Creator (song)
Encyclopedia
"Creator" is the debut single by American
artist Santogold (now Santigold), and along with "L.E.S. Artistes
", the first to be taken from her then self-titled debut Santogold
. It is written by Daryn McFayden, Santi White and David Taylor
.
The song features Santi singjay
ing.
" as its b-side. It was later released on the US
iTunes Store
on March 25, 2008. The song featured in an advert for Alberto Vo5
hair products in the UK throughout spring 2008 and summer 2009. It has also been played in the Bud Light: Lime advert, which premiered in May 2008. The song was also featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy
, Chuck
(Season 4, Episode 9) and the final episode of Entourage
season 4. Additionally, the song was featured on the July 1st, 2009 episode of 'So You Think You Can Dance'. The song is also featured on the video game NBA 2K9.
The song has received comparisons to material by M.I.A.
. In September 2008, it featured in an episode of Gossip Girl
as Blair Waldorf walks in on Nate and her boyfriend's mom making out. Alex Denney of Drowned in Sound
called the song's introduction "an audacious way of introducing yourself to the world; with one of the most irritating vocals ever committed to tape." Denney goes on to say that "Creator" sounds "like giant robots crushing epic landscapes underfoot, a thuddingly neo-tribal and achingly, even clownishly modern floor." At the end of the review, the "Creator/L.E.S. Artistes" EP was rated seven out of ten. Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times
described the song as "an urban safari of warped electronic noises."
shot a video for "Creator" in the beginning of 2008; however, it did not get released since the single was changed to "L.E.S. Artistes
". Santi explained that they had "shot a video for Creator and it was bad. The director didn't get the shots that we needed. ...And the video was not good enough for this song. ...I was like, we're not gonna use it. And they were like, we just spent all this money. So we changed the single to LES, and had a video, and people loved it, and it worked."
(DWT70032; January 22, 2008 (US); February 24, 2008 (UK))
(March 25, 2008)
's Hot Singles Sales chart, before falling to number forty-nine.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist Santogold (now Santigold), and along with "L.E.S. Artistes
L.E.S. Artistes
"L.E.S. Artistes" is the second single by American artist Santigold, and along with "Creator", the first to be taken from her self-titled debut Santogold .- Background :...
", the first to be taken from her then self-titled debut Santogold
Santogold (album)
Santogold is the self-titled debut studio album by American alternative artist Santigold...
. It is written by Daryn McFayden, Santi White and David Taylor
Switch (DJ)
Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
.
The song features Santi singjay
Singjay
Singjaying is a Jamaican style of reggae vocals combining toasting and singing in an elastic format that encourages rhythmically compelling and texturally impressive vocal embellishments. The performer is called singjay, a combination of singer and deejay.The fusion of singing and deejaying...
ing.
Release and reception
"Creator" was released as a limited edition 12" vinyl in late 2007 and January 2008, with "L.E.S. ArtistesL.E.S. Artistes
"L.E.S. Artistes" is the second single by American artist Santigold, and along with "Creator", the first to be taken from her self-titled debut Santogold .- Background :...
" as its b-side. It was later released on the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
on March 25, 2008. The song featured in an advert for Alberto Vo5
Alberto-Culver
Alberto-Culver is an American corporation with international sales whose principal business is manufacturing hair and skin beauty care products under such brands as Alberto VO5, Andrew Collinge, St. Ives , TRESemmé, FDS, Consort, and Nexxus. It is a manufacturer in the multicultural beauty care...
hair products in the UK throughout spring 2008 and summer 2009. It has also been played in the Bud Light: Lime advert, which premiered in May 2008. The song was also featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, Chuck
Chuck (TV series)
Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
(Season 4, Episode 9) and the final episode of Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
season 4. Additionally, the song was featured on the July 1st, 2009 episode of 'So You Think You Can Dance'. The song is also featured on the video game NBA 2K9.
The song has received comparisons to material by M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
. In September 2008, it featured in an episode of Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
as Blair Waldorf walks in on Nate and her boyfriend's mom making out. Alex Denney of Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
called the song's introduction "an audacious way of introducing yourself to the world; with one of the most irritating vocals ever committed to tape." Denney goes on to say that "Creator" sounds "like giant robots crushing epic landscapes underfoot, a thuddingly neo-tribal and achingly, even clownishly modern floor." At the end of the review, the "Creator/L.E.S. Artistes" EP was rated seven out of ten. Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
described the song as "an urban safari of warped electronic noises."
Music video
Director Ace NortonAce Norton
Ace Norton is a music video and commercial director.-Biography:Norton grew up in Venice, and is the son of writer/director Bill Norton Junior and grandson of motion picture screenwriter William Norton Senior.Norton spent most of high school shooting short films...
shot a video for "Creator" in the beginning of 2008; however, it did not get released since the single was changed to "L.E.S. Artistes
L.E.S. Artistes
"L.E.S. Artistes" is the second single by American artist Santigold, and along with "Creator", the first to be taken from her self-titled debut Santogold .- Background :...
". Santi explained that they had "shot a video for Creator and it was bad. The director didn't get the shots that we needed. ...And the video was not good enough for this song. ...I was like, we're not gonna use it. And they were like, we just spent all this money. So we changed the single to LES, and had a video, and people loved it, and it worked."
Track listing
- 12" vinyl:
(DWT70032; January 22, 2008 (US); February 24, 2008 (UK))
- Creator – 3:32
- L.E.S. Artistes – 3:43
- U.S. Digital download:
(March 25, 2008)
- Creator – 3:32
- L.E.S. Artistes – 3:43
Official versions and remixes
- Original Version — 4:17
- Album Version — 3:33
- Instrumental — 3:20
- Mumdance Mix feat. Jammer, Badness, Chronik Rage, Slikman & Tempz — 3:32 (appears on Top RankingTop RankingTop Ranking: A Diplo Dub is a mixtape by American artist Santigold and Philadelphia-based DJ Diplo, released on July 15, 2008.-General information:...
) - Scottie B Remix — 4:12
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| United Kingdom |
Charts
"Creator" spent two nonconsecutive weeks in March 2008 at number forty-four on BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Hot Singles Sales chart, before falling to number forty-nine.
| Chart (2008) | Peak |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales | 44 |