Missing U (song)

"Missing U" is Robyn's first solo release since her triple album Body Talk (2010).{{cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/robyn-returns-after-eight-years-with-upbeat-new-song-missing-u-705657/|title=Robyn Returns After Eight Years With Upbeat New Song 'Missing U'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}} Robyn released several collaborative EPs including Do It Again (2014) and Love Is Free (2015). Robyn also had an appearance on the HBO series Girls soundtrack with the song "Honey" before work on her eighth studio album began.{{cite web|last=Daramola|first=Israel|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/08/robyn-missing-u-stream/|title=Robyn "Missing U": Listen|work=Spin|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}}

The demo for the song was created by Robyn in mid-2014 on her laptop along with a LinnDrum machine and a software synth.{{cite web |last=King |first=Jason |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/song-by-song/robyn-breaks-down-every-song-on-her-new-album-honey/ |title=Robyn Breaks Down Every Song on Her New Album, Honey |work=Pitchfork |date=24 October 2018 |accessdate=24 October 2018}} She noted that the lyrics for the song took two years to complete before finishing them with producers Joseph Mount and Klas Åhlund.

"Missing U" is a synth-pop{{cite magazine|last=Brandle|first=Lars|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8469045/robyn-performed-missing-u-in-ibiza-watch|title=Robyn Performed 'Missing U' In Ibiza: Watch|magazine=Billboard|date=7 August 2018|accessdate=20 February 2019}} and disco song about when people disappear as well as the singer's relationship with her fans.{{cite magazine|last=Feeney|first=Nolan|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8467671/robyn-missing-u-review|title=Robyn's 'Missing U' Is Classic Robyn With a Defiant Twist|magazine=Billboard|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}}{{cite web|last=Renshaw|first=David|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/07/30/robyn-shares-new-song-missing-u|title=Listen to Robyn's new song "Missing U"|work=The Fader|date=30 July 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}} The chorus is backed by bubbling synths,{{Cite web|last=Gotrich|first=Lars|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/08/01/633924852/robyn-weve-been-missing-u-too|title=Stream Robyn's New Song, 'Missing U'|work=NPR|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}} while the rest of the song contains a minimal drum beat and grandiose synth loops.{{Cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/missing-u-robyn-review-1202892752/|title=Single Review: Robyn's 'Missing U'|work=Variety|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}} The song is considered a departure from Robyn's previous work, lacking the climax that her previous songs had, instead taking on a more demo-like quality. The song was written and produced by Robyn, Klas Åhlund, and Joseph Mount.{{cite web|last=Russo|first=Carmen|url=https://slate.com/culture/2018/08/robyn-releases-new-single-missing-u.html|title=Robyn Releases "Missing U," Her First Solo Single in Eight Years|work=Slate|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}}

The song was critically lauded upon release.{{Cite news |last=Damshenas |first=Sam |date=September 25, 2018 |title=Robyn announces tracklist for comeback album Honey |url=https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/robyn-announces-tracklist-for-comeback-album-honey/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |work=Gay Times |quote=the critically-lauded dance anthem, Missing U}} Amanda Arnold, writing for The Cut, called the song "characteristically dance-y and synth-based and impossible to get out of your head once it's there." She also compared the song favourably to Robyn's previous singles "Dancing on My Own" and "Call Your Girlfriend".{{cite web|last=Arnold|first=Amanda|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/robyn-new-song-missing-u-listen.html|title=Everyone Needs to Listen to Robyn's New Single Immediately|work=The Cut|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}} Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic wrote that "Robyn holds back just enough to describe something too difficult, or too ephemeral, to deal with otherwise."{{cite web|last=Kornhaber|first=Spencer|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/08/robyn-missing-u-review/566594/|title=The Heaviness of Robyn's 'Missing U'|work=The Atlantic|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=6 August 2018}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/mt/album/missing-u-single/1415847309|title=Missing U - Single by Robyn|website=iTunes Store}}

| title1 = Missing U

| length1 = 4:51}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/missing-u-weiss-remix-single/1440558385|title=Missing U (Weiss Remix) - Single by Robyn|website=iTunes Store}}

| title1 = Missing U

| note1 = Weiss Remix Edit

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = Missing U

| note2 = Weiss Remix

| length2 = 7:13

| title3 = Missing U

| note3 = Weiss Dub

| length3 = 5:25}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/missing-u-silk-city-picard-brothers-remix-single/1464965870|title=Missing U (Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix) - Single by Robyn|website=iTunes Store}}

| title1 = Missing U

| note1 = Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix Edit

| length1 = 3:32

| title2 = Missing U

| note2 = Silk City & Picard Brothers Remix

| length2 = 5:27}}

Adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/92548437|title=Try the TIDAL Web Player|work=Tidal|accessdate=6 August 2018}}

• Robin Carlsson – vocals, composition, co-production
• Joseph Mount – composition, production, bass guitar, synthesizer programming
• Klas Åhlund – composition, production, programming
• John Hanes – mix engineering, studio personnel
• Randy Merrill – master engineering, studio personnel
• Serban Ghenea – mixing, studio personnel

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Category:2010s ballads

Category:2018 singles

Category:2018 songs

Category:Disco songs

Category:Robyn songs

Category:Songs written by Klas Åhlund

Category:Songs written by Robyn

Category:Synth-pop ballads

Category:Songs written by Joseph Mount