Playmate to Jesus
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Playmate to Jesus
| cover = Aqua - Playmate To Jesus.jpg
| alt = 556
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Aqua
| album = Megalomania
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2011|09|12}}
| recorded = 2011
Electron Studio (Copenhagen, Denmark)
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|art pop}}
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=46}}
| label = Universal
| writer = {{hlist|Søren Rasted|Claus Norreen|René Dif|Lene Nystrøm}}
| producer = {{hlist|Claus Norreen|Søren Rasted}}
| prev_title = How R U Doin?
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = Like a Robot
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|m0ayTZi7Xjw|"Playmate to Jesus"}}}}
{{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Playmate_to_Jesus.ogg
| description = "Playmate to Jesus"
}}}}
"Playmate to Jesus" is a song by Danish-Norwegian pop band Aqua from their third studio album, Megalomania. The song, which was released in 2011, is about universal love and "what goes around comes around". Despite the song's positive critical reaction, it only charted in Denmark, becoming the group's second lowest-charting single. The music video, directed by Michael Sauer Christensen and filmed in Lyngby, Denmark, premiered on 22 September 2011.
Production and composition
"Playmate to Jesus" was written by Aqua members Søren Rasted, Claus Norreen, René Dif and Lene Nystrøm, and produced by Norreen and Rasted. The song was recorded at Electron Studio in Copenhagen, and later mixed and mastered by Anders Schumann at C4 Studio. The song is about universal love and "what goes around comes around". The sounds in the first seconds of the song are recorded on the spacecraft Discovery.{{cite web|last=Sjørvad|first=Rune Melchior|title=Aqua-Lene – nu som lingeri-samurai!|url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/dkmusiknyt/article1625938.ece|work=Ekstra Bladet|language=Danish|date=23 September 2011|access-date=3 May 2013}} A piano and violins start the song, before the beat kicks in.Schapiro, Jeff (27 September 2011). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/90s-pop-group-aqua-trades-in-barbie-for-jesus-56619/ 90s Pop Group Aqua Trades in Barbie for Jesus]. The Christian Post. Retrieved 2 May 2013. A Vocoder synth comes through Nystrom's vocal in certain parts of the song, and a synth bass and distorted snare drum are also played. Dif's bridge only appears on the album version.Kozain, RJ (29 September 2011). [http://2020k.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/aqua-playmate-to-jesus-2/ Aqua gets serious with “Playmate to Jesus” and return to perfect pop form]. 2020k. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
Release and reception
A preview of "Playmate to Jesus" was uploaded to Universal Music's Danish YouTube account on 6 September 2011.[https://www.youtube.com/EhvFohe1HXM Aqua – Playmate To Jesus (teaser)]. YouTube. Retrieved 2 May 2013. It was released as the album's second single and as a radio single on 12 September, the same day as their club single "Like a Robot",[http://www.directlyrics.com/new-music-aqua-release-two-new-singles-like-a-robot-and-playmate-to-jesus-news.html New Music: Aqua Release Two New Singles: "Like A Robot" and "Playmate to Jesus"]. Direct Lyrics. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013. which was originally planned to be released in July.{{cite web|last=Sjørvad|first=Rune Melchior|title=Lene Nystrøm: Knep mig som en robot!|url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/dkmusiknyt/article1573293.ece|work=Ekstra Bladet|language=Danish|date=18 June 2011|access-date=3 May 2013}} "Playmate to Jesus" is the first track of their third album Megalomania.{{cite web|title=STORHEDSVANVID! Nyt album fra Aqua 3. oktober 2011: 'Megalomania|url=http://www.universal.dk/nyheder/storhedsvanvid-nyt-album-fra-aqua-3-oktober-2011-megalomania|publisher=Universal Music|access-date=3 May 2013|language=Danish|date=29 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320215431/http://www.universal.dk/nyheder/storhedsvanvid-nyt-album-fra-aqua-3-oktober-2011-megalomania|archive-date=20 March 2012}} The track was Aqua's second-lowest charting single. It debuted at number twenty-six on the Danish Singles Chart, issue dated 7 October 2011. The following week the song peaked at number thirteen. In its third and final week on the chart it fell to number thirty-three. It is the group's third single not to chart within the top 10 in Denmark, the others being "We Belong to the Sea" and "Spin Me a Christmas". The song has been certified gold in Denmark by the IFPI for sales of 300,000 units.{{cite web|title=Certificeringer {{!}} ifpi.dk|url=http://ifpi.dk/?q=certificeringer&page=13|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|access-date=12 December 2011|language=Danish}}
Despite the song's commercial performance, critical reactions to the song were mixed to positive. Jon O'Brien of AllMusic, in a review of Megalomania, viewed "Playmate to Jesus" as one of the highlight songs of the album saying, "The sweeping strings, inspired sound effects, and driving country-pop melodies of the lushly produced opener 'Playmate to Jesus', [...] shows the reunion hasn't been completely without merit."{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Jon|title=Megalomania – Aqua|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/megalomania-r2319054/review|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=8 November 2011}} Time said the song "has the dubious distinction of sounding vaguely like a Lady Gaga track that didn’t pass quality control," but was "relatively catchy, boasting the kind of musical infectiousness that causes you to hum it under your breath on the subway."Pous, Terri (29 September 2011). [https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/09/29/aqua-is-back-the-barbie-girl-group-ditches-plastic-for-jesus/#ixzz2SC0ORq4h Aqua Is Back: The ‘Barbie Girl’ Group Ditches Plastic for ‘Jesus’]. Time. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
Gaffa's Signe Bønsvig Wehding considered the song to be "among the best tracks on the album", along with "Dirty Little Popsong", "Sucker for a Superstar" and "Like a Robot".Bønsvig Wehding, Signe (3 October 2011). [http://gaffa.dk/anmeldelse/52791 Aqua: Megalomania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010500/http://gaffa.dk/anmeldelse/52791 |date=5 March 2016 }}. Gaffa. Retrieved 3 May 2013. Idolator considered the song to be more old school than "How R U Doin?."Daw, Robbie (23 September 2011). [http://idolator.com/6022442/aquas-playmate-to-jesus-video Aqua’s “Playmate To Jesus” Video Is Goth-tastic]. Idolator. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
Music video
Pictures of shooting the music video in Lyngby, Denmark were released on Aqua's Facebook page on 14 September 2011.[http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150379237335477.408047.301708195476&type=1 "Playmate To Jesus" videoshoot – 14. september 2011]. Facebook. Retrieved 3 May 2013. A take of the video was also uploaded on their YouTube channel.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LJlW2FHZO8 Aqua – Shooting the video for "Playmate To Jesus" – Funny clip]. YouTube. Retrieved 3 May 2013. The video was officially uploaded on YouTube on 22 September.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ayTZi7Xjw Aqua – Playmate To Jesus]. YouTube. Retrieved 2 May 2013. Directed by Michael Sauer Christensen, it is set in an eerie, empty house that is reminiscent of a horror film, where a black cloud wanders through the halls of the house. The members wear black and gray clothing in the video, with Nystrom's costume gradually changing throughout. The video ends by the members exiting the house through the roof and transforming into a beam of light shooting into the sky. The video uses a shortened radio edit of the original song, omitting the bridge.
{{clear}}
Track listing
- ;Digital download[https://music.apple.com/dk/album/playmate-to-jesus-single/460408270 Playmate to Jesus – Single]. Danish iTunes. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- "Playmate to Jesus" – 4:46
Personnel
Adapted from liner notes of Megalomania:{{cite AV media notes |title=Megalomania |others=Aqua |date=2011 |type=liner notes |publisher=Universal Music |id=0602527677675}} Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- Writers: Søren Rasted, Claus Norreen, René Dif, Lene Nystrøm
- Producers: Claus Norreen, Søren Rasted
- Mixing and mastering: Anders Schumann
Sales and certifications
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Chart positions=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2011)
!scope="col"|Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Denmark|13|artist=Aqua|song=Playmate To Jesus|refname="DK"|access-date=12 December 2011}} |
| {{single chart|Denmark Airplay|6|artist=Aqua|song=Playmate To Jesus|refname="DKairplay"|week=37|year=2011|access-date=12 August 2013}} |
| Denmark Bit Track (Tracklisten)[http://www.hitlisterne.dk/tracklisten.asp?w=39&y=2011&list=b20 Bit Track Top-20 – Uge 39 – 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130812230219/http://www.hitlisterne.dk/tracklisten.asp?w=39&y=2011&list=b20 |date=12 August 2013 }}. hitlisterne.dk. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
|align=center|1 |
| Denmark Streaming (Tracklisten)[http://www.hitlisten.nu/ hitlisten.nu]. Go to Streaming. Then, in the box next to Opdater, choose Uge 40 – 2011. Then click Opdater. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
|align=center|5 |
{{col-2}}
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Gold|artist=Aqua|title=Playmate to Jesus|refname="goldcerti"|relyear=2011|relmonth=12|relday=12|access-date=27 July 2018|type=single}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"|Country
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format !scope="col"|Label |
|---|
| scope="row"|Denmark
|rowspan=2|12 September 2011 |rowspan=2|Digital download |rowspan=2|Universal Music |
| scope="row"|Norway[https://music.apple.com/no/album/playmate-to-jesus-single/460408270 Playmate to Jesus – Single by Aqua]. iTunes Norway. Retrieved 19 November 2013. |