Sweet Ophelia

"Sweet Ophelia" is a song released by American singer-songwriter Zella Day for her second extended play, Zella Day (2014), and her second studio album, Kicker (2015). The song was produced by Wally Gagel and Xandy Barry of Wax Ltd, with lyrics written by Day, Gagel, and Barry. It was released on April 7, 2014, through B3SCI and Pinetop Records, and serves as the lead single to the former record. "Sweet Ophelia" is a pop song with synth-backed production, with lyrics about the protagonist losing their virginity.

"Sweet Ophelia"
Single by Zella Day
from the EP Zella Day and the album Kicker
B-side"1965"
ReleasedApril 7, 2014 (2014-04-07)
RecordedOctober 2013
StudioWax Ltd Studios (Los Angeles)
GenrePop
Length3:10
Label
  • B3SCI
  • Pinetop
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Wax Ltd
Zella Day singles chronology
"Seven Nation Army"
(2012)		 "Sweet Ophelia"
(2014)		 "East of Eden"
(2014)
Music video
"Sweet Ophelia" on YouTube

Background and composition

In October 2013, "Sweet Ophelia" was written, alongside "East of Eden".[1] In an interview with Wonderland, Day discussed the experience of creating the song by saying, "Sweet Ophelia happened really fast. My producers and I were hanging in the studio when I started messing around with this simple riff and floaty verse melody." On lyrics, she stated, "The first verse seemed to just fall out of me, and then we followed where the song was headed sonically."[2] The song was finalized in early 2014.

"Sweet Ophelia" is a pop[2][3] song with synth-backed production.[4] The song is characterized as "dreamy", and has a consistent "colossal drum machine beat, atop a contemporary throbbing",[4] supported with "crunchy snares",[5] and "melancholic vocals."[3] Lyrically, the song is about the protagonist losing their virginity.[6] The song alludes to Hamlet's Ophelia.[7][8]

Release and promotion

The song was released on April 7, 2014, and premiered on Noisey. It received positive reception, as Noisey Staff described it as "one of the most charming pop songs we've heard this year."[9] A music video for the song was released on the same day.[10] Alongside digital release, a limited edition 7" LP, featuring "1965", the B-side to the track, pressed on clear vinyl; was released.[11] Only 500 copies were pressed.[12] The cover art of the track is of a yellow flower, hovering above the Grand Canyon; an allusion to Day's Arizonan roots, in a horizontal kaleidoscopic view. The song was played live at VevoDISCVR in the Electric Room at The Dream Downtown.[13] It was also preformed live at the Toyota Sessions, hosted by Pandora in 2015.[14] The song was featured in The Vampire Diaries.[15]

Critical reception

Idolator's Carl Williot praises the song by stating, "It's like some mystical California desert chant-turned-love ballad that never tries to pummel the listener or prove its epic might."[16] Jon Putnam from The Line of Best Fit comments on the chorus by stating, "It’s hard not to get swept up into her windstorm when she croons, “up, up away”, as the chorus seeps away."[4]

Track listings
Digital download
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Sweet Ophelia"
  • Zella Day
  • Wally Gagel
  • Xandy Barry
Wax Ltd3:10
Total length:3:10
"Sweet Ophelia" / "1965" – 7" LP
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Sweet Ophelia"
  • Zella Day
  • Wally Gagel
  • Xandy Barry
Wax Ltd3:10
2."1965"
  • Day
  • Gustav Jonsson
  • Barry
Wax Ltd3:41
Total length:6:51

Personnel

Performance credits

  • Zella Day – vocals

Instruments

  • Wally Gagel – keyboard, guitar, kalimba
  • Xandy Barry – keyboard, guitar, horn arrangement

Production

  • Wax Ltd – production
    • Xandy Barry – mixer, recording engineer, programmer
    • Wally Gagel – mixer, recording engineer, programmer
  • Brian Blake – recording assistant
  • Howie Weinburg – mastering

Release history
Chart performance for "Sweet Ophelia"
Region Date Song(s) Format Label Ref.
Various April 7, 2014 "Sweet Ophelia" Digital download
  • B3SCI
  • Pinetop
 [11]
United States "Sweet Ophelia" / "1965" 7" LP [17]

References
  1. Brandt, Andrew (July 1, 2014). "An Interview With Zella Day". Turntable Kitchen. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  2. Staff, Wonderland (May 1, 2014). "New Noise: Zella Day". Wonderland. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  3. Murray, Robin (June 6, 2014). "Premiere: Zella Day - Sweet Ophelia (Dntel Remix)". Clash. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  4. Putnam, John (April 7, 2014). "Watch Zella Day's "Sweet Ophelia" at Best Fit". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  5. Cooper, Duncan (February 14, 2014). "Stream: Zella Day, "Sweet Ophelia"". The Fader. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  6. Visco, Gerry (October 7, 2014). "In the Life of Zella Day". Interview. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  7. Staff, SF Weekly (May 28, 2015). "Zella Day Talks Music, Shakespeare, and Burritos Ahead of Her Show Tonight at Slim's". SFWeekly. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  8. Derrough, Leslie Michele (August 1, 2015). "21 Year Old Zella Day Proves An "Old Soul" With Eclectic 'Kicker' LP & National Success (INTERVIEW)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  9. "Zella Day's Video for "Sweet Ophelia" Is Perfect Springtime Pop". Vice. April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  10. Salucci, Gianennio (2014-03-28), Zella Day - Sweet Ophelia, retrieved April 17, 2023
  11. Zella Day - Sweet Ophelia, retrieved April 17, 2023
  12. "Zella Day - Sweet Ophelia / 1965, by Zella Day". Zella Day. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  13. Zella Day - Sweet Ophelia - Vevo dscvr (Live), retrieved April 17, 2023
  14. Wong, Winnie (August 24, 2018), Toyota Sessions: Zella Day "Sweet Ophelia", retrieved April 17, 2023
  15. "The Vampire Diaries Soundtrack". Tunefind.
  16. Williot, Carl (April 8, 2014). "Zella Day Debuts With The Enchanting "Sweet Ophelia": Listen". Idolator. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  17. "Sweet Ophelia / 1965". Proper Music. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
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