BTSTU
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = BTSTU
| cover = BTSTU.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Jai Paul
| album = Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)
| released = 21 April 2011
| recorded = 2007
| studio = Home recording (Rayners Lane, London)
| genre = {{hlist|Indie electronic|alternative R&B}}
| length = 3:30
| label = XL
| writer = Jai Paul
| producer = Jai Paul
| next_title = Jasmine
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|UUBAFPIHETA|"BTSTU (Edit)"}}|header=Audio video|type=single}}
}}
"BTSTU" is a song by British songwriter and record producer Jai Paul. A demo recording of the song received widespread blog coverage throughout 2010 after having been uploaded to Paul's MySpace page, as well as receiving numerous plays on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. The BBC's Zane Lowe made "BTSTU (Demo)" his Hottest Record in the World. On the strength of this demo, Paul was long-listed for the BBC Sound of 2011 poll.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2011/artists/jaipaul/ "Sound of 2011 – Jai Paul"], BBC Music. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
Release
An edited version of "BTSTU" entitled "BTSTU (Edit)" was officially released on 21 April 2011, via XL Recordings.[https://music.apple.com/gb/album/btstu-edit-single/430879143 "BTSTU (Edit) on iTunes"], iTunes. Retrieved 23 April 2011. The song received airplay again on UK national radio by DJs including Gilles Peterson, Annie Mac, Nick Grimshaw, Reggie Yates, and Fearne Cotton, with Zane Lowe making it his Hottest Record in the World for a second time.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/zanelowe/2011/04/hottest_record_-_jai_paul_-_bt.html Zane Lowe's Hottest Record In The World – Jai Paul – BTSTU], BBC. Retrieved 23 June 2011. Paul commented in 2011 that the name of the track is an acronym for "Back To Save The Universe", a reference to a lyric from the Radiohead song "Airbag".{{Cite web|url=http://nishajl.com/2010/09/08/jai-paul-btstu/|title=Musings}}
Critical reception
The single received favourable reviews from the Daily Telegraph{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/lucyjones/100059054/top-ten-songs-of-2011-a-year-without-a-classic-pop-hit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108081252/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/lucyjones/100059054/top-ten-songs-of-2011-a-year-without-a-classic-pop-hit/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2012 |title=Top Ten Songs Of 2011 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=25 December 2011 |accessdate=25 December 2011}} and American blog 'The Wounded Jukebox'.{{cite web|url=http://thewoundedjukebox.com/2011/06/06/the-best-songs-of-2011-so-far-matts-list/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625121143/http://thewoundedjukebox.com/2011/06/06/the-best-songs-of-2011-so-far-matts-list/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 June 2011 |title=The Wounded Jukebox |website=The Wounded Jukebox |date=6 June 2011 |accessdate=25 December 2011}} Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork compared the single to "the unmistakable lope of one J Dilla".[http://www.pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/8726-the-top-100-tracks-of-2011/8/ "The Top 100 Tracks Of 2011"], Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
"BTSTU" was included in the end-of-year lists in 2011 by Pitchfork,[http://pitchfork.tumblr.com/post/14169270948/jai-pauls-btstu-29-on-our-top-100-tracks-of "Jai Paul's BTSTU"], Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 December 2011. The Fader, and Pigeons and Planes.{{cite web|url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2011/12/pps-best-songs-of-the-year-2011.html |title=Pigeons And Planes |website=Pigeons And Planes |date=21 December 2011 |accessdate=25 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108234543/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2011/12/pps-best-songs-of-the-year-2011.html |archivedate=8 January 2012}} The Washington Post mentioned "BTSTU" in their 'Singles File: Best of 2011', describing it as "a precursor to the entire career of James Blake".{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-singles-file-best-of-2011/2011/12/20/gIQAF5wLJP_story.html |title=The Singles File 2011 |work=The Washington Post |date=20 December 2011 |accessdate=25 December 2011 |author=Allison Stewart}}
Legacy
The song has been influential on underground as well as mainstream pop music in the 2010s.{{cite web |title=How Jai Paul changed the sound of pop with just two songs |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/37374/1/how-jai-paul-changed-the-sound-of-pop-with-just-two-songs |website=Dazed |date=12 September 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Bassil |first1=Ryan |last2=Jones |first2=Daisy |title=How Jai Paul's Influence Has Spread Beyond Simple Rip-Offs |url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/ev3xae/how-jai-pauls-influence-has-spread-beyond-simple-rip-offs |work=Noisey |date=19 November 2018}} The song had struck a chord internationally. The Canadian rapper Drake leaked a track titled "Dreams Money Can Buy" which sampled "BTSTU (Demo)" in May 2011,{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/drake/270926-drake-leaks-track-dreams-money-can-buy-take-care-album |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731070953/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/drake/270926-drake-leaks-track-dreams-money-can-buy-take-care-album |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2011 |title=Drake Leaks New Song |website=Mtv.co.uk |date=21 May 2011 |accessdate=28 August 2011}} which got resampled by Charli XCX in June 2012.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-12 |title=Charli XCX Takes on Drake/Jai Paul, Blood Diamonds, Blood Orange, More on New Mixtape |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/46823-charli-xcx-takes-on-drakejai-paul-blood-diamonds-blood-orange-more-on-new-mixtape/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} In July 2011 the song was sampled again for Travis Garland and JoJo's duet "Paint",[http://www.singersroom.com/content/2011-07-30/Travis-Garland-Paint-Feat-JoJo/ "Travis Garland – Paint ft JoJo"], Singers Room. Retrieved 23 July 2011. and New York singer-songwriter Niia uploaded a cover version of "BTSTU" to her SoundCloud page.[http://soundcloud.com/niia/btstu "Niia BTSTU"], Soundcloud. Retrieved 23 August 2011. The 2012 song "End of Time" by Beyoncé also sampled the song.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004VIBEO8 |title=BTSTU – Jai Paul – Amazon.co.uk |website=Amazon.co.uk |accessdate=17 June 2012}}
| title1 = BTSTU
| note1 = edit
| length1 = 3:30
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 2019 remastered vinyl{{Cite web|url=https://jai-paul.com/btstu_remasterd_vinyl|title=BTSTU Remastered — Vinyl [12"]|publisher=Jai Paul|accessdate=9 June 2019}}
| title1 = BTSTU
| note1 = edit
| length1 = 3:29
| title2 = BTSTU
| note2 = demo
| length2 = 3:41
}}
Personnel
- Jai Paul – vocals, electric guitar, drums, synthesizers, programming, SFX, engineering, mixing, sound design {{small|(remastered vinyl)}}
- Anup Paul – additional vocals, sound design, mastering {{small|(edit)}}
- Sam Pickering – saxophone
- Dave Cooley – mastering {{small|(remastered vinyl)}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2011)
! Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/110528cluk.txt |title=CHART: CLUK Update 28.05.2011 (wk20) |website=zobbel.de |accessdate=17 June 2012}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 139 |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Version
! Date ! Format ! Label |
|---|
| scope="row"| Demo
| 2010 | rowspan="2"|Digital download | {{N/A}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| Edit
| 21 April 2011 | rowspan="3"|XL |
| 6 June 2011
| CD-R |
| scope="row"| Remastered
| 1 June 2019 | 12-inch single{{cite web|url=https://jai-paul.com/btstu_remasterd_vinyl|title=Jai Paul|access-date=6 June 2019}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Btstu}}