Revolve

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"Revolve"
Single by Beastette
from the album Wildfire
Released 17 January 2011
Format CD single
Digital download
Vinyl
Recorded 2010
Genre Alternative
Length 3:09
Label Fusion
Writer(s) Rachel-Nichelle Kesh
Producer Rachel-Nichelle Kesh
Certification Gold (UK)
Beastette singles chronology

"California"
(2010)
"Revolve"
(2011)
"Have A Word"
(2011)

"Revolve" is a song by Franco-British alternative pop singer Beastette, which was also written and produced solely by her. The song was released as the second single from her debut album Wildfire on 17 January 2011, the same day that Wildfire was released. After releasing her previous single "California" independently, halfway through the promotion of "Revolve", Beastette was signed to Fusion Records, who took over promotional funding of the song; it is Beastette's first single to be released on a major label.

The song's theme touched on Beastette's own issues with self-confidence and is lyrically about the "battles of self-doubt and self-confidence and humility". When released as a single, the song garnered positive reviews and would become commercially successful. It debuted and peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Beastette her first top five single in the UK; it also hit the top five on the two other main charts in the UK. Also a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and Alternative Songs chart in the United States, the single was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry in the UK, Recording Industry Association of America in the United States, and IRMA in Ireland.

Background, inspiration, and writing[edit | edit source]

"Revolve" was the first song recorded for the Wildfire sessions. The song was inspired by Beastette's own issues with self-confidence, something which she apparently always grappled with ever since she was a child. Lyrically, Beastette described the song as a "menage a trois war between self-confidence and self-doubt and humility. Humility is meant to be the neutral participant in this war but also tries to be the dominant one. Meanwhile, the main war is between self-confidence and self-doubt. Self-confidence is trying so hard to whoop self-doubt, which in the song seems to be winning at first."

During the verses, Beastette sings lyrics that seem self-deprecating and also talks about how she does not feel accepted by certain people; most of the verses are meant to represent self-doubt. The last line of each of the two verses contradict the rest of the verses and seems to shut the protagonist's self-doubt and self-deprecating attitude, possibly representing self-confidence. In the last line, it always talks about how one should not put themselves and basically "get over themselves". In the chorus, which probably represents humility, the chorus talks about how the "world does not revolve" around the person who is self-pitying themselves, meaning that no one else will really cry over them or care about their problems.

Composition[edit | edit source]

The song has disco and europop-inspired beat to it. It is an uptempo song. The song's structure, as with most of the songs on the Wildfire album, only has two verses and two choruses before it fades out or ends, completely avoiding the middle eight. Beastette sings in her chest register and towards the middle of the second and final chorus she hits a high note in her upper chest register, which is something she rarely does.

Reception[edit | edit source]

Critical reaction[edit | edit source]

The song managed to get generally positive reviews. Though many critics considered the lyrics "too harsh to be considered inspirational", the lyrics were still praised and were positive received. The song's production and Beastette's vocal performance throughout the song was also complimented. Many critics felt that the song would reach the top ten on the UK Singles Chart upon its release.

Commerical performance[edit | edit source]

"Revolve" debuted and peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart. It became Beastette's first top five single and, in terms of chart performance, easily outperformed her previous single, her debut, "California", by two spots. The single was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The single also reached the top ten in Ireland and was certified Gold by IRMA.

In the United States, the song became another hit for Beastette. It reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also reached #3 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. "Revovle" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Music video[edit | edit source]

The music video for "Revolve" was very simplistic and received positive reviews as a result.

The video features Beastette lying on the floor doing a little dance moves. As the chorus starts, she begins to spin along with the floor slowly. When the second verse begins, the floor and Beastette stops spinning and she sings the song. When the second and final chorus begins, Beastette and the floor start spinning again. As the video ends, the spinning gets faster and eventually ends with Beastette and the floor spinning very rapidly.

Charts[edit | edit source]

Chart (2011) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart (URAPS) 4
UK Digital Chart (URAPS) 4
UK Airplay Chart (URAPS) 5
Ireland (IRMA) 4
US Billboard Hot 100 10
US Alternative Songs (Billboard) 3

Certifications[edit | edit source]

Country Provider Certification
United Kingdom BPI Gold
United States RIAA Gold
Ireland IRMA Gold