Black Dog (Arlo Parks song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Black Dog"
Arlo Parks Black Dog.jpg
Single by Arlo Parks
from the album Collapsed in Sunbeams
A-side"Eugene"
ReleasedMay 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)
GenreContemporary R&B
Length3:45
LabelTransgressive
Songwriter(s)
  • Anais Marinho
  • Gianluca Buccellati
Producer(s)Gianluca Buccellati
Arlo Parks singles chronology
"Eugene"
(2020) 		"Black Dog"
(2020) 		"Hurt"
(2020)
Music video
"Black Dog" on YouTube

"Black Dog" is a song by British singer and poet Arlo Parks from her debut studio album Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021).[1] Named after Winston Churchill's term for depression,[2] the song focuses on mental health, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[3] "Black Dog" was Parks' first song to make mainstream radio airplay in the UK, landing on the A List on the BBC Radio 1 Playlist in July 2020.[4] Critics at NME ranked "Black Dog" as the 4th best song of 2020.[5]

Background and release[]

The song was released a month before Parks became an ambassador for the British mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably.[6] It was released as a double-sided single set with the song "Eugene" on 4 May 2020.[7] Both songs were produced by Gianluca Buccellati, who also wrote them alongside Parks.[7] Addressing "Black Dog", Parks said "it's supposed to make people who are struggling feel less isolated and start a conversation surrounding the prevalence of mental health issues in today's world."[8]

Critical reception[]

The song was placed on the Amazon Music's UK Rising playlist within a week of its initial release.[9] NME described the single as 'the years most devastating song' with strong links to COVID-19 lockdowns and its effect on how Parks' poetry came out in the slow, rhyming lyrics.[3][1] DIY explained the song as being directed at those having to deal with the lockdowns and mental health during the pandemic.[10] Narzra Ahmed of When The Horn Blows revealed that the meaning behind "Black Dog" is being a metaphor for depression with the song being intended for people suffering with mental health as a result of isolation and encourages a conversation around the issue.[11] Malvika Padin of Euphoria describes the song as starting a conversation around how people feel about themselves especially with the advent of social media making people question if they are a perfect person and their life.[12] "Black Dog" was also reported on by Redbrick and Office Magazine, both of which described the song as one that explores human relationships.[13][14]

Music video[]

In May 2020, a music video directed by Molly Burdett was released.[15] The 4K video features scenes depicting depression, sadness and family issues.[16]

Track listing[]

No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Black Dog"
  • Anais Marinho
  • Gianluca Buccellati
Buccellati3:45
2."Eugene"
  • Marinho
  • Buccellati
Buccellati3:42
Total length:7:27

Charts[]

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[17] 44
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[18] 32
UK Download (OCC)[19] 61
Scotland (OCC)[20] 92

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Richards, Will (20 May 2020). "Arlo Parks: Creator of the year's most devastating song". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. ^ Smyth, David (29 May 2020). "Arlo Parks interview: 'Music was my refuge in a lost space'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Reilly, Nick (5 May 2020). "Arlo Parks shares powerful new track 'Black Dog'". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  5. ^ "The 50 best songs of 2020". NME. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Introducing Arlo Parks, new CALM ambassador". Campaign Against Living Miserably. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Black Dog by Arlo Parks on Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  8. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (5 May 2020). "Arlo Parks unveils new single "Black Dog"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 5 Jun 2020.
  9. ^ "Amazon Music: UK Rising (6 May 2020)". Amazon Music. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020. Check |archive-url= value (help)
  10. ^ "Arlo Parks shares new song 'Black Dog'". DIY. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. ^ Ahmed, Narzra (13 May 2020). "Singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks' confessional style seeps into her powerful new single 'Black Dog'". When The Horn Blows. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. ^ Padin, Malvika (11 May 2020). "Arlo Parks releases quietly stunning new song, "Black Dog"". Euphoria. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  13. ^ Brown, Elsie (4 June 2020). "Single Review: Arlo Parks - Black Dog". Redbrick. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Premiere: Arlo Parks, "Black Dog"". Office Magazine. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  15. ^ Robles, Jonathan (5 May 2020). "Arlo Parks' new song 'Black Dog' is heartbreakingly beautiful". Variance. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  16. ^ Parks, Arlo (May 4, 2020). "Arlo Parks - Black Dog (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Arlo Parks – Black Dog" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Arlo Parks – Black Dog" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
Retrieved from ""