Missing U (song)

This article is about the Robyn song. For other songs, see Missing You (disambiguation).

"Missing U"
Single by Robyn
from the album Honey
Released1 August 2018 (2018-08-01)
Genre
Length4:57
LabelKonichiwa
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Robyn
  • Klas Åhlund
  • Joseph Mount
Robyn singles chronology
"Hang Me Out to Dry"
(2016) 		"Missing U"
(2018) 		"Honey"
(2018)
Lyric video
"Missing U" on YouTube

"Missing U" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn, released on 1 August 2018 as the lead single from her eighth studio album, Honey (2018).[2] It serves as her first solo single in eight years.[3] The song premiered on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1.[4] The single was preceded by a seven-minute short video used to promote the single.[5]

Background

"Missing U" is Robyn's first solo release since her triple album Body Talk (2010).[6] Robyn released several collaborative EPs including Do It Again (2014) and Love Is Free (2015).[6] Robyn also had an appearance on the HBO series Girls soundtrack with the song "Honey" before work on her eighth studio album began.[7]

The demo for the song was created by Robyn in mid-2014 on her laptop along with a LinnDrum machine and a software synth.[8] She noted that the lyrics for the song took two years to complete before finishing them with producers Joseph Mount and Klas Åhlund.[8]

Composition

"Missing U" is a synth-pop[9] and disco[3] song about when people disappear as well as the singer's relationship with her fans.[10][11] The chorus is backed by bubbling synths,[12] while the rest of the song contains a minimal drum beat and grandiose synth loops.[13] The song is considered a departure from Robyn's previous work, lacking the climax that her previous songs had, instead taking on a more demo-like quality.[10] The song was written and produced by Robyn, Klas Åhlund, and Joseph Mount.[14]

Critical reception

Amanda Arnold, writing for The Cut, called the song "characteristically dance-y and synth-based and impossible to get out of your head once it's there." She also compared the song favourably to Robyn's previous singles "Dancing on My Own" and "Call Your Girlfriend".[15] Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic wrote that "Robyn holds back just enough to describe something too difficult, or too ephemeral, to deal with otherwise."[16]

Track listings

Digital download[17]
No.TitleLength
1."Missing U"4:51
Digital download[18]
No.TitleLength
1."Missing U" (Weiss Remix Edit)4:02
2."Missing U" (Weiss Remix)7:13
3."Missing U" (Weiss Dub)5:25
Digital download[19]
No.TitleLength
1."Missing U" (Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix Edit)3:32
2."Missing U" (Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix)5:27

Credits and personnel

Adapted from Tidal.[20]

  • Robin Carlsson – vocals, composition, co-production
  • Joseph Mount – composition, production, bass guitar, synthesizer programming
  • Klas Åhlund – composition, production, programming
  • John Hanes – mix engineering, studio personnel
  • Randy Merrill – master engineering, studio personnel
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing, studio personnel

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[21] 36
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[22] 2
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[23] 29
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 3
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 20
Iceland (RÚV)[26] 4
Ireland (IRMA)[27] 77
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[28] 21
Norwegian Digital Songs (Billboard)[29] 6
Scotland (OCC)[30] 35
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[32] 87
UK Dance (OCC)[33] 15
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[34] 18

References

  1. ^ Ahlgrim, Carrie (13 December 2019). "The 113 best songs of the past decade, ranked". Insider. Retrieved 30 December 2022. As a dance anthem about heartbreak, the song bears similarities to her beloved sad girl bop "Dancing On My Own"...
  2. ^ Nolfi, Joey (1 August 2018). "Robyn roars back with beautifully somber dance anthem 'Missing U'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (2 August 2018). "Robyn releases new single 'Missing U', her first official release in eight years". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  4. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie; Phillips, Amy (1 August 2018). "Listen to Robyn's New Song "Missing U"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ Read, Bridget (1 August 2018). "Robyn Releases a New Song, "Missing U"". Vogue. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (1 August 2018). "Robyn Returns After Eight Years With Upbeat New Song 'Missing U'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  7. ^ Daramola, Israel (1 August 2018). "Robyn "Missing U": Listen". Spin. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b King, Jason (24 October 2018). "Robyn Breaks Down Every Song on Her New Album, Honey". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  9. ^ Brandle, Lars (7 August 2018). "Robyn Performed 'Missing U' In Ibiza: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  10. ^ a b Feeney, Nolan (1 August 2018). "Robyn's 'Missing U' Is Classic Robyn With a Defiant Twist". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  11. ^ Renshaw, David (30 July 2018). "Listen to Robyn's new song "Missing U"". The Fader. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  12. ^ Gotrich, Lars (1 August 2018). "Stream Robyn's New Song, 'Missing U'". NPR. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  13. ^ Willman, Chris (1 August 2018). "Single Review: Robyn's 'Missing U'". Variety. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  14. ^ Russo, Carmen (1 August 2018). "Robyn Releases "Missing U," Her First Solo Single in Eight Years". Slate. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  15. ^ Arnold, Amanda (1 August 2018). "Everyone Needs to Listen to Robyn's New Single Immediately". The Cut. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  16. ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (1 August 2018). "The Heaviness of Robyn's 'Missing U'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Missing U - Single by Robyn". iTunes Store.
  18. ^ "Missing U (Weiss Remix) - Single by Robyn". iTunes Store.
  19. ^ "Missing U (Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix) - Single by Robyn". iTunes Store.
  20. ^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player". Tidal. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  21. ^ "ARIA Digital Tracks Chart". ARIA. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  22. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  23. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  25. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in French). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Topplistinn 15. September 2018". RÚV. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Robyn". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  28. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Norway Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  31. ^ "Robyn – Missing U". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  34. ^ "Robyn Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2018.