Strange (Celeste song)

"Strange" is a song by British singer and songwriter Celeste. The song was released on 4 September 2019 through Both Sides and Polydor Records as the lead single from her debut studio album Not Your Muse (2021). It was written by Celeste, Stephen Wrabel, and Jamie Hartman, who also produced the track.[2] She released a live version of the song on 20 September 2019,[3] as well as the song's music video in November 2019.[4] The original version has been edited for radio play on the version titled "Strange (Edit)", therefore excluding an extra verse towards the end of the song.

"Strange"
Cover for the studio version
Single by Celeste
from the album Not Your Muse
Released4 September 2019
GenreSoul[1]
Length3:18 (studio version)
5:03 (live version)
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jamie Hartman
Celeste singles chronology
"Coco Blood"
(2019)		 "Strange"
(2019)		 "Stop This Flame"
(2020)
Music video
"Strange" on YouTube
Audio sample
Audio sample of the song's chorus.
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Background and composition

Celeste premiered the song at the BBC Music Introducing concert at The Lexington in February 2019. She told BBC, "You never know how you're gonna feel when you perform something for the first time and how people are going to react to it, and I had such a warm response and it seemed like it was a memorable song for people in that moment."[5] Celeste told the Evening Standard, "They identified it as a special song."[6]

"Strange" is "a tale of lost friendships and broken relationships".[7] In the chorus, Celeste ponders: "Isn't it strange? / How people can change / From strangers to friends / Friends into lovers / And strangers again" over silky strings and a "haunting and delicate" piano melody.[8][9][10] The song was written and recorded in Los Angeles during the 2018 California wildfires. Robin Murray from Clash noted that the damaged areas were "transformed into these hideous alien realms which [Waite] began to view [as] counterpoints to her own emotional turmoil."[11] She told Idolator, "I began to think of all the destruction the fires caused, the loss, the isolation, people finding themselves in a situation where they have no home, no sense of familiarity,"[9] After hearing Celeste sing "Tried to see through all the smoke," David Smyth from Evening Standard wrote, "her voice trails off close to silence, as though she isn't quite sure of the words." Celeste commented on this statement, saying "It's become one of my favourite songs I've written, because it allows me to live in the imperfections of my voice... The air was thick with smoke, which is why my voice sounds more husky than it is usually."[6] Modestas Mankus from Our Culture Mag wrote, "Celeste brings us a melancholic mood through a melodious voice and soft ad-like piano."[12]

"Strange" is composed in the key of D major with a slow tempo of 68 beats per minute. The song features strings from musician Sebastian Plano.[2]

Reception

Modestas Mankus from Our Culture Mag wrote:[12]

Celeste's ability to explore an event that is so distressing to access her own past and personal experience of loss showcase a side of Celeste that has been previously visible in her previous work. Celeste has established herself as an artist who can mould and bring out authenticity and passion with fluency and maturity that not many artists can do so quickly in their careers,

Idolator ranked the song at #34 on their list of The 75 Best Pop Songs Of 2019.[13] Apple Music also listed it as one of The 100 Best Songs of 2019.[14]

Music video

The music video for "Strange" was shot in Bulgaria in October 2019,[15] and released on 7 November 2019.[4] Celeste told Dork that the video "begins at the end and comes full circle, representing the reckless behaviours which can lead you from being lovers to strangers."[15] A French lyric video illustrated by Toby Calo was released on Celeste's social media platforms on Christmas Day 2019.[16][17]

Live performances

Celeste made her late night television debut when she performed the song on Later... with Jools Holland in October 2019.[18][19] Following her performance of "Strange" at the 2020 Brit Awards, Celeste saw interest from other big names in the pop music industry who attended the ceremony such as Billie Eilish,[20] Camilla Cabello,[21] Finneas,[22] and Stormzy.[23] She has also made her American television debut with the song on The Late Late Show with James Corden,[24] as well as her French television debut with the song on C à vous.[25]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal:[2]

Charts
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 47
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 12
Belgium Airplay (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 39
Scotland (OCC)[27] 68
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[28] 61
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[29] 60

Release history
Region Date Format Version Label
Various 4 September 2019 Airplay, CD, digital download, streaming Edited version Universal Music Group, Polydor
20 September 2019 Digital download, streaming Acoustic

References
  1. Rogers, Kieran (14 November 2019). "'Strange' is a thoughtful piece of soul balladry from Celeste". Clout. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  2. "Strange (Edit) by Celeste: Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  3. Strange (Live) - Single by Celeste, Apple Music, retrieved 23 December 2019
  4. Celeste - Strange (Official Video), YouTube, 7 November 2019, retrieved 23 December 2019
  5. Celete is BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year 2019. Facebook. BBC Music Introducing. 3 December 2019. Event occurs at 4:30. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  6. Smyth, David (8 November 2019). "Celeste: 'After my father died, I had so much more drive to do music'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  7. Arunarsirakul, Alissa (5 September 2019). "Celeste Is the Rising R&B Songstress Who Highly Values Intimacy in Her Songwriting". Ones To Watch. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  8. "Celeste – Strange: Lyrics", Genius, retrieved 23 December 2019
  9. Wass, Mike (7 November 2019). "New Find: Celeste's Hauntingly Beautiful "Strange"". idolator. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  10. Malachosky, Evan (6 September 2019). "Celeste: Strange". Cool Hunting. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  11. Murray, Robin (5 September 2019). "Celeste Shares Affecting New Single 'Strange'". Clash. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  12. Mankus, Modestas (7 September 2019). "Review: Celeste 'Strange'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  13. Wass, Mike (30 December 2019). "The 75 Best Pop Songs Of 2019". idolator. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  14. "The 100 Best Songs of 2019". Apple Music. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  15. "Watch Celeste's new video for 'Strange'". Dork. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  16. Celeste - Strange (Official French Lyric Video), YouTube, 25 December 2019, retrieved 25 December 2019
  17. "Celeste on Instagram: "une nouvelle vidéo lyrique pour étrange en français ~ Joyeux Nöel Illustration & Video by @tobycato"". Instagram. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  18. "Celeste: Who is BBC Music Introducing's Artist of the Year?". BBC. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  19. "BBC Two - Later... Live Tracks, Celeste - Strange (Later... With Jools Holland)". BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  20. The Official Big Top 40 [@BigTop40] (24 February 2020). "So @billieeilish is just as big a fan of @celeste's music are we are" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. "Camila Cabello Instagram Story: 24 February 2020". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  22. FINNEAS [@finneas] (25 February 2020). "Heard this song for the first time when performing at the brits and fell in love with it immediately" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. BRIT Awards [@BRITs] (19 February 2020). ""That's a perfect song." The moment @stormzy bumped into @celeste backstage at The #BRITs and told her exactly how much he loves 'Strange'" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. "Celeste: Strange". YouTube. The Late Late Show with James Corden. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  25. "C à vous la suite Intégrale : Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan et Celeste". France Télévisions (in French). C à vous. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  26. "Celeste [UK] - Strange". Ultratop. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  28. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100: 10 January 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  29. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 | Week of 10 January 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
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