"Crowded Places" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Banks. It was released as a single on April 7, 2017. The song was written by Banks, Tim Anderson and Jack Antonoff, and produced by the latter.[1]
| "Crowded Places" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Banks | ||||
| Released | April 7, 2017 | |||
| Length | 4:22 | |||
| Label | Harvest | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Jack Antonoff | |||
| Banks singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and composition edit
"Crowded Places" was written and released specifically for the penultimate episode of the HBO series Girls, although Banks had already released The Altar, her sophomore studio album, six months prior.[2][3] The episode was aired on April 9, 2017.[4]
The song was written by Banks, Anderson and Antonoff, and produced by the latter. The song is a ballad, which lasts for 4 minutes and 22 seconds.[1][5] William Defebaugh of V Magazine described it as "stripped down and raw".[6][7] Lyrically, "Crowded Places" talks about social anxiety and a relationship gone wrong because of this.[6] The song begins with Banks singing softly "Hey, Hey, Hey". During the chorus, she sings, "Cause I've been scared of crowded places/ Come with me, I'll take you home".[8]
Critical reception edit
Matthew Scott Donnelly of PopCrush described the song as "a quiet, moving lullaby".[4] For Laurence Day of The Line of Best Fit, the song is "darkly euphoric".[5] William Defebaugh V Magazine said that "Crowded Places" listens as of an open–hearted confessional, playing to the singer's strength in creating intimacy in sonic spaces–even more so than anything she's released prior.[6] Taylor Bryant of Nylon Magazine described "Crowded Places" as an intimate track that puts Banks' vulnerability on full display.[7]
Credits and personnel edit
Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]
- Jilian Banks – songwriting, vocals
- Tim Anderson – songwriting
- Jack Antonoff – songwriting, production, programming
- Chris Spilfogel – mixing
- Laura Sisk – engineering
- Seth Perez – engineering
Release history edit
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | April 7, 2017 | Harvest | [10] |
References edit
- ^ a b "Crowded Places – Single by Banks". iTunes Store (US). April 7, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ Hertweck, Nate (September 5, 2017). "Banks: Writing 'Crowded Places', Coming Into Her Body". Grammy.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ Howard, Lindsay (April 7, 2017). "Listen: BANKS Releases Tender New Single 'Crowded Places'". Variance. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Donnelly, Matthew Scott (April 10, 2017). "That Banks Song on Last Night's 'Girls' Episode Is Really Putting People Through It". PopCrush. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Day, Laurence (April 7, 2017). "Banks is back with powerful new pop ballad 'Crowded Places'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c Defebaugh, William (April 7, 2017). "'Crowded Places' Might Be BANKS's Most Beautiful Song Yet". V. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Bryant, Taylor (April 7, 2017). "Listen To Banks' Beautiful New Track". Nylon. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ McCafferty, Kelly (May 22, 2017). "BANKS Explores Love vs. Success with Aching & Poetic 'Crowded Places'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ "Crowded Places / Banks TIDAL". Tidal. April 7, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ "Crowded Places - Single by Banks on Apple Music". iTunes Store (United States). April 7, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2019.