Slow Hands (Niall Horan song)
"Slow Hands" | ||||
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Single by Niall Horan | ||||
from the album Flicker | ||||
Released | 4 May 2017 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:07 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Julian Bunetta[1] | |||
Niall Horan singles chronology | ||||
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"Slow Hands" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released as a single on 4 May 2017 by Capitol Records.[2] The song was written by Horan, Alexander Izquierdo, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Ruth Anne Cunningham and Tobias Jesso Jr., while the production was handled by Bunetta.[3] It was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 9 May 2017[4] as the second single from Horan's debut solo album Flicker (2017).
"Slow Hands" peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Horan's highest-charting single in those countries.
Background and composition
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Don_Henley_%282088057840%29.jpg/150px-Don_Henley_%282088057840%29.jpg)
Prior to its release, Horan discussed the song in an interview with Mikey Piff on Sirius XM. The singer said that after listening to some of the material he had recorded for his debut album, he wanted to add "a bit more grit, funk and heavier bass." At the time he was listening to late 1970s and early 1980s music. "When Don Henley went solo in the early eighties, he just kinda had this funky kind of feel to it – heavy bass, heavy guitar – so I just thought, 'Let's give this a crack,'" Horan said of making the track. "I wanted it to be a little bit cheeky with the lyric." About the concept, he explained it is set in a bar and the song's theme changes up stereotypical roles. "The first line is...'we should take this back to my place' – and usually that's what the guy would say, but we flipped it that the girl would say that, and that's what she said right to my face."[5][6]
"Slow Hands" is a bass-heavy funk-pop, pop and folk-pop song, with Horan singing in a lower register.[5][7][8][9] A Billboard writer described it as an "R&B-inflected rock tune."[10] It is written in the key of C major at a tempo of 88 beats per minute.[11]
Critical reception
[edit]In Billboard, Taylor Weatherby noted "Slow Hands" focuses on a "funkier guitar vibe", compared to Horan's previous single "This Town." She also opined "the subtly-sexy song" shows an "edgier side of Niall."[12] Colin Stutz from the publication, added, "The combination of a thumping beat and Horan's raspy vocals makes the song hardly even sound like the same guy who sang ["This Town"]. But what "Slow Hands" shows is that Horan definitely won't just be sticking to the sweet singer-songwriter sound on his solo debut."[6] Rolling Stone's Althea Legaspi also noted Horan "goes for a more muted sound. Above a stomp-and-clap beat and muted guitar, Horan allows his lower register to showcase his more seductive side on the track."[5]
In The Irish Times, Jennifer Gannon wrote that "it’s no radical departure, Niall hasn’t decided to go Gaga but it’s a step in a more Sheeran-style, crowd-pleasing direction. A gentle, foot-stomper about a lady with a magic touch, a lady who knows what she wants, she wants to get her hands all over Niall's "dirty laundry" and not in a bringing your washing home on a Sunday way. This isn't Timberlake's Sexy Back, it's Horan's Sweaty Back."[13]
Billboard's critics' list placed it second on "Every One Direction Solo Single, Ranked" in May 2017, stating that the "secret" highlight "[is] the way Niall's vocal on the first verse is ever so discretely chopped on the recording to a clipped staccato, a mysterious move that forces the singer into a less-is-more delivery that ends up being much more indeed."[14]
Chart performance
[edit]"Slow Hands" charted within the top 10 in the charts of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The single became his second top 20 entry as a solo artist on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 11 and surpassing his preceding single "This Town", which reached number 20. On 15 September 2017, the single was certified Platinum for combined sales and streaming equivalent units of over a million units in the United States. On the chart dated 7 October 2017, the single reached number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.[15] As of December 2017, it has sold one million copies in the US.[16]
Live performances
[edit]Horan has performed "Slow Hands" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[17][18] On 29 May 2017, the singer performed "Slow Hands", "This Town" and premiered the track "On the Loose" on The Today Show.[19] On 4 June 2017, Horan performed the song during the One Love Manchester benefit concert for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing.[20] On 5 June he performed on BBC One's The One Show.[21] The singer also performed "Slow Hands" at the Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2017.[22]
On 22 June 2018, Horan performed the song with American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, at the first London show of her Reputation Stadium Tour at Wembley Stadium, as a surprise guest.
Track listings
[edit]- Digital download[23]
- "Slow Hands" – 3:07
- Digital download (Acoustic)[24]
- "Slow Hands" (Acoustic) – 2:40
- "Slow Hands" (Jay Pryor remix) – 2:40
- Digital download (Basic Tape remix)[26]
- "Slow Hands" (Basic Tape remix) – 3:02
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit] | Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[78] | 9× Platinum | 630,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA)[79] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[80] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[81] | 5× Platinum | 400,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[82] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[83] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
Ireland (IRMA)[84] | 3× Platinum | 45,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[85] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[86] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[87] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[88] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[89] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[90] | Gold | 5,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[91] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF)[92] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[93] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[94] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 4 May 2017 | Digital download | Original | Capitol | [23] |
23 June 2017 | Acoustic | [24] | |||
Jay Pryor remix | [25] | ||||
Basic Tape remix | [26] | ||||
United States | 9 May 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | [4] | |
Italy | 12 May 2017 | Universal | [95] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "One Direction's Niall Horan's new single 'Slow Hands' is finally here". Digital Spy. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Niall Horan's Next Single 'Slow Hands' Has a Release Date". Billboard. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ "Slow Hands". Deezer.
- ^ a b "Niall Horan's "Slow Hands" Ranks As Pop Radio's Most Added Song". Headline Planet. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- ^ a b c Legaspi, Althea (4 May 2017). "Hear Niall Horan's Sexy New Funk-Pop Song 'Slow Hands'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ a b Stutz, Colin (4 May 2017). "Niall Horan Shares Sexy New Single 'Slow Hands'". Billboard. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Niall Horan gets funky on new track, 'Slow Hands'". Entertainment Weekly. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
- ^ Levine, Nick (20 October 2017). "Niall Horan – 'Flicker' Review". NME. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^ "Niall Horan Essentials". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ Martins, Chris (25 May 2017). "Niall Horan Braces for Stardom Outside One Direction, With Advice From Justin Bieber & The Eagles". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ Niall Horan "Slow Hands" Sheet Music
- ^ Weatherby, Taylor (4 May 2017). "5 Reasons Niall Horan's 'Slow Hands' is Even Better Than 'This Town'". Billboard. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Gannon, Jennifer (4 May 2017). "Niall Horan drips all over his dirty laundry on new song 'Slow Hands'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Unterberger, Andrew (25 May 2017). "Every One Direction Solo Single, Ranked Critic's List". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ "Niall Horan Becomes Second One Direction Member to Top Pop Songs Chart". billboard.com.
- ^ "By the numbers: Which 1D member really ruled 2017?". WIXX. 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- ^ "Niall Horan Performs 'Slow Hands'". ellentube. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Niall Horan: Slow Hands on YouTube
- ^ Weatherby, Taylor (29 May 2017). "Watch Niall Horan's 'On the Loose' TV Debut, One Direction Sing-Along on 'Today'". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
- ^ Iasimone, Ashley (4 June 2017). "One Love Manchester: Ariana Grande Opens Benefit Concert With 'Be Alright,' Joins Black Eyed Peas for 'Where Is the Love?'". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Niall Horan - Slow Hands". BBC.
- ^ "Niall Horan Got This Town Singing Along With His Gorgeous #CapitalSTB Set - Stunning!". Capital FM. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Slow Hands - Single". iTunes (US).
- ^ a b "Slow Hands (Acoustic) - Single". iTunes (US).
- ^ a b "Slow Hands (Jay Pryor Remix) - Single". iTunes (US).
- ^ a b "Slow Hands (Basic Tape Remix) - Single". iTunes (US).
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- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 43. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
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- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Finland Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. 20 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
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- ^ "BillboardPH Hot 100". Billboard Philippines. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
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- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201734 into search. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
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- ^ "Niall Horan – Slow Hands". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
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- ^ "Slow Hands - Niall Horan - Tophit" (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
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- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
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- ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ "Track Top-100 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2017". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2017". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
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- ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
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- ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
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- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
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- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". Music Canada. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Niall Horan; 'Slow Hands')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ "Niall Horan's Flicker becomes biggest album debut from One Direction members". 27 October 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Type Niall Horan in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Slow Hands in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
- ^ "Niall Horan's "Slow Hands" is #1 in the US". Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
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- ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
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- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 32, 2017 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 22 September 2017. Scroll to position 65 to view certification.
- ^ "British single certifications – Niall Horan – Slow Hands". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
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