Broken Arrow (Pixie Lott song)

"Broken Arrow" is a song by English recording artist Pixie Lott from the re-release of her debut album, Turn It Up Louder (2010). Written by Lott, Ruth-Anne Cunningham and Toby Gad, the track was released on 10 October 2010 as the lead single from the re-release, reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. An acoustic version of the song, available as a B-side to the single, was uploaded onto YouTube a week prior to the single's release.[1] "Broken Arrow" was used in the trailer for the 2011 film Beastly, as well as in its end credits.[2]

"Broken Arrow"
Single by Pixie Lott
from the album Turn It Up Louder
Released10 October 2010
Recorded2010
Genre
Length3:39
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Toby Gad
Pixie Lott singles chronology
"Turn It Up"
(2010)		 "Broken Arrow"
(2010)		 "All About Tonight"
(2011)

Background and release

"Broken Arrow" is the lead single from the re-released version of her debut album, Turn It Up. The song was premiered on 24 August 2010 on BBC Radio One.[3] It was written by Lott, Ruth-Anne Cunningham and co-written and produced by New York based songwriter/producer Toby Gad, who also penned Beyoncé's "If I Were a Boy" and Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry."[3] It is a pop ballad, with elements of R&B and it talks about not getting over an ex-boyfriend, even with another person, because she still has feelings for him.[4]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Nina Baniamer from Contact Music called it "a beautiful and tragic song. Haunting and yeaning, it is great to see unique emotion conveyed within the lyrics, rather than generic pop romantic clichés."[5] In a review for Digital Spy, Robert Copsey referred to "Broken Arrow" as "an autumnal midtempo number on which Pix sings about struggling to get over an ex", but felt that the lyrics "make for a predictably slushy affair, and the chorus doesn't quite have the instant impact of her best tunes."[4] Newsround noted that the song "isn't the catchiest of tunes but it will definitely grow on you". It also described the track as a "stormy heart-wrenching song", complemented by Lott's "powerful" vocals.[6] Gerard McGarry from Unreality Shout agreed, calling the song "[e]normously radio-friendly but with muted hooks that aren't immediately catchy, but they add up over time."[7] Priya Elan of The Guardian commented that "On Broken Arrow she's Alicia Keys but without, you know, the keys."[8]

Music video

The music video was directed by Gregg Masuak and filmed in North East London.[9] Masuak described the shoot as "mental but fun: one single day for a bunch of different performances that included several costume and makeup changes, a narrative with Pixie and two different guys, a series of dance routines, and a cluster of different scenarios."[10] The video features product placement in the form of the Citroën DS3, marking the first instance of vehicle product placement in a music video in the United Kingdom.[9] It premiered on Lott's official YouTube/Vevo account on 16 September 2010.[11]

Model Alex Watson, brother of Harry Potter star Emma Watson, plays one of Lott's love interests in the video.[12]

Track listings
  1. "Broken Arrow"
  2. "Broken Arrow" (Acoustic Version)
  1. "Broken Arrow" – 3:39
  2. "Broken Arrow" (Paul Harris Vocal) – 6:37
  3. "Broken Arrow" (Paul Harris Dub) – 6:24
  4. "Broken Arrow" (Acoustic Version) – 3:48
  5. "Broken Arrow" (Shapeshifters Remix) – 6:07

Personnel

Charts
Chart (2010) Peak
position
European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[15] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 30
Scotland (OCC)[17] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 12

References
  1. "Pixie Lott – Broken Arrow (Acoustic)". YouTube. 6 October 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  2. "'Broken Arrow' In Beastly Film Trailer". pixielott.com. 6 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  3. "Broken Arrow by Pixie Lott Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  4. Copsey, Robert. "Pixie Lott: 'Broken Arrow'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  5. Baniamer, Nina. "Pixie Lott | Turn It Up Louder Album Review | Contact Music". Contact Music. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  6. "Single Review: Pixie Lott – Broken Arrow". Newsround. BBC News Online. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  7. McGarry, Gerard (18 September 2010). "Pixie Lott – Broken Arrow – Single & Video Review". Unreality Shout. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  8. Elan, Priya (9 October 2010). "This week's new singles". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  9. Williams, David (27 September 2010). "Citroen takes starring role in new Pixie Lott video". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  10. David, Knight (22 September 2010). "Pixie Lott's Broken Arrow by Gregg Masuak". Promo News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  11. "Pixie Lott – Broken Arrow". YouTube. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  12. "Emma Watson Tweets Love For Brother Alex's New Acting Gig". JSYK. AOL. 5 October 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  13. "Pixie Lott – Broken Arrow". Juno Records. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  14. "Broken Arrow – EP by Pixie Lott". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  15. "Pixie Lott – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Pixie Lott.
  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Broken Arrow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  17. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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