Shelter (The xx song)

"Shelter" is a song by English indie pop band The xx. It is the seventh track on their debut album, xx, and the only track from it that was written and performed without former member Baria Qureshi.

"Shelter"
Song by The xx
from the album xx
Released3 June 2011
Recorded2009
XL Studios, West London
GenreElectronic
Length4:30
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jamie xx

The song's lyrics were written by Romy Madley Croft, with the music written by her, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith, and the song being produced by the latter.

Composition

The band recorded the song in February 2009, alongside the tracks "Fantasy" and "Infinity" before finishing the album by the end of the month. While recording "Shelter", a mechanical part of the guitar amplifier loosened, resulting in a clattering sound, which Rodaidh McDonald, who was the engineer and the mixer for the album, and The xx decided to keep. "It was just like this missing piece of percussion that the track needed!", remarked McDonald.[1]

Birdy version
"Shelter"
Single by Birdy
from the album Birdy
Released3 June 2011
Recorded2010
GenreIndie folk
Length3:44
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Oliver David Sim, Romy Anna Madley Croft, James Thomas Smith
Producer(s)Jim Abbiss
Birdy singles chronology
"Skinny Love"
(2011)		 "Shelter"
(2011)		 "People Help the People"
(2011)

English musician Birdy released a cover version of the song, which was released on 3 June 2011 as a download in the United Kingdom. The song was chosen as "Record of The Week" by UK radio DJ Fearne Cotton.[2]

Music video

The music video was first uploaded on YouTube on 16 June 2011 at a length of three minutes and fifty-seven seconds.[3] It features Birdy walking outside in the dark, with various shots of her sitting in a dark room or playing the piano. It currently has over 30 million views.

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Shelter"3:44

Charts
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[4] 39
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[5] 52
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6] 50

Other covers

The song has been covered multiple times by other artists, notably Hercules and Love Affair on their album Blue Songs.[7] Sophie Habibis performed a cover in the style of the Birdy version on series 8 of The X Factor, but was eliminated the same day.[8]

References
  1. "Rodaidh McDonald: Recording The xx |". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  2. "Thursday: Cameron Diaz is on the show!, Fearne Cotton - BBC Radio 1". BBC. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  3. Birdy (2011-06-16), Birdy - Shelter [Official Music Video], retrieved 2017-05-26
  4. ">> IRMA << Welcome to our site >>". www.irma.ie. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  5. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
  6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
  7. Hercules & Love Affair - Shelter (XX Cover), retrieved 2017-05-26
  8. "The X Factor 2011: finals week four - Sophie Habibis goes home". RadioTimes. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
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