Papillon (Editors song)

"Papillon"
Single by Editors
from the album In This Light and on This Evening
B-side	"Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool" (demo)
Released	12 October 2009
Genre	Darkwave, alternative dance
Length	5:21 (album version) 3:55 (radio edit)
Label	Kitchenware BMG
Songwriter(s)	Edward Lay Russell Leetch Tom Smith Chris Urbanowicz
Producer(s)	Flood
Editors singles chronology
"Bones" (2008) "Papillon" (2009) "You Don't Know Love" (2010)

"Papillon" is a song by English rock band Editors. It was released as the lead single from their third studio album, In This Light and on This Evening, on 12 October 2009. A music video for the song was released on 11 September 2009 and directed by Andrew Douglas. "Papillon" charted in several countries, including Belgium's Flanders region, where it was a number-one hit. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 23 becoming their last UK top-40 hit as of 2025. The song has regularly been used as "closing piece" of Editors concerts.

Music video

The official music video for "Papillon", lasting three minutes and fifty-five seconds, was uploaded on 11 September 2009 to the official Editors YouTube channel and was directed by Andrew Douglas.[1][2]

Track listings

7-inch vinyl

1. "Papillon" (radio mix) – 3:55
2. "Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool" (demo) – 3:45

12-inch vinyl

1. "Papillon" (Tiësto remix) – 8:09
2. "Papillon" (The Japanese Popstars remix) – 7:12

CD (UK release)

1. "Papillon" (radio mix) – 3:55
2. "Papillon" (Tiësto remix) – 8:09

CD (Euro-release – digipack)

1. "Papillon" (radio mix) – 3:55
2. "Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool" (demo version) – 3:45
3. "Like Treasure" (demo version) – 3:20
4. "Papillon" (Tiësto radio edit) – 4:09

iTunes EP – Non-UK

1. "Papillon" (radio mix) – 3:55
2. "Papillon" (Tiësto radio edit) – 4:09
3. "Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool" (demo version) – 3:55
4. "Walk The Fleet Road" (demo version) – 3:53
5. "Papillon" (Tiësto remix) – 8:09
6. "Papillon" (The Japanese Popstars remix) – 7:12

iTunes EP – UK

1. "Papillon" (Radio mix) – 3:55
2. "Papillon" (Tiësto remix) – 8:09
3. "Papillon" (Tom Nevilles Sleep Twitch) – 7:56
4. "Papillon" (The Japanese Popstars remix) – 7:12

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Papillon" Chart (2009–2011) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 44 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[5] 6 Germany (GfK)[6] 43 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 23 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 16 Poland (ZPAV)[9] 1 Scotland (OCC)[10] 22 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 52 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 23

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Papillon" Chart (2009) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 31 Chart (2010) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 57

Certifications

Certifications for "Papillon"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[15]	Gold	15,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Editors' Papillon by Andrew Douglas". Promo News. 28 September 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
2. "Editors – Papillon". YouTube. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
3. "Editors – Papillon" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
4. "Editors – Papillon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
5. "Editors – Papillon" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
6. "Editors – Papillon" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
8. "Editors – Papillon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
9. "Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online". Archived from the original on 10 July 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
11. "Editors – Papillon". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
13. "Jaaroverzichten 2009" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
14. "Jaaroverzichten 2010" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
15. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2010". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 October 2021.

External links

• "Papillon" at Discogs (list of releases)