Miracle Aligner
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Miracle Aligner
| cover = Miracle Aligner (Front Cover).png
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = The Last Shadow Puppets
| album =
Everything You've Come to Expect
| released = 28 March 2016
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 4:05
| label = Domino
| writer = {{hlist|Alex Turner|Alexandra Savior{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.52dd5ecb-f501-11e5-9be2-1efaae453174 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415035732/https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.52dd5ecb-f501-11e5-9be2-1efaae453174 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2016 |title=Listen to "World Record: The Last Shadow Puppets - "Miracle Aligner"" posted by Zane Lowe on Apple Music. |publisher=Apple Music |date=2016-03-28 |accessdate=2016-03-30}}}}
| producer = James Ford
| prev_title = Aviation
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External music video
| type = single
| header = Music video
| 1 = {{YouTube|VPsyynjHpbY|"Miracle Aligner"}}
}}
}}
"Miracle Aligner" is a song by English baroque pop band The Last Shadow Puppets released on 28 March 2016, through Domino Recording Company.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-last-shadow-puppets/92582 |title=Listen to The Last Shadow Puppets' new song 'Miracle Aligner' |publisher=NME |date=2016-03-28 |accessdate=2016-03-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1868030/the-last-shadow-puppets-miracle-aligner/mp3s/ |title=The Last Shadow Puppets – "Miracle Aligner" |publisher=Stereogum |date=2016-03-28 |accessdate=2016-03-30}} The song was included on their second studio album, Everything You've Come to Expect (2016). Written by frontman Alex Turner, singer-songwriter Alexandra Savior, and produced by James Ford, "Miracle Aligner" is a baroque pop, soul-pop, and sophisti-pop track. Savior described the song as being "obviously about a coke dealer."
The accompanying music video was directed by Saam Farahmand, and shot at Hotel Café Royal in London. The video is the last part of a trilogy entitled, "The Italian Saga", and features Turner and Kane in an empty ornate room, dancing in a choreographed manner, while being observed by a film crew. It was released on 15 May 2016, and is the band's most popular video. The Last Shadow Puppets performed the song on television shows such as Le Grand Journal and The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Background and release
Turner had the idea for the song and a few chords, he shared them with Kane, who responded "positively."{{Cite web|title=The Last Shadow Puppets: interview Sirius XMU Sessions|last=Eliscu|first=Jenny|url=https://www.tumblr.com/strangedaysindeed9/144278479690/15-minutes-with-the-last-shadow-puppets-interview|date=1 April 2016|website=Sirius XM}} He said the beginnings of the song were "really old," and that the idea "had always been around" and "came back in the end."{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.52dd5ecb-f501-11e5-9be2-1efaae453174 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415035732/https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.52dd5ecb-f501-11e5-9be2-1efaae453174 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2016 |title=Listen to "World Record: The Last Shadow Puppets - "Miracle Aligner"" posted by Zane Lowe on Apple Music. |publisher=Apple Music |date=2016-03-28 |accessdate=2016-03-30}} When writing for Alexandra Savior's debut record she and Turner completed the lyrics. They didn't feel it fit on her record, so Turner brought it back to Kane and "ended up being under the Shadow Puppets umbrella."{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.52dd5ecb-f501-11e5-9be2-1efaae453174 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415035732/https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.52dd5ecb-f501-11e5-9be2-1efaae453174 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2016 |title=Listen to "World Record: The Last Shadow Puppets - "Miracle Aligner"" posted by Zane Lowe on Apple Music. |publisher=Apple Music |date=2016-03-28 |accessdate=2016-03-30}} On rejecting it, Savior said the song is "obviously about a coke dealer - it's a lifestyle that I didn't relate to myself."{{cite news |url=http://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/alexandra-savior/11541 |title=Interview: Alexandra Savior on her upcoming debut album |work=Coup De Main|date=10 October 2016 |accessdate=16 July 2018}} In another interview she added, "It always felt like it was more Alex's song though. He was totally in love with the song. [...] I'm just happy that the song saw the light of day. It's great to be involved in music that's so well received."{{cite news|last=rock|first=Kate |url=https://fastforward-magazine.de/interview-mit-alexandra-savior-die-schoenheit-der-melancholie/|title=Interview mit Alexandra Savior: Die Schönheit der Melancholie |work=Fast Forward Magazine|date=June 1, 2016|language=de|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230423154917/https://fastforward-magazine.de/interview-mit-alexandra-savior-die-schoenheit-der-melancholie/|archive-date=April 23, 2023}} The song was premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 Radio show, where Zane named it his "World Record" for March 28, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/listen_the_last_shadow_puppets_-_miracle_aligner |title=Listen: The Last Shadow Puppets - "Miracle Aligner" |publisher=Under the Radar |date=2016-03-28 |accessdate=2016-03-30}} The duo jokingly claimed the song was inspired by a "yoga teacher" and a "make-believe wrestler."{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/03/the-last-shadow-puppets-share-dreamlike-new-song-miracle-aligner-listen/ |title=The Last Shadow Puppets share dreamlike new song "Miracle Aligner" — listen |publisher=Consequence of Sound |date= 28 March 2016 |accessdate=30 April 2016}}
Composition
Musically, "Miracle Aligner" has been described as "honeyed soul-pop"{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-last-shadow-puppets/16427 |title=The Last Shadow Puppets – 'Everything You've Come To Expect' Review |work=NME |first=Barry |last=Nicolson |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=31 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324222736/http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-last-shadow-puppets/16427 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} and "sophisti-pop".{{cite web |url=https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2017/01/05/transmissions-top-tracks-of-2016 |title=Transmission's Top Tracks of 2016 |work=The Current|first=Jake |last=Rudh |date=5 January 2017 |access-date=26 March 2023}} On this song, it has been said the album is at its most "lush" and "seductive."{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-last-shadow-puppets-joke-around-about-everything-except-their-music-6753834|title=The Last Shadow Puppets Joke Around About Everything, Except Their Music|first=Andy|last=Hermann|date=28 March 2016|work=L.A. Weekly}} The song has a "breezy melody."{{cite news|title=Alex and Miles' guide to the key tracks on the album - The Full NME Cover Interview |work=NME |first=Kevin Eg |last=Perry |date=22 January 2016}} Instrumentally, it makes use of "tremolo-heavy guitars."{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/24/the-last-shadow-puppets-everything-youve-come-to-expect-review-more-a-smirking-in-joke-than-a-band |title=The Last Shadow Puppets: Everything You've Come to Expect review – more a smirking in-joke than a band |work=The Guardian |first=Alexis |last=Petridis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=24 March 2016 |access-date=3 July 2016}} The chorus has been said to be reminiscent of Turner's work with Arctic Monkeys.{{cite web |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/last-shadow-puppets-everything-youve-come-to-expect|title=The Last Shadow Puppets – Everything You've Come To Expect |work=The Skinny |first=Aidan |last=Ryan |date=1 April 2016 |access-date=18 May 2023}}
Music video
The music video for "Miracle Aligner" is the last part of a trilogy entitled, "The Italian Saga", directed by Saam Farahmand. It has been described as "A tale of Italian organized crime, love and music in stunning Italian 60s cinemascope".{{cite web|url=https://www.blacksheepstudios.co.uk/the-last-shadow-puppets/|title=The Italian Saga|publisher=Black Sheep Studios|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230211213517/https://www.blacksheepstudios.co.uk/the-last-shadow-puppets/|archive-date=11 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://fixerfilms.com/2119/new-work-tlsp-everything-youve-come-to-expect/|title=NEW WORK: TLSP "EVERYTHING YOU'VE COME TO EXPECT"|date=10 March 2016|accessdate=1 August 2021|publisher=Fixer Films|archive-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731191342/https://fixerfilms.com/2119/new-work-tlsp-everything-youve-come-to-expect/|url-status=dead}} It was shot at Hotel Café Royal in London,{{cite news |url=https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2016/05/18/last-shadow-puppets-miracle-aligner-saam-farahmand/41432|title=The Last Shadow Puppets 'Miracle Aligner' by Saam Farahmand|work=Promonews|date=18 May 2016 |accessdate=8 May 2021}} and first released onto YouTube on 17 May 2016.
The video begins with Kane and Turner standing in a balcony while rose petals fall from the sky. A dialogue, dubbed in Italian, occurs between the two, where Kane asks "What's this?", to which Turner responds "This...This is an attempt to extract truth...approximately." In the next shot, now inside an empty ornate room, Turner and Kane stand in front of each other, wearing cream coloured suits and looking extremely tanned, an allusion to the events shown in the Aviation and Everything You've Come to Expect music videos.{{cite news |url=https://www.dominomusic.com/news/uk/watch-the-last-shadow-puppets-miracle-aligner-video|title=Watch The Last Shadow Puppets' 'Miracle Aligner' video|work=Domino Records|date=17 May 2016 |accessdate=1 August 2021}} Turner and Kane start dancing across the room. A circular dolly shot reveals they are being observed by a film crew. They keep dancing in a choreographed manner while looking into the camera. The video ends with the film crew leaving while Kane and Turner, now looking at each other, keep dancing. Turner kneels on the ground, Kane embraces him, and both collapse on top of each other.{{cite news|url=https://www.culledculture.com/the-fey-italian-vibes-of-the-last-shadow-puppets-miracle-aligner-video/|title=The Fey, Italian Vibes of The Last Shadow Puppets' "Miracle Aligner" Video|work=Culled Culture|date=19 May 2016 |accessdate=8 May 2021}}
Personnel
;The Last Shadow Puppets
- Alex Turner – vocals, guitar, percussion
- Miles Kane – vocals
- James Ford – drums, percussion, keys
- Zach Dawes – bass guitar
;String section
- Leah Katz, Rodney Wirtz – viola
- Richard Dodd, John Krovoza, Peggy Baldwin – cello
- Eric Gorfain, Marisa Kuney, Amy Wickman, Daphne Chen, Gina Kronstadt, Alwyn Wright, Chris Woods – violin
- Ian Walker – contrabass
- Sara Andon – flute
;Additional personnel
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|23|artist=The Last Shadow Puppets|song=Miracle Aligner|rowheader=true|accessdate=23 July 2016}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|40|artist=The Last Shadow Puppets|song=Miracle Aligner|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 June 2024}} |
| {{single chart|France|199|artist=The Last Shadow Puppets|song=Miracle Aligner|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 April 2016}} |
| scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web|title=CHART: CLUK Update 9.04.2016 (wk14)|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/160409cluk.txt|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=15 April 2016}}
| 180 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2016|certyear=2024|title=Miracle Aligner|artist=Last Shadow Puppets|type=single|award=Silver|id=20385-1118-1|access-date=29 September 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|fcHcysyw3oQ|"Miracle Aligner"}}
{{The Last Shadow Puppets}}
{{authority control}}
Category:The Last Shadow Puppets songs
Category:Songs written by Alex Turner (musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by James Ford (musician)