Black Dog (Arlo Parks song)

"Black Dog" is a song by British singer and poet Arlo Parks from her debut studio album Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021).[1] Named after Winston Churchill's term for depression,[2] the song focuses on mental health, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[3] "Black Dog" was Parks' first song to make mainstream radio airplay in the UK, landing on the A List on the BBC Radio 1 Playlist in July 2020.[4] Critics at NME ranked "Black Dog" as the 4th best song of 2020.[5]

"Black Dog"
Single by Arlo Parks
from the album Collapsed in Sunbeams
A-side"Eugene"
ReleasedMay 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)
GenreContemporary R&B
Length3:45
LabelTransgressive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gianluca Buccellati
Arlo Parks singles chronology
"Eugene"
(2020)		 "Black Dog"
(2020)		 "Creep"
(2020)
Music video
"Black Dog" on YouTube

Background and release

The song was released a month before Parks became an ambassador for the British mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably.[6] It was released as a double-sided single set with the song "Eugene" on 4 May 2020.[7] Both songs were produced by Gianluca Buccellati, who also wrote them alongside Parks.[7] Addressing "Black Dog", Parks said "it's supposed to make people who are struggling feel less isolated and start a conversation surrounding the prevalence of mental health issues in today's world."[8]

Critical reception

The song was placed on the Amazon Music's UK Rising playlist within a week of its initial release.[9] NME described the single as 'the years most devastating song' with strong links to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and its effect on how Parks' poetry came out in the slow, rhyming lyrics.[3][1] DIY explained the song as being directed at those having to deal with the lockdowns and mental health during the pandemic.[10] Narzra Ahmed of When The Horn Blows revealed that the meaning behind "Black Dog" is being a metaphor for depression with the song being intended for people suffering with mental health as a result of isolation and encourages a conversation around the issue.[11] Malvika Padin of Euphoria describes the song as starting a conversation around how people feel about themselves especially with the advent of social media making people question if they are a perfect person and their life.[12] "Black Dog" was also reported on by Redbrick and Office Magazine, both of which described the song as one that explores human relationships.[13][14]

Music video

In May 2020, a music video directed by Molly Burdett was released.[15] The 4K video features scenes depicting depression, sadness and family issues.[16]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Black Dog"
Buccellati3:45
2."Eugene"
  • Marinho
  • Buccellati
Buccellati3:42
Total length:7:27

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[17] 44
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[18] 32
UK Download (OCC)[19] 61
Scotland (OCC)[20] 92

References
  1. Richards, Will (20 May 2020). "Arlo Parks: Creator of the year's most devastating song". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. Smyth, David (29 May 2020). "Arlo Parks interview: 'Music was my refuge in a lost space'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. Reilly, Nick (5 May 2020). "Arlo Parks shares powerful new track 'Black Dog'". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. "Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  5. "The 50 best songs of 2020". NME. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  6. "Introducing Arlo Parks, new CALM ambassador". Campaign Against Living Miserably. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. "Black Dog by Arlo Parks on Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  8. Kenneally, Cerys (5 May 2020). "Arlo Parks unveils new single "Black Dog"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 5 Jun 2020.
  9. "Amazon Music: UK Rising (6 May 2020)". Amazon Music. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. "Arlo Parks shares new song 'Black Dog'". DIY. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. Ahmed, Narzra (13 May 2020). "Singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks' confessional style seeps into her powerful new single 'Black Dog'". When The Horn Blows. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. Padin, Malvika (11 May 2020). "Arlo Parks releases quietly stunning new song, "Black Dog"". Euphoria. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  13. Brown, Elsie (4 June 2020). "Single Review: Arlo Parks - Black Dog". Redbrick. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. "Premiere: Arlo Parks, "Black Dog"". Office Magazine. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  15. Robles, Jonathan (5 May 2020). "Arlo Parks' new song 'Black Dog' is heartbreakingly beautiful". Variance. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  16. Parks, Arlo (May 4, 2020). "Arlo Parks - Black Dog (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Arlo Parks – Black Dog" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Arlo Parks – Black Dog" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban.
  19. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
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