The King

"The King" is a song by British recording artist Iris, taken from her sixth studio album and first compilation album The Asylum: Collection (2015). The song was written and produced by Iris. It was released as the lead single from The Asylum: Collection on 30 March 2014 Worldwide and one day later in the United States.

According to Iris, "The King" focuses on love and social class, highlighting a societal expectation to love within your class. The song is a synthpop ballad with string sounds, pulsing bass and an electronic arrangement. The song was met with positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and Iris' song writing.

The accompanying music video has yet to be revealed.

Background
"The King" was written and produced by Iris. The song was written in Stockholm whilst Iris was there performing and it was recorded at a studio in London. The strings in the song were arranged by Carl Bagge, and played by various cello and violin players. The song alongside "Ghost on Sailor's Peak" are the songs Iris is most proud of from the The Asylum series, and Iris said that she that the moment she wrote them "[she] knew they would be singles, or could be singles, and [she] wanted them to get that chance." Iris described the song to The Macomb Daily as "a love song about loving someone from a different social pride and the power that the differences you bring to the relationship possess". In an interview with MTV News, she elaborated on the song's theme and message, saying, "I think 'The King' is a song that talks about what happens when you fall in love, and how you can just admire that person and literally think of them as God's gift to the Earth."

The single was officially confirmed on 29 January 2015, with the song's title being revealed the next day. The single artwork was released the next week. The song premiered on 14 February 2015 as a Valentines Day gift to her fans. The single was released Worldwide on 30 March 2015, the same date as the album, apart from in America where it was released a day later.

Composition
"The King" is an uptempo ballad that uses string sections and a pulsating beat. The song makes use of a synthpop style, and incorporates elements Europop. It carries a 4/4 beat that is driven by an "endlessly looped" arpeggio. The song utilizes ascending keyboard bubbles, disco claps, drum machines and whistles as backing. Molly Lambert of Pitchfork noted the "human quality" of Iris' voice on the track, writing that it is "cloaked in waves of arpeggiated synth".

The lyrics speak of a love connection, where the love she feels with her man makes her feel like royalty; "As the light radiates against your reflection the colours translate into a speech/Words echo through my mind, there’s no limit your hierarchy can not reach ". In the chorus, Iris sings "But with my King by my side, we can rule them all." Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music noted that Iris sings "tough and knowing" and "pessimistically optimistic" lines, but manages to make it sound romantic for the listener. Emma Gaedekke of Billboard commented on the lyrical content, saying, "Iris' heartfelt vocal turn prevents the backing music from overwhelming her story of a love connection found at the tail-end of heartbreak."

Critical reception
Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review, awarding it five out of five stars. Levine praised the synths and strings present on the track, as well as Iris' production. He commented that the lyrics made the song "not just touching, but utterly, utterly life-affirming". Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music praised its modern synthpop. McAlpine noted that the song about dancing and being "terrified/upset" at the same time, and wrote that Iris has created a "devastating happysad feeling". McAlpine awarded the song five out five stars, and gave it "special points" for its "faux-classical synth solo" in the middle. Emma Gaedeke of Billboard highlighted the songwriting and praised it for being emotionally honest, without "generic pop cheesiness". Molly Lambert of Pitchfork wrote a positive review of the song, saying that the drum machines on the track contrast well with the qualities of her voice. Lambert wrote, "“The King” encapsulates the kind of freedom Iris sings about; freedom from reductionist categories, unfair expectations, and life's daily indignities."

Paul Davey of Drowned in Sound wrote that the song "sits comfortably alongside" previous singles "Poison Ivy" and "Ghost on Sailor's Peak". Davey referred "The King" to as "an example of a pop-innovator at the top of her game". Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine praised the song's production and named it one of Iris' best singles. Keefe also named it the standout among the new songs on The Asylum: Collection. Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone gave it three and a half out of five stars, and wrote that "Iris sings an uncommonly elegant Europop melody"

Music video
Details of the music video are currently unknown.

Charts
The single is due to be released on 30 March 2015. It became the highest new entry upon its debut on the AirPlay chart at #23 before it rose to #21 the following week.