Skinny Genes
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Skinny Genes
| cover = Skinnygenes.gif
| alt = A portrait in yellow colour centering a scientific, genetic-related diagram in purple colour. The top left corner of the portrait in black coloured, capital font is the name 'Eliza Doolittle' and in the bottom righthand corner of the portrait in the exact same font is the title 'Skinny Genes'.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Eliza Doolittle
| album = Eliza Doolittle
| B-side = Police Car
| released = 11 April 2010
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 3:03
| label = Parlophone
| writer = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = Matthew Prime
| prev_title = Piano Song
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = Pack Up
| next_year = 2010
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist =
| type = singles
| prev_title = Rollerblades
| prev_year = 2010
| title = "Skinny Genes"
(re-release)
| year = 2010
| next_title = Mr Medicine
| next_year = 2011
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|qxqtnWwLxYI|"Skinny Genes"}}}}
}}
"Skinny Genes" is a song performed by British recording artist Eliza Doolittle. The song serves as her debut single and first single from her debut album, Eliza Doolittle. The track was co-written by Doolittle in collaboration with Tim Woodcock and the song's producer Matthew Prime. "Skinny Genes" was one of three tracks where Doolittle had worked with Prime and Woodcock for her debut album. The single was officially released on 11 April 2010 by Parlophone Records on digital download-only format, accompanied by a b-side entitled "Police Car" (written by Doolittle and Craigie DoddsEliza Doolittle liner notes Parlophone Records (2010)). The track is inspired by love-hate relationships and contains prominent indie pop musical characteristics. Lyrically, "Skinny Genes" refers from a feminist point of view to how one can dislike all the personality traits of a partner but still enjoy the sexual chemistry one shares with them.
"Skinny Genes" garnered a positive response from contemporary music critics. The song also achieved mainstream success; debuting and peaking at number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart. The song was accompanied by a 70s and 80s-styled music video directed by Daniel Eskills and released on 25 December 2009. Doolittle performed the single live at London Fashion Week and on the British television stations GMTV and STV. "Skinny Genes" featured in an advert for Very featuring Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby.
"Skinny Genes" was later re-released on 27 December 2010. A new video was made from the re-release. The track went on to make BBC Radio 1's A-Playlist in the UK in late 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist/|title = BBC - Radio 1 Playlist|website=Bbc.co.uk}}
"Skinny Genes" is written in the key of E major and follows the chord progression E major, F♯ minor, and B major.
Background
"Skinny Genes" was the first single from Eliza Doolittle, Doolittle's debut album.{{cite news |url=http://www.popsugar.co.uk/Watch-Eliza-Doolittle-Skinny-Genes-Official-Video-Song-Verycouk-Advert-7704274 |date=2010-03-12 |title=Watch Eliza Doolittle Skinny Genes Official Video Song on Very.co.uk Advert |publisher=PopSugar |accessdate=2010-07-06 |archive-date=15 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515031124/http://www.popsugar.co.uk/Watch-Eliza-Doolittle-Skinny-Genes-Official-Video-Song-Verycouk-Advert-7704274 |url-status=dead }} Before its official release, "Rollerblades" was originally speculated to be Doolittle's debut single.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/dec/14/new-band-eliza-doolittle |last=Lester |first=Paul |date=2009-12-14 |title=New band of the day - No 689: Eliza Doolittle |work=The Guardian |accessdate=2010-07-06}} "Skinny Genes" was later confirmed as her official debut single and was originally planned for release on 29 March 2010.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/mar/27/singles-out-this-week |last=Cooper |first=Leonie |date=2010-03-27 |title=Singles out this week |work=The Guardian |accessdate=2010-07-06}} It was then pushed back for release on 5 April. The single was finally pushed back another week and officially released on 11 April 2010 on digital download format only.{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/skinny-genes-ep/id361280988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114084724/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/skinny-genes-ep/id361280988 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 November 2010 |title=Skinny Genes - EP by Eliza Doolittle |accessdate=2010-07-06 |work=iTunes|date=9 April 2010 }} A planned CD single release for "Skinny Genes" on 12 April 2010 failed to surface.{{cite web |url=http://www.ilikemusic.com/interviews/Eliza_Doolittle_Interview_2010-9415/2 |title=Eliza Doolittle Chats To I Like Music |accessdate=2010-07-06 |work=ILikeMusic}}{{cite web |url=http://hmv.com/hmvweb/home.do |title=HMV Homepage |access-date=2010-07-06 |work=HMV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224182306/http://hmv.com/hmvweb/home.do |archive-date=24 December 2009 |df=dmy-all }} Note: Use search function for non-existent "Skinny Genes" CD
"Skinny Genes" was mischievously inspired lyrically by an irritating but sexy boy.{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.stv.tv/music/176242-eliza-doolittle-performs-new-single-skinny-genes/ |date=2010-05-09 |title=Eliza Doolittle performs new single Skinny Genes |publisher=STV |accessdate=2010-07-06}} Doolittle described the song as having very light and happy but thoughtful lyrics, saying: "I think about what I want to say, when I write songs." Leonie Cooper of The Guardian described the song as having "tell-it-like-it-is-lyrics". Doolittle explained "Skinny Genes" to BBC Radio's Steve Lamacq:
The single is something I made up in my head. I just thought it would be quite a funny scenario where you didn't like someone, if they were really annoying, but you had a good time under the sheets.{{cite web |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18900 |title=Skinny Genes by Eliza Doolittle |accessdate=2010-07-06 |work=Songfacts}}
Track listing
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- "Skinny Genes" – 3:03
- "Skinny Genes" (Slugz & Joe London Mix) – 5:31
- "Police Car" – 3:21
{{col-2}}
- The Remixes Promo{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Eliza-Doolittle-Skinny-Genes-Remixes/release/2226080 |title=Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes Remixes |accessdate=2010-07-06 |work=Discogs|date=March 2010 }}
- "Skinny Genes" (Acid Washed Radio Edit) – 3:31
- "Skinny Genes" (Acid Washed Main Mix) – 4:14
- "Skinny Genes" (Acid Washed Dub Remix) – 4:42
- "Skinny Genes" (Melé Remix) – 5:36
- "Skinny Genes" (Slugz & Joe London Mix) – 5:31
{{col-end}}
- Re-release digital download #1
- "Skinny Genes" – 3:05
- Re-release digital download #2
- "Skinny Genes" – 3:05
- "Skinny Genes" (music video) (second version) - 3:03
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2010) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Flanders|42|artist=Eliza Doolittle|song=Skinny Genes}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|31|artist=Eliza Doolittle|song=Skinny Genes}} |
| German Singles Chart{{Cite web|url = http://www.mtv.de/charts/germany|title = Offizielle Single Top 100 - Musik Charts | MTV Germany|website = MTV Germany|access-date = 28 September 2010|archive-date = 6 January 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090106223924/http://www.mtv.de/charts/germany|url-status = dead}}
| style="text-align:center;"|42 |
| {{single chart|Ireland|42|artist=Eliza Doolittle|song=Skinny Genes|week=27|year=2010|accessdate=2010-08-05}} |
| {{single chart|Israelairplay|9|artist=Eliza Doolittle|song=Skinny Genes|week=34|year=2010}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|90|artist=Eliza Doolittle|song=Skinny Genes}} |
| {{single chart|Poland|4|chartid=93|year=2010|accessdate=2012-06-09}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|48|artist=Eliza Doolittle|song=Skinny Genes}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|artistid=6197|22|artist=Eliza Doolittle|song=Skinny Genes|songid=34872}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Eliza Doolittle|title=Skinny Genes|award=Silver|relyear=2010|certyear=2025|id=20695-2338-1|access-date=17 January 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Eliza Doolittle}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Eliza Doolittle (singer) songs
Category:Songs written by Matt Prime
Category:Songs written by Tim Woodcock