Robbers (The 1975 song): Difference between revisions

"Robbers"
"Robbers"
Single by The 1975
from the album The 1975
Released	26 May 2014
Recorded	2012–2013
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:14
Label	Dirty Hit
Songwriter(s)	Matthew Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald
Producer(s)	Matthew Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald, Mike Crossey
The 1975 singles chronology
Music video
	"Robbers" on YouTube

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"Robbers" is a song by English rock band The 1975, released as the sixth single from their self-titled debut on 26 May 2014.^[2]

Background

The concept of the song, about an ill-fated robbery heist, was inspired by the 1993 film True Romance, particularly Patricia Arquette's character Alabama Worley.^[3]

Following its release, it debuted at number 179 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

The song, thematically, is an ode to toxic relationships.^[5] This song's lyrical content concerns two lovers who aren't good for each other. With the message that they know that their relationship will one day end, but they are still holding each other, robbing happiness from each other and pretending that they will be happy forever.

Healy has stated that the song and music video was inspired by one of the singer's favorite movie characters. "I got really obsessed with the idea behind Patricia Arquette's character in True Romance when I was about 18," he said. "That craving for the bad boy in that film, it's so sexualized," he added. "It was something I was obsessed with."

"'Robbers' is about a heist that goes wrong," Healy added. "I suppose you can read it as a metaphor, and a girl who's obsessed with her professional killer boyfriend. It's a romantic ideal."^[5]

Music video

The official music video for "Robbers" was released on 27 April 2014,^[6] directed by Tim Mattia. A large portion of the video was filmed in Taft, California.^[7] The video stars Healy and actress Chelsea Schuchman as a couple who rob a shop to obtain money to "fund their alcohol and drug addiction", with the other band members appearing as their friends.^[6] Despite Healy sustaining a shot in the stomach, the heist ends up a success.

Shot by DOP Jackson Hunt. Production Design and Costumes by Alexis Johnson. Produced by Taylor Vandegrift of Cineaste Films. Kenneth Taylor worked as 1st AD on the video.

Personnel

Adapted from liner notes.^[8]

Matthew Healy – vocals, guitar, songwriter, producer
Adam Hann – guitar, songwriter, producer
George Daniel – drums, songwriter, producer
Ross MacDonald – bass guitar, songwriter, producer

Additional personnel

Mike Crossey – mixing, production
Mike Spink – engineering
Jonathan Gilmore – Pro-Tools engineering, additional programming
Robin Schmidt – mastering

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[9]	65
Poland (LP3)^[10]	56
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[4]	179

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[11]	Gold	30,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[12]	Platinum	600,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[13]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom^[2]	26 May 2014	Contemporary hit radio	Dirty Hit

References

^ "The 1975 @ The Complex w/ I Don't Know How But They Found Me 12.02". SLUG Magazine. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b Corner, Lewis (28 April 2014). "The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns". Digital Spy. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
^ Murray, Robin (28 April 2014). "The 1975 – Robbers (Explicit)". Clash. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
^ ^a ^b Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart: CLUK Update 24.05.2014 (wk20)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Robbers by The 1975". Songfacts. 17 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b Corner, Lewis (28 April 2014). "The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
^ Gottlieb, Steven (28 April 2014). "The 1975 'Robbers' (Tim Mattia, dir.)". Video Static. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
^ The 1975 (Liner notes). United Kingdom: Dirty Hit. 2 September 2013.
^ "The 1975 – Robbers" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
^ "Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
^ "Brazilian single certifications – The 1975 – Robbers" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
^ "British single certifications – 1975 – Robbers". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
^ "American single certifications – The 1975 – Robbers". Recording Industry Association of America.

[1] "The 1975 @ The Complex w/ I Don't Know How But They Found Me 12.02". SLUG Magazine. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2021.

[UKrelease-2] Corner, Lewis (28 April 2014). "The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns". Digital Spy. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 23 February 2015.

[3] Murray, Robin (28 April 2014). "The 1975 – Robbers (Explicit)". Clash. Retrieved 25 June 2014.

[Zobbel-4] Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart: CLUK Update 24.05.2014 (wk20)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 25 June 2014.

[auto-5] "Robbers by The 1975". Songfacts. 17 April 2020.

[DigitalSpy-6] Corner, Lewis (28 April 2014). "The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 25 June 2014.

[7] Gottlieb, Steven (28 April 2014). "The 1975 'Robbers' (Tim Mattia, dir.)". Video Static. Retrieved 25 June 2014.

[8] The 1975 (Liner notes). United Kingdom: Dirty Hit. 2 September 2013.

[BEL_(FL)-9] "The 1975 – Robbers" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 30 June 2014.

[10] "Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2024.

[BrazilThe_1975RobberssingleCertRef-11] "Brazilian single certifications – The 1975 – Robbers" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 27 July 2024.

[United_Kingdom1975RobberssingleCertRef-12] "British single certifications – 1975 – Robbers". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[United_StatesThe_1975RobberssingleCertRef-13] "American single certifications – The 1975 – Robbers". Recording Industry Association of America.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{copyvio-revdel|url=The lyrics are copyrighted|start1=981312020|start2=951384793}}
 {{short description|Single by The 1975}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
 {{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
 {{Infobox song
-| name       = Robbers
+| name          = Robbers
-| cover      = The 1975 Robbers.jpg
+| cover         = The 1975 Robbers.jpg
-| alt        =
+| alt           =
-| type       = single
+| type          = single
-| artist     = [[The 1975]]
+| artist        = [[The 1975]]
-| album      = [[The 1975 (album)|The 1975]]
+| album         = [[The 1975 (album)|The 1975]]
-| released   = {{start date|2014|5|26|df=yes}}
+| released      = {{start date|2014|5|26|df=yes}}
-| format     =
+| recorded      = 2012–2013
-| recorded   = 2012–13
+| studio        =
+| genre         = [[Pop rock]]<ref>{{cite web|date=3 December 2019|title=The 1975 @ The Complex w/ I Don't Know How But They Found Me 12.02|url=https://www.slugmag.com/music/concert/show-reviews/the-1975-the-complex-w-i-dont-know-how-but-they-found-me-12-02/|access-date=9 May 2021|website=[[SLUG Magazine]]}}</ref>
-| studio     =
-| venue      =
+| length        = 4:14
+| label         = [[Dirty Hit]]
-| genre      ={{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[soft rock]]<!-- The listed genres are sourced in the body. Please DO NOT ADD other genres without citing one or more non-primary reliable sources that explicitly describe the album as such. -->}}
+| writer        = [[Matty Healy|Matthew Healy]], [[George Daniel (musician)|George Daniel]], [[Adam Hann]], [[Ross MacDonald (musician)|Ross MacDonald]]
-| length     = 4:14
+| producer      = [[Matty Healy|Matthew Healy]], [[George Daniel (musician)|George Daniel]], [[Adam Hann]], [[Ross MacDonald (musician)|Ross MacDonald]], [[Mike Crossey]]
-| label      = [[Dirty Hit]]
-| writer     = The 1975
+| prev_title    = [[Settle Down (The 1975 song)|Settle Down]]
+| prev_year     = 2014
-| producer   = {{hlist|The 1975|[[Mike Crossey]]}}
+| next_title    = Heart Out
-| prev_title = [[Settle Down (The 1975 song)|Settle Down]]
-| prev_year  = 2014
+| next_year     = 2014
+| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Iyy3YOpxL2k|"Robbers"}}}}
-| next_title = Heart Out
-| next_year  = 2014
-| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Iyy3YOpxL2k|"Robbers"}}}}
 }}
-'''"Robbers"''' is a song by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[The 1975]], released as the sixth single from their [[The 1975 (album)|self-titled debut]] on 26 May 2014<ref name="UKrelease" />
+'''"Robbers"''' is a song by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[The 1975]], released as the sixth single from their [[The 1975 (album)|self-titled debut]] on 26 May 2014.<ref name="UKrelease" />
 ==Background==
-The concept of the song, about an ill-fated robbery heist, was inspired by the 1993 film ''[[True Romance]]'', particularly [[Patricia Arquette]]'s character Alabama Worley.<ref name="Clash">{{Cite web |title=The 1975 – Robbers (Explicit) |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/videos/the-1975-robbers-explicit |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=28 April 2014 |website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>
+The concept of the song, about an ill-fated robbery heist, was inspired by the 1993 film ''[[True Romance]]'', particularly [[Patricia Arquette]]'s character Alabama Worley.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 1975 – Robbers (Explicit) |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/videos/the-1975-robbers-explicit |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=28 April 2014 |website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>
 Following its release, it debuted at number 179 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="Zobbel" />
+The song, thematically, is an ode to [[Toxic relationship|toxic relationships.]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web|date=17 April 2020|title=Robbers by The 1975|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-1975/robbers|website=Songfacts}}</ref> This song's lyrical content concerns two lovers who aren't good for each other. With the message that they know that their relationship will one day end, but they are still holding each other, robbing happiness from each other and pretending that they will be happy forever.
+Healy has stated that the song and music video was inspired by one of the singer's favorite movie characters. "I got really obsessed with the idea behind Patricia Arquette's character in ''True Romance'' when I was about 18," he said. "That craving for the bad boy in that film, it's so sexualized," he added. "It was something I was obsessed with."
+"'Robbers' is about a heist that goes wrong," Healy added. "I suppose you can read it as a metaphor, and a girl who's obsessed with her professional killer boyfriend. It's a romantic ideal."<ref name="auto" />
 ==Music video==
-The official music video for "Robbers" was released on 27 April 2014,<ref name="DigitalSpy">{{Cite web |title=The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a567323/the-1975s-new-robbers-music-video-sex-drugs-and-guns.html |last=Corner, Lewis |date=28 April 2014 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=[[Hearst Magazines|Hearst Magazines UK]] |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> directed by Tim Mattia. A large portion of the video was filmed in [[Taft, California|Taft California]] <ref>{{Cite web |title=The 1975 'Robbers' (Tim Mattia, dir.) |url=http://www.videostatic.com/watch-it/2014/04/28/1975-robbers-tim-mattia-dir |last=Gottlieb |first=Steven |date=28 April 2014 |publisher=Video Static |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> The video depicts a couple who rob a shop to obtain money to "fund their alcohol and drug addiction."<ref name="DigitalSpy" />
+The official music video for "Robbers" was released on 27 April 2014,<ref name="DigitalSpy">{{cite web |title=The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a567323/the-1975s-new-robbers-music-video-sex-drugs-and-guns.html |last=Corner, Lewis |date=28 April 2014 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=[[Hearst Magazines|Hearst Magazines UK]] |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> directed by Tim Mattia. A large portion of the video was filmed in [[Taft, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The 1975 'Robbers' (Tim Mattia, dir.) |url=http://www.videostatic.com/watch-it/2014/04/28/1975-robbers-tim-mattia-dir |last=Gottlieb |first=Steven |date=28 April 2014 |publisher=Video Static |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> The video stars Healy and actress Chelsea Schuchman as a couple who rob a shop to obtain money to "fund their alcohol and drug addiction", with the other band members appearing as their friends.<ref name="DigitalSpy" /> Despite Healy sustaining a shot in the stomach, the heist ends up a success.
+Shot by DOP Jackson Hunt. Production Design and Costumes by Alexis Johnson. Produced by Taylor Vandegrift of Cineaste Films. Kenneth Taylor worked as 1st AD on the video.
-== The Story ==
-Robbers is an ode to those [[Toxic relationship|toxic relationships.]] The type of relationship all humans long for. All for nothing.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Robbers by The 1975 |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-1975/robbers |date=17 April 2020 |website=Songfacts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-1975/robbers |archive-date=15 April 2014}}</ref> This song is about two lovers who aren't good for each other. They know that their relationship is going to be ended someday but they are still holding each other, robbing happiness from each other and pretending that they will be happy forever.
+== Personnel ==
-[[The 1975|Matty Healy]] used to say about this song that the music video was inspired by one of the singer’s favorite movie characters. "I got really obsessed with the idea behind [[Patricia Arquette]]'s character in [[True Romance]] when I was about 18," he said. "That craving for the bad boy in that film, it's so sexualized," he added. "It was something I was obsessed with."
+Adapted from liner notes.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The 1975 |date=2 September 2013 |publisher=[[Dirty Hit]] |location=[[United Kingdom]] |type=[[Liner notes]]}}</ref>
+{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|* [[Matty Healy|Matthew Healy]] – vocals, guitar, songwriter, producer
+* [[Adam Hann]] – guitar, songwriter, producer
+* [[George Daniel (musician)|George Daniel]] – drums, songwriter, producer
+* Ross MacDonald – bass guitar, songwriter, producer
+'''Additional personnel'''
-"'Robbers' is about a heist that goes wrong," Healy added. "I suppose you can read it as a metaphor, and a girl who's obsessed with her professional killer boyfriend. It's a romantic ideal."<ref name="auto" />
+* [[Mike Crossey]] – mixing, production
+* Mike Spink – engineering
+* Jonathan Gilmore – [[Pro-Tools]] engineering, additional programming
+* Robin Schmidt – mastering
+}}
-== Charts and certifications ==
+== Charts ==
-=== Weekly charts ===
 {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
 |-
@@ Line 51: / Line 62: @@
 ! Peak<br />position
 |-
-{{singlechart|Flanders Tip|65|artist=The 1975|song=Robbers|accessdate=30 June 2014|refname="BEL (FL)"|rowheader=true}}
+{{single chart|Flanders Tip|65|artist=The 1975|song=Robbers|access-date=30 June 2014|refname="BEL (FL)"|rowheader=true}}
 |-
+! scope="row" |Poland ([[Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego|LP3]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/notowania/?numer=1689 |title=Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online |access-date=24 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007213112/http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/notowania/?numer=1689 |archive-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-! scope="row" | UK Singles ([[UK Singles Chart|Official Charts Company]])<ref name="Zobbel">{{Cite web |title=Chart: CLUK Update 24.05.2014 (wk20) |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/140524cluk.txt |last=Zywietz, Tobias |publisher=Zobbel.de |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>
+| 56
+|-
+! scope="row" | UK Singles ([[UK Singles Chart|Official Charts Company]])<ref name="Zobbel">{{cite web |title=Chart: CLUK Update 24.05.2014 (wk20) |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/140524cluk.txt |last=Zywietz, Tobias |publisher=Zobbel.de |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>
 | 179
 |}
-=== Certifications ===
+== Certifications ==
 {{Certification Table Top}}
-{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Gold|artist=The 1975|title=Robbers |relyear=2012|certyear=2018}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=The 1975|title=Robbers|award=Gold|relyear=2013|certyear=2024|type=single|access-date=July 27, 2024}}
-{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|artist=The 1975|title=Robbers |relyear=2012|certyear=2019}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=1975|title=Robbers|relyear=2013|certyear=2024|id=15108-3813-1|access-date=19 April 2024}}
-{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=yes|noshipments=yes}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=The 1975|title=Robbers|relyear=2012|certyear=2023}}
+{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
-== Personnel ==
-Adapted from liner notes.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The 1975 |date=2 September 2013 |publisher=[[Dirty Hit]] |location=[[United Kingdom]] |type=[[Liner notes]]}}</ref>
-{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
-;The 1975
-* Matthew Healy – vocals, guitar
-* [[Adam Hann]] – guitar
-* George Daniel – drums
-* Ross MacDonald – bass guitar
-;Additional personnel
-* [[Mike Crossey]] – mixing, production
-* Mike Spink – engineering
-* Jonathan Gilmore – [[Pro-Tools]] engineering, additional programming
-* Robin Schmidt – mastering
-}}
 ==Release history==
@@ Line 87: / Line 86: @@
 ! Label
 |-
-! scope="row" | United Kingdom<ref name="UKrelease">{{Cite web |title=The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a567323/the-1975s-new-robbers-music-video-sex-drugs-and-guns.html |last=Corner |first=Lewis |date=28 April 2014 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast|Condé Nast Publications]] |access-date=23 February 2015}}</ref>
+! scope="row" | United Kingdom<ref name="UKrelease">{{cite web |title=The 1975's new 'Robbers' music video: Sex, drugs and guns |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a567323/the-1975s-new-robbers-music-video-sex-drugs-and-guns.html |last=Corner |first=Lewis |date=28 April 2014 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast|Condé Nast Publications]] |access-date=23 February 2015}}</ref>
 | 26 May 2014
 | [[Contemporary hit radio]]
@@ Line 93: / Line 92: @@
 |}
-==References==
+== See also ==
+* [[The 1975 discography]]
+* [[List of songs by Matty Healy]]
+* [[The 1975 (album)|The 1975 (Album)]]
+== References ==
 {{Reflist|30em}}
@@ Line 99: / Line 104: @@
 {{Authority control}}
+[[Category:Songs about crime]]
+[[Category:Songs about criminals]]
 [[Category:2013 songs]]
 [[Category:2014 singles]]
-[[Category:Songs written by Matthew Healy]]
 [[Category:The 1975 songs]]
-[[Category:Songs about films]]
 [[Category:Cultural depictions of Quentin Tarantino]]
+[[Category:Songs written by Matty Healy]]

v t e The 1975
Matty Healy Adam Hann Ross MacDonald George Daniel
Studio albums	The 1975 I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships Notes on a Conditional Form Being Funny in a Foreign Language
Extended plays	Facedown Sex Music for Cars IV
Singles	"The City" "Chocolate" "Sex" "Girls" "Settle Down" "Robbers" "Medicine" "Love Me" "Ugh!" "The Sound" "Somebody Else" "A Change of Heart" "She's American" "Loving Someone" "By Your Side" "Give Yourself a Try" "Love It If We Made It" "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" "Sincerity Is Scary" "It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)" "People" "Frail State of Mind" "Me & You Together Song" "The Birthday Party" "Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America" "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)" "Guys" "Spinning" "Part of the Band" "Happiness" "I'm in Love with You" "All I Need to Hear" "About You" "Oh Caroline" "Looking for Somebody (To Love)" "Now Is the Hour"
Other songs	"Milk" "Be My Mistake" "I Like America & America Likes Me" "I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)" "The 1975" "Nothing Revealed / Everything Denied" "Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy)"
Tours	Music for Cars At Their Very Best Still... At Their Very Best
Related articles	Discography Awards and nominations Songs by Matty Healy