Youth Without Youth (song)
"Youth Without Youth" is a song by Canadian indie rock band Metric. It was released as the lead single from their 2012 album, Synthetica.[2] The song debuted at number 1 on the Canadian alternative rock chart and stayed at that spot for a record 16 consecutive weeks.[3] The song tackles the subject of a fraying social state through the eyes of a deprived youth.
| "Youth Without Youth" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Metric | ||||
| from the album Synthetica | ||||
| Released | May 1, 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2012 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, electronic rock | |||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | Mom+Pop | |||
| Songwriter(s) | James Shaw, Emily Haines[1] | |||
| Producer(s) | Gavin Brown | |||
| Metric singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Youth Without Youth" on YouTube | ||||
Reception
The song has received mixed to favorable reviews from critics. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone gave the song a mixed review, giving it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars and describing the song as "Glam sugar with a bitter core". Dolan further stated that "Perennial indie crush Emily Haines drops a wasted-youth anthem with scarred poetry like "We played blindman's bluff till they stopped the game," over a bleak- bubblegum stomp."[4]
Jillian Mapes of Billboard praised Haines' songwriting, stating "Lyrically, frontwoman Emily Haines toys with powerful imagery, using phrases like "double dutch with a hand grenade" and "rubber soul with a razor blade" to describe a young life full of malaise and even criminality."[5]
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100[6] | 63 |
| Canadian Alternative Rock Chart[3] | 1 |
| Canada Rock Chart[7] | 12 |
| US Rock Songs (Billboard) | 28 |
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard) | 15 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2012) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8] | 44 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[9] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- Youth Without Youth ASCAP
- Galliart, Jessica. "Listen: Metric's new single, 'Youth Without Youth'". RedEye Chicago. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - May 8, 2012". America's Music Charts. 8 May 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- "Metric "Youth Without Youth"". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. May 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- "Track Review: Metric, 'Youth Without Youth'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- "Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- "Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- "Canadian single certifications – Metric – Youth Without Youth". Music Canada.