Dancer (Idles song)

"Dancer" was first teased with an audio snippet in a YouTube video uploaded to the band's official channel on September 20, 2023, while its title was revealed in another snippet posted to their official Instagram account on October 4.[4][5] Later Instagram posts on October 6 and October 12 revealed the song's release date and single cover, respectively.[6][7] On October 18, the song was released along with a music video uploaded to YouTube, as well as an announcement of the album's title and release date.[8][9] As described by Music Feeds, the music video "[features] the band in mock-ABBA mode, white suits and all [as] they strut towards the camera while the pounding music unfurls around them. [It also shows] a janitor blasting the track through their headphones while they get through a particularly menial shift".[10]

"Dancer" was met with primarily positive reviews. Rolling Stone described the "raucous" song as showing the band's "trademark post-punk instrumentals mix with [...] a poppier and more melodic chorus", while Hot Press characterized the "playful and scuzzy" track by its "heavy bass, dirty guitar riffs, and joyous vocals".[11][12][13] Uproxx praised frontman Joe Talbot's vocals as "[taking] command [reigning] over the dance floor", while American Songwriter commented that the backing vocals from members of LCD Soundsystem "[lend] themselves to a spooky, urgent tone that complements Talbot’s guttural, grungy voice", and also added that "there’s a note of [lyrical] innuendo"[14][15] Consequence described it as "swampy, spine-tingling, [and] hypnotic", naming it the "song of the week" on October 20 and commenting that "being hip-to-hip and cheek-to-cheek has rarely sounded so visceral".[16]

Regarding its overall style, Medium commented that the song is "[reminiscent] of disco, but with loud guitars instead of funky, electronic beats" and that it shows the band "make an effort to artistic boundaries" as they "put a rhythmic spin on their sound".[17] The comparison to this genre was furthered by Music Feeds' conclusion that "IDLES have entered their disco era – albeit with a great deal of sweat, horror, and aggression laced with something that looks a little like love, if you squint at it sideways".[18]