The Girl and the Robot
Encyclopedia
"The Girl and the Robot" is a song by Norwegian electronic
duo Röyksopp
from their third studio album, Junior (2009). The song features vocals from Swedish singer Robyn
, and was released on 15 June 2009 as the album's second single
, with remixes from Kris Menace
, Chateau Marmont and Spencer & Hill.
The Jean Elan Remix of the track was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award
for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
. The song was ranked number sixty-eight on Pitchfork Media
's list of The Top 100 Tracks of 2009.
The song was used in the CSI: NY
episode "Grounds for Deception", originally aired on 13 May 2009.
before the album was released, with reviewer calling it "a demented, choral, electronic masterpiece" and "brilliantly obsessive, bunnyboiling extravaganza." BBC Music
labelled it "album-stealer", The Guardian
called it "tremendous", Pitchfork Media
wrote it is "a frigid, winding bit of electro that combines a powerhouse vocal with some slippery chord changes and one of the biggest choruses of 2009 so far" and Chewing Gum for The Ears noticed the track "features an excellent vocal performance by super-Swede Robyn in a techno-tinged tale of a lonely girl and her hard-working lover that's both emotional and a little goofy". The Line of Best Fit described the song as "possibly the most successful [track], ... a curious tale of an ill-fated romance between a girl and… a robot", while Resident Advisor
called it "charming" and "over-the-top pop" and Edwin's Raisin declared it "a soaring, theatrical powerhouse".
for the song was filmed in London
on 27 April 2009. The video stars Robyn and, for the first time, both Torbjørn Brundtland
and Svein Berge
appear in their own video. It was released online on 21 May 2009.
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 Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
from their third studio album, Junior (2009). The song features vocals from Swedish singer 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...
, and was released on 15 June 2009 as the album's second 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...
, with remixes from Kris Menace
Kris Menace
Kris Menace is an electronic musician.-History:Christophe Hoeffel began to work as a producer and writer in the mid 1990s for different projects and started using the pseudonym "Kris Menace" in 2005....
, Chateau Marmont and Spencer & Hill.
The Jean Elan Remix of the track was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award
52nd Grammy Awards
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Only ten of the 109 awards were received during the broadcast...
for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
The Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical is an honor presented to producers for quality remixed recordings at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
. The song was ranked number sixty-eight on 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 list of The Top 100 Tracks of 2009.
The song was used in the CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
episode "Grounds for Deception", originally aired on 13 May 2009.
Critical reception
The song has been highly praised by critics and it has been often pointed out as one of the highlights of the album. "The Girl and the Robot" was named "Song of the Day" by PopjusticePopjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
before the album was released, with reviewer calling it "a demented, choral, electronic masterpiece" and "brilliantly obsessive, bunnyboiling extravaganza." 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....
labelled it "album-stealer", The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
called it "tremendous", 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...
wrote it is "a frigid, winding bit of electro that combines a powerhouse vocal with some slippery chord changes and one of the biggest choruses of 2009 so far" and Chewing Gum for The Ears noticed the track "features an excellent vocal performance by super-Swede Robyn in a techno-tinged tale of a lonely girl and her hard-working lover that's both emotional and a little goofy". The Line of Best Fit described the song as "possibly the most successful [track], ... a curious tale of an ill-fated romance between a girl and… a robot", while Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor is an online electronic music magazine dedicated to the global dance music scene. The website won a People's Voice award in the 12th Annual Webby Awards in 2008.-Site History:...
called it "charming" and "over-the-top pop" and Edwin's Raisin declared it "a soaring, theatrical powerhouse".
Music video
The official music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was filmed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 27 April 2009. The video stars Robyn and, for the first time, both Torbjørn Brundtland
Torbjørn Brundtland
Torbjørn Brundtland makes up half of the duo Röyksopp. He was born in Tromsø, Norway.-Musical career:* Between 1994-1995 Brundtland was a member of Aedena Cycle with Gaute Barlindhaug and Kolbjørn Lyslo . Release: Traveller's Dream 12" released on R&S* In 1995 Brundtland was producer for Volcano...
and Svein Berge
Svein Berge
Svein Berge makes up half of the duo Röyksopp. Berge was born in Tromsø, Norway.-Musical career:* In 1999 debut as Röyksopp on Tellé with "So Easy" 7" and "Your Hands" on the Beatservice compilation "Arctic Circles 2"....
appear in their own video. It was released online on 21 May 2009.
CD single
- The Girl and the Robot (Radio Edit) – 3:08
- The Girl and the Robot (Album Version) – 4:28
Remixes
- The Girl and the Robot (Kris MenaceKris MenaceKris Menace is an electronic musician.-History:Christophe Hoeffel began to work as a producer and writer in the mid 1990s for different projects and started using the pseudonym "Kris Menace" in 2005....
Remix) – 7:17 - The Girl and the Robot (Kris MenaceKris MenaceKris Menace is an electronic musician.-History:Christophe Hoeffel began to work as a producer and writer in the mid 1990s for different projects and started using the pseudonym "Kris Menace" in 2005....
Re-interpretation) – 5:54 - The Girl and the Robot (Spencer & Hill Remix) – 6:09
- The Girl and the Robot (Spencer & Hill Instrumental) – 6:09
- The Girl and the Robot (Spencer & Hill Radio Edit) – 3:25
- The Girl and the Robot (JoakimJoakimJoakim is a male name primarily used in Scandinavian cultures. It is derived from a transliteration of the Hebrew יהוֹיָקִים, the name of Saint Joachim, the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus.The following people are known by the given name Joakim:...
Remix) – 7:19 - The Girl and the Robot (Joakim Instrumental) – 7:19
- The Girl and the Robot (Chateau Marmont Remix) – 4:07
- The Girl and the Robot (OcelotOcelot (musician)oCeLoT aka Aaron Peacock is a record producer and DJ. He has been producing music since 1993 and has released material on Dropout Productions, Vertigo Records, Ceiba Records, and Insomnia Records.-External links:**-Interviews:**...
Remix) – 6:10 - The Girl and the Robot (Jean Elan Remix) – 6:21
- The Girl and the Robot (Davide RossiDavide RossiDavide Francesco Rossi , is a violinist, string arranger, composer and a record producer, perhaps best known for being the violinist, guitar and keytar-player for the British electronic music group Goldfrapp, and for his large contribution of electric violin parts and for all the string...
Suite for a Robotic Girl Re-Interpretation) – 4:29 - The Girl and the Robot (Jeremy Wheatley Edit Longer Version) – 4:30
- The Girl and the Robot (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit) – 3:08
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Tip 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) |
3 |
| Belgian Tip Chart Ultratop 40 Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization... (Wallonia) |
19 |
| Norwegian Singles 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... |
2 |
| Swedish Singles 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 .... |
25 |