"Courtship Dating" is a song recorded by the Canadian electronic music duo Crystal Castles for their debut studio album, Crystal Castles (2008). It was released on 21 April 2008 through Different, PIAS, and Last Gang, as the third single from the album. It was ranked as one of the best songs of the year by multiple publications.
Background and composition
"Courtship Dating" was recorded in 2006.[1] It was written by Crystal Castles members Ethan Kath and Alice Glass, with Kath producing it.[1][2] According to the Independent, the song "is about human taxidermy, the idea of preserving the beauty of a lover the way you would an animal".[3]
Release and reception
Crystal Castles released their debut studio album, Crystal Castles, on 18 March 2008 in the United States and on 28 April in the United Kingdom.[4] "Courtship Dating" was digitally released as the album's third single on 21 April through Different, PIAS, and Last Gang.[5] In the United Kingdom, it was released on vinyl through Lies, Last Gang, and Different.[2] Both releases contain a demo, "Trash Hologram".[5][2] An accompanying music video directed by Marc Pannozzo[6] was released in April. According to Brandon Stosuy of Stereogum, it shows darkened footage of Alice Glass singing and "being angsty" with flashes of Ethan Kath "rocking it".[7] In the United Kingdom, "Courtship Dating" peaked on the Official Charts Company's Independent Singles Chart at number 4 and their Physical Singles Chart at number 39.[8]
NME described "Courtship Dating" it as "synth-pop filled up with muted screams, jerking bass and sparking circuit boards" and "the best piece of humanity-loathing cyborg pop since the Knife's Silent Shout".[9]
"Courtship Dating" was named one of the best songs of 2008 by laut.de,[10] NME,[11] Pitchfork,[12] and Slant Magazine,[13] with the latter considering it one of the best tracks from the 2000–2009 period.[14]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Courtship Dating" | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Trash Hologram" (demo) | 2:14 |
Personnel
Adapted from the CD liner notes of "Crystal Castles" and the vinyl liner notes of "Courtship Dating".[1][2]
- Alice Glass – writer (1)
- Ethan Kath – writer, producer (1, 2)
- Health – backing screams (1)
- Alex Bonenfant – additional vocal recording (1)
- Squeak E. Clean – vocal production (1)
- Lexxx – mixing (1)
- Graham Turner – photo
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| laut.de | 2008 staff poll | 22 | [10] |
| NME | Top 50 tracks of 2008 | 17 | [11] |
| Pitchfork | The 100 best tracks of 2008 | 60 | [12] |
| Slant Magazine | The 25 best albums & singles of 2008 | 19 | [13] |
| Best of the aughts (2000–2009) | 205 | [14] |
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Singles Chart (OCC)[8] | 4 |
| UK Physical Singles Chart (OCC)[8] | 39 |
References
- ^ a b c Crystal Castles (2008). Crystal Castles (CD liner notes). Last Gang, Lies. Q2 00962.
- ^ a b c d Crystal Castles (2008). "Vanished" (Vinyl liner notes). Lies, Last Gang, Different. 451.1092.140. DIFB 1092 S. LC07800.
- ^ "Crystal Castles – 'Things get out of control'". The Independent. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Jayasuriya, Mehan (20 July 2008). "Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ a b "'Courtship Dating' – Single by Crystal Castles". Apple Music. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ Crystal Castles (18 October 2009). Crystal Castles 'Courtship Dating' official. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024 – via YouTube.
video by Marc Pannozzo
- ^ Stosuy, Brandon (29 April 2008). "New Crystal Castles Video – 'Courtship Dating'". Stereogum. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Crystal Castles". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Pattison, Louis (28 March 2008). "Crystal Castles – 'Courtship Dating'". NME. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Die laut.de-Redaktionscharts: Song". laut.de. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Top 50 tracks of 2008". NME. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b Grisham, Tyler (15 December 2008). "The 100 best tracks of 2008". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b "The 25 best albums & singles of 2008". Slant Magazine. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (7 February 2010). "Rest of the best of the aughts: Albums & singles (#101–250)". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
