River (Bishop Briggs song)

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"River"
River (Bishop Briggs song).jpg
Single by Bishop Briggs
from the EP Bishop Briggs and the album Church of Scars
Released22 January 2016 (2016-01-22)
Genre
Length3:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Bishop Briggs
  • Ian Scott
  • Mark Jackson
  • Sarah McLaughlin
Producer(s)
  • Ian Scott
  • Mark Jackson
Bishop Briggs singles chronology
"Wild Horses"
(2015) 		"River"
(2016) 		"The Way I Do"
(2016)
Music video
River on YouTube

"River" is a song by British singer-songwriter Bishop Briggs, released on 22 January 2016 through Teleport Records and Island Records. Initially, it was released on the artist's SoundCloud.[1]

The song became a hit and reached top 10 on three different Billboard charts as well as number one on the Spotify US Viral 50.[2]

Background[]

The song is about a strained relationship that is on the edge of failure.[3] Bishop Briggs stated that the lyrics of the song “was all about the tension…My hope with that song is it makes people feel empowered [to] take things into their own hands. I always have the visual, especially when I was writing it, to go up to someone's face and egg them on, and ask them to push you to your limits. I think there is something strong and exciting about that."[4]

Composition[]

The song starts with "a whipping percussion", before it "transitions into an explosive chorus highlighting Briggs's fierce, soulful-rocker vocals".[4] Vice felt that the song was "seemingly birthed by witches off the Bayou, bearing handclaps like reddening thigh slaps and boasting a topline that allows Bishop to truly exercise her range."[5]

Music video[]

The music video was directed by Jungle George.[5] Bishop Briggs stated the video was "about embracing my inner demons and setting them loose."[5] It begins with an opening shot of Bishop Briggs sinking in water.[3] In the video, there is a scene where she convulses and another where she is wearing a bag over her head.[3]

Critical reception[]

Brooklyn Magazine wrote it is “an explosive track with the potential to be a massive radio hit. It will leave you feeling empowered with surging bass and skyward vocals.”[1] Antonio Beliveau in Life & News wrote, “Simple. Space. Repetition. Straight to the point… It’s not a song that goes into my iTunes after hearing it even for the third time. But there’s a lot to appreciate about this cut.”[6] Hooligan Magazine wrote, “Parts of this track suck the air right out of the room, but Briggs never fails to throw us right back into the mix with her smooth guitar playing and slick voice. “River” has something for everybody.”[7]

Live performances[]

In her television debut, Bishop Briggs performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 1, 2016.[3][8]

Charts[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Hear Bishop's Empowering New Track "River"". Brooklyn Magazine. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  2. ^ Baltin, Steve (2 May 2018). "Meet Bishop Briggs: The Rising Alternative Star Behind 'River'". Forbes. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Bishop Briggs: The Best of What's Next". pastemagazine.com. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Gonzales, Erica (28 March 2018). "Bishop Briggs Talks "River," Her EP and Writing Dark Poetry - Bishop Briggs 'Bishop Briggs' EP Interview". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bennett, Kim Taylor (10 May 2016). "Watch Bishop Briggs's eerily excellent video for "River"". Vice. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  6. ^ Beliveau, Antonio (21 December 2019). "Singles Market: Bishop Briggs' 'River' - Truth in Life and Journalism". Life and News. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  7. ^ Clifford, Delaney (20 May 2016). "The Multiple Sides of 2016's Breakout Artist, Bishop Briggs". Hooligan Mag. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Bishop Briggs sings 'River' on 'The Tonight Show': Watch". Billboard. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Bishop Briggs Chart History - Alternative Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Bishop Briggs Chart History - Hot Rock Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Bishop Briggs Chart History - Rock Airplay". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2020.

External links[]

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