New in Town (song)
Encyclopedia
"New in Town" is a song by English recording artist Little Boots
from her debut album, Hands
. Written by Boots and Greg Kurstin
and produced by Kurstin, the track was released as the album's lead single
on 25 May 2009 in the United Kingdom. The song was inspired by the nights Boots spent in Los Angeles recording the album. "New in Town" debuted on the UK Singles Chart
at number thirteen.
from several strange individuals she met and the "seedy side of life" in the city. She chose to release the track as the album's lead single because "it's very bold and colourful and doesn't really sound like anything else out there."
C-List on 23 April 2009. In May 2009, the song was added to the BBC Radio 1 A-List.
The song appears on the official soundtrack to the 2009 American comedy horror film Jennifer's Body
, as well as on the second episode of the second season of 90210
(which used the Fred Falke
remix), the first episode of the fourth season of Friday Night Lights, the eighteenth episode
of the fourth season of Ugly Betty
and the twenty-second episode of Mercy
. The song was also featured in the promo for The Hills: Final Season.
, Nick Levine called the song an "electropop nugget" that "is sure to get us all stomping." Fraser McAlpine of the BBC
Chart Blog opined that the song is "a little bit 'Take Me Out
' by Franz Ferdinand
and it's a little bit 'The World Should Revolve Around Me
' by Little Jackie
, only refracted through Booty's bassquake synthpop prism and suitably kaleidoscopic as a result." Michael Cragg of musicOMH
deemed the song to be "a real grower" and compared it to Goldfrapp
. Clash
critic Joe Zadeh commented that the track "gathers energetic momentum and is delivered with the sassy nonchalance that made Santogold so intriguing." Gareth Grundy of The Observer
disagrees, writing that the song will "work", but that "something's missing – her." Virgin Group
gave "New in Town" a rave review, referring to it as "a fantastic electro synth-fused pop record, with the catchy-ness of any chart-topping dance floor classic with an edgy attitude to match", and also noted that "[w]hilst it may be more straightforward pop than some of her previous efforts it is nonetheless a very impressive effort and fairly unique in comparison to the current chart." K. Ross Hoffman from Allmusic praised the song's "brash and buzzy strut" and described it as "absolutely massive-sounding." Andrzej Lukowski from Drowned in Sound
felt that the song "is just too perky, feeling both formulaic and calculating, its chorus combining a Radio 1-stupid hands-in-the-air sentiment." Giving the song a six out of ten rating, Pitchfork Media
's Ryan Dombal stated that Boots "needs to chill on the chirp[y]" vocals.
, where it spent thirteen non-consecutive weeks altogether in the top one hundred. The track debuted on the Irish Singles Chart
on 28 May 2009 at number seventeen, peaking at number sixteen two weeks later.
in April 2009. It was filmed in Los Angeles and features Boots and a group of dancers wandering and dancing under a highway overpass
. The video begins with Little Boots driving around Los Angeles in the back of a car. She is then shown wandering around under a highway overpass in a blue dress and dancing with a group of homeless people
. This is followed by scenes of rival gang
s dancing and young couples making out
in their cars.
UK CD single
UK 7" single
UK 12" single
UK iTunes EP
U.S. iTunes remix EP
Official remixes
Little Boots
Victoria Christina Hesketh, also known by her stage name/pseudonym Little Boots, is an English electropop singer-songwriter. Her stage name comes from a nickname given to her by a friend, a reference to her unusually small feet...
from her debut album, Hands
Hands (Little Boots album)
Hands is the debut studio album by English recording artist Little Boots. It was released in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2009 by 679 Recordings to generally positive reviews. Many critics complimented its "well-crafted" pop songs and "diverse" production...
. Written by Boots and Greg Kurstin
Greg Kurstin
Gregory Allen "Greg" Kurstin is an award-winning American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 Kurstin received a Grammy Award nomination for Producer of the Year. That same year he won three Ivor Novello awards for his work with Lily Allen, including Songwriters of the Year for "The Fear"...
and produced by Kurstin, the track was released as the album's lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
on 25 May 2009 in the United Kingdom. The song was inspired by the nights Boots spent in Los Angeles recording the album. "New in Town" debuted on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number thirteen.
Background and writing
"New in Town" was the first song composed by Boots and Greg Kustin in Los Angeles while recording songs for her debut album. According to Boots, the song is about "being a stranger in a strange place which is fun but also has a dark side, and someone showing you around and in the end just kind of letting go." While in Los Angeles, Little Boots felt isolated and lonely. She primarily drew inspiration for the track's lyricsLyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
from several strange individuals she met and the "seedy side of life" in the city. She chose to release the track as the album's lead single because "it's very bold and colourful and doesn't really sound like anything else out there."
Release
In the United Kingdom, "New in Town" was added to the BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
C-List on 23 April 2009. In May 2009, the song was added to the BBC Radio 1 A-List.
The song appears on the official soundtrack to the 2009 American comedy horror film Jennifer's Body
Jennifer's Body
Jennifer's Body is a 2009 black comedy horror film written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama. The film stars Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, and Adam Brody. Fox portrays a newly-possessed teenage serial killer specializing in killing her male classmates as her best friend...
, as well as on the second episode of the second season of 90210
90210 (season 2)
The second season of 90210, an American television series, premiered in the U.S. on September 8, 2009 and ended on May 18, 2010. The season picks up at the end of summer after the events of last season's dramatic prom party...
(which used the Fred Falke
Fred Falke
Frédérick "Fred" Falke is a French based house producer and DJ of German origin.Falke started out as a bass player around 1995 before turning his hand to production work in the late 1990s...
remix), the first episode of the fourth season of Friday Night Lights, the eighteenth episode
London Calling (Ugly Betty)
"London Calling" is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama series Ugly Betty, and the 83rd episode overall. It originally aired on ABC in the United States on March 31, 2010. In this episode, Betty goes to London with Amanda and Hilda, where she meets up with...
of the fourth season of Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty (season 4)
The fourth and final season of the American Comedy-drama television series Ugly Betty was confirmed in the ABC lineup, which was picked up for a full season on April 23, 2009...
and the twenty-second episode of Mercy
Mercy (TV series)
Mercy is a medical drama which aired on NBC from September 23, 2009 to May 12, 2010. The series initially aired on Wednesday nights at 8/7c, as part of the 2009 fall season, but was pushed back to 9/8c in April....
. The song was also featured in the promo for The Hills: Final Season.
Critical reception
"New in Town" received generally positive reviews from music critics. In a review for Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Nick Levine called the song an "electropop nugget" that "is sure to get us all stomping." Fraser McAlpine of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Chart Blog opined that the song is "a little bit 'Take Me Out
Take Me Out (song)
"Take Me Out" is a song by the Scottish band Franz Ferdinand. It was released as the second single from their debut album Franz Ferdinand in the United Kingdom on the 12 January 2004 and in the United State on 9 February, both through Domino Records...
' by Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
and it's a little bit 'The World Should Revolve Around Me
The World Should Revolve Around Me
"The World Should Revolve Around Me" is the debut single by US R&B duo Little Jackie.-Background:Speaking in July 2008 to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Little Jackie frontwoman Imani Coppola explained how the song came about: "Being an artist isn't conducive to...
' by Little Jackie
Little Jackie
Little Jackie is an American band consisting of Imani Coppola and Adam Pallin. Little Jackie, which derives its name from the 1989 hit song "Little Jackie Wants to Be a Star" by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, released a hit single in 2008 called "The World Should Revolve Around Me" from their debut album...
, only refracted through Booty's bassquake synthpop prism and suitably kaleidoscopic as a result." Michael Cragg 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:...
deemed the song to be "a real grower" and compared it to Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
. Clash
Clash (magazine)
Clash is a popular music and fashion magazine based in the United Kingdom. Its magazine title is published 12 times a year. It has a circulation of around 40,000....
critic Joe Zadeh commented that the track "gathers energetic momentum and is delivered with the sassy nonchalance that made Santogold so intriguing." Gareth Grundy of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
disagrees, writing that the song will "work", but that "something's missing – her." Virgin Group
Virgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
gave "New in Town" a rave review, referring to it as "a fantastic electro synth-fused pop record, with the catchy-ness of any chart-topping dance floor classic with an edgy attitude to match", and also noted that "[w]hilst it may be more straightforward pop than some of her previous efforts it is nonetheless a very impressive effort and fairly unique in comparison to the current chart." K. Ross Hoffman from Allmusic praised the song's "brash and buzzy strut" and described it as "absolutely massive-sounding." Andrzej Lukowski from 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:...
felt that the song "is just too perky, feeling both formulaic and calculating, its chorus combining a Radio 1-stupid hands-in-the-air sentiment." Giving the song a six out of ten rating, Pitchfork Media
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 Ryan Dombal stated that Boots "needs to chill on the chirp[y]" vocals.
Chart performance
On the issue dated 31 May 2009, "New in Town" debuted and peaked at number thirteen on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, where it spent thirteen non-consecutive weeks altogether in the top one hundred. The track debuted on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
on 28 May 2009 at number seventeen, peaking at number sixteen two weeks later.
Music video
The music video was directed by Jake NavaJake Nava
Jake Nava was born on 17 August and grew up in northern London. He currently lives in eastern London.He graduated from the University of WestministerJake Nava is an English-born music video and film director.-Filmography:MUSIC VIDEOS...
in April 2009. It was filmed in Los Angeles and features Boots and a group of dancers wandering and dancing under a highway overpass
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
. The video begins with Little Boots driving around Los Angeles in the back of a car. She is then shown wandering around under a highway overpass in a blue dress and dancing with a group of homeless people
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
. This is followed by scenes of rival gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
s dancing and young couples making out
Making out
In human sexuality, making out is a sexual euphemism of American origin dating back to at least 1949, and is used synonymously with the terms necking, heavy petting, and hooking up to refer to non-penetrative sex, though "hooking up" is also used in some cultures to imply casual sex.-History:The...
in their cars.
Track listings
These are the track listings and formats of major single releases of "New in Town".UK CD single
- "New in Town" (Radio Edit) – 3:07
UK 7" single
- A1. "New in Town" – 3:19
- B1. "New in Town" (No One Is Safe – Alex KapranosAlex KapranosAlexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
Remix) – 5:22
UK 12" single
- A1. "New in Town" (Drop the LimeDrop the LimeDrop the Lime, is an electronic producer and DJ and founder of dance label Trouble & Bass. Drop the Lime's new material and DJ sets also feature live vocals on original compositions....
Remix) – 3:01 - A2. "New in Town" (A1 Bassline Remix) – 5:25
- B1. "New in Town" (The Golden FilterThe Golden FilterThe Golden Filter are an electronic duo formed in New York City in 2008. The band consists of Penelope Trappes and Stephen Hindman...
Remix) – 6:30 - B2. "New in Town" (Den Haan Remix) – 5:14
UK iTunes EP
- "New in Town" (Bimbo JonesBimbo JonesBimbo Jones is a UK dance music group comprising producers Lee Dagger and Marc JB and vocalist Katherine Ellis. Known for their remix work and white label releases, they produced a remix of Meck's 2006 UK number-one single "Thunder in My Heart Again"...
Remix) – 5:47 - "New in Town" (Fred FalkeFred FalkeFrédérick "Fred" Falke is a French based house producer and DJ of German origin.Falke started out as a bass player around 1995 before turning his hand to production work in the late 1990s...
Remix) – 7:28 - "New in Town" (The Death Set Remix) – 2:10
- "New in Town" (No One Is Safe – Alex Kapranos Remix) – 5:22
U.S. iTunes remix EP
- "New in Town" (Bimbo Jones Remix) – 5:47
- "New in Town" (StarsmithStarsmithStarsmith is a songwriter, producer, remixer and DJ. He studied a classical music degree at the University of Surrey majoring in performance on saxophone...
Remix) – 5:30 - "New in Town" (Fred Falke Remix) – 7:28
- "New in Town" (No One Is Safe – Alex Kapranos Remix) – 5:21
Official remixes
- "New in Town" (Fred Falke Instrumental) – 7:27
- "New in Town" (Bimbo Jones Edit) – 3:01
- "New in Town" (SemothySemothy JonesAndrew Hughes, better known as Semothy Jones or Sem for short, is an English songwriter and record producer from Islington, London. Semothy first gained attention in 2007 after working closely with old friend Plan B on a bootleg Mixtape called Paint It Blacker...
& Sheldrake Remix) – 4:06
Peak positions
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Club 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... |
35 |
| Belgian Tip Chart (Flanders) | 12 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
16 |
| Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
39 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
29 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
13 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 185 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 15 May 2009 | 679 Artists, Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
Digital EP 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... |
| 25 May 2009 | CD single, 7" single Gramophone record A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove... , 12" single 12-inch single The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality... |
||
| United States | Elektra Records Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
Digital EP |