Youth Without Youth (song)

"Youth Without Youth"
Single by Metric
from the album Synthetica
ReleasedMay 1, 2012
Recorded2012
GenreIndie rock, electronic rock
Length4:17
LabelMom+Pop
Songwriter(s)James Shaw, Emily Haines[1]
Producer(s)Gavin Brown
Metric singles chronology
"Stadium Love"
(2010) 		"Youth Without Youth"
(2012) 		"Breathing Underwater"
(2012)
Music video
"Youth Without Youth" on YouTube

"Youth Without Youth" is a song by Canadian indie rock band Metric. It was released as the lead single from their 2012 album, Synthetica.[2] The song debuted at number 1 on the Canadian alternative rock chart and stayed at that spot for a record 16 consecutive weeks.[3] The song tackles the subject of a fraying social state through the eyes of a deprived youth.

Reception

The song has received mixed to favorable reviews from critics. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone gave the song a mixed review, giving it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars and describing the song as "Glam sugar with a bitter core". Dolan further stated that "Perennial indie crush Emily Haines drops a wasted-youth anthem with scarred poetry like "We played blindman's bluff till they stopped the game," over a bleak- bubblegum stomp."[4]

Jillian Mapes of Billboard praised Haines' songwriting, stating "Lyrically, frontwoman Emily Haines toys with powerful imagery, using phrases like "double dutch with a hand grenade" and "rubber soul with a razor blade" to describe a young life full of malaise and even criminality."[5]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Canadian Hot 100[6] 63
Canadian Alternative Rock Chart[3] 1
Canada Rock Chart[7] 12
US Rock Songs (Billboard) 28
US Alternative Songs (Billboard) 15

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8] 44

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[9] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Youth Without Youth ASCAP
  2. ^ Galliart, Jessica. "Listen: Metric's new single, 'Youth Without Youth'". RedEye Chicago. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  3. ^ a b "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - May 8, 2012". America's Music Charts. 8 May 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  4. ^ "Metric "Youth Without Youth"". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. May 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  5. ^ "Track Review: Metric, 'Youth Without Youth'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  6. ^ "Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  8. ^ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Metric – Youth Without Youth". Music Canada.


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