Headlock (song)
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Citations needed|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Headlock
| cover = ImogenHeapHeadlock.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Imogen Heap
| album = Speak for Yourself
| B-side = Mic Check
| released = 2 October 2006
| recorded = 2004
| studio =
| genre = Electropop
| length = * 3:36 (album version)
- 3:13 (Immi's Radio Mix)
| label = White Rabbit
| writer = Imogen Heap
| producer = Imogen Heap
| prev_title = Goodnight and Go
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Not Now But Soon
| next_year = 2008
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|roPiy2JydwA|"Headlock"}}}}
}}
"Headlock" is a song by English singer-songwriter Imogen Heap as an third single from her second studio album, Speak for Yourself (2005). It followed "Hide and Seek" and "Goodnight and Go".
The single initially debuted at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart in 2006, and, in 2025, peaked at number 30 on the chart and became her first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 after it went viral on TikTok due to its association with the video game Mouthwashing.
Release and composition
After appearing on Imogen Heap's second studio album Speak for Yourself, which was independently released by her in July 2005, "Headlock" was released as a single on 16 October 2006 through White Rabbit, a sublabel of Sony BMG run by Nick Raphael that later merged into Epic Records UK in 2007.{{cite web |title=Sony BMG U.K. relaunches Epic |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sony-bmg-uk-relaunches-epic-132868/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=6 May 2025 |location=London |date=27 March 2007}} The single included a radio edit of the song, while its B-side is a remix of the song by High Contrast.
Heap wrote and produced "Headlock". It is a rhythmic{{cite web |last1=Luerssen |first1=John D. |title=Speak for Yourself - Imogen Heap |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-for-yourself-mw0000348343 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=18 May 2025}} electropop{{cite web|first1= Grant|last1= Rindner|first2= Joe|last2= Price|title= A Breakdown of A$AP Rocky's Most Surprising Samples|website= Complex|date= April 19, 2018|url= https://www.complex.com/music/a/grant-rindner/asap-rocky-surprising-samples-list|accessdate= July 30, 2024}} song that runs for slightly over three minutes. Heap sings with a "breathy" vocal over synthesizers, harp, and drums, and the song builds up to what Nick Hyman of Under the Radar described as a "boisterous synth beat explosion".
Critical and commercial performance
David Renshaw of Gigwise gave "Headlock" four out of five stars, writing that it was "a fantastically quirky pop song" and praising it for its "twists, turns and slides".{{cite web |last1=Renshaw |first1=David |title=Imogen Heap - 'Headlock' |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/tracks/23031/Imogen-Heap---Headlock-White-Rabbit-Released-161006/ |website=Gigwise |access-date=18 May 2025 |date=2 October 2006}} In a review of Speak for Yourself for Under the Radar, Nick Hyman wrote that "Headlock" "sets the tone fantastically" for the album.{{cite web |last1=Hyman |first1=Nick |title=Imogen Heap: Speak for Yourself |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/imogenheapreview.html |website=Under the Radar |access-date=18 May 2025}}
"Headlock" debuted at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart for the week dated 22 October 2006.{{cite web |last1=Dredge |first1=Stuart |title=TikTok and Mouthwashing send Imogen Heap's 'Headlock' back into the charts |url=https://musically.com/2025/03/04/tiktok-and-mouthwashing-send-imogen-heaps-headlock-back-into-the-charts/ |website=Music Ally |access-date=23 May 2025 |date=4 March 2025}} Upon its release, Heap requested to have it added to BBC Radio 1's rotation, but was told by the station that, since they already had Nerina Pallot on their playlist, they did not need another female singer-songwriter.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Andrew |title=60 Seconds: Imogen Heap |url=https://metro.co.uk/2006/10/23/60-seconds-imogen-heap-301429/ |website=Metro |access-date=18 May 2025 |date=23 October 2006}} The song charted at number 50 on the UK Independent Singles on 8 November 2024,{{cite web |last1=Denis |first1=Kyle |last2=Lipshutz |first2=Jason |last3=Unterberger |first3=Andrew |title=Tyler, the Creator Catalog Rises in Anticipation of 'Chromakopia' Album, 'St. Chroma' Has Biggest First-Day Debut |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/tyler-the-creator-catalog-streams-chromakopia-trending-up-1235815544/ |website=Billboard |access-date=25 December 2024 |date=30 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/imogen-heap-headlock/|title=Imogen Heap - Headlock|website=Official Charts|date=8 November 2024|access-date=11 November 2024}}{{Better source needed|date=December 2024}} and at number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2025.{{Cite web |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=2025-01-22 |title=Imogen Heap Charts on Hot 100 With 2005's 'Headlock' Thanks to TikTok |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/imogen-heap-charts-hot-100-headlock-thanks-to-tiktok-1235243427/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}
Other appearances
"Headlock" was sampled on ASAP Rocky's song "Angels" from his 2013 studio album Long. Live. ASAP.
Track listings
CD single and 7" vinyl
- Headlock (Immi's radio mix) – 3:13
- Mic Check – 4:35
Promo vinyl & CD
- Headlock (Immi's radio edit) – 3:16
- Headlock (High Contrast remix) (edit) – 3:25
Charts
{{col-begin|width=70%}}
{{col 2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ 2006 weekly chart performance for "Headlock" !scope="col"|Chart (2006) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|UK|74|date=20061028|refname=UK1|rowheader=true|access-date=28 February 2025}} |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2024–2025 weekly chart performance for "Headlock" !scope="col"|Chart (2024–2025) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|72|artist=Imogen Heap|rowheader=true|access-date=12 March 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|97|artist=Imogen Heap|rowheader=true|access-date=4 March 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland4|43|date=20250228|rowheader=true|access-date=28 February 2025}} |
| scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s10-3-2/|title=2025 10-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|date=7 March 2025|access-date=7 March 2025}}
| 31 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Lithuania Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/lt/weekly/20250131-20250206|title=Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Feb 6, 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=9 February 2025}}
| 60 |
| scope="row"| Norway (VG-lista){{cite web|url=https://topplista.no/charts/singles/2025-w14/|title=Singel 2025 uke 14|publisher=VG-lista|access-date=5 April 2025}}
| 68 |
| scope="row"| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215/?dspy=2025&dspp=9|title=Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 9|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=1 March 2025}}
| 5 |
| {{single chart|UK|30|date=20250228|rowheader=true|access-date=28 February 2025}} |
| {{single chart|UKindependent|4|date=20250117|rowheader=true|access-date=17 January 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|82|artist=Imogen Heap|rowheader=true|access-date=15 March 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|7|artist=Imogen Heap|rowheader=true|access-date=15 March 2025}} |
{{col 2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for "Headlock" ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Lithuania Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/lt/monthly/202502|title=Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: February 2025|publisher=TopHit|access-date=8 March 2025}}
| 70 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Headlock"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Imogen Heap|title=Headlock|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2025|id=20873-5567-1|access-date=20 March 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Imogen Heap}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Headlock (Song)}}