Hey QT
{{short description|2014 single by QT}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Hey QT
| type = single
| cover = hey qt cover.jpg
| artist = QT
| album =
| released = {{start date|2014|8|26|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| genre =
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=55}}
| label = XL
| writer = {{hlist|Alexander Cook|Sophie Xeon}}
| producer = {{hlist|A. G. Cook|Sophie}}
| chronology = Hayden Dunham
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = No Shadow
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|1MQUleX1PeA|"Hey QT"}}}}
}}
"Hey QT" is the only single by the one-off music project QT. The project consisted of American performance artist Hayden Dunham, English producers A. G. Cook and Sophie, and British singer Harriet Pittard. The song was released on 26 August 2014 via XL Recordings.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/56465-sophie-and-ag-cook-are-qt-announce-debut-single-hey-qt/ |title=Sophie and A. G. Cook are QT Announce Debut Single Hey QT |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2014-08-29 |accessdate=2014-08-29 |archive-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828185327/http://pitchfork.com/news/56465-sophie-and-ag-cook-are-qt-announce-debut-single-hey-qt/ |url-status=dead }} The single's release was accompanied by a photo of QT with a blonde wig trimmed into a messy bob cut.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefader.com/2014/11/26/gen-f-qt-is-the-horseebooks-of-music |title=QT Is The @Horse_Ebooks Of Music |last=Friedlander |first=Emilie |date=2014-11-26 |website=The Fader |accessdate=2015-01-19}}{{cite web |url=http://www.vogue.com/1539827/what-is-pc-music-sophie-qt-ag-book/ |title=A Visual Primer on PC Music, London's Weirdest New Subculture |last=Frank |first=Alex |date=2014-09-19 |website=Vogue |accessdate=2015-01-19 |archive-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204044241/http://www.vogue.com/1539827/what-is-pc-music-sophie-qt-ag-book/ |url-status=dead }} The promotional image was made by Diamond Wright, a team that includes PC Music musician Hannah Diamond.
Composition
{{Listen
| filename = QT - Hey QT sample.ogg
| title = "Hey QT" (2014)
| description = Peter Robinson characterized the song as "arguably the first hipster novelty single."{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/11/novelty-hit-single-kung-fu-fighting-crazy-frog |title='You become an arse overnight': the pitfalls of having a hit novelty single |last=Robinson |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Robinson (journalist) |date=2014-09-11 |website=The Guardian |accessdate=2014-01-19}}
| pos = right
}}
"Hey QT" is a dance-pop song composed in the key of F major, with a tempo of 129 beats per minute.{{cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/qt-hey_qt |title=QT 'Hey QT' |last=Adams |first=Gregory |date=2014-08-26 |website=Exclaim! |accessdate=2015-01-19}}{{cite web |url=https://pro.beatport.com/release/hey-qt/1363818 |title=QT — Hey QT [XL Recordings] |date=2014-08-26 |publisher=Beatport |access-date=2015-03-30 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306015754/https://pro.beatport.com/release/hey-qt/1363818 |url-status=dead }} Its production uses synthesizer melodies and an irregular beat {{sic|comprised|hide=y| of}} staccato snare hits.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/17065-qt-hey-qt/ |title=QT: 'Hey QT' |last=Fallon |first=Patric |date=2014-08-26 |publisher=Pitchfork Media |accessdate=2015-01-19}} It features a call and response hook of "Hey QT! Yeah?".{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/485-pc-music/ |title=PC Music's Twisted Electronic Pop: A User's Manual |last=Sherburne |first=Philip |date=2014-09-17 |publisher=Pitchfork Media |accessdate=2015-01-19 |archive-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121012759/http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/485-pc-music/ |url-status=dead }} Although Dunham portrays QT, the song's vocals are actually by British singer Harriet Pittard, who also records as Zoee.{{cite web |last=Hussey |first=Allison |title=Hayden Dunham, Formerly of PC Music's QT, Shares First Solo Song: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/hayden-dunham-formerly-of-pc-music-qt-shares-first-solo-song-listen/ |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=2021-09-09 |access-date=2021-01-26}} Her voice was shifted to a higher pitch,{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9555-the-100-best-tracks-of-2014/9/|title=The Best Tracks of 2014 |last=Mapes |first=Jillian |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=2014-09-30 |accessdate=2014-09-30}} and the song has a girlish, cute aesthetic.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/pc-music-is-post-internet-art/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110194238/http://thump.vice.com/words/pc-music-is-post-internet-art |url-status=live |archive-date=10 January 2015 |title=PC Music is Post-Internet Art |last1=Pearl |first1=Max |last2=Lhooq |first2=Michelle |date=2015-01-08 |website=Vice |access-date=2015-01-19 }} She said that the lyrics describe a "feeling of sensing someone's presence even when they are not in the same physical space". "Hey QT" includes a metanarrative about the song itself.{{cite web |url=http://diymag.com/2014/08/29/tracks-qt-death-from-above-1979-more |title=Tracks: QT, Death From Above 1979 & More |last=MacNeill |first=Kyle |date=2014-08-29 |website=DIY |accessdate=2015-01-19}}
Release and promotion
The song was debuted at a Boiler Room show in Los Angeles promoting Hudson Mohawke's Chimes EP. A digital broadcast by Eric Wareheim opened the performance.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/56572-sophie-and-qt-perform-boiler-room-sets-video/ |title=Sophie and QT Perform Boiler Room Sets: Video |last=Beauchemin |first=Molly |date=2014-09-09 |publisher=Pitchfork Media |accessdate=2015-01-19}} Dunham performed the song as QT, opening the act by sitting down and reading a fashion magazine while a voiceover endorsed the QT energy drink. Dunham then lip synced "Hey QT" while appearing disinterested.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/12/pc-music-sophie-qt-ag-cook-trend-of-the-year-best-of-2014/ |title=Trend of the Year: How PC Music Chewed Up Pop Conventions |last=Weiss |first=Dan |date=2014-12-17 |website=Spin |accessdate=2015-01-19}}
Diplo premiered his remix of "Hey QT" on 6 March 2015 through Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show.{{cite web |url=http://diymag.com/2015/03/11/diplo-shares-edit-of-qts-hey-qt |title=Diplo shares edit of QT's 'Hey QT' |last=Milton |first=Jamie |date=2015-03-11 |website=DIY |access-date=2015-03-11}} His reworking is more subdued, with a drop leading into the chorus.{{cite web |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1786793/qt-hey-qt-diplo-remix/mp3s/ |title=QT – 'Hey QT (Diplo Remix)' |last=Rettig |first=James |date=2015-03-11 |publisher=Stereogum |access-date=2015-03-11}} The remix was made available as a free download on WeTransfer.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-video-for-hey-qt-is-the-dystopian-energy-drink-commercial-weve-all-been-waiting-for/ |title=The Video For 'Hey QT' is the Dystopian Energy Drink Commercial We've All Been Waiting For |last=Harrison |first=Angus |date=2015-03-25 |website=Vice |access-date=2015-03-25}}
Critical reception
Reaction to "Hey QT" was divided; many people responded with confusion or repulsion.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/pc-music-are-they-really-the-worst-thing-to-ever-happen-to-dance-music-clive-martin-017/ |title=PC Music: Are They Really the Worst Thing Ever to Happen to Dance Music? |last=Martin |first=Clive | date=2014-09-12 |website=Vice |access-date=2015-01-19 }} It received some praise from music critics, placing 84th on The Village Voice{{'}}s 2014 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2014/ |title=The Village Voice's 42nd Pazz & Jop Music Critics' Poll: The Last Word on the Year in Music |website=The Village Voice |access-date=2015-02-15 |archive-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203171441/https://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2014/ |url-status=dead }} "Hey QT" was chosen as number 14 on Pitchfork Media's "100 Best Tracks of 2014". Spin ranked the song 4th on its list of "The 101 Best Songs of 2014",{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/12/101-best-songs-2014/?page=9 |title=The 101 Best Songs of 2014 |date=2014-12-08 |website=Spin |accessdate=2015-01-19}} The Fader listed the song 3rd,{{cite web |url=http://www.thefader.com/2014/12/09/best-tracks-of-2014 |title=The FADER's 116 Best Tracks Of 2014 |last=McDermott |first=Patrick D. |date=2014-12-09 |website=The Fader |accessdate=2015-01-19}} and Fact magazine placed "Hey QT" 37th on its year-end list.{{cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2014/12/11/the-50-best-tracks-of-2014/15/ |title=The 50 best tracks of 2014 |date=2014-12-11 |website=Fact |access-date=2015-03-21}} The Forty-Five{{'s}} Sophie Walker named it the 39th best hyperpop song of all time.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Sophie |date=2021-02-10 |title=The 45 best hyperpop songs of all time |url=https://thefortyfive.com/opinion/best-hyperpop-songs-ever/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=The Forty-Five |language=en-GB}}
Music video
The music video for "Hey QT", directed by Bradley & Pablo, was released on 25 March 2015.{{cite web |url=https://i-d.co/article/pc-music-drop-hey-qt-video-and-spread-happiness/ |title=pc music drop hey qt video and spread happiness |date=2015-03-26 |website=i-D |access-date=2015-03-26}} The video depicts QT developing the DrinkQT energy drink.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/58981-qt-shares-hey-qt-video/ |title=QT Shares 'Hey QT' Video |last=Gordon |first=Jeremy |date=2015-03-25 |publisher=Pitchfork Media |access-date=2015-03-25}} A laboratory measures her emotional state and distills it into the drink's formula.{{cite web |url=http://www.onepointfour.co/2015/03/26/hey-qt/ |title=Hey QT |date=2015-03-26 |publisher=One Point Four |access-date=2015-03-30}} The video features CGI animations of DrinkQT, which were simulated in RealFlow and rendered using 3ds Max.{{cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/123331562 |title=QT - Making Of Video |last=Mzhavanadze |first=Beso |date=2015-03-26 |publisher=Vimeo |access-date=2015-03-27}} It references Gap advertisements and includes product placement for Beats headphones.{{cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/03/25/watch-qt-video-hey-qt/ |title=Watch QT's virtual reality advert-video for 'Hey QT' |date=2015-03-25 |website=Fact |access-date=2015-03-25}}{{cite web |url=http://diymag.com/2015/03/25/qt-unveils-elixir-fuelled-video-for-hey-qt |title=QT unveils elixir-fuelled video for 'Hey QT' |last=Milton |first=Jamie |date=2015-03-25 |website=DIY |access-date=2015-03-25}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|1MQUleX1PeA|"Hey QT"}}
{{A. G. Cook}}
{{Sophie}}
{{authority control}}
Category:XL Recordings singles
Category:Songs written by A. G. Cook
Category:Songs written by Sophie (musician)