
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Single by Goldfrapp | ||||
from the album Black Cherry | ||||
B-side | "White Soft Rope" | |||
Released | 21 July 2003 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Mute | |||
Songwriter(s) | Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory, Nick Batt | |||
Producer(s) | Goldfrapp | |||
Goldfrapp singles chronology | ||||
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"Strict Machine" is an
Wonderful Electric, Goldfrapp's concert tour DVD in support of Black Cherry, was named after lyrics in the song.
Release and reception
The song was released as the album's second single on 21 July 2003.
Critical reception
"Strict Machine" received positive reviews from music critics. In a review for the NME, Peter Robinson called it "a solid gold, honest-to-goodness hit record which should be Number One immediately."[8] Andy Hermann wrote for PopMatters that the song was "a future S&M club anthem if ever there was one".[9] Dorian Lynskey of Blender magazine also linked "Strict Machine"'s lyrics to sadomasochism, and he compared it to Donna Summer's 1977 disco single "I Feel Love".[10] In his review for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis likened the song's "tubthumping drums" to Gary Glitter, 1980s arena rock, and hardstep, adding that "the end result is not only fantastic, but quiveringly sexy to boot".[11]
In August 2009, American music web site
Chart performance
The song became Goldfrapp's second top-30 single when it debuted at number twenty-five on the
The song was also successful outside the UK. It reached number twenty-six in Canada and became Goldfrapp's first single release to chart in the country. Although the single sold considerably, "Strict Machine" did not chart on the Canadian BDS Airplay chart, receiving most of its sales from its fans in the dance clubs. In Australia, the song peaked at number fifty-four and would remain as Goldfrapp's only single to chart in the country until the release of "Ooh La La" in 2005.
After the favourable reception of "
Influence
When Rachel Stevens released "Some Girls" in 2004, critics noted the similarity to the sound of Black Cherry,[16][17] and in particular "Strict Machine", to which "Some Girls" was described as "startlingly similar" by the Manchester Evening News.[16] Goldfrapp had given X an unmixed copy of their song to remix only to reject his efforts; shortly thereafter he wrote the Stevens song.[16]
Music video
The song's music video, a mixture of graphic and live action segments, builds upon the art direction featured on the band's album and single covers. Throughout the video, Alison Goldfrapp is surrounded by black and white animated backgrounds, Siberian Husky-headed dancers, and colourful butterflies. The video uses kaleidoscopic layouts and dense graphic designs.[18]
The music video was directed by Jonas Odell. The settings' architecture is inspired by the work of Archigram.[19] Goldfrapp and her back-up dancers were filmed in London against a bluescreen. The animated sequences were done by Odell's Filmtecknarna studio in Stockholm, Sweden.[20]
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Strict Machine".
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Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Covers
U.K. garage trio Band of Skulls performed a folk version of the song for Australia's Triple J radio station.[37]
"a guitar-chugging mash-up of Goldfrapp's electro-pop reinvention in "Strict Machine"; [with] her own 1973 U.K. chart-topper "Can the Can," cleverly referencing the subtle similarities between the two; ...".[38]
On 16 November 2011 the music video for Quatro's "Strict Machine" was released via the SUZI QUATRO OFFICIAL YouTube channel. It was produced by Victory Tischler-Blue, formerly Vicky Blue of The Runaways, and includes the extra two lines from "Can the Can".[39]
See also
- List of number-one dance singles of 2004 (U.S.)
References
- ^ a b Harrington, Jim (2015). "Goldfrapp - "Strict Machine". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 828.
- ^ AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ Benson, Richard (2 February 2008). "Alison Goldfrapp: ethereal girl". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
- ^ "Electronica Duo Goldfrapp About 'Black Cherry'" Archived 25 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine. Artist Interviews. April 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 July 2003. p. 35. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 8 May 2004. p. 29.
- ^ Byrne, Ciar (28 May 2004). "The Darkness are named songwriters of year". The Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Robinson, Peter (27 May 2004). "Goldfrapp : Strict Machine". NME. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ Hermann, Andy (2 May 2003). "Goldfrapp: Black Cherry". PopMatters. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ Lynskey, Dorian. "Goldfrapp : Black Cherry Review". Blender. Retrieved 30 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (18 April 2003). "Goldfrapp: Black Cherry". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ "Staff Lists: The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201". Pitchfork. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
- ^ "Hot Dance Club Play". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
- ^ "Albums 22.05.04: Goldfrapp". Music Week: 35. 22 May 2004.
- ^ a b c Ryan, Gary (19 June 2008). "Chameleon-like Goldfrapp return". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ Price, Simon (9 October 2005). "Goldfrapp, Dome, Brighton". The Independent. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ISBN 1-904764-25-8.
- ^ Zappaterra, Yolanda (4 November 2004). "Short range". Design Week. 19 (45): 21.
- ^ "Nexus creates kaleidoscope promo for Goldfrapp". Televisual. 1 August 2003.
- ^ Strict Machine (2003, CD1, CD) (UK CD single 1 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2003. 0724355247322.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Strict Machine (2003, CD2, CD) (UK CD single 2 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2003. 0724354728129.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Strict Machine (2003, DVD) (UK DVD single inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2003. 0724349068995.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Strict Machine (2004, CD1, CD) (UK CD single 1 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2004. 0724354870224.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Strict Machine (2004, CD2, CD) (UK CD single 2 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2004. 0724354796326.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Strict Machine (2004, DVD) (UK DVD single inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2004. 0724359963594.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Strict Machine - EP by Goldfrapp on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "Strict Machine - Single by Goldfrapp on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- The ARIA Report (937): 2. 11 February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Goldfrapp: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Goldfrapp Chart History (Hot Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2020. [dead link]
- ^ "2004 Year End Charts – Hot Dance Music/Club Play Titles". Billboard.biz. 25 December 2004. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Band of Skulls Cover Goldfrapp Song about Joyful Sex Rats - Cover Me". 18 August 2010.
- ^ O'Brien, Jon. "AllMusic review". www.allmusic.com. Ann Arbor, USA: AllMusic. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^
Victory Tischler-Blue (video producer), Suzi Quatro (actor, vocals, bass), Mike Chapman (album producer) et al. (16 November 2011). Suzi Quatro Strict Machine Official Video (Trailer). SUZI QUATRO OFFICIAL YouTube channel. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
From the studios of the brilliant Victory Tischler Blue - here is the official video for Suzi Quatro's Strict Machine. It includes live footage from Suzi's recent Rocks The Spotlight Tour (Sept/Oct 2011) of Australia. Suzi's version of the Goldfrapp song is on her new album In the Spotlight.