Updown Explained

Updown
Type:single
Cover:Piri & Tommy - Updown.png
Artist:Piri & Tommy Villiers
Released:17 February 2023
Genre:Hyperpop
Length:2:45
Label:Polydor
Producer:
  • Tommy Villiers
  • Piri
Chronology:Piri & Tommy Villiers
Prev Title:Feel It
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Nice 2 Me
Next Year:2023

"Updown" (stylised in lowercase) is a hyperpop song single by Piri & Tommy Villiers. Released on 17 February 2023 on Polydor Records, the song was written about cowgirl sex and was performed during live sets prior to release. Upon release, the song received airplay from BBC Radio 1 and Capital Dance and was reviewed by reviewers from Impact, Dancing Bears, and Clash. A music video was released on 2 March.

Background

In 2020, just before the second United Kingdom COVID-19 lockdown,[1] Piri matched on Tinder with Tommy Villiers.[2] A couple of weeks later, one of the band's photographers retweeted one of their photo shoots, prompting her to find his Instagram account and ask him out.[3] They released the mixtape Froge.mp3 in October 2022, which they promoted the following month with Froge.tour.[4] A week after that, they split up and did not talk to each other for several months, reuniting as friends in April 2023.[5]

Recording and release

The band recorded "Updown" in early 2022.[6] A hyperpop song, Piri wrote the song about having cowgirl sex with Villiers[7] and made part of the song's chorus, "I take it updown updown updown updown", after accidentally copying and pasting her vocals.[8] Villiers added a drop to the track during preparation for Piri & Tommy live sets.[9] The band released the song on 17 February 2023,[10] upon which BBC Radio 1 announced it as that day's "Hottest Record"[11] and Capital Dance added it to its playlist.[12] On 2 March 2023,[13] the band released a video directed by Ayla Spaans.[14]

Reception

Izzy Morris reviewed the song twice. Reviewing a Froge.tour concert for LeftLion, she complimented Piri's "exploration of her 'hyperpop era'".[15] However, when she reviewed the single for Impact, she opined that while the track was "perfectly built for a dancefloor", she found Piri's comparison to other women misogynistic and gave the song 2.5 stars out of 5.[16] Simon Meyer-Horn of Dancing Bears felt that the song's drop was the best bit of the song, though felt that it was "just a little too light to really get us excited" and opined that Piri's "monotonous vocals" contributed little to the track's "very bland" instrumental.[17] A more positive review, however, came from Robin Murray of Clash, who described it as "a dose of rave-fuelled female empowerment" and complimented Piri's "biting vocal" and the track's "daring production elements".[18]

Personnel

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateVersionLabel
Various17 February 2023Polydor[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: J . Trixie . 4 April 2023 . Piri and Tommy Rose from Viral Rookies to UK Dance's Next Big Ace . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230722235107/https://nexus.radio/news/piri-and-tommy-rose-from-viral-rookies-to-uk-dances-next-big-ace . 22 July 2023 . 22 July 2023 . Nexus Radio . en-US.
  2. News: Helm . Jake . Piri and Tommy: meet the rising stars of pop . https://archive.today/20221108175213/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/piri-and-tommy-meet-the-rising-stars-of-pop-xbsjrwl8t . 8 November 2022 . The Times.
  3. Web site: The Daisy Adams Show w/ Piri and Tommy Villiers 27th October 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213093946/https://www.mixcloud.com/reformradio/the-daisy-adams-show-w-piri-and-tommy-villiers-27th-october-2021/ . 13 February 2023 . 13 February 2023 . Reform Radio.
  4. 21 September 2022 . piri & tommy have announced their debut project, 'froge.mp3' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304081850/https://readdork.com/news/piri-tommy-announce-debut-project-froge-mp3/ . 4 March 2023 . . 4 March 2023.
  5. Web site: 20 September 2023 . Piri – Going Viral, Sustaining A Career in Music and Making OnlyFans Content . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016093708/https://open.spotify.com/episode/6oM9yoF8JlHxprs9CzRpje . 16 October 2023 . 11 October 2023 . Utopia Talks.
  6. Web site: Radio 1's Dance Party with Danny Howard . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217202831/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001htx8 . 17 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . BBC Sounds.
  7. Pole Dancing to 170BPM: piri is Reimagining the Rave . Gauchoworld . 4 . 67.
  8. Web site: Taylor . Tinea . 5 April 2023 . Tinea . 5 April 2023 . Kiss.
  9. Web site: Capital Dance on X: ". @piri_io_ on THAT drop @VilliersTommy" . 7 October 2024 . X.
  10. Web site: piri & Tommy Villiers premiere new single 'updown' • WithGuitars . 2023-09-03 . www.withguitars.com . en-gb.
  11. Web site: BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Dance Party with Danny Howard, Ella Toone House Party Playlist . 2023-07-18 . BBC . en-GB.
  12. Web site: Capital Dance on X: " playlist's looking bangin' with new music from @Borai_Music @buntmusic_ @CamdenCoxMusic @EmpireOfTheSun @Ritontime @Blessed_Madonna @piri_io_ @VilliersTommy @morgancoledj @DenhamAudio plus our JAM HOT 'What You Say' by Young Marco " . 7 October 2024 . X.
  13. Web site: Taylor . Sam . 2023-03-02 . piri & Tommy Villiers have shared a new video for their latest track, 'updown' . 2024-10-22 . Dork . en-US.
  14. Web site: piri & Tommy Villiers unveil video for latest single 'updown' • WithGuitars . 2024-10-22 . www.withguitars.com . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Gig Review: piri & tommy at The Bodega . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205094203/https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2022/november/gig-review-piri-and-tommy-at-bodega . 5 February 2023 . 5 February 2023 . LeftLion.
  16. Web site: New Releases Roundup: Singles. 22 February 2023 . Impact Nottingham. 23 February 2023.
  17. Web site: Meyer-Horn . Simon . 2023-02-17 . Nieuwe single piri & tommy - "updown" . 2024-10-22 . Dansende Beren . nl-NL.
  18. Web site: piri & Tommy Share Ecstatic New Blaster 'updown'. 20 February 2023 . Clash Music. 20 February 2023.
  19. Web site: Updown – Credits . 11 June 2023 . Tidal.
  20. Web site: piri Singles and EPs discography . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204123745/https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DpmPt7gfAAq7WEx0E1X8s/discography/single . 4 February 2023 . 4 February 2023 . Spotify.

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