Cycles (song)
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Cycles
| cover =
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = Promotional single
| artist = Tove Lo
| album = Blue Lips
| released = {{Start date|df=y|2017|11|17}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Synth-pop
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=28}}
| label = Republic
| writer = {{hlist|Tove Lo|Joe Janiak|Ludvig Söderberg|Jakob Jerlström}}
| producer = The Struts
}}
"Cycles" (stylized as "cycles" on the tracklist) is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo, from her third studio album, Blue Lips. It was released on 17 November 2017 as a promotional single. It was written by Tove Lo, Joe Janiak, Ludvig Söderberg and produced by The Struts. Lyrically, it talks about being trapped in a never-ending relationship loop. A music video directed by Malia James was released on 4 December 2018.
Composition
"Cycles" is a three-minute, twenty-eight-second synth-pop song, written by Tove Lo, Joe Janiak, Ludvig Söderberg and produced by The Sturts. Written in the key of G major, "Cycles" has a tempo of 105 beats per minute and features "baby-cry production, is dripping with self-deprecation."{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2017/11/17/tove-lo-blue-lips-album-review|title=Tove Lo: Blue Lips Album Review|website=DIY|first=Alim|last=Kheraj|date=17 November 2017|accessdate=9 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.songkeybpm.com/Info/cycles-Tove-Lo/5rUETOajWWAqpjamjDD4cT|title=Key and BPM for Cycles by Tove Lo|website=Song Key BPM|accessdate=29 May 2018}} Lyrically, the song is about being trapped in a never-ending relationship loop, indicated by the lines: "How can I change it when I don't know when I'm in it?/ I'm in a cycle/ Swear this is different/ Don't wanna end it/ If you leave then I keep spinnin'". According to Xavier Piedra from Billboard she "sings in the chorus while she holds her head in frustration."{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8488649/tove-lo-cycles-music-video|title=Tove Lo Spins Around in Neon Circles for 'Cycles' Music Video: Watch|website=Billboard|first=Xavier|last=Piedra|date=4 December 2018|accessdate=5 December 2018}}
Critical reception
Danny Madion of The Michigan Daily wrote that the song "walks listeners through a narrative of falling in love with an ex-lover. It's sad and earnest but doesn't lead to a notable chorus you’d sing in the car.".{{cite web|url=https://www.michigandaily.com/section/arts/tove-lo-blue-lips-review|title=Tove Lo turns to a sadder brand of pop on 'Blue Lips'|website=The Michigan Daily|first=Danny|last=Madion|date=21 November 2017|accessdate=9 January 2018}} Alex Clarke of The Observer described "Cycles" and "Stranger" as "honest depictions of love that are nothing in the way of cliché."{{cite web|url=http://observer.case.edu/head-to-toe-tove-lo/|title=Head to toe Tove Lo|website=The Observer|first=Alex|last=Clarke|date=30 November 2017|accessdate=9 January 2018}}
Music video
The music video for "Cycles" was directed by Malia James and it was released on 4 December 2018 on her Vevo channel. It was filmed as a one-shot and it was initially previewed in her short film Blue Lips in the post-credits scene where she spins around in a chair while the camera circles around her in blurry motion while lights are flashing all over her body.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7689158/tove-lo-cycles-video-review?edge=1|title=Visual Queen! Tove Lo Drops Dizzying 'Cycles' Video|website=Idolator|first=Mike|last=Wass|date=4 December 2018|accessdate=5 December 2018}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|title=Tove Lo / BLUE LIPS ([lady wood phase II]) TIDAL|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/81059029|website=Tidal|accessdate=8 January 2018}}
- Tove Lo − vocals, songwriter
- Ludvig Söderberg − songwriter
- Joe Janiak − songwriter
- Jakob Jerlström − songwriter, backing vocalist
- The Struts − producer, programmer
- Chris Gehringer − mastering engineer
- John Hanes − assistant mixer
- Serban Ghenea − mixer
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! Chart (2017) ! Peak |
| scope="row"| Sweden (Veckolista Heatseeker){{cite web |url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=215&dfom=20170047 |title=Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 47, 24 november 2017 |language=Swedish |publisher=Sverigetopplistan |accessdate=8 January 2018}}
| 7 |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|3u8x-FDL-ME|Tove Lo – Cycles}}
{{Tove Lo}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Tove Lo
Category:Songs written by Ludvig Söderberg