Bloom (Troye Sivan song)

"Bloom" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan. Written by Sivan, Peter Svensson, Leland and its producer Oscar Holter, the song was released by EMI Music Australia on 2 May 2018, as the third single from his second studio album of the same name.

"Bloom"
Single by Troye Sivan
from the album Bloom
Released2 May 2018 (2018-05-02)
Genre
Length3:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Oscar Holter
Troye Sivan singles chronology
"Strawberries & Cigarettes"
(2018)		 "Bloom"
(2018)		 "Dance to This"
(2018)
Music video
"Bloom" on YouTube

Background and release

Sivan first revealed the song in an interview with Popjustice. He described the song as "complete pop. Like: 'Katy Perry Teenage Dream' pop", deeming it "the most subversively queer song on the album".

It's that light, sonically. Lyrically it's a bit more cheeky. It's just a really fun song. I wrote it with Leland and we were dying laughing and just having the best time writing it. Lyrically I think it's the most subversively queer song on the album. That's kind of what makes me like it so much — it's almost like a little inside joke. It's [sonically] very consumable pop music so I can imagine the masses understanding it a little bit more, and that's funny to me. I don't even think it's necessarily the big single or anything like that, but I really hope the song ends up spreading its wings way further than the people who wouldn't normally listen to my music.[1]

In another interview with Dazed, the song was described by the interviewer as "a gay anthem for bottoms", on which Sivan "takes the role of what sounds like the receptive partner losing his virginity". When asked if that is what the song is about, Sivan replied with a wink: "It's 100 per cent about flowers! That's all it is. Call it whatever you wanna call it. I wanna play that song at every Pride."[2]

To promote the single, Sivan launched his own mobile app on 30 April 2018. The app contains a video, in which Sivan can be seen seated on a bed with a male partner sleeping behind him, which was revealed to be his then boyfriend Jacob Bixenman. He then looks at the camera and says, "It's about flowers", before a clip from the song plays in the background. The song's title flashes across the screen, with the release details appearing in a smaller font below. He later posted the same video on social media and YouTube.[3][4] The app also has cryptic photos of fluorescent, doll-like figures, as seen in the cover art and lyric video.[5]

Composition

"Bloom" is a pop, dance-pop, and synth-pop anthem about queer desire.[6][7][8] It starts with "looming, atmospheric synths", before building up to a euphoric chorus which "introduces a sharp, driving snare".[9][10][11] As the song progresses, Sivan "moves into a second chorus and rides a wave of sparkling beats to a heady crescendo".[12]

Chart performance

The song reached number thirty-four on the Australian Singles Chart, and number one on the New Zealand Heatseekers Chart. In the UK, it didn't enter the UK Singles Chart but it debuted at number 100 on the biggest singles of midweek list compiled by the Official Charts Company.[13]

Videos

Lyric video

A lyric video was released alongside the song.[14][15] The video, animated by the 3D artist Jason Ebeyer,[16] finds an Ex Machina-type simulacrum of Sivan floating in his fantasy land.[17] At the beginning, Sivan sits in a lush garden surrounded by flowers. He then floats through an abandoned warehouse under iridescent lights. Idolator's Mike Nied opined that "the contrast between the natural shapes and the hard lines of the buildings add some depth to the visual, and it definitely leaves a lasting impression".[12]

Music video

On 6 June 2018, Sivan released a music video for "Bloom" on his YouTube channel. It was directed by Bardia Zeinali and processed in a 4:3 aspect ratio. It shows Sivan posing in drag outfits with flowers, and in a Draco Malfoy-esque ensemble, Greek muse busts and muscled arms flexing.[18]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[19]

  • Troye Sivan – composition
  • Peter Svensson – composition
  • Leland – composition, background vocals
  • Oscar Holter – composition, production
  • Randy Merrill – master engineering
  • John Hanes – engineering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 34
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[21] 1
Scotland (OCC)[22] 100
South Korea International (Gaon)[23] 23

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[24] Platinum 70,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Robinson, Peter (27 February 2018). "Troye Sivan interview: "I feel more fully-realised as a person"". Popjustice. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  2. Frank, Alex (14 March 2018). "Troye Sivan: atomic blonde". Dazed. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  3. Prance, Sam (1 May 2018). "Troye Sivan Announces Brand New Single 'Bloom'". MTV News. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. Dresden, Hilton (1 May 2018). "Troye Sivan Teases New Song & Video 'Bloom'". Out. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. Daw, Stephen (30 April 2018). "Troye Sivan Teases New Music Coming Out This Week on New Self-Titled Music App". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  6. Hunt, El (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan shares new single 'Bloom'". NME. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  7. Power, Shannon (3 May 2018). "Here are the best reactions to Troye Sivan's new pop classic, Bloom". Gay Star News. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  8. Damshenas, Sam (31 August 2018). "We ranked every song from Troye Sivan's new album Bloom". Gay Times. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  9. Brandle, Lars (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan's 'Bloom' is Here: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  10. O'Neill, Lauren (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan's New Song "Bloom" Is Music For Kissing, Basically". Noisey. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  11. Prance, Sam (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan Releases Incredible New Single 'Bloom'". MTV News. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  12. Nied, Mike (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan's Sexy New Single "Bloom" Is An Atmospheric Smash". Idolator. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Update Top 100: 07 May 2018 − 13 May 2018 (Midweeks)". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  14. Kim, Michelle (3 May 2018). "Listen to Troye Sivan's New Song "Bloom"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  15. Maicki, Salvatore (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan shares new single "Bloom"". The Fader. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  16. Corner, Lewis (3 May 2018). "Listen to Troye Sivan's new single Bloom – and find out the hidden meaning behind it". Gay Times. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  17. "Troye Sivan Goes Plastic Fantastic In New Film Clip". HITS 107. 3 May 2018. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  18. "Troye Sivan - Bloom". YouTube. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  19. "Bloom / Troye Sivan TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  20. "Troye Sivan – Bloom". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  21. "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  23. "Gaon Download Chart – Issue date: 2018.05.06 – 2018.05.12". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  24. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
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