Kim & Jessie
| "Kim & Jessie" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by M83 | ||||
| from the album Saturdays = Youth | ||||
| Released | 21 July 2008 | |||
| Recorded | Rockfield Studios, Wales | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:23 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
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| M83 singles chronology | ||||
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"Kim & Jessie" is a song by French electronic band M83. Written by Anthony and Yann Gonzalez with Morgan Kibby, it was released in July 2008 as the third single from M83's fifth studio album, Saturdays = Youth.
Critical reception
"Kim & Jessie" ranked number five on Pitchfork's list of the top 100 songs of 2008. Pitchfork's Mark Pytlik said that "with its apocalyptic electric drum hits, keening synths, icily detached vocals, and volcanic chorus, 'Kim & Jessie' not only ranked as the album's best song, but also combined with the similarly convincing "Graveyard Girl" to make one of the year's most potent 1-2 punches."[3] Paste's Jeff Leven called it the album's "clear standout" and "one of the best songs of 2008."[4] James Gwyther of Drowned in Sound wrote that "the processed vocals from Gonzalez and an overall air of nostalgia [...] combine to craft a delicious electro number."[5] Glide Magazine's Chuck Myers explained that the song is "like hearing an alternate-universe version of the Psychedelic Furs, one where Richard Butler couldn't write memorable songs."[6]
Accolades
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitchfork Media | US | Top 100 Tracks of 2008[3] | 2008 | 5 |
| Rolling Stone | US | 100 Best Singles of 2008[7] | 2008 | 85 |
| Treble | US | Top 50 Songs of 2008[8] | 2008 | 6 |
| The Village Voice | US | 2008 Pazz & Jop[9] | 2008 | 29 |
| Pitchfork Media | US | Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s[10] | 2009 | 256 |
Music video
Released in July 2008, the music video for "Kim & Jessie" ranked number 47 on Pitchfork's list of the top 50 videos of the 2000s.[11] The video, directed by Eva Husson, depicts two teenage roller skating girls who, at the end of the clip, are seen kissing male roller bladers. Rob Simonsen of The Portland Mercury noted the video "seems simple enough" but that "the dark undertones are inescapable."[12] A Stereogum article stated that "whatever the first few minutes of the clip makes you assume about Kim & Jessie’s secret world, the ending will probably prove you wrong."[13] Brandon Soderberg of Slant Magazine suggested the "make-out session [...] is an age and community acceptable transference for the characters' love for one another." Soderberg added that the ending "maintains M83's underlying sense of sadness and longing."[14]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kim & Jessie" (radio edit) |
| 4:06 |
| 2. | "Kim & Jessie" (Data remix) |
| 5:00 |
| 3. | "Kim & Jessie" (Montag remix) |
| 5:00 |
| 4. | "Kim & Jessie" (album version) |
| 5:23 |
Other uses
The song appeared in the 2018 racing game Forza Horizon 4.
References
- ^ "M83 & Active Child played Music Hall of Williamsburg ——– (pics, review, setlist)". BrooklynVegan. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Terich, Jeff (7 March 2016). "Greatest Hits: The best M83 songs". Treble. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ a b "The 100 Best Tracks of 2008". Pitchfork. 15 December 2008. p. 10. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Leven, Jeff (15 April 2008). "M83: 'Saturdays = Youth' - Music Reviews". Paste. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Gwyther, James (21 July 2008). "Singles Round-Up (21/07/08)". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Myers, Chuck (29 April 2008). "M83: 'Saturdays = Youth". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Stosuy, Brandon (12 November 2008). "Rolling Stone's 100 Best Singles of 2008". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Parks, Tyler (8 December 2008). "The Top 50 Songs of 2008". Treble. p. 5. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Pazz & Jop Singles". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s". Pitchfork. 17 August 2009. p. 5. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Plagenhoef, Scott (31 August 2009). "The Top 50 Music Videos of the 2000s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Simonsen, Rob (29 July 2008). "Video: M83 - "Kim & Jessie"". The Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Singh, Amrit (29 July 2008). "New M83 Video – "Kim & Jessie"". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Soderberg, Brandon (25 September 2008). "Music Video Round-Up: The Videos of M83". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
