Thursday, August 11, 2011

La Roux - "I'm Not Your Toy" (2009)

"I'm Not Your Toy" is a song by English electropop duo La Roux from their self-titled debut album, La Roux. Written and produced by Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid, the song was released as the album's fourth single on 28 September 2009. It is available on CD, 12" and digital formats including two new remixes by Jack Beats and DatA. The single made its debut on the UK Singles Chart at number ninety-one on the issue dated 20 September 2009—due to digital downloads from the La Roux album—, peaking at number twenty-seven two weeks later.


The setting of the AlexandLiane-directed video appears to be a futuristic spa resort with tropical plants and fruits surrounding a swimming pool. The video shows Jackson sitting on a throne, watching an alter ego version of herself performing the song. Slowly her music attracts a large audience of all ages. Originally they listen with skeptical expressions on their faces, but they begin to enjoy the rhythm of the song. Knowing that the onlookers are happy, Jackson relaxes, and enjoys singing the song alongside four female dancers. Jackson looks again into another room, where several people from the previous scene and others put on sunglasses that seem to be playing the music. The people then start dancing while two children watch with further skepticism. The scene then swaps back to the spa location, where all the group are dancing and laughing. La Roux bandmates Mickey, Mikey and Will have a brief cameo amongst the crowd that Jackson attracted.


"I'm Not Your Toy" received mixed reviews from music critics. Luke Turner of the NME, however, wrote that the song's "calypso flick no doubt had Lily Allen green-faced during La Roux's recent support slot." The magazine later placed the song at number forty-one on its list of the 50 Best Tracks of 2009, further commenting that "Elly's voice never embodied heartbreak more sharply."

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