Fembot (song)
Encyclopedia
"Fembot" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn
, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1
(2010). The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund
, and produced by the latter. It was inspired by Robyn's personal experience of entering her thirties and contemplating children. With the song, she also argues against the notion that humans and robots are separate, explaining that technology has become more organic. "Fembot" is an electro song with an R&B
vibe, and features Robyn rapping several double entendre
s in the verses, while proclaiming that "Fembots have feelings too" in the chorus. The song was released on 13 April 2010 as one of three promotional singles before the album's release.
"Fembot" was met with positive reviews from critics, with some of them highlighting its humor and lyrical content. Critics also noted the continued "android theme" present on a few of Robyn's previous songs, including the Röyksopp
collaboration "The Girl and the Robot
" (2009). Commercially, "Fembot" performed well on the charts, managing to reach number three on the Sverigetopplistan
chart and number ten in Norway. Robyn performed the song for the first time on talk show Skavlan
in April 2010, and later included it on the set lists for the All Hearts Tour (2010) and the Body Talk Tour
(2010).
, Robyn was asked if "Fembot" represented a dislike for the notion that humans and robots are separate, and she responded by saying, "The classic, dystopian theory about the future is not really as interesting to me. Like the book I, Robot is all about these robots that basically went nuts, and it's always because they were wrongly programmed by humans. It's like a mirror of our own psyche. It's almost like the wrong program could be a mental disease." She elaborated that "Fembot" is not "really about the future or about space or anything", saying that it is about the present time. "Technology is becoming more organic, and using the word 'fembot' or 'robot' in a song makes things more human to me", she said. In an interview with music website Stereogum
, she explained that the song also chronicles her personal experience of "turning 30 and contemplating children". She elaborated, saying,
The song was uploaded the song onto Robyn's official website on 17 March 2010. It was later released to digital retailers in the United States on 13 April 2010, and in Sweden three days later. It was one of three promotional singles released before the release of Body Talk Pt. 1
and the official first single, "Dancing on My Own
".
, and produced by the latter. It is an electro song with a "heavy R&B
vibe". According to Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone
, the song continues the "android theme" previously present on Robyn's track, "Robotboy", the interlude "Bionic Woman" and the Röyksopp
collaboration, "The Girl and the Robot
" (2009). DJ Ron Slomowicz of About.com
compared its musical and lyrical style to that of previous single "Konichiwa Bitches
" (2007). According to Jer Fairall of PopMatters
, the song utilizes "a spare, beepy two-note synth hook and a squelching electronic rhythm." Robyn's vocals in the song are layered with Auto-Tune
and vocoder
s. During the verses, she adapts her distinctive rapping
style, and exclaims lyrical lines such as "I gotta lotta automatic booty applications" and "I'm a very scientifically advanced hot mama." Nate Chinen of The New York Times
wrote that Robyn "rap[s] a series of double entendre
s in a digitally processed purr", and then proclaims her "voguish fixation on androids" in the chorus; "I’ve got some news for you / Fembots have feelings too". According to Lindsey Fortier of Billboard
, "Fembot" sees Robyn "get[ting] in touch with her urban side".
wrote that "Though the lyrics are daft [...] it's exuberance and general sense of fun is so infectious that when the chorus kicks in you barely notice what she's saying." Jer Fairall of PopMatters wrote, "Look no further than the wry chorus hook of “Fembot” for proof of Robyn’s deftly subversive sense of humor." Fairall also pointed out that "[The chorus] might hint, at first, in the direction of some Blade Runner
-esque sci-fi pathos, but Robyn turns it towards a canny meta-commentary on the fluid sense of authenticity that pervades 21st century pop stardom." Fairall, however, thought that "the verses are nothing more than an inventory of the titular ‘bot’s synthetic virtues." Ben Norman of About.com
selected the song as his favorite track on Body Talk Pt. 1, and wrote that "'Fembot' is the incredibly quirky and well-written Robyn-rap track that needs to be heard to believed." Christopher Muther of The Boston Globe
praised the song for having "one of the most entertaining lyrics to emerge this year".
"Fembot" debuted at number seven on the Sverigetopplistan
chart on the issue dated 23 April 2010, becoming the week's highest debut. The following week, it rose four positions to number three, which became its peak. The song spent seven weeks on the chart, before dropping out in June 2010. In Norway, "Fembot" debuted at number nineteen on the VG-lista
chart and peaked at number ten. The song debuted and peaked at number ninety-nine on the European Hot 100 Singles chart on the issue dated 15 May 2010.
. A writer from music website Stereogum wrote that Robyn did the song very well live, and commented; "With just a keyboardist doubling as robot hypeman and two drummers, the performance is extremely faithful to the recorded version. It fact, it doesn’t really pop until the end and we get two seconds of Robyn doing the robot." Robyn also performed the song on the All Hearts joint tour with American singer Kelis
during the summer of 2010. Robyn opened the show with "Fembot", which was preceded by a computerized voice counting down. Joanna Buffum of MTV Iggy
wrote that the song "set the tone for the futuristic electro light show to follow". The song was also included on the set list for the Body Talk Tour
. Similar to the All Hearts Tour, the show commenced with robotic voices over the speakers and backed by a heavy beat, before Robyn began singing "Fembot" as multicolored strobes lit the stage. However, for the second North American leg and onwards, "Time Machine" took over as the opening number.
Source
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk, Pt. 1 received an aggregate score of 76 out of 100 from Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews from music critics. Heather Phares of Allmusic stated: "Capturing the freedom and loneliness of independence, Body Talk, Pt...
(2010). The song was written by Robyn and Klas Åhlund
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
, and produced by the latter. It was inspired by Robyn's personal experience of entering her thirties and contemplating children. With the song, she also argues against the notion that humans and robots are separate, explaining that technology has become more organic. "Fembot" is an electro song with an R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
vibe, and features Robyn rapping several double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s in the verses, while proclaiming that "Fembots have feelings too" in the chorus. The song was released on 13 April 2010 as one of three promotional singles before the album's release.
"Fembot" was met with positive reviews from critics, with some of them highlighting its humor and lyrical content. Critics also noted the continued "android theme" present on a few of Robyn's previous songs, including the Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
collaboration "The Girl and the Robot
The Girl and the Robot
"The Girl and the Robot" is a song by Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp from their third studio album, Junior . The song features vocals from Swedish singer Robyn, and was released on 15 June 2009 as the album's second single, with remixes from Kris Menace, Chateau Marmont and Spencer & Hill.The...
" (2009). Commercially, "Fembot" performed well on the charts, managing to reach number three on the Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....
chart and number ten in Norway. Robyn performed the song for the first time on talk show Skavlan
Skavlan
Skavlan is a Norwegian-Swedish television talk show hosted by Norwegian journalist Fredrik Skavlan. It premiered in Sweden on Sveriges Television in January 2009, and the first guests to appear on the show were former Prime Minister of Sweden Göran Persson and his wife Anitra Steen. On 8 May 2009,...
in April 2010, and later included it on the set lists for the All Hearts Tour (2010) and the Body Talk Tour
Body Talk Tour
-Tour dates:Festivals and other miscellaneous performancesKerri Mason praised her performance in Miami. She wrote, "On stage, she is enigmatic, an appealing sprite with a voice that coos and chirps, but with a fighter's stance and narrow eyes...
(2010).
Background
In an interview with music webzine PitchforkPitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, Robyn was asked if "Fembot" represented a dislike for the notion that humans and robots are separate, and she responded by saying, "The classic, dystopian theory about the future is not really as interesting to me. Like the book I, Robot is all about these robots that basically went nuts, and it's always because they were wrongly programmed by humans. It's like a mirror of our own psyche. It's almost like the wrong program could be a mental disease." She elaborated that "Fembot" is not "really about the future or about space or anything", saying that it is about the present time. "Technology is becoming more organic, and using the word 'fembot' or 'robot' in a song makes things more human to me", she said. In an interview with music website Stereogum
Stereogum
Stereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs. It was created by Scott Lapatine in January 2002 with a focus on independent and alternative music news, downloads, videos, and gossip. Stereogum has received several awards and citations, including the 2008 Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's...
, she explained that the song also chronicles her personal experience of "turning 30 and contemplating children". She elaborated, saying,
The song was uploaded the song onto Robyn's official website on 17 March 2010. It was later released to digital retailers in the United States on 13 April 2010, and in Sweden three days later. It was one of three promotional singles released before the release of Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk Pt. 1
Body Talk, Pt. 1 received an aggregate score of 76 out of 100 from Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews from music critics. Heather Phares of Allmusic stated: "Capturing the freedom and loneliness of independence, Body Talk, Pt...
and the official first single, "Dancing on My Own
Dancing on My Own
"Dancing on My Own" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 . The song was written and produced by Robyn and Patrik Berger, and was inspired by gay disco anthems by Ultravox, Sylvester and Donna Summer. The song was released as Body Talk Pt....
".
Composition
"Fembot" was written by Robyn and Klas ÅhlundKlas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
, and produced by the latter. It is an electro song with a "heavy R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
vibe". According to Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, the song continues the "android theme" previously present on Robyn's track, "Robotboy", the interlude "Bionic Woman" and the Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
collaboration, "The Girl and the Robot
The Girl and the Robot
"The Girl and the Robot" is a song by Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp from their third studio album, Junior . The song features vocals from Swedish singer Robyn, and was released on 15 June 2009 as the album's second single, with remixes from Kris Menace, Chateau Marmont and Spencer & Hill.The...
" (2009). DJ Ron Slomowicz of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
compared its musical and lyrical style to that of previous single "Konichiwa Bitches
Konichiwa Bitches
"Konichiwa Bitches" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her self-titled fourth studio album. It was released in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2007 as the first international single from the album. The term "Konichiwa Bitches" originates from a sketch with American comedian Dave...
" (2007). According to Jer Fairall of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
, the song utilizes "a spare, beepy two-note synth hook and a squelching electronic rhythm." Robyn's vocals in the song are layered with Auto-Tune
Auto-Tune
Auto-Tune is a proprietary audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies. Auto-Tune uses a phase vocoder to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances. It is used to disguise off-key inaccuracies and mistakes, and has allowed singers to perform apparently perfectly tuned vocal...
and vocoder
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
s. During the verses, she adapts her distinctive rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
style, and exclaims lyrical lines such as "I gotta lotta automatic booty applications" and "I'm a very scientifically advanced hot mama." Nate Chinen of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that Robyn "rap[s] a series of double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s in a digitally processed purr", and then proclaims her "voguish fixation on androids" in the chorus; "I’ve got some news for you / Fembots have feelings too". According to Lindsey Fortier of Billboard
Billboard (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...
, "Fembot" sees Robyn "get[ting] in touch with her urban side".
Reception
Michael Gragg of MusicOMHMusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
wrote that "Though the lyrics are daft [...] it's exuberance and general sense of fun is so infectious that when the chorus kicks in you barely notice what she's saying." Jer Fairall of PopMatters wrote, "Look no further than the wry chorus hook of “Fembot” for proof of Robyn’s deftly subversive sense of humor." Fairall also pointed out that "[The chorus] might hint, at first, in the direction of some Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
-esque sci-fi pathos, but Robyn turns it towards a canny meta-commentary on the fluid sense of authenticity that pervades 21st century pop stardom." Fairall, however, thought that "the verses are nothing more than an inventory of the titular ‘bot’s synthetic virtues." Ben Norman of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
selected the song as his favorite track on Body Talk Pt. 1, and wrote that "'Fembot' is the incredibly quirky and well-written Robyn-rap track that needs to be heard to believed." Christopher Muther of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
praised the song for having "one of the most entertaining lyrics to emerge this year".
"Fembot" debuted at number seven on the Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....
chart on the issue dated 23 April 2010, becoming the week's highest debut. The following week, it rose four positions to number three, which became its peak. The song spent seven weeks on the chart, before dropping out in June 2010. In Norway, "Fembot" debuted at number nineteen on the VG-lista
VG-lista
VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by...
chart and peaked at number ten. The song debuted and peaked at number ninety-nine on the European Hot 100 Singles chart on the issue dated 15 May 2010.
Live performances
Robyn performed the song on 16 April 2010 on the Norwegian-Swedish talk show SkavlanSkavlan
Skavlan is a Norwegian-Swedish television talk show hosted by Norwegian journalist Fredrik Skavlan. It premiered in Sweden on Sveriges Television in January 2009, and the first guests to appear on the show were former Prime Minister of Sweden Göran Persson and his wife Anitra Steen. On 8 May 2009,...
. A writer from music website Stereogum wrote that Robyn did the song very well live, and commented; "With just a keyboardist doubling as robot hypeman and two drummers, the performance is extremely faithful to the recorded version. It fact, it doesn’t really pop until the end and we get two seconds of Robyn doing the robot." Robyn also performed the song on the All Hearts joint tour with American singer Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
during the summer of 2010. Robyn opened the show with "Fembot", which was preceded by a computerized voice counting down. Joanna Buffum of MTV Iggy
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
wrote that the song "set the tone for the futuristic electro light show to follow". The song was also included on the set list for the Body Talk Tour
Body Talk Tour
-Tour dates:Festivals and other miscellaneous performancesKerri Mason praised her performance in Miami. She wrote, "On stage, she is enigmatic, an appealing sprite with a voice that coos and chirps, but with a fighter's stance and narrow eyes...
. Similar to the All Hearts Tour, the show commenced with robotic voices over the speakers and backed by a heavy beat, before Robyn began singing "Fembot" as multicolored strobes lit the stage. However, for the second North American leg and onwards, "Time Machine" took over as the opening number.
Credits and personnel
- Robyn – lyrics
- Klas ÅhlundKlas ÅhlundKlas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
– music, lyrics, instruments, programming and production - Niklas Flykt – mixing
Source
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|