VCR (song)

"VCR"
Single by the xx
from the album xx
B-side
Released24 January 2010 (2010-01-24)
GenreIndie pop[3]
Length2:59
LabelYoung Turks
Songwriter(s)Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft, Baria Qureshi, Jamie Smith
Producer(s)The xx
The xx singles chronology
"Islands"
(2009) 		"VCR"
(2010) 		"Angels"
(2012)

"VCR" is the fourth single by English indie rock band the xx from their self-titled debut album. The single was first released in the UK on 24 January 2010. The song was also featured on the episode "Black Friday" from the television series Lie to Me. Music critic Robert Christgau named it the tenth best single of the year.[4]

Track listing

UK iTunes single[5]

  1. "VCR" – 2:59
  2. "Insects" – 2:28

UK vinyl[6]

  1. "VCR" – 2:59
  2. "Insects" – 2:28

VCR (Four Tet Remix) – Single[7]

  1. "VCR" (Four Tet Remix) – 4:52

Digital EP[8]

  1. "Insects" – 2:28
  2. "VCR" (Four Tet Remix) – 8:40
  3. "VCR" (Matthew Dear Remix) – 4:52
  4. "Shelter" (John Talabot Feel It Too Remix) – 6:49
  5. "Night Time" (Greg Wilson Remix) – 8:33

Chart performance

"VCR'" entered the UK Indie Chart on 31 October 2010 at number 15; as well as the UK Singles Chart at number 132,[9] marking the band's second most successful single behind "Islands", which peaked at number 34 in September 2010.[10]

Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Indie (OCC)[11] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 132

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format
United Kingdom 24 January 2010[5] Digital download
25 January 2010[6] 7-inch vinyl
25 October 2010[14] Digital download

Cover versions

"VCR" was covered by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.[15] Their version was published at SoundCloud on 18 November 2010[16] and released as a B-side to "History of Modern (Part I)" on 28 February 2011.[17]

The Antlers released a cover of the song for their 2011 EP[18]

References

  1. ^ "xx, The - VCR (Vinyl)". Discogs. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  2. ^ "XX, The - VCR (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. ^ Porter, Brittany (19 October 2015). "The xx: 5 most underrated songs". AXS. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (12 January 2010). "2009: Dean's List". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  5. ^ a b "VCR – Single". UK iTunes Store.
  6. ^ a b "VCR – Vinyl". UK iTunes Store.
  7. ^ "VCR (Four Tet Remix) - Single - The xx". iTunes Store.
  8. ^ "VCR – The xx". iTunes Store.
  9. ^ "Chart Log UK: New entries update 6.11.2010 (wk43)". Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Archive Chart 25 September 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  11. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  12. ^ Chart Log UK: "6 November 2010 (wk43)". UK Singles Chart. Zobbel.de. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  13. ^ "British single certifications – The xx – VCR". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  14. ^ "VCR – Four Tet Remix". UK iTunes Store.
  15. ^ "News - LISTEN: OMD Cover The XX 'VCR'". The Quietus. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  16. ^ "100% Records - OMD - VCR (rough mix) - SoundCloud". Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  17. ^ "History of Modern (part I) - Tracklisting announced!". 7 February 2010. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  18. ^ "Listen: The Antlers Cover the xx". Pitchfork. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.