Robbers (The 1975 song)
{{Short description|2014 single by The 1975}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Robbers
| cover = The 1975 Robbers.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The 1975
| album = The 1975
| released = {{start date|2014|5|26|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2012–2013
| studio =
| genre = Pop rock{{cite web|date=3 December 2019|title=The 1975 @ The Complex w/ I Don't Know How But They Found Me 12.02|url=https://www.slugmag.com/music/concert/show-reviews/the-1975-the-complex-w-i-dont-know-how-but-they-found-me-12-02/|access-date=9 May 2021|website=SLUG Magazine}}
| length = 4:14
| label = Dirty Hit
| writer = Matthew Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald
| producer = Matthew Healy, George Daniel, Mike Crossey
| prev_title = Settle Down
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = Heart Out
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Iyy3YOpxL2k|"Robbers"}}}}
}}
"Robbers" is a song by English rock band The 1975, released as the sixth single from their self-titled debut on 26 May 2014.
Background
The concept of the song, about an ill-fated robbery heist, was inspired by the 1993 film True Romance, particularly Patricia Arquette's character Alabama Worley.{{cite web |title=The 1975 – Robbers (Explicit) |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/videos/the-1975-robbers-explicit |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=28 April 2014 |website=Clash |access-date=25 June 2014}}
Following its release, it debuted at number 179 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song, thematically, is an ode to toxic relationships.{{cite web|date=17 April 2020|title=Robbers by The 1975|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-1975/robbers|website=Songfacts}} This song's lyrical content concerns two lovers who aren't good for each other. With the message that they know that their relationship will one day end, but they are still holding each other, robbing happiness from each other and pretending that they will be happy forever.
Healy has stated that the song and music video was inspired by one of the singer's favorite movie characters. "I got really obsessed with the idea behind Patricia Arquette's character in True Romance when I was about 18," he said. "That craving for the bad boy in that film, it's so sexualized," he added. "It was something I was obsessed with."
"'Robbers' is about a heist that goes wrong," Healy added. "I suppose you can read it as a metaphor, and a girl who's obsessed with her professional killer boyfriend. It's a romantic ideal."
Music video
The official music video for "Robbers" was released on 27 April 2014,{{cite web |title=The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a567323/the-1975s-new-robbers-music-video-sex-drugs-and-guns.html |last=Corner, Lewis |date=28 April 2014 |website=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Magazines UK |access-date=25 June 2014}} directed by Tim Mattia. A large portion of the video was filmed in Taft, California.{{cite web |title=The 1975 'Robbers' (Tim Mattia, dir.) |url=http://www.videostatic.com/watch-it/2014/04/28/1975-robbers-tim-mattia-dir |last=Gottlieb |first=Steven |date=28 April 2014 |publisher=Video Static |access-date=25 June 2014}} The video stars Healy and actress Chelsea Schuchman as a couple who rob a shop to obtain money to "fund their alcohol and drug addiction", with the other band members appearing as their friends. Despite Healy sustaining a shot in the stomach, the heist ends up a success.
Shot by DOP Jackson Hunt. Production Design and Costumes by Alexis Johnson. Produced by Taylor Vandegrift of Cineaste Films. Kenneth Taylor worked as 1st AD on the video.
Personnel
Adapted from liner notes.{{Cite book |title=The 1975 |date=2 September 2013 |publisher=Dirty Hit |location=United Kingdom |type=Liner notes}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|* Matthew Healy – vocals, guitar, songwriter, producer
- Adam Hann – guitar, songwriter, producer
- George Daniel – drums, songwriter, producer
- Ross MacDonald – bass guitar, songwriter, producer
Additional personnel
- Mike Crossey – mixing, production
- Mike Spink – engineering
- Jonathan Gilmore – Pro-Tools engineering, additional programming
- Robin Schmidt – mastering
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Chart (2014)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|65|artist=The 1975|song=Robbers|access-date=30 June 2014|refname="BEL (FL)"|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row" |Poland (LP3){{cite web |url=http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/notowania/?numer=1689 |title=Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online |access-date=24 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007213112/http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/notowania/?numer=1689 |archive-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}
| 56 |
| scope="row" | UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web |title=Chart: CLUK Update 24.05.2014 (wk20) |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/140524cluk.txt |last=Zywietz, Tobias |publisher=Zobbel.de |access-date=25 June 2014}}
| 179 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=The 1975|title=Robbers|award=Gold|relyear=2013|certyear=2024|type=single|access-date=July 27, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=1975|title=Robbers|relyear=2013|certyear=2024|id=15108-3813-1|access-date=19 April 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=The 1975|title=Robbers|relyear=2012|certyear=2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{The 1975}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs about criminals