"Conqueror" is the eighth single released by Aurora and the fifth single from All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend. It was written by Aurora, Geir Luedy, Odd Martin Skålnes and Magnus Skylstad and produced by Skålnes, Skylstad and Jeremy Wheatley. On January 15, 2016 the song was officially released worldwide.
| "Conqueror" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Aurora | ||||
| from the album All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend | ||||
| Released | 15 February 2016 | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:27 | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Aurora singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Conqueror" on YouTube | ||||
Background and composition
edit"Conqueror" is a Scandipop,[1] synth-pop,[2] and electropop song[3] with "clattering drum beats building towards a euphoric chorus".[4] Aurora wrote this song in 2013 with some of her band members.
She said: "This song is a rather strange one. It's an important contrast to all the other songs on my album - it's actually a bit happy! I wrote it with some of my band members during 2013 once. It was just for fun, we didn't even know if anything good would come out it!"[5]
"'Conqueror' is about a world [that] is kind of falling apart around you, and you're looking for a conqueror to save you. But you're looking for the conqueror in someone else, which I think is [something] you should not do. You should find the conqueror in yourself first, and be your own hero. If you stand strong, then you will stand for a bit longer."[6]
In the documentary Once Aurora, she expressed her dislike for the song due to its overly pop leanings.[7][8] However, in a 2021 interview with NME, she stated, "I like the song more now, but haven't played it live for five years. I stopped after 2016 and said, 'I'm never going to play this again – ever!'" She then said, "When I start touring again, I will start playing it again – because it is very fun. I just needed a five-year break from the song."[8]
Music video
editA music video for the song was released on February 16, 2016. It was directed by Kenny McCracken.
Charts
edit| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Rock (Billboard)[9] | 49 |
| Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[10] | 47 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] | 32 |
References
edit- ^ Elmahdi, Adam (21 September 2015). "Aurora leads a joyous celebration of melancholy in East London". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend". MusicOMH. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ i-D staff (15 January 2016). "premiere: aurora, 'conqueror'". i-D. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ Pollard, Alexandra (19 January 2016). "Aurora's brilliant new single is the best thing you'll hear today". Gigwise. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Aurora Track by Track". www.thefourohfive.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: AURORA On Her Song 'Conqueror' & Upcoming Album | iHeartRadio". 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
- ^ En Gang Aurora [Once Aurora] (Motion picture). 2018.
- ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (7 July 2021). "AURORA talks new single 'Cure For Me': "Why is it so difficult to let others be themselves?"". NME. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Aurora Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ "AURORA Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ "Aurora Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2022.