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Retrograde (James Blake song)

"Retrograde" is a song by English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter James Blake. The song was released as a digital download on 11 February 2013 as the lead single from his second studio album Overgrown (2013). The song was written, produced and recorded by Blake,[2] and the music video was directed by Martin de Thurah.[3]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 56
Denmark (Tracklisten)[5] 10
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[6] 99
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 87

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Australia Streaming Tracks (ARIA)[8] 67

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[9] Gold 35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 200,000‡
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[11] Gold 900,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[12] 11 February 2013 Digital download Polydor Records

In pop culture

The song is featured in several episodes of television shows, including: the extended trailer for season one of The Leftovers, as well as in the pilot episode;[13] the 5th season of The Blacklist; season 1, episode 2 of the Italian Netflix series Baby; episode 1 of the series Rush; season 3, episode 6 of the series Suits;[14] and the episode "Falling Angels – Part 1" of the BBC series Silent Witness.[15]

The song also appears in the fifth episode of the video game Tales from the Borderlands.[16]

Covers

It was covered by Australian singer Karen Lee Andrews in her 2014 single, Ride, under her former stage name, Ms Murphy.

References

  1. ^ a b Bradley, Larry (4 November 2014). "The 2010s: James Blake - "Retrograde". The Alternative Jukebox. Cassell. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-84403-789-6.
  2. ^ "Why James Blake's Overgrown deserved the Mercury Prize". www.gigwise.com.
  3. ^ "James Blake 'Retrograde'". YouTube. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  4. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 22nd April 2013" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 1208. Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 April 2013. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2023 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "James Blake – Retrograde". Tracklisten.
  6. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 [ 2013/04/24 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  7. ^ "James Blake: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  8. ^ "ARIA Australian Top Streaming Tracks 2013" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. End of Year 2013. Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2023 – via Trove.
  9. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  10. ^ "British single certifications – James Blake – Retrograde". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Danish single certifications – James Blake – Retrograde". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Retrograde - Single by James Blake". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  13. ^ Stahler, Kelsea. "'The Leftovers' Trailer Song Is Haunting Because James Blake's Music Is Perfect For The Show". Bustle.
  14. ^ "Series, Suits Episode 6". tunefind.
  15. ^ "Series 18, Falling Angels Episode 1 of 2". BBC.
  16. ^ Hamilton, Kirk. "Tales From The Borderlands's Perfect Music Picks Made The Whole Game Better". Kotaku.