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Chocolate (The 1975 song)

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"Chocolate"
Single by the 1975
from the EP Music for Cars and the album The 1975
Released4 March 2013 (2013-03-04)
Recorded2012–13
GenrePop rock[1]
Length3:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The 1975 singles chronology
"The City"
(2012) 		"Chocolate"
(2013) 		"Sex"
(2013)

"Chocolate" is a song by English rock band the 1975. The song was originally recorded by the band for their third extended play, Music for Cars, where it appears as the second track, and later appeared as the fourth track on their self-titled debut.

Background

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In January 2012,[2] the 1975 was formed by singer Matthew Healy, drummer George Daniel, guitarist Adam Hann and bassist Ross MacDonald, who had played music together since 2002. After being rejected by all major record labels, artist manager Jamie Oborne discovered the band and signed them to his label Dirty Hit.[3] The 1975 began a process of releasing three extended plays (EP) leading to their debut album.[4] In August of 2012, the band released their debut EP, Facedown, to critical success.[3][5] In November 2012, the 1975 released their second EP, Sex.[6] After being introduced to Mike Crossey during the recording of Sex, the 1975 worked with the producer during the development of "Chocolate".[3]

Development and release

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Writing

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The 1975 and Crossey spent a week in the band's studio engaging in pre-production for The 1975 (2013); they spent time listening to records together and discussed the desired aesthetics of the album. Crossey said it was critical to develop a sonic palette with a distinct character and "fingerprint" which could be "immediately" attributable to the 1975. The band also sought to incorporate contrasting sounds, one of which was "an impressive pop element" similar to the soundtracks from 1980s films and the work of Michael Jackson.[3] Healy described the lyrics of "Chocolate" as a love letter to boredom, limited opportunities for self-expression, understanding where one is from and embracing the makeup of that place. Focusing on the 1975's relationships with drugs and the governing authorities in his small town, Healy developed a story which details smoking marijuana with friends, resulting in encounters with the police.[7][8] The song's title, "Chocolate", is used throughout the song as a euphemism for the drug.[8]

Recording and release

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For "Chocolate", Crossey revealed the band were "pretty unashamed" about wanting the song to become a commercial success. Following the initial ideation stage, the 1975 and Crossey recorded the song at Motor Museum studios in Liverpool.[3] Alongside "Robbers" and "Sex", the track was one of the first three written for The 1975.[9] After recording "Chocolate" in Liverpool, the band and Crossey traveled to London with engineer Mike Spink and programmer Jonathan Gilmore, where they worked at Livingston studio. The producers focused on achieving their desired sounds at the source rather than during mixing; they incorporated unorthodox recording techniques such as making the guitars sound like "a cloud of tone" by positioning the microphones at different heights and substituting the outboard for guitar pedals.[3]

Programming "Chocolate" involved the use of "strange" percussion such as off-beat "trashy parts" including a tambourine and a "body hit" sample developed by Daniel. To emulate the sound of film scores, Daniel and Healy created most of the electronic synthesiser programming at their studio in Wilmslow using Logic. While some of these synths were kept in the song's final version, the artists collaborated with Crossey and Gilmore to recreate most of their original work, "trying to make them bigger and better". The producers incorporated a number of different synths into the track, with Crossey noting: "It doesn't sound like there are that many electronics in the song, but if you took them out it'd have a very different listening experience." This portion of the recording included a marimba from Spectrasonics Omnisphere, an ambient pad from Absynth and an arpeggio constructed using various soft synths from Vacuum, EXS24 and Massive.[3]

Crossey, who mixed "Chocolate", said both himself and the 1975 had a "clear vision" of how they wanted the song to sound. Having already developed a rough edit of the track, the producer only wanted to create an improved version; Crossey was inspired by the "bottom-end vibe" of Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" (2010), so his mixing work on "Chocolate" focused on the "bottom end" of the rhythm section and adjusting the song's groove. Elsewhere, the producer spent time developing the desired interaction between the vocals and the drums, seeking to construct the former with "some presence and wideness and vibe" to give Healy's voice "a sense of importance".[3] On 21 January 2013, "Chocolate" was released as the lead single from Music for Cars by Dirty Hit, Polydor Records and Vagrant Records.[10][11] The song was later included on The 1975, representing the album's fourth track.[12]

"Chocolate" is considered the band's breakthrough hit in the United States, peaking at #80 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Music and lyrics

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Musically, "Chocolate" is a pop,[13] rock,[14] funk and alt-rock song.[15][16] The track has a length of three minutes and forty-four seconds (3:44) and was written by the 1975 members George Daniel, Healy, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while the band handled the production alongside Crossey.[12][17] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Music Publishing, "Chocolate" is set in the time signature of common time with a tempo of 100 beats per minute. The track is composed in the key of B major, with Healy's vocals ranging between the notes of B4 and F♯5. It follows a chord progression of B–E–F♯–G♯m–C♯m–D♯m–A♯m.[18]

The narrator sings about fleeing the police in his car with a stash of cannabis, with the term "chocolate" being a euphemism for cannabis.[19]

Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matty Healy called the song "a love letter to the authority figures in our town — you know about small town boredom, both by the kids and by the police."[20]

Music video

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A music video to accompany the release of "Chocolate" was first released onto YouTube on 20 February 2013 at a total length of three minutes and forty-seven seconds.[21] It was directed by Gareth Philips.[22]

It is primarily filmed in and around the Limehouse area of London, featuring Canary Wharf, the Limehouse Link and Aspen way landmarks. The group are shown riding around in a vintage 1975 Ford Consul, originally from the British television show The Sweeney.[22]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[39] Gold 30,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[40] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] 3× Platinum 1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[42] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[43] Gold 900,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[44] 4 March 2013 Contemporary hit radio Dirty Hit
Italy[45] 19 April 2013 Universal
United States[46][47][48] 9 July 2013 Modern rock radio
29 October 2013 Contemporary hit radio
21 January 2014 Hot adult contemporary radio Interscope

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Eklund, Zahna (25 February 2016). "Exclusive: The 1975's new album review". Nerve Media. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  2. ^ Cook, Beatrice (10 May 2013). "10 Minutes with: The 1975". Glasgow University Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Tingen, Paul (December 2013). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Mike Crossey". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Interview w/ The 1975". Blah Blah Blah Science. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ Faughey, Darragh (11 December 2012). "The 1975 – Interview". Golden Plec. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Sex - EP". Apple Music. 19 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Class of 2013 – Årets 100 bästa låtar!". Songs For Whoever (in Swedish). 20 December 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b Whitehill, Gaby (27 March 2014). "11 songs you may not know are actually about drugs". Gigwise. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  9. ^ Mosk, Mitch (26 September 2014). "Sex, Drugs, and Music: A Conversation with The 1975". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  10. ^ Fleischer, Norman (21 January 2013). "The 1975 premiere new single Chocolate". Nothing but Hope and Passion. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  11. ^ Music for Cars EP (inlay cover). The 1975. Dirty Hit. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ a b Collar, Matt. "The 1975 – The 1975". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  13. ^ Hiltunen, Lauri (23 April 2013). "The 1975: Music for Cars EP". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  14. ^ Whitehill, Gaby (17 December 2013). "The 19 best self-titled albums of all time". Gigwise. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  15. ^ Cohen, Ian (18 September 2013). "The 1975: Ruthlessly Catchy and Accidentally Interesting". Grantland. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  16. ^ Williams, Nick (19 July 2013). "Rock Single Review: "Chocolate" The 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  17. ^ I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (inlay cover). The 1975. Dirty Hit and Polydor Records. 2016. p. 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ "The 1975 – Chocolate". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  19. ^ Jack Shepherd (1 June 2015). "Ed Sheeran debuts new song 'Sweet Mary Jane' about his love affair with weed". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  20. ^ "THE 1975 'CHOCOLATE' – WHAT ARE THEY ACTUALLY SAYING? [LYRICS]". www.943thepoint.com. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. ^ The 1975 (20 February 2013). "The 1975 – Chocolate". YouTube. Retrieved 24 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ a b "ROUGH | ROUGH ONLINE |ROUGH MAGAZINE ARTICLE". www.roughitalia.com. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  23. ^ "The 1975 – Chocolate" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  24. ^ "The 1975 Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  25. ^ "The 1975 Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  26. ^ "Chart Track: Week 18, 2013=". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  27. ^ "The 1975 Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  29. ^ "Schweizer Airplay Charts 19/2013 - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  31. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  32. ^ "The 1975 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  33. ^ "The 1975 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  34. ^ "The 1975 Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  35. ^ "The 1975 Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  36. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  37. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  38. ^ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  39. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – The 1975 – Chocolate" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  40. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – The 1975 – Chocolate" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  41. ^ "British single certifications – The 1975 – Chocolate". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  42. ^ "American single certifications – The 1975 – Chocolate". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  43. ^ "Danish single certifications – The 1975 – Chocolate". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  44. ^ Gray, Catriona (20 February 2013). "Sweet like chocolate: The 1975 play The Borderline". GQ. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  45. ^ De Rosa, Gianluigi. "The 1975 – Chocolate (Universal)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  46. ^ "Alternative > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  47. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  48. ^ "Hot AC". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
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