Black Dog (Arlo Parks song) explained

Black Dog
Cover:Arlo_Parks_Black_Dog.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Arlo Parks
Album:Collapsed in Sunbeams
A-Side:Eugene
Genre:Contemporary R&B
Length:3:45
Label:Transgressive
Producer:Gianluca Buccellati
Prev Title:Eugene
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Hurt
Next Year:2020

"Black Dog" is a song by the British singer and poet Arlo Parks from her first studio album, Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021).[1] Named after Winston Churchill's term for depression,[2] the song focuses on mental health.[3] "Black Dog" was Parks' first song to have mainstream radio airplay in the UK, on the A List of the BBC Radio 1 Playlist in July 2020.[4] Critics at NME ranked "Black Dog" as the fourth best song of 2020.[5]

Background and release

The song was released a month before Parks became an ambassador for the British mental health charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably.[6] It was released as a double-sided single with the song "Eugene" on 4 May 2020. Both songs were produced by Gianluca Buccellati, who also wrote them with Parks.[7] Referring to "Black Dog", Parks said, "It's supposed to make people who are struggling feel less isolated and start a conversation surrounding the prevalence of mental health issues in today's world."[8]

Critical reception

The song was placed on Amazon Music's UK Rising playlist within a week of its initial release.[9] NME described the single as "the years most devastating song".[3] DIY explained the song as being directed at those having to deal with mental health issues.[10] Narzra Ahmed of When The Horn Blows revealed that the meaning of "Black Dog" is a metaphor for depression with the song intended for people suffering with mental health as a result of isolation, and encourages a conversation around the issue.[11] Malvika Padin of Euphoria describes the song as starting a conversation around how people feel about themselves especially with the advent of social media making people question if they are a perfect person and their life.[12] "Black Dog" was also reported on by Redbrick and Office magazines, both of which described the song as one that explores human relationships.[13]

Music video

In May 2020, a music video directed by Molly Burdett was released.[14] The 4K video has scenes depicting depression, sadness and family issues.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Richards. Will. 20 May 2020. Arlo Parks: Creator of the year's most devastating song. 5 June 2020. NME. https://web.archive.org/web/20200528021835/https://www.nme.com/features/nme-radar-arlo-parks-black-dog-is-the-years-most-devastating-song-2671623 . 28 May 2020 .
  2. News: Smyth. David. 29 May 2020. Arlo Parks interview: 'Music was my refuge in a lost space'. Evening Standard. 5 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Reilly. Nick. 5 May 2020. Arlo Parks shares powerful new track 'Black Dog'. 5 June 2020. NME. https://web.archive.org/web/20200514050902/https://www.nme.com/news/music/arlo-parks-shares-powerful-new-track-black-dog-2659950 . 14 May 2020.
  4. Web site: Radio 1 Playlist. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716005816/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3tqPdBWF9yMbTrfjWvfKV8t/radio-1-playlist. 16 July 2020. 9 August 2020. BBC.
  5. Web site: December 8, 2020. The 50 best songs of 2020. December 8, 2020. NME.
  6. Web site: 5 June 2020. Introducing Arlo Parks, new CALM ambassador. 5 June 2020. Campaign Against Living Miserably. https://web.archive.org/web/20200521033511/https://www.thecalmzone.net/2020/05/introducing-arlo-parks-new-calm-ambassador/ . 21 May 2020.
  7. Web site: Black Dog by Arlo Parks on Tidal. 5 June 2020. Tidal. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605123538/https://listen.tidal.com/album/138582310/credits . 5 June 2020 .
  8. Web site: Kenneally. Cerys. 5 May 2020. Arlo Parks unveils new single "Black Dog". 5 Jun 2020. The Line of Best Fit. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605121613/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/arlo-parks-unveils-new-single-black-dog . 5 June 2020 .
  9. Web site: 6 May 2020. UK Rising (6 May 2020). 5 June 2020. Amazon Music.
  10. Web site: 5 May 2020. Arlo Parks shares new song 'Black Dog'. 5 June 2020. DIY. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20200512035213/https://diymag.com/2020/05/05/watch-arlo-parks-black-dog . 2020-05-12 .
  11. Web site: Ahmed. Narzra. 13 May 2020. Singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks' confessional style seeps into her powerful new single 'Black Dog'. 5 June 2020. When The Horn Blows. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605110935/https://whenthehornblows.com/content/2020/5/10/arlo-parks-black-dog . 5 June 2020 .
  12. Web site: Padin. Malvika. 11 May 2020. Arlo Parks releases quietly stunning new song, "Black Dog". 5 June 2020. Euphoria. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605110406/https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2020/05/music/tracks-arlo-parks-black-dog/ . 5 June 2020 .
  13. Web site: Brown. Elsie. 4 June 2020. Single Review: Arlo Parks - Black Dog. 5 June 2020. Redbrick. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605110407/https://www.redbrick.me/single-review-arlo-parks-black-dog/ . 5 June 2020.
    - Web site: David Aaron . Brake. 4 May 2020. Premiere: Arlo Parks, "Black Dog". 5 June 2020. Office.
  14. Web site: Robles. Jonathan. 5 May 2020. Arlo Parks' new song 'Black Dog' is heartbreakingly beautiful. 5 June 2020. Variance. https://web.archive.org/web/20200513202154/https://variancemagazine.com/sights/11173-arlo-parks-black-dog . 13 May 2020 .
  15. Web site: Parks. Arlo. 4 May 2020. Arlo Parks - Black Dog (Official Video). https://web.archive.org/web/20200508011415/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOu0Ht0-D4M. 8 May 2020. 5 June 2020. YouTube.

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