Body Talk Pt. 2
Encyclopedia
Body Talk Pt. 2 is the sixth studio album
by Swedish recording artist Robyn
, released on 6 September 2010, by Konichiwa Records
. The album is the second part of the Body Talk trilogy, which consists of three mini-albums, all released during 2010. Robyn started working on songs for the album when Body Talk Pt. 1
(2010) was still in the development, and she collaborated with Klas Åhlund
, Kleerup
, Savage Skulls, Diplo, Snoop Dogg
and Niggaracci. Musically, the songs on Body Talk Pt. 2 are upbeat and a mixture between electro, house
, hip hop
and disco
.
Critical reception of the album has been generally positive. Although critics felt that it lacked a classic single
and considered it a minor letdown compared to Body Talk Pt. 1, it received praise for being solid and club-ready. In Sweden, the album reached the top of the Sverigetopplistan
chart. It also reached number one in Denmark and number three in Norway. In the United States, it peaked at number forty-one, becoming Robyn's highest position on the chart.
"Hang with Me
" was released as the album's only single in August 2010. An acoustic version of the song was featured on Body Talk Pt. 1. The single reached the top ten in Sweden and Norway. The last track on the album, "Indestructible
", appears in acoustic form and was later remixed and served as the lead single for Body Talk
, the final installment in the trilogy.
(2005), and that she had not been in the studio "properly" since then. She explained that she did not want to wait until all the songs had been recorded; she rather wanted to split up the songs in three different releases. She chose to name the trilogy Body Talk after a gay club
in London that a friend of hers owns, commenting that the title "tickles [her] imagination". In June 2010, the first in the trilogy, Body Talk Pt. 1
, was released, and was quickly followed by the announcement of Body Talk Pt. 2. The album's lead single, "Hang with Me" and the track "Indestructible", were among the first songs to be recorded for the trilogy. Robyn said that "we saved them for later because I knew they would be singles, or could be singles, and I wanted them to get that chance." "Hang with Me" was originally recorded in 2002, by Klas Åhlund
's then-wife, Paola Bruna
, for her album Stockcity Girl
.
The songs on the album were written at the same time as the songs on Body Talk Pt. 1. In mid-July 2010, music magazine Billboard
reported that the mixing
of the songs had been completed. Robyn worked primary with Swedish producer and songwriter Klas Åhlund
, who was heavily involved in the production of Body Talk Pt. 1. Unlike the first installment, Body Talk Pt. 2 saw Robyn working with a few producers apart from Åhlund, such as Diplo, Kleerup
, Niggaracci and electronic
duo Savage Skulls. She also worked with American rapper Snoop Dogg
on the song "U Should Know Better". The two originally met when Robyn was asked to sing vocals on a remix of his single "Sexual Eruption
" (2007). Six months later, they met up once again to write and record "U Should Know Better." While being interviewed by Billboard, Robyn spoke of the experience of working with the rapper, stating, "It was really cool to be able to be in the studio with him, first because I always was a fan but also because he was really creative and we had so much of an exchange in being there together, both as vocalists. I had an idea and he really got it and got into it, which was awesome." She also worked with Savage Skulls on two songs on the album; "Love Kills" and the iTunes
exclusive "Bad Gal". Robyn spoke of the duo, saying that "these really young guys who are part of a scene that I probably would've gotten into if I wasn't away so much when I was younger."
, Body Talk Pt. 2 is "faster, harder, [and] clubbier" than its predecessor. The writer described it as "the Body Talk for people who like their Robyn upbeat, fierce and dancefloor-ready." According to Adam Johns of Drowned in Sound
, the album marks a departure from Robyn's "formula of 'creative' tracks sprinkled through with low-key pop gems." He recalled her previous work as "high-tech" and said that the songs on Body Talk Pt. 2 are "sprinkled with italo-sounding synths
, arpreggios and minor-key arrangements." Joe Colly of Pitchfork
noted that Robyn "primarily sticks with the quick-moving, clubby synth-pop that is her calling card." Jaime Gill of BBC Music
noted its "beats-driven approach" and the mix between electro, house
, hip hop
, classic disco
and "orchestra
l, tear-teasing balladry."
The opening track, "In My Eyes" utilizes tingling synths. Colly said that Robyn is "an encouraging den mother" on the song, singing "Little star, I got you. You'll be okay." Luke O'Neill of The Boston Globe
said that the song showcases "the tension-and-catharsis approach Robyn is capable of achieving with her vocals." The second track, "Include Me Out" was referred to as "digitised stop-start funk". The song begins with the line, "It is really very simple, just a single pulse repeated at a regular interval", which according to O'Neill described "the main sonic trick employed on a lot of her dance-ready songs." On the song, Robyn plays a party-starter that is "repping matriarchs and cross-dressers alike" with the line "This one's for the granny, take a bow... Come on all you trannies, click your heels for me." "Hang with Me", carries a "fierce, club-wrecking beat", with "relentlessly energetic bass" and synth arpeggios. Lyrically, the song speaks of trust in a relationship, with lines such as "Just don't fall recklessly, headlessly in love with me." Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music said that the song views "the perspective of someone who's a bit too tightly buttoned-up to let her defences down." The fourth track, "Love Kills" was described as a "discofied, sharp-edged" song, with fierce vocals and "haunting Pet Shop Boys
flourishes." "We Dance to the Beat" is a techno
song, with an "apocalyptic, big-beat". It features a "sort of spoken-word hype-up jam" that was compared to "Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do". The song features lines such as "We dance to the beat of your brains not evolving fast enough" and "We dance to the beat of bad kissers clicking teeth."
The sixth track, "Criminal Intent" features Robyn rapping, which was compared to the rapping style of musician Peaches
. The song is about Robyn getting arrested for "freaky dancing" to her own song. Ben Norman of About.com
called it "a darker version of [Robyn's] previous rap songs". Comparisons were also drawn towards "Fembot
" from Body Talk Pt. 1, and "Piece of Me
" by Britney Spears
. "U Should Know Better" featuring Snoop Dogg
was called the album's highlight by several critics. It features Snoop Dogg rapping over an electro beat and Robyn delivering "quotable, ridiculous lines", such as "You know when in Rome I sat down with the Romans. Said we need a black Pope
and she'd better be a woman." Jaime Gill of BBC Music said that the song features "the teen-pop singer and hip hop outlaw swapping louche quips over a relentless, grimy electro stomp." The acoustic "Indestructible" reflects "the downside of needing someone". Norman said that it "is sweeping and symphonic and has so much vulnerability and strength in it that you believe she really will love as if she is indestructible."
. Jaime Gill of BBC Music
called the album a "brief, brilliant record that leaves you panting, Body Talk, Part 2 is the latest evidence that Robyn is probably the best, most versatile pop star currently at work." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
referred to the album as "pretty fucking fantastic", despite stating that it was "a minor letdown following the near-perfection of its predecessor". Tom Ewing of The Guardian
said that "the second episode [in the trilogy] has a different flavour from the first." Ewing named "U Should Know Better" the best song on the record, calling it the "unlikeliest success". In contrast, he considered "Criminal Intent" the worst song, but said that "even that has a lovely, draggy vibe." Dan Martin of NME
wrote that the album "doesn’t quite end with a severed hand, but it does swing a little lower with an awesomeness that tries less hard to be liked straight away." Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone
, wrote "The second EP in Robyn's Body Talk trilogy offers up another batch of great, club-ready songs that are a touch too weird for American hit radio. Robyn sings and raps about standard diva themes (dance-floor ecstasy, self-reliance), but the music is deliciously wacked-out."
Pitchfork
's Joe Colly felt the album needed a "classic single on par with 'Dancing on My Own
' or 'Heartbeat
'", but concluded writing that, "Minor quibbles and missteps aside, Body Talk Pt. 2 is a perfectly solid— and occasionally awesome— record." Heather Phares of Allmusic wrote that through the album, Robyn proves "that stylish, cutting-edge pop doesn't have to be competitive or egotistical." Adam Johns of Drowned in Sound
was mixed in his review, writing that "While it's a fairly remarkable piece of craft, her icy disco diversion here leaves me somewhat flat [...] It should satisfy the listeners who primarily show up for Creative Robyn." Luke Winkie of MusicOMH
wrote a mixed review as well, saying that "Pt 2 doesn't have the same feel [as Pt 1]; it's as if Robyn may have exhausted her supply of great songs too soon. It has its moments, but in general just doesn't compare to Pt 1."
albums chart on the issue dated 17 September 2010, two positions higher than its predecessor's debut. In Denmark, it debuted atop the chart, with sales of 2,500 units, of which digital sales accounted for 68%. On the US Billboard 200
chart, the album debuted at number forty-one on the issue dated 25 September 2010, selling 8,000 copies in its first week. It also debuted on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart at number two, only behind Lady Gaga
's The Fame
. In its second week on the Billboard 200 chart, the album fell to number 200, making it Robyn's first release since Robyn Is Here
(1995) to spend more than one week on the chart. On the issue dated 25 September 2010, the album debuted at number thirty-eight on the UK Albums Chart
, selling 3,602 copies. In Norway, the album debuted at number three and spent seven weeks on the chart. The album also reached the top fifty in Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, Finland, Germany and Austria.
" was released as the first and only single from the album. An acoustic version of the song was previously featured on the preceding album, Body Talk Pt. 1. The song was met with positive reviews, who compared it to her previous singles, "With Every Heartbeat", "Be Mine!
" and "Dancing on My Own". The song reached number two in Sweden and number seven in Norway. The accompanying music video shows scenes of Robyn's everyday life and was shot over a two week period in London.
Following the release of the album, the tracks "Love Kills", "In My Eyes" and the acoustic version of "Indestructible
" charted in Sweden at number thirty-five, fifty-one and fifty-four, respectively. "Indestructible" was later remixed and released as the lead single for Body Talk
. Despite not being released as a single, a music video for the iTunes exclusive "Bad Gal", featuring Savage Skulls and Douster, premiered in January 2011. The clip was directed by Tim Erem.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Swedish recording artist Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
, released on 6 September 2010, by Konichiwa Records
Konichiwa Records
Konichiwa Records is a record label founded by Swedish pop singer Robyn. The label has no other artists signed. The word "Konichiwa" is an incorrect romanization of the Japanese greeting こんにちは meaning "Good Day" ....
. The album is the second part of the Body Talk trilogy, which consists of three mini-albums, all released during 2010. Robyn started working on songs for the album when Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk, Pt. 1 received an aggregate score of 76 out of 100 from Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews from music critics. Heather Phares of Allmusic stated: "Capturing the freedom and loneliness of independence, Body Talk, Pt...
(2010) was still in the development, and she collaborated with Klas Åhlund
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
, Kleerup
Kleerup
Andreas Kleerup, known professionally by his last name, is a Swedish record producer, drummer, and member of the Swedish group The Meat Boys, from Stockholm, Sweden. His first mainstream collaboration was as the producer of fellow Swedish artist Robyn's #1 UK single, "With Every Heartbeat", also...
, Savage Skulls, Diplo, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
and Niggaracci. Musically, the songs on Body Talk Pt. 2 are upbeat and a mixture between electro, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
.
Critical reception of the album has been generally positive. Although critics felt that it lacked a classic single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and considered it a minor letdown compared to Body Talk Pt. 1, it received praise for being solid and club-ready. In Sweden, the album reached the top of the Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....
chart. It also reached number one in Denmark and number three in Norway. In the United States, it peaked at number forty-one, becoming Robyn's highest position on the chart.
"Hang with Me
Hang with Me
"Hang with Me" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her sixth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 2 . It was released as the album's lead single via digital download on 16 August 2010, in Sweden, and one day later in the United States. An acoustic version of the song had previously been...
" was released as the album's only single in August 2010. An acoustic version of the song was featured on Body Talk Pt. 1. The single reached the top ten in Sweden and Norway. The last track on the album, "Indestructible
Indestructible (Robyn song)
"Indestructible" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her seventh studio album Body Talk . The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund, and produced by Åhlund. It was released as the lead single from Body Talk on 1 November 2010 in Sweden and one day later in the United States...
", appears in acoustic form and was later remixed and served as the lead single for Body Talk
Body Talk (Robyn album)
Body Talk is the seventh studio album by Swedish recording artist Robyn. The album was released on 22 November 2010 by Konichiwa Records. Robyn first announced plans in early 2010 that she would was planning on releasing three mini-albums throughout the course of 2010. The first two mini-albums, of...
, the final installment in the trilogy.
Background and development
In February 2010, Robyn announced in an interview with Swedish magazine Bon that she would release three albums during 2010. She noted that it had been five years since she released her last effort, RobynRobyn (album)
Robyn is the fourth studio album by Swedish recording artist Robyn. It was released by Konichiwa Records on 27 April 2005 in Sweden. The album represented a change in Robyn's musical style, and featured pop and electronic dance music; inspirations were electronic duo The Knife and rock band...
(2005), and that she had not been in the studio "properly" since then. She explained that she did not want to wait until all the songs had been recorded; she rather wanted to split up the songs in three different releases. She chose to name the trilogy Body Talk after a gay club
Gay bar
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clientele; the term gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and queer communities...
in London that a friend of hers owns, commenting that the title "tickles [her] imagination". In June 2010, the first in the trilogy, Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk, Pt. 1 received an aggregate score of 76 out of 100 from Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews from music critics. Heather Phares of Allmusic stated: "Capturing the freedom and loneliness of independence, Body Talk, Pt...
, was released, and was quickly followed by the announcement of Body Talk Pt. 2. The album's lead single, "Hang with Me" and the track "Indestructible", were among the first songs to be recorded for the trilogy. Robyn said that "we saved them for later because I knew they would be singles, or could be singles, and I wanted them to get that chance." "Hang with Me" was originally recorded in 2002, by Klas Åhlund
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
's then-wife, Paola Bruna
Paola Bruna
Paola Bruna , previously Paola Åhlund, is a Swedish artist and singer of Chilean descent and grew up in Dalarna.Bruna was trained as a painter at Konstfack. Her efforts have included singing for Moder Jords Massiva, performed as DJ and released a solo album Stockcity Girl. She also sang in the...
, for her album Stockcity Girl
Stockcity Girl
Stockcity Girl is the debut studio album by Swedish singer Paola Bruna, released in 2002. It was preceded by the lead single, "Above the Candystore", which peaked at number twenty-six on the Swedish Singles Chart.-Track listing:#"Get Some" – 1:18...
.
The songs on the album were written at the same time as the songs on Body Talk Pt. 1. In mid-July 2010, music magazine Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
reported that the mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
of the songs had been completed. Robyn worked primary with Swedish producer and songwriter Klas Åhlund
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
, who was heavily involved in the production of Body Talk Pt. 1. Unlike the first installment, Body Talk Pt. 2 saw Robyn working with a few producers apart from Åhlund, such as Diplo, Kleerup
Kleerup
Andreas Kleerup, known professionally by his last name, is a Swedish record producer, drummer, and member of the Swedish group The Meat Boys, from Stockholm, Sweden. His first mainstream collaboration was as the producer of fellow Swedish artist Robyn's #1 UK single, "With Every Heartbeat", also...
, Niggaracci and electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
duo Savage Skulls. She also worked with American rapper Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
on the song "U Should Know Better". The two originally met when Robyn was asked to sing vocals on a remix of his single "Sexual Eruption
Sexual Eruption
"Sexual Eruption" , is a single from Snoop Dogg's ninth solo album Ego Trippin. It is produced by Shawty Redd and Snoop Dogg sings most of the song using Auto-Tune . The video's style visually references the style of Roger Troutman, as part of its retro imagery...
" (2007). Six months later, they met up once again to write and record "U Should Know Better." While being interviewed by Billboard, Robyn spoke of the experience of working with the rapper, stating, "It was really cool to be able to be in the studio with him, first because I always was a fan but also because he was really creative and we had so much of an exchange in being there together, both as vocalists. I had an idea and he really got it and got into it, which was awesome." She also worked with Savage Skulls on two songs on the album; "Love Kills" and the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
exclusive "Bad Gal". Robyn spoke of the duo, saying that "these really young guys who are part of a scene that I probably would've gotten into if I wasn't away so much when I was younger."
Composition
According to Tom Ewing of The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Body Talk Pt. 2 is "faster, harder, [and] clubbier" than its predecessor. The writer described it as "the Body Talk for people who like their Robyn upbeat, fierce and dancefloor-ready." According to Adam Johns of Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
, the album marks a departure from Robyn's "formula of 'creative' tracks sprinkled through with low-key pop gems." He recalled her previous work as "high-tech" and said that the songs on Body Talk Pt. 2 are "sprinkled with italo-sounding synths
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, arpreggios and minor-key arrangements." Joe Colly of Pitchfork
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
noted that Robyn "primarily sticks with the quick-moving, clubby synth-pop that is her calling card." Jaime Gill of BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
noted its "beats-driven approach" and the mix between electro, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, classic disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
and "orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l, tear-teasing balladry."
The opening track, "In My Eyes" utilizes tingling synths. Colly said that Robyn is "an encouraging den mother" on the song, singing "Little star, I got you. You'll be okay." Luke O'Neill of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
said that the song showcases "the tension-and-catharsis approach Robyn is capable of achieving with her vocals." The second track, "Include Me Out" was referred to as "digitised stop-start funk". The song begins with the line, "It is really very simple, just a single pulse repeated at a regular interval", which according to O'Neill described "the main sonic trick employed on a lot of her dance-ready songs." On the song, Robyn plays a party-starter that is "repping matriarchs and cross-dressers alike" with the line "This one's for the granny, take a bow... Come on all you trannies, click your heels for me." "Hang with Me", carries a "fierce, club-wrecking beat", with "relentlessly energetic bass" and synth arpeggios. Lyrically, the song speaks of trust in a relationship, with lines such as "Just don't fall recklessly, headlessly in love with me." Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music said that the song views "the perspective of someone who's a bit too tightly buttoned-up to let her defences down." The fourth track, "Love Kills" was described as a "discofied, sharp-edged" song, with fierce vocals and "haunting Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
flourishes." "We Dance to the Beat" is a techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
song, with an "apocalyptic, big-beat". It features a "sort of spoken-word hype-up jam" that was compared to "Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do". The song features lines such as "We dance to the beat of your brains not evolving fast enough" and "We dance to the beat of bad kissers clicking teeth."
The sixth track, "Criminal Intent" features Robyn rapping, which was compared to the rapping style of musician Peaches
Peaches (musician)
Merrill Beth Nisker , better known by her stage name Peaches, is a Canadian electronic musician and performance artist who lives in Berlin, Germany. Her songs are noted for disregarding traditional gender norms and their use of sexually explicit lyrics...
. The song is about Robyn getting arrested for "freaky dancing" to her own song. Ben Norman of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
called it "a darker version of [Robyn's] previous rap songs". Comparisons were also drawn towards "Fembot
Fembot (song)
"Fembot" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 . The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund, and produced by the latter. It was inspired by Robyn's personal experience of entering her thirties and contemplating children...
" from Body Talk Pt. 1, and "Piece of Me
Piece of Me
"Piece of Me" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout. It was released on November 27, 2007 by Jive Records as the second single from the album...
" by Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
. "U Should Know Better" featuring Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
was called the album's highlight by several critics. It features Snoop Dogg rapping over an electro beat and Robyn delivering "quotable, ridiculous lines", such as "You know when in Rome I sat down with the Romans. Said we need a black Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and she'd better be a woman." Jaime Gill of BBC Music said that the song features "the teen-pop singer and hip hop outlaw swapping louche quips over a relentless, grimy electro stomp." The acoustic "Indestructible" reflects "the downside of needing someone". Norman said that it "is sweeping and symphonic and has so much vulnerability and strength in it that you believe she really will love as if she is indestructible."
Critical reception
Body Talk Pt. 2 received generally positive reviews from music critics upon its release. The album holds a score of 76 out of 100 based on 23 critical reviews, according to the music review aggregator MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. Jaime Gill of BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
called the album a "brief, brilliant record that leaves you panting, Body Talk, Part 2 is the latest evidence that Robyn is probably the best, most versatile pop star currently at work." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
referred to the album as "pretty fucking fantastic", despite stating that it was "a minor letdown following the near-perfection of its predecessor". Tom Ewing of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said that "the second episode [in the trilogy] has a different flavour from the first." Ewing named "U Should Know Better" the best song on the record, calling it the "unlikeliest success". In contrast, he considered "Criminal Intent" the worst song, but said that "even that has a lovely, draggy vibe." Dan Martin of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
wrote that the album "doesn’t quite end with a severed hand, but it does swing a little lower with an awesomeness that tries less hard to be liked straight away." Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, wrote "The second EP in Robyn's Body Talk trilogy offers up another batch of great, club-ready songs that are a touch too weird for American hit radio. Robyn sings and raps about standard diva themes (dance-floor ecstasy, self-reliance), but the music is deliciously wacked-out."
Pitchfork
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's Joe Colly felt the album needed a "classic single on par with 'Dancing on My Own
Dancing on My Own
"Dancing on My Own" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 . The song was written and produced by Robyn and Patrik Berger, and was inspired by gay disco anthems by Ultravox, Sylvester and Donna Summer. The song was released as Body Talk Pt....
' or 'Heartbeat
With Every Heartbeat
"With Every Heartbeat" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn with Swedish producer Kleerup. It was released on 30 July 2007 in the United Kingdom as the second single from the international edition of Robyn's self-titled fourth studio album, Robyn...
'", but concluded writing that, "Minor quibbles and missteps aside, Body Talk Pt. 2 is a perfectly solid— and occasionally awesome— record." Heather Phares of Allmusic wrote that through the album, Robyn proves "that stylish, cutting-edge pop doesn't have to be competitive or egotistical." Adam Johns of Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
was mixed in his review, writing that "While it's a fairly remarkable piece of craft, her icy disco diversion here leaves me somewhat flat [...] It should satisfy the listeners who primarily show up for Creative Robyn." Luke Winkie of MusicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
wrote a mixed review as well, saying that "Pt 2 doesn't have the same feel [as Pt 1]; it's as if Robyn may have exhausted her supply of great songs too soon. It has its moments, but in general just doesn't compare to Pt 1."
Commercial performance
Body Talk Pt. 2 debuted at number one on the SverigetopplistanSverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....
albums chart on the issue dated 17 September 2010, two positions higher than its predecessor's debut. In Denmark, it debuted atop the chart, with sales of 2,500 units, of which digital sales accounted for 68%. On the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, the album debuted at number forty-one on the issue dated 25 September 2010, selling 8,000 copies in its first week. It also debuted on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart at number two, only behind Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
's The Fame
The Fame
The Fame is the debut studio album by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It was released on August 19, 2008 through Interscope Records. After joining Kon Live Distribution and Cherrytree Records in 2008, Gaga began working on the album with different producers, primarily RedOne, Martin...
. In its second week on the Billboard 200 chart, the album fell to number 200, making it Robyn's first release since Robyn Is Here
Robyn is Here
Robyn Is Here is the debut album by Swedish pop singer Robyn. It was released by Ariola Records in 1995 in Sweden, in 1996 in Japan by Sony Music Japan, and in the United States on 24 June 1997 by BMG with an alternate track listing. In 1998, the album was certified platinum in the U.S, and has...
(1995) to spend more than one week on the chart. On the issue dated 25 September 2010, the album debuted at number thirty-eight on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, selling 3,602 copies. In Norway, the album debuted at number three and spent seven weeks on the chart. The album also reached the top fifty in Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, Finland, Germany and Austria.
Singles
"Hang with MeHang with Me
"Hang with Me" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her sixth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 2 . It was released as the album's lead single via digital download on 16 August 2010, in Sweden, and one day later in the United States. An acoustic version of the song had previously been...
" was released as the first and only single from the album. An acoustic version of the song was previously featured on the preceding album, Body Talk Pt. 1. The song was met with positive reviews, who compared it to her previous singles, "With Every Heartbeat", "Be Mine!
Be Mine!
"Be Mine!" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, written and composed by herself and producer Klas Åhlund for her self-titled fourth studio album...
" and "Dancing on My Own". The song reached number two in Sweden and number seven in Norway. The accompanying music video shows scenes of Robyn's everyday life and was shot over a two week period in London.
Following the release of the album, the tracks "Love Kills", "In My Eyes" and the acoustic version of "Indestructible
Indestructible (Robyn song)
"Indestructible" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her seventh studio album Body Talk . The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund, and produced by Åhlund. It was released as the lead single from Body Talk on 1 November 2010 in Sweden and one day later in the United States...
" charted in Sweden at number thirty-five, fifty-one and fifty-four, respectively. "Indestructible" was later remixed and released as the lead single for Body Talk
Body Talk (Robyn album)
Body Talk is the seventh studio album by Swedish recording artist Robyn. The album was released on 22 November 2010 by Konichiwa Records. Robyn first announced plans in early 2010 that she would was planning on releasing three mini-albums throughout the course of 2010. The first two mini-albums, of...
. Despite not being released as a single, a music video for the iTunes exclusive "Bad Gal", featuring Savage Skulls and Douster, premiered in January 2011. The clip was directed by Tim Erem.
Track listing
Personnel
The following people contributed to Body Talk Pt. 2 in order of appearance:- RobynRobynRobin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
– musicComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, lyricsLyricistA lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
and additional productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - KleerupKleerupAndreas Kleerup, known professionally by his last name, is a Swedish record producer, drummer, and member of the Swedish group The Meat Boys, from Stockholm, Sweden. His first mainstream collaboration was as the producer of fellow Swedish artist Robyn's #1 UK single, "With Every Heartbeat", also...
– music, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, instrumentsMusical instrumentA musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
and programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock... - Klas ÅhlundKlas ÅhlundKlas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
– music, lyrics, production, instruments, programming, vocal production, vocal recordingSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Henrik Gustafsson – engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Carl Bagge – strings arrangementArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
- Martin Schaub – strings conductorConductingConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
- Elin Stjärna – stringsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
- Catherine Claesson – strings
- Henrik Edström – strings
- Mats Lindberg – strings
- Niklas Flyckt – mixing
- Alexander KronlundAlexander KronlundAlexander Kronlund is a Swedish producer and songwriter.Kronlund co-wrote Meja's one million selling debut album on Sony and co-wrote two songs for Britney Spears' second album, Oops I Did It Again. Kronlund co-wrote her hit single, "Lucky", with Max Martin and Rami and also co-wrote "Don’t Go...
– music - Måns Glaeser – music
- Carli Löf – music
- Savage Skulls – production and programming
- Thomas Pentz – music
- Diplo – production
- Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
– music and lyrics - Niggaracci – production
- Erik Arvinder – strings
- Christian Svarfvar – strings
- Patrik Swedrup – strings
- Daniel Migdal – strings
- Pelle Hansen – strings
- Erik Wahlgren – strings
- Tom Coyne – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
68 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 50 |
| Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
37 |
| Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Wallonia) |
96 |
| Danish Albums Chart | 1 |
| Finnish Albums Chart | 43 |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
47 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
41 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
3 |
| Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
1 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
91 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
38 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
41 |
| US Dance/Electronic Albums | 2 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scandinavia | 6 September 2010 | Konichiwa Records Konichiwa Records Konichiwa Records is a record label founded by Swedish pop singer Robyn. The label has no other artists signed. The word "Konichiwa" is an incorrect romanization of the Japanese greeting こんにちは meaning "Good Day" .... |
CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
| United States | 7 September 2010 | Cherrytree Records Cherrytree Records Cherrytree Records is an American record label and is an imprint of Interscope Records.-History:Cherrytree Records was founded in 2005 by Martin Kierszenbaum, being German for cherry tree... |
|
| Germany | 10 September 2010 | Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and... |
|
| United Kingdom | 13 September 2010 | Konichiwa Records |
External links
- Body Talk Pt. 2 at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...