The Boy Who Murdered Love
Encyclopedia
"The Boy Who Murdered Love" is a song written by Diana Vickers
and Chris Braide
and recorded by Vickers for her debut album Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree
. The song was released as the album's second single as a digital download
on 18 July 2010 with the CD single
released the following day. The single was playlisted on Radio 1. A demo of the song has surfaced online after accidentally being uploaded to Vickers' Myspace
page where it remains.
, he had conceived the song title many years earlier and likely been sub-consciously inspired by the ABC
song "The Night You Murdered Love
", which he had long regarded as a "fantastic title for a song".
The title phrase and “Shot, shot, shot, shot, shot like a bullet” hook together helped form a song skeleton that Braide developed further with Vickers at a writing session in Braide's studio.
on 3 June 2010. It features Vickers in a house reflecting over her boyfriend, who has recently broken her heart. Throughout the video, various cartoon images appear, including lips, hearts, water and arrows. Cartoon text is also seen to accompany the lyrics "pain", "hurt" and "love". During the chorus of the song, Vickers re-enacts the metaphorical "put the arrow in my back" lyrics through the use of a cartoon bow and arrows. The male in the video is model/actor Daryl Fox-Huxley.
's The Chris Moyles Show
as well as The Five O'Clock Show, which was hosted by Fern Britton
.
Vickers also performed the song on The Graham Norton Show
and as part of her performance at T4 On The Beach on 4 July 2010, in which she performed on both stages, filling in for Faithless
who were unable to attend the festival. Vickers also performed the single at T in the Park 2010
, in which she appeared on King Tut's Wah Wah Tent in the morning on 10 July 2010.
She appeared on Loose Women on July 22, 2010 and Magic Numbers on July 24, 2010. Vickers' also did a Hot Desk Interview for ITV2 around the time of release of The Boy Who Murdered Love.
wrote that "It all adds up to a smart, sophisticated pop tune carried off with enough conviction to discourage any future bad boys hoping to give her the runaround." Fraser McAlpine from BBC Radio 1
gave the song four stars out of five, saying "I'm just saying there's room for improvement. Constructive criticism, y'see. And on the plus side, well what a lovely chorus you've made. It really is a wondrous thing, because at the beginning it is all jabby and urgent and angry, and at the end it becomes floaty and mournful. That's very good indeed, especially coming after the purring verses. So well done there."
on 26 June 2010 at number 199 before climbing 70 places the following week to number 129. On 11 July 2010 the single climbed a further 50 places to number 79 before climbing 22 places to number 57. Upon physical release, the single climbed to number 36, where it remained for two consecutive weeks, marking Vickers' second Top 40 single in the UK
. The single went on to sell approximately 50,000 copies in the United Kingdom.
Diana Vickers
Diana Vickers is an English singer-songwriter, stage actress and fashion designer who initially came to public attention as a semi-finalist on the fifth series of British talent show The X Factor in 2008...
and Chris Braide
Chris Braide
Christopher Braide is an English singer, songwriter, record producer published by Sony/ATV worldwide based in Los Angeles.Producer, Songwriter and Ivor Novello ASCAP and Billboard award winner Christopher Braide has achieved considerable success as a songwriter in the UK and the US. His songs have...
and recorded by Vickers for her debut album Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree
Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree
Upon its release, Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree generated mixed reviews from music critics. Mayer Nissim of Digital Spy awarded the album five out of five stars, stating that Vickers and her collaborators "have crafted an album that's drenched in accessible pop melodies while never sacrificing...
. The song was released as the album's second single as a 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...
on 18 July 2010 with the CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
released the following day. The single was playlisted on Radio 1. A demo of the song has surfaced online after accidentally being uploaded to Vickers' Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page where it remains.
Writing and recording
The original music was written by Rhys Barker, according to co-writer Braide in an interview with HitQuartersHitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
, he had conceived the song title many years earlier and likely been sub-consciously inspired by the ABC
ABC (band)
ABC are an English band, that charted ten UK and five US Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic, in 2008.-Formation:...
song "The Night You Murdered Love
The Night You Murdered Love
"The Night You Murdered Love" is a song by ABC released as the second single from their album Alphabet City.The music video shows a homicidal fashion model carrying a slingshot and a skateboard stalking the band across the city of Paris.- US 12" single :...
", which he had long regarded as a "fantastic title for a song".
The title phrase and “Shot, shot, shot, shot, shot like a bullet” hook together helped form a song skeleton that Braide developed further with Vickers at a writing session in Braide's studio.
Music video
The music video to accompany the release of "The Boy Who Murdered Love" premiered on MSNMSN
MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system.The range of services offered by MSN has changed since its...
on 3 June 2010. It features Vickers in a house reflecting over her boyfriend, who has recently broken her heart. Throughout the video, various cartoon images appear, including lips, hearts, water and arrows. Cartoon text is also seen to accompany the lyrics "pain", "hurt" and "love". During the chorus of the song, Vickers re-enacts the metaphorical "put the arrow in my back" lyrics through the use of a cartoon bow and arrows. The male in the video is model/actor Daryl Fox-Huxley.
Promotion
Vickers began promotion for "The Boy Who Murdered Love" on the week beginning 12 July 2010. She appeared as a guest on 14 July 2010 on 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...
's The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show is the current BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in the UK, and has been since Chris Moyles became the station's breakfast show presenter on 5 January 2004. From 2004 to 2007, the show was broadcast 6:55–10:00 am each weekday, but since 15 October 2007 it has started from...
as well as The Five O'Clock Show, which was hosted by Fern Britton
Fern Britton
Fern Britton is an English television presenter, known as the former main co-presenter on the ITV magazine programme This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield. She left the show on 17 July 2009, her 52nd birthday.- Early life :...
.
Vickers also performed the song on The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009...
and as part of her performance at T4 On The Beach on 4 July 2010, in which she performed on both stages, filling in for Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
who were unable to attend the festival. Vickers also performed the single at T in the Park 2010
T in the Park 2010
T in the Park 2010 was a music festival that took place in Balado, Scotland from 8–11 July 2010. It was the seventeenth event to take place. The festival was headlined by Kasabian, Muse and Eminem. Tickets for the event sold out on 26 February 2010.-Tickets:...
, in which she appeared on King Tut's Wah Wah Tent in the morning on 10 July 2010.
She appeared on Loose Women on July 22, 2010 and Magic Numbers on July 24, 2010. Vickers' also did a Hot Desk Interview for ITV2 around the time of release of The Boy Who Murdered Love.
Critical reception
"The Boy Who Murdered Love" has received positive reviews from critics. Robert Copsey from 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....
wrote that "It all adds up to a smart, sophisticated pop tune carried off with enough conviction to discourage any future bad boys hoping to give her the runaround." Fraser McAlpine from BBC Radio 1
BBC 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...
gave the song four stars out of five, saying "I'm just saying there's room for improvement. Constructive criticism, y'see. And on the plus side, well what a lovely chorus you've made. It really is a wondrous thing, because at the beginning it is all jabby and urgent and angry, and at the end it becomes floaty and mournful. That's very good indeed, especially coming after the purring verses. So well done there."
Track listing
Chart performance
"The Boy Who Murdered Love" was first seen to enter 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 ...
on 26 June 2010 at number 199 before climbing 70 places the following week to number 129. On 11 July 2010 the single climbed a further 50 places to number 79 before climbing 22 places to number 57. Upon physical release, the single climbed to number 36, where it remained for two consecutive weeks, marking Vickers' second Top 40 single in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The single went on to sell approximately 50,000 copies in the United Kingdom.
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 16 July 2010 | 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... |
RCA Records RCA Records RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label... |
| CD Single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |
|||
| United Kingdom | 18 July 2010 | 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... |
|
| 19 July 2010 | CD Single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |