Gotta Get a Grip (song) explained

Gotta Get A Grip" / "England Lost
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Mick Jagger
Released:2017
Recorded:2017
Studio:Electric Lady Studios, New York
Genre:Rock
Label:Interscope / Polydor
Producer:Matt Clifford, Mick Jagger[1]
Chronology:Mick Jagger
Prev Title:Old Habits Die Hard
Prev Year:2004
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Next Year:2021

"Gotta Get a Grip" / "England Lost" is a double A-sided single[2] by the English singer-songwriter and Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger. The single was announced and subsequently released on 27 July 2017 along with accompanying music videos,[3] [4] one day after the singer turned 74.[5] According to Jagger, the songs were written in April 2017 as a response to what he called the "confusion and frustration with the times we live in."[6] According to the same statement by Jagger, which was released on the same day, the song describes the "anxiety, unknowability of the changing political situation" in a post-Brexit UK. The songs are the first solo-material that Jagger has released since Goddess In the Doorway was released in 2001. A digital "Reimagined" EP was also released, including a longer version of "England Lost", featuring Skepta, and remixes of "Gotta Get a Grip" by Seeb, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Alok and producer Matt Clifford.[7] [8]

Writing

In a statement coinciding with the release of "Gotta Get a Grip" and "England Lost", Jagger stated "It's always refreshing to get creative in a different fashion and I feel a slight throwback to a time when you could be a bit more free and easy by recording on the hoof and putting it out there immediately". Jagger also stated that he did not wait to release these songs as part of an album due to wanting to release the two songs as soon as possible.[9] [10]

The Los Angeles Times stated that the production of the songs were "resolutely modern," using "programmed drums and clanging guitar noise."[11]

Personnel

Reception

The song has been called "politically charged" by multiple publications, including Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times and NME. Uncut stated that "Gotta Get A Grip" has a "slower groove" than "England Lost", saying that it is powered by a "mighty, rolling riff" similar to the riff in the Stones' song, "Start Me Up"."[12] The single reached number 2 on Billboard's Singles Sales chart.[13]

Charts

Chart (2017)
"Gotta Get A Grip"
Peak
position
France (SNEP)[14] 49
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[15] 30
Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[16] 2
Chart (2017)
"England Lost"
Peak
position
France (SNEP)114
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[17] 38
Twitter Top Tracks (Billboard)[18] 44

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Discogs. 2024-06-09. en-US.
  2. News: Mick Jagger Official Store.
  3. News: Mick Jagger Gets Political, Addresses U.K. 'Anxiety' on Two New Songs. Rolling Stone. 2017-07-28.
  4. News: Mick Jagger releases 2 tracks in new audio-visual project. Daily Herald. 2017-07-28. en-US.
  5. News: Reviewed: Mick Jagger's "England Lost" and "Gotta Get A Grip" - Uncut. 2017-07-27. Uncut. 2017-07-28. en-US.
  6. News: Colbert's Trump cartoon to air on Showtime. Reil. Maxwell. Press of Atlantic City. 2017-07-28. en.
  7. News: Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker Remixes New Mick Jagger Track "Gotta Get A Grip" . 6 April 2023 . . July 28, 2017 . en.
  8. News: Mick Jagger – Gotta Get A Grip (Alok Remix) . 6 April 2023 . We Rave You . 4 August 2017.
  9. News: Mick Jagger Drops a Pair of Politically Charged Songs and Videos: 'We Obviously Have a Lot of Problems'. 2017-07-27. People.com. 2017-07-28. en-US.
  10. News: Mick Jagger shares two new tracks, including the Skepta-featuring 'England Lost'. 2017-07-27. NME. 2017-07-28. en-US.
  11. News: Today in Entertainment: Kesha finds redemption in new song; news from TCA press tour. Los Angeles Times. 2017-07-28. en-US. 0458-3035.
  12. News: Reviewed: Mick Jagger's "England Lost" and "Gotta Get A Grip" - Uncut. 2017-07-27. Uncut. 2017-07-28. en-US.
  13. News: Reviewed: Billboard Hot Singles Sales. 2017-08-29. Billboard. 2017-08-08. en-US.
  14. Web site: Classement officiel des ventes de singles & titres en France. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. 5 August 2017.
  15. Web site: Mexico Ingles Airplay. Billboard.
  16. Web site: Hot Singles Sales. Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331115717/https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2017-08-19/hot-singles-sales. 31 March 2019.
  17. Web site: Mexico Ingles Airplay. Billboard.
  18. Web site: Twitter Top Tracks. Billboard.