"Rocket" is a song by Englishelectronic music duoGoldfrapp from their fifth studio album,Head First (2010). It was written and produced byAlison Goldfrapp andWill Gregory, with additional production byPascal Gabriel. The song was released on 8 March 2010 as the album's lead single.[5][6] To promote the single, the duo performed the song onFriday Night with Jonathan Ross on 26 March 2010.[7] The accompanying music video features Alison driving a truck hauling a rocket with someone entirely wrapped in duct tape who is then taped to the rocket when it is launched at the end.
"Rocket" was met with positive reviews from music critics. Heather Phares ofAllMusic said that the song's "driving minor-key verses and huge, shimmering choruses tap into the brain's pleasure center as efficiently as possible", dubbing it one of Goldfrapp's "most irresistible songs yet".[9] Barry Nicolson ofNME described it as "a sleek, synth-powered ballistic missile that's high onPat Benatar's hairspray and in possession of a chorus so cheesy and ebullient."[10] DJ Ron Slomowicz ofAbout.com wrote that the track "represents the best of the 80's and Goldfrapp's take on glitzypower pop. The energy is palpable and so is the vitriol as there is no mistaking Alison's intent, despite the soaring and beautiful melodies."[3]Pitchfork's Marc Hogan commented that "Rocket" "showsHead First at its best, but it's also a reminder of where some of the other songs fall short."[11]
Several critics noted the song's heavy influence from 1980s music and culture, with bothThe Independent andThe Times pointing out the similarity between the synths used for "Rocket" and thoseVan Halen used for their 1984 song "Jump".[12][13]BBC Music's Ian Wade felt that the song "couldn't be more 80s if it arrived sweaty from aJane Fonda workout, dressed in a neon legwarmers and a fashionably ripped Van Halen t-shirt. If it doesn't knock the top ten for six, that'll be a mystery for future generations to mull."[14]Digital Spy music editor Nick Levine wrote that "'Rocket' finds [the duo] channelling early '80s radio pop—hands up who hears Van Halen?—while an empowered Alison gives her cheating ex the elbow."[15]Alexis Petridis ofThe Guardian stated that the song "carries the influence ofOlivia Newton-John and theElectric Light Orchestra's 'Xanadu'. The kind of euphoric we've-just-won-the-World-Cup synthesiser fanfares that power both Van Halen's 'Jump' andPhD's 'I Won't Let You Down' abound, there's the occasional hint ofTango in the Night-eraFleetwood Mac, and you're never that far from a conjunction of wobbling electronics and anthemic chorus that recallsPhil Oakey andGiorgio Moroder's 'Together in Electric Dreams'."[16]
During an interview with music websitePopjustice based on questions made by fans, Alison commented on the comparisons drawn between "Rocket" and "Jump" by saying: "I'm not very familiar with Van Halen as a band, I'm afraid, but I think we were definitely inspired by that sound. It's not exactly the same sound as the sound but it's definitely been inspired by it."[17]
"Rocket" debuted and peaked at number 47 on theUK Singles Chart on 14 March 2010—the duo's first lead single not to debut within the UK top 40 since their 2000 debut single "Lovely Head"—falling to number 76 the following week. In its third week on the run, the same week its parent albumHead First debuted in the top 10, the single made a 16-spot leap on the chart to number 60. In Ireland, "Rocket" debuted at number 40 on theIrish Singles Chart during the week of 11 March 2010,[18] dropping off the chart the following week before making a re-entry at its peak position of number 36 the week after.[19] The track also earned Goldfrapp their fourth chart-topper on the USHot Dance Club Songs.[20] Elsewhere, "Rocket" saw moderate success in Central Europe, peaking at number 19 in Hungary, number 30 in Slovakia, number 32 in Germany, number 38 in Austria and number 50 in Switzerland.[21][22][23]
The music video for "Rocket" was directed by Kim Gehrig and filmed in January 2010.[24][25] The main idea behind the video is that Alison is atruck driver who wants to send an ex-boyfriend intoouter space.
The video begins with Alison driving atransport truck through a desert. She is accompanied by a male in afull-body cast. As the chorus begins it is revealed that the truck is pulling a giant purple rocket. She stops the truck to dance in the desert and is joined by a group of females. Gregory makes a cameo appearance in the video as apetrol station attendant. The video concludes with Alison and the dancers taping the male passenger to the rocket and launching it into outer space by counting backwards from five.
^Seabrook, Thomas (28 February 2012)."The Singles - Goldfrapp".Record Collector. Retrieved17 April 2025.The rest of the set is dominated by superior dance-pop, with the irrepressibly catchy "Rocket" and the velvety "Black Cherry" among the highlights...
^Cinquemani, Sal (10 March 2010)."Review: Goldfrapp,Head First".Slant. Retrieved17 April 2025.That course is immediately corrected by "Rocket"....which...div[es] headlong into post-disco...
