Let Them Know
"Let Them Know" is a song by English singer Mabel. It was released by Polydor Records on 18 June 2021 as the lead single from her second studio album About Last Night... (2022).[1] The song was written by Mabel, Raye, MNEK, and its producer SG Lewis. It was a top 40 hit in Mabel's home country of the United Kingdom as well as five additional European countries.
"Let Them Know" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Mabel | ||||
from the album About Last Night... | ||||
Released | 18 June 2021 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:28 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Mabel singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Let Them Know" on YouTube |
Music and lyrics
"Let Them Know" is an uptempo, dance-pop, synth-pop and 1980s-style disco song with dancehall undertones.[2][3][4][5] It is 2 minutes and 28 seconds long,[6] and has a 1990s house rhythm reminiscent of RuPaul's 1992 song "Supermodel (You Better Work)".[7]
Inspired by obsessively watching 1990 film Paris Is Burning, and American television series Pose and RuPaul's Drag Race, Mabel wrote the track as a reflection on dance music's generational themes of expression, liberation and inclusion.[8] According to the singer, "Let Them Know" is "dedicated to anyone who's ever felt scared to truly be themselves."[9] The lyrics include a reference to Doja Cat and her 2020 song "Say So".[7][5]
Release
Mabel first teased the single's release on 9 June 2021 with a 30-second teaser trailer titled "Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself".[10] The clip shows the singer performing and filming a music video, and ends with a preview of "Let Them Know".[11] On 10 June, she shared the release date, cover art and a link to pre-save the single on streaming services.[12][10] The official TikTok audio was released on 12 June. Within a week, more than 52,000 videos were uploaded under the audio by users of the social networking service.[2]
"Let Them Know" was released by Polydor Records on 18 June.[6] It was promoted with its own lens filter on Instagram and Snapchat,[13][14] and added it to rotation by British radio stations BBC Radio 1 and Capital FM the same day.[15][16] A remix by English DJ Riton was released on 9 July.[17]
Critical response
In his review for The Sunday Times, Dan Cairns likened the track to music by the Spice Girls, describing it as "sassy, savvy, precision-tooled pop perfection".[18] Isaac Chiew of NME regarded the "bombastic floor-filler" as a welcome comeback from Mabel, complimenting its disco production and "anthemic" chorus.[19] Clash reviewer Robin Murray called it "an unashamed addition to the pop banger canon."[20] The Guardian's Luke Holland viewed the song as "wholly edgeless yet undeniably enjoyable glitter-pop" and "daft fun in all the ways pop should be".[21]
Commercial performance
"Let Them Know" debuted at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 10,368 units.[22] It has since ascended to a new peak of number 19 on the chart dated August 26, 2021. In Ireland, the song entered the Irish Singles Chart at number 48; it has peaked at number 19.
Music video
The music video for "Let Them Know" was directed by Isaac Rentz.[23] A 25-second teaser trailer was shared on Mabel's YouTube channel on 16 June 2021.[24] The music video live premiered on YouTube at 8 a.m. BST on 18 June, preceded by a live chat with the singer.[25][26] A behind the scenes segment was released by MTV UK on 28 June.[27]
Track listing
- Digital download and streaming[6]
- "Let Them Know" – 2:28
- "Let Them Know" (Riton Remix) – 3:00
Personnel
Charts
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
Croatia (HRT)[28] | 21 |
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[29] | 4 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[30] | 28 |
Ireland (IRMA)[31] | 19 |
Latvia (EHR)[32] | 32 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[33] | 1 |
Netherlands (Single Tip)[34] | 11 |
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[35] | 46 |
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[36] | 12 |
UK Singles (OCC)[37] | 19 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 18 June 2021 | Original | Polydor | [12] | |
Italy | Contemporary hit radio | Universal | [39] | ||
Russia | 27 June 2021 | [40] | |||
Various | 9 July 2021 |
|
Riton Remix | Polydor | [17] |
References
- Brayden, Kate (21 March 2022). "Mabel to perform outdoor show at Dublin's Fairview Park this June". Hot Press. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- "Mabel - Let Them Know Video". Contactmusic.com. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- Hodgkinson, Will; Potton, Ed (24 June 2021). "The best new music to listen to this week". The Times. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- Griffiths, George (6 July 2021). "James Vickery and SG Lewis join forces on Finally: Premiere". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
the frantic synth-pop of Mabel's latest offering Let Them Know
- Venegas, Ivi (18 June 2021). "Mabel se apunta al sonido disco ochentero en 'Let them know': ¡mira el vídeo y la letra!" [Mabel joins the eighties disco sound in 'Let them know': watch the video and the lyrics!] (in Spanish). Los 40. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- "Album Let Them Know, Mabel". Qobuz. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- "Mabel and London Grammar show up for the UK in this week's Wonderlist". Wonderland. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- "Mabel Returns With Brand New Single, 'Let Them Know' Available Now" (Press release). Universal Music Canada. Pressparty. 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- Corner, Lewis (18 June 2021). "Mabel just gave us the floor-filling anthem we need this summer". Gay Times. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- Kenneally, Cerys (10 June 2021). "Mabel announces new single 'Let Them Know'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- Moore, Sam (10 June 2021). "Mabel previews new music in teaser clip". NME. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- White, Jack (10 June 2021). "Mabel announces new single Let Them Know". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- @Mabel (18 June 2021). "Let Them Know insta filter is live, tag me in your vids hunniesss 💖" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @Mabel (18 June 2021). "#LetThemKnow Snapchat filter liveee now 🤪" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "BBC - Radio 1 Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- @CapitalOfficial (18 June 2021). "@Mabel 🙌" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Album Let Them Know, Jonasu". Qobuz. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- Cairns, Dan; Verrico, Lisa; Edwards, Mark; Davis, Clive (20 June 2021). "On record: pop, rock and jazz — June 20". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- "NME Radio Roundup 28 June 2021: Tyler, The Creator, H.E.R., Mabel, Little Simz and more". NME. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- Murray, Robin (18 June 2021). "Mabel's 'Let Them Know' Is An Out And Out Banger". Clash. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- Holland, Luke (2 July 2021). "This week's new tracks: MILYMA, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Mabel". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- Masterson, James (25 June 2021). "Charts analysis: Olivia Rodrigo's Good 4 U scores fifth week at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- Kenneally, Cerys (18 June 2021). "Mabel returns with new anthem 'Let Them Know'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- "Mabel - Let Them Know (Official Trailer)". Mabel. 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021 – via YouTube.
- @Mabel (17 June 2021). "GLOBAL HUNNIES 💫The #LetThemKnow music video goes live at 8.00am BST. I am so excited for you guys to see this 😝 Check the timings in your part of the world. 🌎💕" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @Mabel (18 June 2021). "#LetThemKnow video live in 5, come chat w meee 💖" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Mabel - 'Let Them Know' Behind The Scenes". MTV UK. 28 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021 – via YouTube.
- Komerički, Goran (26 July 2021). "ARC 100 - datum: 26. srpnja 2021" [ARC 100 – date: 26 July 2021] (in Croatian). Hrvatska radiotelevizija. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "EHR TOP 40 – 2021.09.03". European Hit Radio. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- "Tipparade-lijst van week 31, 2021" [Tip parade list from week 31, 2021] (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Mabel [UK] - Let Them Know". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 25" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "British single certifications – Mabel – Let Them Know". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- Ali Seminara, Emanuela (15 June 2021). "Mabel - Let Them Know (Radio Date: 18-06-2021)" (Press release) (in Italian). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 18 June 2021 – via EarOne.
- "Mabel - Let Them Know". Tophit. Retrieved 1 July 2021.