My Wicked Heart
Encyclopedia
"My Wicked Heart" is a song co-written and co-produced by English
singer-songwriter Diana Vickers
. It was supposedly released as the lead single from the re-release of her debut album
, but plans were scrapped and it was revealed "My Wicked Heart" would serve as the first single from her upcoming second album, Music to Make Boys Cry. It was digitally released on 17 October 2010 and physically released on 1 November 2010 by RCA Records
in the United Kingdom
. The track was inspired by indie music including The xx
and The Doors
and features Vickers playing the trumpet
. Vickers performed the single live on the seventh series
of The X Factor
on 17 October 2010. "My Wicked Heart" received commercial success peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart
making it Vickers' second Top 20 single.
premiered the track, it received mainly positive reviews due to its upbeat tempo. Popjustice
even commented, praising it on the middle eight segment; "It is a little bit bonkers and quite a lot amazing." On the 2 October, the following month, Vickers unveiled the video for the single, and it premiered on ITV2
at 6:55pm. According to Vickers, the song is about "someone you're infatuated with for months and months, and you really want them but can't have them – either because they're in a relationship or you're in a relationship."
gave the single a positive review commenting that it resembled, "Florence + The Machine doing "Under The Bridge
" via "Crazy Chick
" with some big brassy other things thrown in. It is a little bit bonkers and quite a lot amazing.[...] It opens with the line 'hush hush stay quiet, your secret's safe with me'. There is a great 'whoops-a-daisy' bit in the middle eight. But she later went on to describe the song as a mix of quirky dance queen Björk
and goth-rockers Siouxsie & the Banshees. SugarScape
stated that they were impressed with Vickers new totally diva-esque new song. Where it takes her to a whole new level of cool, showing the claw is well and truly banished and behind her. Mayer Nissim of Digital Spy
stated that the song was "smart-but-not-too-clever" and goes on to say "Vickers and her collaborator
s tease with stop-start verses and heart murmur drums before smashing our ears right through in a kitchen-sink volley of brass
, deranged whoops and a blatant-but-brilliant steal from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Under The Bridge'." They also stated that "After a welcome second helping, they take it right back down for a breakdown whose berserk "Whoops-a-daisy" refrain will make the existing Marmite split over her voice look like a happy coalition - all in less than three poptastic minutes." And then went on to reward the track with five out of five stars. Coffee City Music Lounge stated that they liked the song as it is quite different, they went on to say that they liked the beat
and he/she likes the 'horns' on the track. "My Wicked Heart" is quirky and fits in with the other tracks on the album.[...] He also said "It’s an odd mix of quirky and creepy, which I like."
, Series 7, Week 2. Vickers also performed on This Morning
on 19 October and gave an interview on Live from Studio Five
on 22 October, as well as her video appearing on Freshly Squeezed
on 18 October. She performed on The Alan Titchmarsh Show
on 2 November. Vickers embarked on a radio tour of the UK leading up to the release of the single.
at 6.55pm on 2 October 2010. The video was directed by Sarah Chatfield, with producer Tamsin Glasson. The production company was Colonel Blimp
. The art director and stylist were Shaun Fenn and Cynthia Lawrence-John. The choreography
of the music video was David Leighton, and the credits for Vickers' hair and make-up was Brendan Robertson. Mail Online
said that the music video was 'fun' and 'unique'. Within the video Vickers is seen as the lead actress in the circus. She is later seen with a clown's outfit on surrounded by blue, green and white balloons. Going on through the video, she is seen doing a similar scene to Shakira
's, "She Wolf
" where she is in a cage, pulling herself against the cage bars. She is later seen dressed like Liza Minnelli
's Cabaret outfit.
and cuffed on to a magician's Wheel of Death with a couple of daggers precariously embedded in the board beside her. Vickers revealed to Mail Online
that filming that particular scene had left her black and blue and she had to call in a special make-up squad to cover up the marks. She was also left injured after the strenuous dance routines. An insider on the video shoot said: "Diana left after the day's shoot covered in bruises. She felt like she'd been in a boxing match after she was thrown about by her hunky male dancers quite a lot."
is considering legal action over similarities between the chorus of "My Wicked Heart" and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
song "Under the Bridge
". Vickers stated she had listened to "Under the Bridge" shortly before writing the vocal line for "My Wicked Heart", and admitted that she had noticed the resemblance but decided against changing it. However, Vickers defended this decision stating it is only a "tiny snippet with different chords".
chart; although the performance on X-Factor caused it to jump to a peak of number 12. After being predicted to debut at number 12 by BBC Radio 1
's Chart Update, the song debuted at number 13 on 23 October 2010 on downloads alone; marking Vickers' second Top 20 single and third Top 40 hit. The following week, the single fell 18 places to number 31. The physical copy was released that week. On 6 November, the single fell yet again to number 46 and then a week later fell a further 33 places to number 79; marking its fourth week within the Top 100.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer-songwriter Diana Vickers
Diana Vickers
Diana Vickers is an English singer-songwriter, stage actress and fashion designer who initially came to public attention as a semi-finalist on the fifth series of British talent show The X Factor in 2008...
. It was supposedly released as the lead single from the re-release of her debut album
Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree
Upon its release, Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree generated mixed reviews from music critics. Mayer Nissim of Digital Spy awarded the album five out of five stars, stating that Vickers and her collaborators "have crafted an album that's drenched in accessible pop melodies while never sacrificing...
, but plans were scrapped and it was revealed "My Wicked Heart" would serve as the first single from her upcoming second album, Music to Make Boys Cry. It was digitally released on 17 October 2010 and physically released on 1 November 2010 by RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The track was inspired by indie music including The xx
The xx
The xx are an English indie pop band, formed in London in 2005. The band's members met while studying at Elliott School, the same school that produced Hot Chip, Burial and Four Tet. They became a trio when their second guitarist and keyboardist, Baria Qureshi, departed in late 2009. In September...
and The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
and features Vickers playing the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
. Vickers performed the single live on the seventh series
The X Factor (UK series 7)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
on 17 October 2010. "My Wicked Heart" received commercial success peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
making it Vickers' second Top 20 single.
Background
On the 2 September 2010, various media outlets reported that Vickers was due to re-release her debut album, under a deluxe edition with extra material. Following this announcement, Vickers stated her new single would be called "My Wicked Heart", a video containing a short snippet of the song was uploaded to youtube. On the 12 September, BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
premiered the track, it received mainly positive reviews due to its upbeat tempo. Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
even commented, praising it on the middle eight segment; "It is a little bit bonkers and quite a lot amazing." On the 2 October, the following month, Vickers unveiled the video for the single, and it premiered on ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
at 6:55pm. According to Vickers, the song is about "someone you're infatuated with for months and months, and you really want them but can't have them – either because they're in a relationship or you're in a relationship."
Critical reception
PopjusticePopjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
gave the single a positive review commenting that it resembled, "Florence + The Machine doing "Under The Bridge
Under the Bridge
"Under the Bridge" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on March 10, 1992 as the second single from the group's fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics to express a feeling of loneliness and despondency, and to reflect on...
" via "Crazy Chick
Crazy Chick
"Crazy Chick" is a pop song written by Sarah Buras, Wirlie Morris, Fitzgerald Scott, produced by Tore Johannson for Charlotte Church's fifth studio album Tissues and Issues . It was released as the album's first single in the United Kingdom on 27 June 2005 as a CD single. The song reached number...
" with some big brassy other things thrown in. It is a little bit bonkers and quite a lot amazing.[...] It opens with the line 'hush hush stay quiet, your secret's safe with me'. There is a great 'whoops-a-daisy' bit in the middle eight. But she later went on to describe the song as a mix of quirky dance queen Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
and goth-rockers Siouxsie & the Banshees. SugarScape
Sugar Magazine
Sugar was a British magazine for teenage girls published by Hachette Filipacchi. Its content focused on boys, fashion, celebrities, real-life stories about teenagers and other similar matters. The editor, when it closed, was Annabel Brog. The brand lives on through the website Sugarscape, edited by...
stated that they were impressed with Vickers new totally diva-esque new song. Where it takes her to a whole new level of cool, showing the claw is well and truly banished and behind her. Mayer Nissim of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
stated that the song was "smart-but-not-too-clever" and goes on to say "Vickers and her collaborator
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
s tease with stop-start verses and heart murmur drums before smashing our ears right through in a kitchen-sink volley of brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
, deranged whoops and a blatant-but-brilliant steal from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Under The Bridge'." They also stated that "After a welcome second helping, they take it right back down for a breakdown whose berserk "Whoops-a-daisy" refrain will make the existing Marmite split over her voice look like a happy coalition - all in less than three poptastic minutes." And then went on to reward the track with five out of five stars. Coffee City Music Lounge stated that they liked the song as it is quite different, they went on to say that they liked the beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
and he/she likes the 'horns' on the track. "My Wicked Heart" is quirky and fits in with the other tracks on the album.[...] He also said "It’s an odd mix of quirky and creepy, which I like."
Promotion
Vickers performed the single live as her homecoming performance on The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, Series 7, Week 2. Vickers also performed on This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
on 19 October and gave an interview on Live from Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
Live From Studio Five was an early evening, British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. The show was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness...
on 22 October, as well as her video appearing on Freshly Squeezed
Freshly Squeezed
Freshly Squeezed is a British television programme broadcast every weekday morning around 07:00 on Channel 4.-Format:The programme takes the format of a music-based breakfast show, featuring studio performances, music videos and interviews.-Current:...
on 18 October. She performed on The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show is a British daytime TV chat show broadcast between 3 and 4pm weekdays on the ITV Network.-Format:The programme made its debut on ITV in 2007. It focused on the theme of "The Best of British" focusing on food, entertainment and celebrities in a mid-afternoon slot...
on 2 November. Vickers embarked on a radio tour of the UK leading up to the release of the single.
Background
The "My Wicked Heart" music video premiered on ITV2ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
at 6.55pm on 2 October 2010. The video was directed by Sarah Chatfield, with producer Tamsin Glasson. The production company was Colonel Blimp
Colonel Blimp
Colonel Blimp is a British cartoon character.The cartoonist David Low first drew Colonel Blimp for Lord Beaverbrook's London Evening Standard in the 1930s: pompous, irascible, jingoistic and stereotypically British...
. The art director and stylist were Shaun Fenn and Cynthia Lawrence-John. The choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
of the music video was David Leighton, and the credits for Vickers' hair and make-up was Brendan Robertson. Mail Online
Mail Online
Mail Online is the name of the website of the Daily Mail, a newspaper in the United Kingdom. It contains almost all the stories from the Daily Mail and includes a large archive of main stories...
said that the music video was 'fun' and 'unique'. Within the video Vickers is seen as the lead actress in the circus. She is later seen with a clown's outfit on surrounded by blue, green and white balloons. Going on through the video, she is seen doing a similar scene to Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
's, "She Wolf
She Wolf (song)
She Wolf is a song by Colombian singer–songwriter Shakira taken from her third English-language studio album of the same name. Shakira wrote and produced the track with John Hill, and Sam Endicott...
" where she is in a cage, pulling herself against the cage bars. She is later seen dressed like Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
's Cabaret outfit.
Synopsis
Throughout the music video, Vickers was spotted wearing a number of different outfits. Vickers is seen clad in a pink leotardLeotard
A leotard is a skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso but leaves the legs free. It was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard ....
and cuffed on to a magician's Wheel of Death with a couple of daggers precariously embedded in the board beside her. Vickers revealed to Mail Online
Mail Online
Mail Online is the name of the website of the Daily Mail, a newspaper in the United Kingdom. It contains almost all the stories from the Daily Mail and includes a large archive of main stories...
that filming that particular scene had left her black and blue and she had to call in a special make-up squad to cover up the marks. She was also left injured after the strenuous dance routines. An insider on the video shoot said: "Diana left after the day's shoot covered in bruises. She felt like she'd been in a boxing match after she was thrown about by her hunky male dancers quite a lot."
Controversy
On 16 October 2010, it was reported that Warner Music GroupWarner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
is considering legal action over similarities between the chorus of "My Wicked Heart" and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
song "Under the Bridge
Under the Bridge
"Under the Bridge" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on March 10, 1992 as the second single from the group's fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics to express a feeling of loneliness and despondency, and to reflect on...
". Vickers stated she had listened to "Under the Bridge" shortly before writing the vocal line for "My Wicked Heart", and admitted that she had noticed the resemblance but decided against changing it. However, Vickers defended this decision stating it is only a "tiny snippet with different chords".
Track listings
-
- CD single
- "My Wicked Heart" – 2:56 (Vickers, Adams)
- "The Way You Say It (Demo)" (Vickers, Chris BraideChris BraideChristopher Braide is an English singer, songwriter, record producer published by Sony/ATV worldwide based in Los Angeles.Producer, Songwriter and Ivor Novello ASCAP and Billboard award winner Christopher Braide has achieved considerable success as a songwriter in the UK and the US. His songs have...
) - "My Wicked Heart (Gareth Wyn Remix)"
- "My Wicked Heart (Blackbox Remix)"
-
- Digital 2-track Single
- "My Wicked Heart" – 2:56
- "My Wicked Heart" (Campfire Acoustic Version) – 3:43
Chart performance
Upon release, the single steadily climbed up the iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
chart; although the performance on X-Factor caused it to jump to a peak of number 12. After being predicted to debut at number 12 by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Chart Update, the song debuted at number 13 on 23 October 2010 on downloads alone; marking Vickers' second Top 20 single and third Top 40 hit. The following week, the single fell 18 places to number 31. The physical copy was released that week. On 6 November, the single fell yet again to number 46 and then a week later fell a further 33 places to number 79; marking its fourth week within the Top 100.
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Hot 100 | 42 |
Release history
| Reigion | Release | Format |
|---|---|---|
| UK & Ireland | 17 October 2010 | Digital Download |
| United Kingdom | 1 November 2010 | CD Single |