To Build a Home
"To Build a Home" is a song by English electronic music group the Cinematic Orchestra, with vocals and piano performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson. It was released as the second single from the group's third studio album, Ma Fleur (2007), on 29 October 2007. The song's music video was a short narrative film that also included the song "Breathe" and ran to over 12 minutes. Shot on location in Cumbria, the video was premiered on Channel 4, featuring the actors Peter Mullan and Julia Ford, and directed by animator Andrew Griffin.
| "To Build a Home" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Cinematic Orchestra featuring Patrick Watson | ||||
| from the album Ma Fleur | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 29 October 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 2006 | |||
| Studio | Chung King Studios (New York, NY)[1] | |||
| Genre | Chamber pop | |||
| Length | 6:11 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Jason Swinscoe | |||
| The Cinematic Orchestra singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"To Build a Home" is a song by English electronic music group the Cinematic Orchestra, with vocals and piano performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson. It was released as the second single from the group's third studio album, Ma Fleur (2007), on 29 October 2007.
The song's music video was a short narrative film that also included the song "Breathe" and ran to over 12 minutes. Shot on location in Cumbria, the video was premiered on Channel 4, featuring the actors Peter Mullan and Julia Ford, and directed by animator Andrew Griffin.[citation needed]
Composition
[edit]"To Build a Home" is a piano ballad[2] that serves as the opening track to its companion album, Ma Fleur,[3] though it serves as the closing track on the Domino-released versions of the album.[4] It features vocals from Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson, who also has writing credits on the song alongside Phil France and Jason Swinscoe of the Cinematic Orchestra. Watson also performed piano for the song.[1]
The instrumental begins with about three to four piano chords looped,[5] building up to a more loud and grand point, introducing strings. During this portion of the instrumental, Watson sings over both the piano and strings, eventually climaxing with falsetto vocals.[3] Lyrically, the song deals with Watson wanting to create a house for him and his lover. What happens with the house is unknown, resulting it to be merely metaphorical in place of a resting place for the two.[6]
Release and reception
[edit]The song was first released on 29 October 2007 as a 7" vinyl single by Ninja Tune in the United Kingdom. It was backed with a cover version of the song performed by Grey Reverend.[7] A 7" single was also released in the U.S. by the Domino Recording Company's U.S. division, which was backed with "Child Song".[8] In 2015, the song peaked at number 96 on the French Singles Chart.[9]
"To Build a Home" had a positive reception from music critics. Critics often saw Watson's vocal performance as a highlight on the song. For The Observer, Stuart Nicholson wrote that "Swinscoe transforms three- and four-chord vamps into something special."[5] For Drowned in Sound, Shain Shapiro regarded the vocals as "bellowing [and] haunting", while Tyler Fisher of Sputnikmusic said that Watson "nearly steals the show".[3] Maggie Fremont of Vulture called it "one of the most emotional songs ever performed."[10]
"To Build a Home" has been used in several different television shows and films, including Suits (Season 2 Episode 5), This Is Us,Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, One Tree Hill, Grey's Anatomy,[11] Criminal Minds, Friday Night Lights, Orange Is the New Black, 9-1-1,[12] Schitts Creek, Skam France, The Gifted, and Scenes from a Marriage.[citation needed]
In March 2008 the song was used in an acclaimed Australian TV advert for the soft drink brand Schweppes.[13] At the 2018 Winter Olympics, figure skaters Julian Yee and Dmitri Aliev used the song in their respective performances.[14] It was reported in February 2022 that the song had been streamed over 374 million times.[15]
Track listing
[edit]- Ninja Tune (ZEN7 200; UK 7" vinyl single)[7]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To Build a Home" |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To Build a Home" (Grey Reverend Version) |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To Build a Home" (edit) |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Child Song" |
Personnel
[edit]Personnel adapted from Ma Fleur liner notes.[1]
|
Performers
|
Technical personnel
|
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2012–2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| France (SNEP)[9] | 96 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[16] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[17] | 4× Platinum | 320,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[18] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[19] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[21] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[22] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[23] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Ma Fleur (album liner notes). The Cinematic Orchestra. Ninja Tune / Domino. 2007.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Lynskey, Dorian (4 May 2007). "CD: Cinematic Orchestra, Ma Fleur". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Fisher, Tyler (4 June 2007). "The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ "Ma Fleur : The Cinematic Orchestra". Domino USA. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ a b Nicholson, Stuart (21 April 2007). "CD: Cinematic Orchestra, Ma Fleur". The Observer. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ Shapiro, Shain (4 May 2007). "Album Review: The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ a b "To Build a Home (Versions) by the Cinematic Orchestra". Ninja Tune. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ a b "To Build a Home : The Cinematic Orchestra". Domino USA. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ a b "The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build a Home" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ Fremont, Maggie (13 March 2018). "The Weepiest Moments in This Is Us Season Two, Ranked". Vulture. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Glow in nu-jazz". Delano. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ Zellner, Xander (13 February 2018). "The Cinematic Orchestra Rules Top TV Songs Chart for January 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "GEORGE PATTERSON Y&R TAKES OUT MADC BEST OF SHOW FOR SCHWEPPES 'BURST'". Campaign Brief. 2008-06-14. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ Rutherford, Kevin (27 February 2018). "Beth Hart, Ida Corr, Cinematic Orchestra & More Skate to Sales Gains in Final Days of Winter Olympics". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ Richardson, Andy. "Cinematic Orchestra's Jason Swinscoe talks ahead of Birmingham O2 Institute show". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build a Home". Music Canada. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – The Cinematic Orchestra & Patrick Watson – To Build a Home". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – The Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson – To Build a Home" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Cinematic Orchestra – To Build a Home". Radioscope. Retrieved 18 December 2024. Type To Build a Home in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build a Home". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Cinematic Orchestra – To Build a Home". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 November 2022. Select singles in the Formats field. Type To Build a Home Cinematic Orchestra in the "Search:" field.
- ^ "American single certifications – The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build a Home (ft. Patrick Watson)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
External links
[edit]- "To Build a Home" at Discogs (list of releases)