Sun of a Gun
"Sun of a Gun" | ||||
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Single by Oh Land | ||||
from the album Oh Land | ||||
B-side | "White Nights" | |||
Released | 4 October 2010 | |||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:25 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Dave McCracken | |||
Oh Land singles chronology | ||||
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"Sun of a Gun" is the major-label debut song recorded by Danish recording artist
"Sun of a Gun" received positive reviews from critics, who praised its "ready for the dancefloor" theme, in addition to it being a "standout track". In the United States, it garnered commercial success on the Dance Club Songs chart, spending a total of nine weeks on the chart. It also peaked in several European countries, including in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and Germany. An accompanying music video premiered on 19 October 2010, displaying Oh Land in two different stages of a relationship. It was filmed in Brooklyn and directed by ThirtyTwo. Oh Land performed the song on various occasions, including on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in March 2011.
Background and composition
"Sun of a Gun" is a
The song's instrumentation consists of Oh Land's vocals, which range from G3 to D5, guitars and a piano.[4] Andrew Leahey from AllMusic commented that the "four-on-the-floor breakup anthem featur[es] snaps, synthesizers, and background vocals that sound like pan pipes".[7] Matthew Perpetua, writing for Rolling Stone, compared its Europop sound to that of Kylie Minogue and Goldfrapp.[2] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine claimed it "juxtaposes a driving 4/4 beat with accompanying madrigal-style vocal harmonies".[8] while Fraser McAlpine of BBC opined that it "appropriates some of the primal chanting and hollering of Tune-Yards, but brings in a big pop chorus".[9]
Critical reception
Following its release, "Sun of a Gun" received generally positive reviews from music critics. When Leahey reviewed the parent album, he stated the single "stand[s] out from the rest of the pack".[7] Robert Copsey for Digital Spy found it a "delicate yet cinematic slice of synth-pop".[1] Andrew Hannah from The Line of Best Fit complimented McCracken's ability "to produce a killer chorus", in addition to "the ability to tell a story, and lift the music away from the dreary conventionality of a song about relationships".[10] A critic from Sunset in the Rearview called the single a "pop winner",[11] while DeShaun Zollicoffer of GeekRevolt labelled it a "stand out track".[12] Additionally, a reviewer from Mixtape Muse found "Sun of a Gun" and album track "Voodoo" good for dancing.[13] On the other hand, in his album review, John Calvert of Drowned in Sound disapproved of the track, stating "[it] is as dated as the album gets, sounding like something Rachel Stevens would've recorded while grinning inanely at a lame kitten".[14]
Chart performance
"Sun of a Gun" is Oh Land's most successful single, entering on several
Music video
A music video for "Sun of a Gun", directed by ThirtyTwo, was first released onto Vevo on 19 October 2010.[22] It was filmed in 2010 in Brooklyn, and displays Oh Land in two different themes: dark and light. According to Oh Land herself, she "wanted the video to show the two different states that you can get in when you are in love with someone".[6] The dark side reflects her "desire to protect oneself from being hurt and celebrating independence", while the light side reflects her "desire to be loved and the joys of being in love".[6] The video opens with the dark side of Oh Land, wearing a black dress and extensive eye makeup. She performs the song's choreography atop a cloud-like stage, surrounded by blinking lights. As the track's chorus begins, the light side of Oh Land appears, in a skin-colored dress and longer hair, in front of a screen displaying the sun. The second verse finds her wearing a different black dress, and singing the song by many mirrors; simultaneously, visuals of Oh Land on the ground dancing appear. The following chorus shows the same scenario, but in the same skin-colored dress from earlier. In the song's bridge, both versions of the singer pull a shawl over their head, allowing it to move with the wind. The video concludes with Oh Land closing her eyes as the screen cuts to black.
Live performances
In the United States, Oh Land performed "Sun of a Gun" for the first time in March 2011 on Jimmy Kimmel Live! For the rendition, "a chorus of back-up singers [was] projected behind her on balloons".[2] Matthew Perpetua from Rolling Stone enjoyed the effort, calling it "flashy and stylish".[2] Other performances were at a Billboard promotional effort,[23] and three nightclub shows throughout New York City, immediately following the single's original release.[24]
Track listings and formats
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Credits and personnel
Credits and personnel adapted from Oh Land liner notes.[5]
- Recording
- Recorded at Mr Dan's, Buckeye, Arizona; Premier Recording Studios, Corby, England; and Secret Frequency Studio, Chicago, Illinois.
- Personnel
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Charts
Chart (2010–12) | Peak position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] | 59 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] | 43 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[19] | 31 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[21] | 60 |
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[16] | 12 |
Release history
Process
"Sun of a Gun" was released on 4 October 2010 as a digital download in her home country of Denmark.
History
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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Denmark | 4 October 2010[30] | Digital download | Fake Diamond Records |
United Kingdom | 24 April 2011[3] | Sony Music Entertainment |
References
- ^ a b Copsey, Robert (17 June 2011). "Oh Land: 'Sun of a Gun'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d Perpetua, Matthew (25 March 2011). "Oh Land Sings Perky 'Son of a Gun' on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d ""Sun of a Gun" by Oh Land on iTunes". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Oh Land 'Sun Of A Gun'". Musicnotes.com. 2010.
- ^ a b Oh Land (Liner notes/ CD booklet). Oh Land. Sony Music Entertainment, Fake Diamond Records (Barcode: 5 708422 003085). 2011.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f Archive RYA Backer (8 April 2011). "Oh Land Says 'Son Of A Gun' Is A 'Metaphor' For 'Dangerous' Love". MTV News. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b Leahey, Andrew. "Oh Land – Oh Land". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (8 March 2011). "Oh Land – Oh Land". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ McAlpine, Fraser (2011). "Oh Land Oh Land Review". BBC. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Hannah, Andrew (26 April 2011). "Oh Land – Oh Land". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Lydia (23 March 2011). "Album Review: Oh Land – Oh Land". Sunset in the Rearview. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Zollicoffer, DeShaun (3 April 2011). "Album Review: Oh Land–Oh Land". GeekRevolt. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Quinn S. (15 March 2011). "Review: Oh Land – Oh Land". Mixtape Muse. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Calvert, John (9 December 2011). "Oh Land – Oh Land". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Dance Club Songs – The Week Of April 9, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Oh Land Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ "Chart Search – Oh Land". Billboard Chart history for Oh Land. Retrieved 3 August 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Oh Land – Sun Of A Gun" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Oh Land – Sun Of A Gun". Tracklisten. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Oh Land – Sun Of A Gun" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Oh Land – Sun Of A Gun" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ^ "Sun of a Gun – Oh Land". Vevo. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Oh Land "Sun of A Gun" Live at Billboard.com". Billboard. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Oh Land's "Sun Of A Gun" Debuts On Papermag". Paper. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b Sun Of A Gun (CD liner notes). Oh Land. Sony Music Entertainment (Catalog: G010002030588Z). 2011.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Sun Of A Gun (Digital liner notes). Oh Land. Epic Records. 2011.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Sun Of A Gun (Jonathan Peters Remix) (Digital liner notes). Oh Land. Epic Records. 2010.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Sun Of A Gun (The Remixes) (CD liner notes). Oh Land. Epic Records. 2011.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Sun Of A Gun (Vinyl liner notes). Oh Land. Epic Records (Catalog: 88697857657-A). 2011.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b ""Sun of a Gun" by Oh Land on iTunes". iTunes Store (in Danish). Apple Inc. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2016.