New Shapes Explained

New Shapes
Type:	single
Cover:	Charli XCX - New Shapes.png
Border:	yes
Artist:	Charli XCX featuring Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek
Album:	Crash
Genre:	Synth-pop indie pop electro-funk
Length:	3:20
Label:	Asylum Warner UK
Producer:	Lotus IV Deaton Chris Anthony
Chronology:	Charli XCX
Prev Title:	Good Ones
Prev Year:	2021
Next Title:	Beg for You
Next Year:	2022

"New Shapes" is a song by English singer Charli XCX, featuring French singer Christine and the Queens and American singer Caroline Polachek. It was released on 4 November 2021 as the second single from XCX's fifth studio album, Crash (2022). The song has been described as an '80s-inspired synth-pop, indie pop, and electro-funk track.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Background

"New Shapes" was written by Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens, Caroline Polachek, Noonie Bao, Linus Wiklund and Deaton Chris Anthony, with the latter two also handling the production duties. It marks the second collaborative effort between both XCX and Christine, and XCX and Polachek. The former pairing made the 2019 single "Gone", while the latter created the track "Tears" from the 2017 mixtape Pop 2. Christine and Polachek, meanwhile, had previously worked together on the song "La vita nuova" in 2020. The single was described as '80s-influenced^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cills. Hazel. Charli XCX (feat. Caroline Polachek & Christine and the Queens), 'New Shapes'. 26 November 2021. 4 November 2021. NPR.
2. Web site: Curto. Justin. It's Charli (and Chris) (and Caroline), Baby, on 'ຖēຟ ŞhคpēŞ'. 26 November 2021. 4 November 2021. Vulture.
3. Web site: Charli XCX Follows Her Pop Passion on the Uneven CRASH. Bennett. Eric. Paste. 18 March 2022. 18 March 2022.
4. Web site: Album: Charli XCX - Crash. Green. Thomas H.. The Arts Desk. 19 March 2022. 20 March 2022.
5. Charli XCX Announces New Album & Tour, Drops 'New Shapes' With Caroline Polachek & Christine and the Queens. Starr Bowenbank. Billboard. 4 November 2021. 22 November 2021.
6. Web site: Charli XCX announces new album Crash, due March 2022 and drops single New Shapes. George Griffiths. officialcharts.com. 4 November 2021. 22 November 2021.
7. Web site: Charli XCX shares video for "New Shapes" featuring Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek. Jordan Darville. The Fader. 12 November 2021. 22 November 2021.
8. Web site: 'New Shapes' by Charli XCX. Lygeia Gomes. officialcharts.com. 16 November 2021. 22 November 2021.
9. Web site: Lamond . Ana . 2022-04-15 . Charli XCX: Her 17 Best Songs . 2022-04-16 . . en.
10. Web site: Charli XCX - New Shapes (feat. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek). 4 November 2021 . 25 November 2021. Deezer.
11. Web site: New Shapes (feat. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek). Spotify. 22 November 2021.
12. Web site: Discography Charli XCX. irish-charts.com. 22 November 2021.
13. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 15 November 2021. 13 November 2021.
14. Web site: "New Shapes" [ft. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek] by Charli XCX Review|author=Vrinda Jagota|website=Pitchfork|date=4 November 2021|access-date=22 November 2021}} and "synth-heavy", with lyrics "lamenting (...) inability to truly let (...) significant others in, instead pushing them away, rejecting true love and embracing freedom".^[5] The track was released on 4 November 2021, with Charli XCX simultaneously announcing the title and cover of her album Crash, as well as the 2022 concert tour.^[6] The song was also previously teased during a live performance earlier in 2021, alongside another unreleased track.

    Music video

    The music video for the song was directed by Imogene Strauss, Luke Orlando, and Terrence O'Connor, and was released on 12 November 2021.^[7] It begins with Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek and Christine and the Queens participating in an imaginary TV Heaven chat show, hosted by Benito Skinner, before teaming up to perform the song on stage. The video parodies sexist, late-night talk show hosts.^[8]

    Critical reception

    Pitchforks Vrinda Jagota described the song in a positive review as having "towering swells of '80s production", stating that it "combines the euphoria of a Patrick Swayze dance number with the crushing depth of a Fleabag monologue: a celebration of a love too radioactive to last." Clash's Ana Lamond said that the song "takes an alternative route to empowerment, with a laser focused hook [...] seeing the hyper-pop connoisseurs rise above the manipulative relationships they find themselves haunted by."^[9]

    Track listing

    Digital download and streaming^[10]

    1. "New Shapes" – 3:20

    Streaming – bonus tracks^[11]

    1. "New Shapes" – 3:20
    2. "Good Ones" – 2:16

    Charts

    Chart (2021)! scope="col"

    Peak position
    Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	90
    New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[13]	39

    Release history

    Region! scope="col"

    Date	Format	Label
    Various	4 November 2021

    References

    ]

    .