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In for the Kill (song)

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"In for the Kill"
Single by La Roux
from the album La Roux
Released15 March 2009 (2009-03-15)
StudioElfin (Teddington, London)
GenreSynth-pop
Length4:08
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ben Langmaid
  • Elly Jackson
La Roux singles chronology
"Quicksand"
(2008) 		"In for the Kill"
(2009) 		"Bulletproof"
(2009)
Audio sample
Music video

"In for the Kill" is a song by English synth-pop duo La Roux from their eponymous debut studio album (2009). The song was released as the album's second single on 15 March 2009. It became the duo's breakthrough single, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Dubstep producers Skream and Skrillex both made remixes of the track. In 2011, "In for the Kill" was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.[1]

Background

[edit]

Frontwoman Elly Jackson told Steve Harris of Xfm radio that the song is "about telling someone how you feel regardless of what you get back, and not waiting to find out if they want you or not."[2] The track is heavily influenced by the title theme of the 1980s animated television series Pole Position,[3] with the music video paying homage to the show as well.

Critical reception

[edit]

"In for the Kill" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Digital Spy reviewer David Balls described the song as "slightly odd, endlessly exciting" and stated that it "manages to sound quaintly old-school and positively futuristic all at the same time."[4] Francis Jolley of Clickmusic praised it as "80s synth pop at its most glorious", naming it "the most exciting single around."[5] In a review for Exclaim!, Cam Lindsay wrote that the track "features some icy, high-pitched woos from Jackson and pulse-pounding beats" which make it sound "delicious".[6] MSN Music called it a "damn fine electro pop humdinger" and complimented Jackson's powerful vocals which "hit the ground running and burst with effervescence from the opening note."[7]

In October 2011, NME placed the song at number 64 on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[8]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"In for the Kill" debuted at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 28 March 2009.[9] Four weeks after its debut, the song peaked at number two with 51,724 copies sold.[10][11] The single spent four consecutive weeks at number two, before falling to number three with sales of 44,310 copies.[12] In January 2011, "In for the Kill" was named the 11th best-selling download in the United Kingdom of all time.[13] The song had sold 875,523 copies in the UK as of July 2014.[14] In Ireland, the track debuted at number 47 on 16 April 2009 and peaked at number 13, four weeks later.[15][16]

"In for the Kill" was less successful in continental Europe, charting at number 43 in Belgium, number 53 in Austria, number 68 in Slovakia and number 92 in Germany.[17][18] It nevertheless reached number 11 in Norway,[17] as well as number nine on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.[19] The single debuted at number 50 in Australia on 29 June 2009, but fell off the chart the next week. On 13 July 2009 it re-entered the chart at number 46, peaking at number 36, two weeks later.[20] In the United States, "In for the Kill" topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart on the issue dated 27 November 2010, becoming the duo's second number-one song on the chart after "Bulletproof".[21]

Music videos

[edit]

The first music video for "In for the Kill" was directed by Kinga Burza and produced by Sarah Tognazzi.[22] The 1980s-inspired video features Jackson singing the song while driving a Toyota MR2. It begins with Jackson driving down a dark road at night. At the beginning of the chorus, she puts on a pair of sunglasses, removing them at the chorus' end. During the instrumental section of the song, she waves her hand out of the car window, at which point the road ahead and the cloud-covered moon is visible. Jackson continues to drive until she comes across another version of herself standing in the middle of the road. The video concludes with Jackson driving the car, her eyes glowing white.

A second video was released on 7 October 2010 to promote the US release of the single, featuring a slightly altered version of the song. The video was directed by LEGS and filmed at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City.[23][24]

Controversy

[edit]

On November 24, 2024, model Jennifer An filed a federal court lawsuit against Kanye West, alleging that he sexually assaulted and strangled on the second music video's set. She alleged that he appeared unnoticed and "took control of the video's production and its team". She ordered An (who was wearing lingerie) to follow him to a room with a camera angled for one of the visual's scenes. He then hollered "Rawr, rawr, rawr" after not properly lip-synching over his own lyrics. Afterwards, he pulled two chairs in front of the camera, positing An in front of it, before he choked her with one neck; the following ten seconds, he continued to choke her with another, then saying "This is art. I'm like Picasso." Breathing heavily, West continued the strangulation which caused An to struggle breathing until she "temporarily blacked out". He then shoved his fingers in her mouth in a BDSM-like figuration. Her makeup was smeared and wiped off as a result. An seeks compensatory and punitive damages from the defendant and is represented by Jesse Weinstein, who declined to provide details. Universal Music Group was also named as a co-defendant, due to them not confronting West about the incident.[25][26]

Alternative versions

[edit]

Dubstep musician Skream produced the most well-known remix of the song, titled the Let's Get Ravey remix, which was included on the CD single and digital EP. The remix was featured during the closing credits of the Entourage episode "Hair", originally aired 8 August 2010,[27] as well as in television commercials for the 2009 fantasy video game Bayonetta and in the trailer for the 2012 film Dredd.[28][29] It is also part of the soundtrack to Matchstick Productions' 2011 ski film Attack of la Niña.[30]

Skream's remix received positive reviews from music critics. The Observer reviewer Gareth Grundy called it a "proper remix, the kind that nudges the original song into thrilling new territory."[31] Cam Lindsay of Exclaim! wrote that while the original version "features some icy, high-pitched wails from Jackson and pulse-pounding beats [...] it's the 'Let's Get Ravey Mix' [...] that really kills it."[6] Skream also produced an alternate remix, That Doesn't Sound Like Skream's Remix, which appeared on the physical and digital EP releases of "In for the Kill".[32][33]

French musician Lifelike's self-titled remix, which is over six minutes long, was released as a 12-inch single and digital download by French electronic music label Kitsuné,[34][35] and it was also included on the 2009 compilation album Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7.[36] The official remix of the song for the US featuring rapper Kanye West premiered exclusively on the Entertainment Weekly website on 12 October 2010,[37] and was released digitally on 2 November.[38]

Cover versions

[edit]

The song was covered on the Live Lounge segment of BBC Radio 1's The Jo Whiley Show on four separate occasions: on 18 May 2009 by Australian R&B singer Daniel Merriweather,[39] on 30 January 2010 by Swedish indie pop trio Miike Snow,[40] on 12 May 2010 by American R&B singer Kelis,[41] on 8 September 2013 by English indie pop trio London Grammar[42] and by Billie Marten.

"In for the Kill" has been sampled by several rappers.[43] Atlanta rapper Donnis sampled it on his song "For the Kill" from his 2010 mixtape Fashionably Late.[44] Later that year, it was sampled on French Montana's song "Goin' In for the Kill" featuring Chinx Drugz and Cheeze, which appears on French Montana's mixtape Coke Boys.[43][45] The track was sampled by production duo Cool & Dre for rapper Game's "The Kill" from his 2011 mixtape Purp & Patron.[46] In April 2011, Jackson confirmed that Dr. Dre had sampled "In for the Kill" for his upcoming album Detox.[47] UK drill rapper Tion Wayne sampled the song's chorus in his 2022 single "IFTK", with La Roux also listed as a lead artist; it reached a peak of number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.[48][49]

Track listings

[edit]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of La Roux.[55]

Recording

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]
  • Elly Jackson – vocals, production
  • Ben Langmaid – production
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • John Hanes – mix engineering
  • Tim Roberts – mix engineering assistance

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "In for the Kill"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[67] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] 2× Platinum 875,523[14]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "In for the Kill"
Region Date Format Label Ref(s)
United Kingdom 15 March 2009 Digital EP Polydor [32]
16 March 2009
[50][52]
France 20 April 2009
Kitsuné [33][34][35]
Germany 8 May 2009 Digital EP Universal [51]
Japan 20 May 2009 EP
[53]
Australia 5 June 2009 Digital EP Universal [69]
Germany 12 June 2009 CD single [70]
United States 14 September 2010 Digital EP – remixes
[54]
2 November 2010 Digital single – featuring Kanye West [38]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Grammy Awards 2011: Selected winners". BBC News Online. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  2. ^ "In for the Kill by La Roux". Songfacts. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  3. ^ Price, Simon (28 June 2009). "Album: La Roux, La Roux, (Polydor)". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  4. ^ Balls, David (19 February 2009). "La Roux: 'In for the Kill'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  5. ^ Jolley, Francis (26 March 2009). "La Roux – In for the Kill". Clickmusic. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  6. ^ a b Lindsay, Cam (20 March 2009). "La Roux – "In for the Kill"". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  7. ^ "La Roux – "In for the Kill"". MSN Music. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2009. [dead link‍]
  8. ^ "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". NME. October 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  9. ^ "2009 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. 28 March 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  10. ^ Jones, Alan (20 April 2009). "No change at the Top". Music Week. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  11. ^ "2009 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Green Day Breakdown at number one". Music Week. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Top 100 Downloads of All Time". BBC Radio 1. 2 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  14. ^ a b Jones, Alan (28 July 2014). "Official Charts Analysis: Sheeran's X sells 33k copies to spend fifth week at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 16 April 2009". Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  16. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – In for the Kill". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  17. ^ a b c "La Roux – In for the Kill" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  18. ^ a b "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200922 into search. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  19. ^ a b "European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 12 May 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  20. ^ a b "La Roux – In for the Kill". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  21. ^ Murray, Gordon (1 August 2014). "La Roux Lights Up With No. 1 Debut". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  22. ^ Knight, David (9 February 2009). "La Roux's in for the Kill by Kinga Burza". Promo News. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  23. ^ Brown, Jimmy (15 October 2010). "La Roux's in for the Kill by LEGS". Promo News. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  24. ^ "La Roux goes to New York to revitalize in for the Kill". MTV Europe. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  25. ^ "Kanye West Accused, in New Lawsuit, of Sexual Assault During 2010 Music Video Shoot". Yahoo Entertainment. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Kanye West accused of sexually assaulting and strangling model on music video set, new lawsuit says". NBC News. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Entourage: S7 Ep 84: Hair: Music". HBO. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  28. ^ Hashimoto, Yusuke (4 January 2010). "Bayonetta TV Commercial". PlatinumGames. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  29. ^ "What's That Song in the New 'Dredd' Trailer?". ScreenCrush. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  30. ^ "Attack of La Nina" (in German). Sportpantoffel. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  31. ^ Grundy, Gareth (15 March 2009). "Electronic review: La Roux, In For the Kill (Skream remix)". The Observer. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  32. ^ a b c "In for the Kill – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store (UK). January 2009. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  33. ^ a b c "La Roux – In for the Kill (EP)". Kitsuné. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  34. ^ a b c "La Roux – In for the Kill (12")". Kitsuné. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  35. ^ a b c "Kitsuné: In for the Kill (Lifelike Remix) – Single by La Roux". iTunes Store (France). January 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  36. ^ "Various Artists – Maison Compilation 7". Kitsuné. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  37. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (12 October 2010). "La Roux feat. Kanye West, 'In for the Kill': An EW exclusive stream". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  38. ^ a b c "In for the Kill (feat. Kanye West) – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store (US). January 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  39. ^ "Live Lounge – Daniel Merriweather". BBC Radio 1. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  40. ^ "Live Lounge – Miike Snow". BBC Radio 1. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  41. ^ "Live Lounge – Kelis". BBC Radio 1. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  42. ^ "London Grammar cover La Roux's in for the Kill in the Live Lounge". BBC Radio 1. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  43. ^ a b Ahmed, Insanul (28 January 2011). "VOTE: Who Rocked La Roux's "In for the Kill" The Best?". Complex. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  44. ^ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (21 June 2010). "Premiere: Donnis, "Tha Kill" MP3". The Fader. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  45. ^ "Coke Boys [Explicit]: French Montana: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  46. ^ "Game – The Kill [Prod. Cool & Dre]". HipHopDX. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  47. ^ "La Roux talks about 'hilarious' Dr. Dre collaboration". Newsbeat. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  48. ^ Murray, Robin (16 May 2022). "Tion Wayne's 'IFTK' Is A La Roux-Sampling Smash". Clash. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  49. ^ Smith, Carl (10 June 2022). "Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill claims new Official Singles Chart peak as Harry Styles reigns with As It Was". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  50. ^ a b "In for the Kill". Amazon (UK). Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  51. ^ a b "In for the Kill von La Roux" (in German). 7digital (Germany). Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  52. ^ a b "La Roux – In for the Kill (7", Shape, Pic, Ltd)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  53. ^ a b デビュー！ [Debut!] (in Japanese). P-Vine Records. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  54. ^ a b "In for the Kill Remixes – EP by La Roux". iTunes Store (US). January 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  55. ^ La Roux (liner notes). La Roux. Polydor Records. 2009. 2703635.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  56. ^ "Issue 1014" ARIA Top 50 Dance Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  57. ^ "La Roux – In for the Kill" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  58. ^ "La Roux – In for the Kill" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  59. ^ "La Roux – In for the Kill". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  60. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  61. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  62. ^ "La Roux Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  63. ^ "La Roux Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  64. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Dance Singles 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  65. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  66. ^ Myers, Justin (24 September 2019). "Official Charts announces The Noughties definitive chart books". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  67. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  68. ^ "British single certifications – La Roux – In for the Kill". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  69. ^ "In for the Kill by La Roux". zdigital (Australia). Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  70. ^ "La Roux | In for the Kill" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
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