| "The Loving Kind" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byGirls Aloud | ||||
| from the albumOut of Control | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | 12 January 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Synth-pop | |||
| Length | 3:53 (album version) 3:59 (radio mix) | |||
| Label | Fascination | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
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| Girls Aloud singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Loving Kind" onYouTube | ||||
"The Loving Kind" is a song by English-Irish girl groupGirls Aloud, taken from their fifth studio albumOut of Control (2008). The song was written byPet Shop Boys,Miranda Cooper,Brian Higgins and his production teamXenomania, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania. Described as a "synth-pop ballad", "The Loving Kind" was originally written for inclusion on Pet Shop Boys'Yes (2009) before being given to Girls Aloud. Upon its release in January 2009, "The Loving Kind" peaked at number ten on theUK Singles Chart, thereby continuing their six-year streak of top-ten hits.
In the music video, the group portrays the "good" and "bad" Girls Aloud as they perform in mirrored boxes. "The Loving Kind" was promoted through numerous live appearances and was performed on 2009'sOut of Control Tour. The song was largely praised by most contemporary music critics, although maligned by others for its similarities with "Call the Shots".
Xenomania and Pet Shop Boys wrote the song in sessions for the latter's albumYes. Both parties had previously agreed there would be just three co-written songs on the album, and having noticedChris Lowe's "slight reticence" towards the song, Higgins suggested that Girls Aloud record "The Loving Kind".[1] Pet Shop Boys memberNeil Tennant said that they co-wrote the song while working with Xenomania, and described it as "beautiful but still dancey".[2] It was the second song Girls Aloud recorded forOut of Control.[1] PopJustice wrote that "the lyrics have the sadness and melancholy of a massive proper ballad but the production drags the song straight to the dancefloor and lends it an undeniable sense of optimism."[3] Lowe said he was "absolutely over the moon" with the result.[4]
"The Loving Kind" is in the same vein as much of the Pet Shop Boys' output. The Observer described it as an "elegantly sad account of a waning relationship."[5] The song is written inD♭ major with atime signature incommon time and atempo of 128beats per minute.[6] The basicchord progression of the song is G♭, D♭, B♭m, Fm, and A♭.[6] The song begins instantly with asynthesisedintroduction, followed by the firstverse andrefrain. There is an emotivebridge and amiddle 8. The verse repeats, followed by the chorus, an instrumental section, and the chorus again. The radio mix differs slightly; the introduction is less abrupt and the song lasts six seconds longer.[7][8]
The single was confirmed on 21 November 2008 via Girls Aloud's official website.[9][10] The CD single includes a Girls Aloud megamix, released to celebrate Girls Aloud's twentieth single release.[11] The megamix was created by Jewels & Stone, and features the intro and outro from the famousStars on 45 medleys.[12] There was also 7" picture disc made available, which included a previously unreleased B-side entitled "Memory of You", originally called "Japan".[9][12] Remixes byWideboys andUtah Saints were also commissioned.[12]
There was a mild controversy surrounding the fact that the single's B-side "Memory of You" was only available on the vinyl format and not in CD or digital quality.[1] The song was originally called "Japan".[9][12]Popjustice featured a 30-second clip of "Memory of You" as their Song of the Day prior to release.[13] It was later included in high quality on the official Girls Aloud singles box set later in 2009 and went on to be included on the deluxe edition of their second greatest hits compilationTen. Roberts recorded a solo version of the song and made it available via pre-order only with her third single, "Yo-Yo", from herdebut album.[14]
The song received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics.Digital Spy gave the song five stars, saying it "weds hauntingly melancholy vocals [...] to a sense of dancefloor euphoria totally at odds with the teary-eyed lyrics" and was "nothing short of dazzling, meaning 'The Loving Kind' deserves a place [...] on the list of Girls Aloud's finest ever singles."[15] They called it "the standout track" fromOut of Control and "one of the most emotionally resonant songs of the group's career."[10] Dorian Lynskey ofThe Observer agreed, calling it "best of all [...] It's bracing to hear Girls Aloud traffic in grown-up emotions".[5] "The Loving Kind" has also been called "the best thing they've ever done."[16]Nicola Roberts was praised for her vocals,[15][17] whichSlant Magazine felt "provide some of the album's most affecting moments."[18]
However, "The Loving Kind" was criticised due to its similarities with 2007's "Call the Shots",[19] withNME even calling the song as "a letdown sequel".[20]BBC Music felt the song was "hugely disappointing."[21]Popjustice said that although it isn't "amazing by Girls Aloud PLUS Xenomania PLUS Pet Shop Boys standards", it was still "really properly amazing."[22] In a blog forBBC, Fraser McAlpine agreed that "it's easy to get caught up on the idea of this being some immense pop event," but it was still an "extremely well done piece of heartbroken pop."[17]
At the 2009Popjustice £20 Music Prize,Nicola Roberts expressed dislike for the song and even nominated it for the Twenty Quid Invoice Prize, presented to what judges deem to be the worst single of any given year.[23]
On 14 December 2008, "The Loving Kind" entered theUK Singles Chart at number 87 on downloads alone.[24] The following week, it entered the top forty at number 38.[24] In the run-up to the single's release, chart commentators began to speculate that the song could possibly become the first single by the group to miss the top 10. James Masterton wrote on hisYahoo! chart blog, "Their problem is the continuing chart performance of former number 1 hit 'The Promise'. [...] Good reviews do not chart placings make and "this song is too good to be a flop" is as much a myth as "team X are far too good to get relegated"."[25] After its physical release, "The Loving Kind" still managed to peak at number ten, becoming Girls Aloud's twentieth consecutive top ten single.[26] It fell to number 14 the following week, but spent eighteen weeks in the top 100.[24] "The Loving Kind" was highly successful in theScottish Singles Chart, outpeaking "The Promise" by entering at number two and remaining in the top 10 for 4 weeks.[27] The song entered theIrish Singles Chart at number 49, rising to number 24 the following week and eventually peaking at number sixteen.
The music video, directed byTrudy Bellinger, was premièred on4Music at 7pm and was shown onChannel 4 at 11:05pm on 3 December 2008.[9][28] The making of the video was aired onMTV Hits on 13 December 2008, with reruns on both MTV Hits andTMF.
In the video, the girls portray the "good" Girls Aloud, who are the lovable kind, and their "bad" alter egos, who are not. The bad Girls Aloud throw wine and smash the glass that covers their boxes.Cheryl Cole cut herself when she smashed her hand through the glass and similarlyNadine Coyle injured herself when she kicked her foot through the glass; causing her shoe to fall off.[1] Pop music blogPopJustice noted that "twenty singles in, Girls Aloud have made their best video yet."[29]
Girls Aloud's first performance of the song occurred on theirITV1variety showThe Girls Aloud Party. The group performed in matching black tutus, described by MarieClaire as "mini prom dresses."[30] They perform with slow,ballet-like motions and make their way to a catwalk. AsSarah Hardingadlibs into the final chorus,pyrotechnics explode on both sides of the stage. OnThe Paul O'Grady Show, they performed in pink and purple dresses. OnGMTV, they performed in the outfits from the music video. The performance received attention for Harding's "bum note".[31]
On the group's 2009Out of Control Tour, each girl is positioned in front of boxes with flashing lightbulbs, similar to those in the music video.Neon designs and scenes from the music video appear on the screens above the boxes. The ramps in front of them, used throughout the tour, also flash with neon lights. As the performance comes to a close, the lights all turn off.
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "The Loving Kind".
UK CD (Fascination / 1794885)
UK 7" picture disc (Fascination / 1794887)
iTunes exclusive digital download
Digital download
| Mobile download
The Singles Boxset (CD20) /Digital EP[32]
|
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[40] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
A version of the song by thePet Shop Boys (named "monitor mix") was released on the reissue of the group's albumYes/Further Listening 2008-2010 in 2017.[41]
