Closer (Tegan and Sara song)

"Closer"
Single by Tegan and Sara
from the album Heartthrob
Released September 25, 2012
Format Digital download
Recorded 2012
Genre Dance-pop[1]
Length 3:32
Label Vapor, Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s) Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Greg Kurstin
Producer(s) Greg Kurstin
Tegan and Sara singles chronology
"Northshore"
(2010)		 "Closer"
(2012)		 "I Was a Fool"
(2013)

"Closer" is a song performed by Canadian duo Tegan and Sara. The song was written by Tegan Quin with contributions from Sara Quin and Greg Kurstin for their seventh studio album, Heartthrob (2013). The song was released as the lead single from the album in September 2012. Closer won "Single of the Year" at the 2014 Juno Awards. The song was featured on the TV series Glee during its 82nd episode. In 2013, it peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It also became their first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. On April 20, 2013, 3600 vinyl copies of Closer Remixed, including four more tracks than the digital EP, were exclusively released for Record Store Day 2013.[2] On July 4, 2013, "Closer" was certified platinum in Canada.[3]

Lyrics and composition
"Closer"
The song introduces a change in dynamics during the chorus.
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Tegan spoke of the song during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine in September 2012, saying "Although I do imagine that this would be an okay song to make out to, all I intended was to write something sweet that reminded the listener of a time before complicated relationships, drama and heartbreak. I was writing about my youth, a time when we got closer by linking arms and walking down our school hallway, or talked all night on the telephone about every thought or experience we'd ever had. It wasn't necessarily even about hooking up or admitting your feelings back then. In fact, that rarely happened. It was the anticipation of something maybe happening that was truly exciting and satisfying. We were perpetually getting closer, yet we rarely got physical with one another, if ever. These relationships existed in a state of sexual and physical ambiguity."[4] Sara encouraged Tegan to be less self-deprecating when writing the song. Tegan was hesitant about writing a straightforward love song and was concerned that using the phrase "get physical" would remind listeners of Australian singer Olivia Newton-John's 1981 single "Physical".[5]

"Closer" is set in common time with a tempo of 137 beats per minute.[6] Its rhythm uses a four-to-the-floor beat with a prominent kick drum.[7][8] The song is written in C major, with a I-IV-V-I circle progression.[6] The song's sections make use of sharply contrasting dynamics, eventually leading to a synthesizer breakdown.[7][8] The song was influenced by Tegan's "favorite, mid-'90s dance tracks" by Erasure and Ace of Base.[9]

Critical reception

"Closer" placed thirteenth on The Village Voice's 2013 Pazz & Jop singles list.[10] Consequence of Sound called it "genius levels of fun", while Alter the Press! compared the song to "Dancing on My Own" by Robyn.[11][12][13]

Music video

The official music video for the song premiered on November 29, 2012 on Tegan and Sara's official YouTube channel.[14] It starts with Tegan and Sara performing karaoke of the song. It then begins to feature different scenes in-between such as various couples doing various party activities as well as putting make-up on one another, playing spin the bottle, and kissing on top of a car. Tegan and Sara are also seen singing on a swing set and jumping on a trampoline.

In popular culture

The song plays over the final moments and end credits of first season finale of the Netflix original series BoJack Horseman which aired on 22 August 2014. It was later used in an AT&T commercial in 2015. WWE also used this song in a promo package to highlight former WWE Diva, AJ Lee.

Track listing

Digital download

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Closer"  Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Greg Kurstin 3:29

Digital remix EP

(Released March 8, 2013)[15]

No. Title Length
1. "Closer" (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix) 5:53
2. "Closer" (Morgan Page's Talk Is Cheap Remix) 3:30
3. "Closer" (Until the Ribbon Breaks Remix) 4:54
4. "Closer" (The Knocks Remix) 4:34
5. "Closer" (Bradley Hale Remix) 4:30
6. "Closer" (Yeasayer Remix) 3:44

Vinyl remix EP

(Released exclusively for Record Store Day 2013)[16]

No. Title Length
1. "Closer" (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix) 5:53
2. "Closer" (Morgan Page's Talk Is Cheap Remix) 3:30
3. "Closer" (Until the Ribbon Breaks Remix) 4:54
4. "Closer" (The Knocks Remix) 4:34
5. "Closer" (Bradley Hale Remix) 4:30
6. "Closer" (Yeasayer Remix) 3:44
7. "Closer" (WALLA Remix) 5:48
8. "Closer" (Damian Taylor Remix) 3:30
9. "Closer" (Ted Gowans Remix) 4:07
10. "Closer" (C-ro & Sofa Remix) 5:52

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 13
Canada AC (Billboard)[18] 7
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 11
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[20] 8
Ukraine (FDR Music Charts)[21] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 90
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[23] 30
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24] 1
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[25] 16
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 20

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[27] 46
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[28] 3
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[29] 41

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[30] 2× Platinum 80,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Result
2013 "Closer" NewNowNext Awards, That's My Jam Nominated
"Closer" MuchMusic Video Awards, International Video of the Year by a Canadian Nominated
2014 "Closer" Juno Award for Single of the YearWon

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tegan and Sara Want to Get 'Closer' on 'Letterman'". Rolling Stone. November 21, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ "RSD 2013 Official Releases List". Record Store Day. March 21, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  3. ↑ Music Canada July 2013 http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=&ica=False&sa=tegan%20and%20sara&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist
  4. ↑ Song Premiere: Tegan and Sara Grow 'Closer' | Music News | Rolling Stone
  5. ↑ Wood, Eden Carter (January 2013). "Tegan & Sara". Diva (199): 52–55.
  6. 1 2 Quin, Tegan; Quin, Sara; Kurstin, Greg (2012). "Closer" (sheet music). Musicnotes.com. Naked In A Snowsuit Publishing. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Reed, Ryan (October 13, 2012). "Singles Reviews". Billboard. 124 (36). Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Mason, Kerri (January 19, 2013). "Beat Happy". Billboard. 125 (2). Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ Trunick, Austin (January 21, 2013). "Track-by-Track: Tegan and Sara's Heartthrob Part One". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  10. ↑ "2013 Pazz & Jop Singles Winners". The Village Voice. January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ Album Review: Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob | Consequence of Sound
  12. ↑ Alter The Press!: ATP! Album Review: Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob
  13. ↑ "Tegan and Sara Bring Pop—and Heart, Of Course—to 'Heartthrob'". Time. February 1, 2013.
  14. ↑ Tegan and Sara - Closer [OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO] - YouTube
  15. ↑ iTunes - Music - Closer Remixed - EP by Tegan and Sara
  16. ↑ "Record Store Day!". Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  17. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "Pop" (in Ukrainian). FDR Music Charts. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Tegan and Sara – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Tegan and Sara. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Dance Club Songs: Page 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Tegan and Sara – Closer". Music Canada.
  31. ↑ "American single certifications – Tegan and Sara – Closer". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
Preceded by
"Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen		 Juno Award for Single of the Year
2014 		Succeeded by
"Rude" by Magic!
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