All the Songs
{{Infobox song
| name = All the Songs
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Will Young
| album = Lexicon
| released = 22 March 2019
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 3:52
| label = Cooking Vinyl
| writer =
| producer = Richard X
| prev_title = What the World Needs Now Is Love
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = My Love
| next_year = 2019
}}
"All the Songs" is a song by British singer Will Young. It was written by Young and Kish Mauve members Mima Stilwell and Jim Elliott for his seventh studio album Lexicon (2019), while production was helmed by Richard X. Released by Cooking Vinyl as the album's lead single on 22 March 2019, it reached number 24 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.
Background
"All the Songs" was written by Young along with frequent collaborators, Kish Mauve members Mima Stilwell and Jim Elliott.{{cite AV media notes|title=85% Proof|title-link=85% Proof|others=Will Young|year=2002|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Island Records}} Production on the track was helmed by Richard X with whom Young had previously worked on his fifth studio Echoes (2011). One ouf of only a few songs Young wrote for Lexicon, he compared "All the Songs" with his 2011 single "Jealousy," calling it one "of the best songs. I have ever written. In my life."{{cite web|last=Jack|first=White|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/will-young-on-his-new-album-lexicon-and-going-independent-i-ve-never-been-confident-about-my-song-writing-__26734/|title=Will Young on his new album Lexicon and going independent: “I’ve never been confident about my song writing” |website=Official Charts Company|date=26 June 2019 |access-date=20 January 2023}}
Critical reception
Attitude editor Will Stroude called the song "fantastic" and described it as "a melancholy slice of electo-pop heartbreak that recalls the understated brilliance of 2011's "Jealousy."{{cite web|last=Will|first=Stroude |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/will-young-strips-naked-in-the-hot-new-video-for-comeback-single-all-the-songs-watch-298520/|title=Will Young strips naked in the hot new video for comeback single ‘All The Songs’ – WATCH|website=Attitude|date=22 March 2019|access-date=20 January 2023}} The Times called "All the Song" a "classic Young — melodic and melancholic."{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/will-young-interview-the-pop-idol-star-on-his-new-album-lexicon-and-how-he-dealt-with-piers-morgan-6hzpjbtkq|title=Will Young interview: the Pop Idol star on his new album, Lexicon and how he dealt with Piers Morgan|website=The Times|access-date=20 January 2023}} In her review of parent album Lexicon, musicOMH critic Helen Clarke noted that the songs "starts with urgently delivered words almost spoken over a faltering piano before lunging into a bouncing, Robyn-esque banger. The lyrics bely a feel good, dance-floor friendly track [...] It's a bold start that lays out what Young wanted to do with this record; archive his struggles and announce his return to music with renewed enthusiasm."{{cite web |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/will-young-lexicon |title=Will Young – Lexicon |first=Helen |last=Clarke |date=21 June 2019 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=musicOMH}}
Chart performance
"All the Songs" became Young's second consecutive lead single to miss the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart. It however debuted and peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart in the week ending 4 April 2019.
Music video
A video for "All the Songs" was directed by Rankin and released on 22 March 2019.{{cite web|last=David |first=Knight|url=https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2019/03/27/will-young-all-songs-rankin/57959|title=Will Young 'All Of The Songs' by Rankin|website=thegayuk.com|date=27 March 2019|access-date=20 January 2023}} In the visuals, Young takes on an array of stripper personas, including a sailor, a biker, a cowboy and a businessman.{{cite web|url=https://www.hungertv.com/editorial/rankin-and-will-young-team-up-for-new-video-for-all-the-songs/|title=Rankin and Will Young team up for new video for All the Songs|website=hungertv.tv|date=22 March 2019|access-date=20 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/11/will-young-interview-make-it-easy-on-yourself/|title=Will Young Interview: Make It Easy On Yourself|website=classicpopmag.com|date=4 November 2019|access-date=20 January 2023}}
Credits and personnel
- Jim Eliot – writer
- Pete Hofmann – mixing
- Alex Maedows – bass guitar
- Jamie McCredie – guitar
- Mima Stilwell – writer
- Richard X – mixing, producer
- Will Young – vocals, writer
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for "All the Songs" ! Chart (2019) ! Peak |
| {{single chart|UKdownload|24|date=20190329|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 January 2023|refname="UKdownload"}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for "All the Songs" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| 22 March 2019 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/50eN3rqBI3k3kUDmckuE8T|title=Will Young – ALL the Songs|website=Spotify|access-date=20 January 2023}} |
|---|