In the City (Charli XCX and Sam Smith song) explained

In the City
Type:single
Cover:Charli XCX - In the City.png
Alt:Only a woman's torso is shown, her midriff exposed beneath a sheer white camisole, highlighted against a black background
Artist:Charli XCX and Sam Smith
Genre:Dance-pop
Length:2:56
Label:Atlantic
Producer:
  • George Daniel
  • A. G. Cook
  • Charli XCX
  • Ilya
  • Omer Fedi
Chronology:Charli XCX
Prev Title:Speed Drive
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Von Dutch
Next Year:2024

"In the City" is a song by English singers Charli XCX and Sam Smith. It was released on 19 October 2023 through Atlantic Records.

Background

History between the two artists dates back as far as 2014, when both would hang out together at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards as well as a subsequent cover of "Stay with Me" by Charli.[1] Nine years later, in the music video for her single "Speed Drive", Charli hinted at an upcoming collaboration through a phone call with Smith in which they ask whether she heard the "new mix" and prompt her to "submit" it.[2]

On 7 October, Charli shared a snippet of a track she had been working on in the studio, described as "upbeat dance-pop". The news came shortly after she confirmed to be working on the successor of Crash (2022).[3] Smith confirmed the collaboration on 11 October through a post on Instagram where they are seen strutting down an alleyway in Osaka, Japan, to another snippet of the track.[4] Charli announced the track on her social media on 13 October.[5]

Description

The roughly 3-minute dance track is in the tech house genre. It starts with a thumping beat before Charli starts solo-singing. On the third beat-shift, the vocals drop off and Smith starts their solo part 80 seconds into the track, lasting less than 15 seconds before the two start singing together.

They claim to have found something they never thought they would find "in the city, in the dark", a phrase which is repeated throughout the chorus of the song. The narrative of the duet weaves between the two performers: Charli in her verse sings about becoming like water as she dances beneath the lights; Smith in their verse sings how they feel about the other person when they met them in New York City.

Track listing

  1. "In the City" – 2:56
  1. "In the City" (DJ HEARTSTRING remix) – 3:33

Charts

Chart (2023–2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[6] 36
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[7] 10
Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)[8] 16
Netherlands (Tipparade)[9] 24
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[10] 8
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[11] 47
South Korea BGM (Circle)[12] 115
South Korea Download (Circle)[13] 182

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatVersionLabel
Various19 October 2023OriginalAtlantic[14]
Italy20 October 2023Radio airplayWarner[15]
Various1 December 2023DJ HEARTSTRING remixAtlantic[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charli XCX covers Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" — watch video. Coplan. Chris. Consequence. 8 September 2014. 14 October 2023.
  2. Web site: Charli XCX teases Sam Smith collab in Speed Drive music video. Griffiths. George. Official Charts Company. 17 August 2023. 14 October 2023.
  3. Web site: Charli XCX shares snippet of as-yet-unreleased music. Wilkes. Emma. NME. 7 October 2023. 14 October 2023.
  4. Sam Smith Shares a New Song Snippet & Fans Think It's a Charli XCX Collab: Watch. Dew. Stephen. Billboard. 11 October 2023. 14 October 2023.
  5. Web site: Charli XCX to release Sam Smith collaboration 'In The City' next week. Wilkes. Emma. NME. 13 October 2023. 14 October 2023.
  6. Web site: ARC 100 - Week 51 (18.12.2023.). 18 December 2023 . HRT. 21 December 2023. 21 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231221153857/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/airplay-radio-chart-top40-51-tjedan-18-12-2023/. live.
  7. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of November 1, 2023. Billboard Japan. ja. 1 November 2023.
  8. Web site: Latvijas radio stacijās spēlētākās dziesmas TOP 50. nedēļa. lv. LAIPA. 30 January 2024. January 4, 2024.
  9. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 44, 2023. Dutch Top 40. nl. 4 November 2023.
  10. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 30 October 2023. 28 October 2023.
  11. Web site: Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 26/11/2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231126055946/https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare . 2023-11-26 . it . . 26 November 2023 . 15 July 2024.
  12. Web site: BGM Chart – Week 42 of 2023. Circle Chart. ko. 26 October 2023.
  13. Web site: Download Chart – Week 42 of 2023. Circle Chart. ko. 26 October 2023.
  14. News: Lane . Lexi . Charli XCX And Sam Smith Dropped Their Sparkling 'In The City' Collab . 20 October 2023 . . 19 October 2023.
  15. Web site: Tenaglia . Raffaella . Charli XCX & Sam Smith - In The City (Radio Date: 20-10-2023) . EarOne . 20 October 2023 . it . 20 October 2023.
  16. Web site: In the City - Single by Charli XCX and Sam Smith. Apple Music. 1 December 2023. 2 January 2024.