"Missing U" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn, released on 1 August 2018 as the lead single from her eighth studio album, Honey (2018).[2] It serves as her first solo single in eight years.[3] The song premiered on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1.[4] The single was preceded by a seven-minute short video used to promote the single.[5]

"Missing U"
Single by Robyn
from the album Honey
Released1 August 2018 (2018-08-01)
Genre
Length4:57
LabelKonichiwa
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Robyn
  • Klas Åhlund
  • Joseph Mount
Robyn singles chronology
"Hang Me Out to Dry"
(2016)
"Missing U"
(2018)
"Honey"
(2018)
Lyric video
"Missing U" on YouTube

Background edit

"Missing U" is Robyn's first solo release since her triple album Body Talk (2010).[6] Robyn released several collaborative EPs including Do It Again (2014) and Love Is Free (2015).[6] Robyn also had an appearance on the HBO series Girls soundtrack with the song "Honey" before work on her eighth studio album began.[7]

The demo for the song was created by Robyn in mid-2014 on her laptop along with a LinnDrum machine and a software synth.[8] She noted that the lyrics for the song took two years to complete before finishing them with producers Joseph Mount and Klas Åhlund.[8]

Composition edit

"Missing U" is a synth-pop[9] and disco[3] song about when people disappear as well as the singer's relationship with her fans.[10][11] The chorus is backed by bubbling synths,[12] while the rest of the song contains a minimal drum beat and grandiose synth loops.[13] The song is considered a departure from Robyn's previous work, lacking the climax that her previous songs had, instead taking on a more demo-like quality.[10] The song was written and produced by Robyn, Klas Åhlund, and Joseph Mount.[14]

Critical reception edit

Amanda Arnold, writing for The Cut, called the song "characteristically dance-y and synth-based and impossible to get out of your head once it's there." She also compared the song favourably to Robyn's previous singles "Dancing on My Own" and "Call Your Girlfriend".[15] Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic wrote that "Robyn holds back just enough to describe something too difficult, or too ephemeral, to deal with otherwise."[16]

Track listings edit

Digital download[17]
No.TitleLength
1."Missing U"4:51
Digital download[18]
No.TitleLength
1."Missing U" (Weiss Remix Edit)4:02
2."Missing U" (Weiss Remix)7:13
3."Missing U" (Weiss Dub)5:25
Digital download[19]
No.TitleLength
1."Missing U" (Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix Edit)3:32
2."Missing U" (Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix)5:27

Credits and personnel edit

Adapted from Tidal.[20]

  • Robin Carlsson – vocals, composition, co-production
  • Joseph Mount – composition, production, bass guitar, synthesizer programming
  • Klas Åhlund – composition, production, programming
  • John Hanes – mix engineering, studio personnel
  • Randy Merrill – master engineering, studio personnel
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing, studio personnel

Charts edit

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[21] 36
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[22] 2
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[23] 29
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 3
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 20
Iceland (RÚV)[26] 4
Ireland (IRMA)[27] 77
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[28] 21
Norwegian Digital Songs (Billboard)[29] 6
Scotland (OCC)[30] 35
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[32] 87
UK Dance (OCC)[33] 15
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[34] 18

References edit

  1. ^ Ahlgrim, Carrie (13 December 2019). "The 113 best songs of the past decade, ranked". Insider. Retrieved 30 December 2022. As a dance anthem about heartbreak, the song bears similarities to her beloved sad girl bop "Dancing On My Own"...
  2. ^ Nolfi, Joey (1 August 2018). "Robyn roars back with beautifully somber dance anthem 'Missing U'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (2 August 2018). "Robyn releases new single 'Missing U', her first official release in eight years". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  4. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie; Phillips, Amy (1 August 2018). "Listen to Robyn's New Song "Missing U"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ Read, Bridget (1 August 2018). "Robyn Releases a New Song, "Missing U"". Vogue. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (1 August 2018). "Robyn Returns After Eight Years With Upbeat New Song 'Missing U'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  7. ^ Daramola, Israel (1 August 2018). "Robyn "Missing U": Listen". Spin. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b King, Jason (24 October 2018). "Robyn Breaks Down Every Song on Her New Album, Honey". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  9. ^ Brandle, Lars (7 August 2018). "Robyn Performed 'Missing U' In Ibiza: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  10. ^ a b Feeney, Nolan (1 August 2018). "Robyn's 'Missing U' Is Classic Robyn With a Defiant Twist". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  11. ^ Renshaw, David (30 July 2018). "Listen to Robyn's new song "Missing U"". The Fader. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  12. ^ Gotrich, Lars (1 August 2018). "Stream Robyn's New Song, 'Missing U'". NPR. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  13. ^ Willman, Chris (1 August 2018). "Single Review: Robyn's 'Missing U'". Variety. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  14. ^ Russo, Carmen (1 August 2018). "Robyn Releases "Missing U," Her First Solo Single in Eight Years". Slate. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  15. ^ Arnold, Amanda (1 August 2018). "Everyone Needs to Listen to Robyn's New Single Immediately". The Cut. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  16. ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (1 August 2018). "The Heaviness of Robyn's 'Missing U'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Missing U - Single by Robyn". iTunes Store.
  18. ^ "Missing U (Weiss Remix) - Single by Robyn". iTunes Store.
  19. ^ "Missing U (Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix) - Single by Robyn". iTunes Store.
  20. ^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player". Tidal. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  21. ^ "ARIA Digital Tracks Chart". ARIA. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  22. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  23. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  25. ^ "Robyn – Missing U" (in French). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Topplistinn 15. September 2018". RÚV. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Robyn". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  28. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Norway Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  31. ^ "Robyn – Missing U". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  34. ^ "Robyn Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2018.