Witch

"Witch" is a song performed by British recording artist Alesha featuring vocals from The Uraps Factor series two winner Malaya. "Witch" was written and produced by Alesha for her eighth studio album Alesha (2014). Following promotional single "Renaissance", "Witch" was Alesha's first official release after a three-year hiatus in which she privately struggled with depression. Alesha described the track as "a feminist thunderstorm," which draws influence from "misunderstood" historical figures like Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, and the many women accused of witchcraft.

Musically "Witch" is a chaotic, electronic number with a constantly morphing beat. The song was described as "a gigantic party tune" that bares the most resemblance to Alesha's earlier material. "Witch" received widespread acclaim from reviewers, who called it a "welcome return" and a worthy official first single from Alesha. Critics also praised the inclusion of Malaya, who performs the bridge and trades lines with Alesha in two of the song's three verses. Upon its release, "Witch" became Alesha's forty-first top 40 hit and continued a streak of top-three singles when it peaked at number three. The single was quickly certified platinum, proving Alesha's staying power as it came to rank among her best-selling singles.

The music video, directed by Romain Gavras, depicted Alesha and Malaya as witches practicing black magic and voodoo. Critics responded positively to the video's high production value, who compared it to Alesha's earlier videos like "Good Mourning" and "The Last Temptation". Alesha performed "Witch" on her 2014 world tour, Alesha: Renaissance Live. The song was notably remixed by Apollo 54.

Background and composition
Alesha began recording her self-titled eighth studio album in late 2013, with sessions continuing into early 2014. "Witch" was recorded in December 2013. The song was originally set to feature both Malaya and Salem Kennedy of Salem x Christian Stone, mostly due to the connection between Kennedy's given name and the song's title. However, when the song was released as a single in May 2014, "Witch" featured only Malaya's vocals.

Lyrically, Alesha was inspired by "misunderstood" female historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette to create a "feminist anthem." The lyrics describe the cons of womanhood in a male-dominated world, while also dismissing the general negativity that women face as they are pit against one another. From a sonic perspective, "Witch" is a fast-paced, club-friendly number that incorporates electronic dance music, inspired by Dutch producers The Partysquad. The track was described as "classic Alesha," both lyrically and musically, baring more similarities to her earlier work than the rest of the album.

Released as a single on May 19, one week after Alesha, "Witch" was released via digital download and a digital remix EP. The digital single included Alesha's Live Lounge performances of "Renaissance" and Esmeralda Dimuzio's "Letting You Go", while the remix EP featured the work of Christian Stone. Online-only CD and vinyl formats were released via Alesha's official website; these formats included a previously unreleased B-side, an upbeat synthpop song named "Save the Last Dance."

Critical reception
"Witch" received acclaim from music critics. Liana Jones from AllMusic called the track a "wickedly good club song", as well as claiming that it was "sonically progressive yet listener-friendly." Larry Flick from Billboard described it as Alesha at her best. Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone in his review for the album as a whole, wrote that, alongside other tracks such as "For Dead" and "White Naomi", Alesha is "positively ferocious." Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine wrote that the song was a "celebratory tech-frenzy", and noted Alesha's "elation" in the song, giving it an "A" rating. Sputnikmusic listed the song as the album's recommended tracks.

Commercial response
"Witch" entered the official singles chart at number three behind Kleo & Syd Wolfe and Curriculum, selling 71,795 copies in its first week on the chart. Despite being Alesha's lowest-charting single since 2007's "Power Power" (the last time an Alesha single charted lower than number two), "Witch" continued a streak of successful top-three singles. Sales increased in the single's second week on the chart, as "Witch" sold a further 78,948 copies and maintained its position at number three. The single was certified silver in its second week as total sales reached 150,923. In its third week on the chart, "Witch" fell two places to round out the top five with another 73,546 copies shifted. The following week, "Witch" fell another two places to number seven and was certified gold (indicating over 225,000 copies have been sold). One week later, the single was certified platinum as it teetered on the edge of the top ten for a fortnight. It fell out of the top ten in its seventh week. "Witch" spent an additional two weeks in the top twenty; in its eight week, sales surpassed 400,000 copies. A week later, it surpassed 2010's "Good Mourning" to become Alesha's second best-selling single (behind 2010's "The Last Temptation"). "Witch" sold a total of 423,490 copies after ten weeks on the chart.

On the digital chart, "Witch" entered and peaked at number two with 30,774 downloads shifted. It stayed at its peak position for another two weeks before slipping to number five. "Witch" entered the Urapopstar Airplay 40 chart at number 20, before rising to number 11 in its second week. It eventually peaked at number three, spending four weeks in the airplay chart's top five. In the United States, the song was released to iTunes following its premiere and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number three based on strong digital sales. It spent ten weeks in the country's top ten.

Music video
The music video for "Witch" was directed by Romain Gavras and filmed on April 22 and 23, 2014 in Surrey, England. Alesha decided to incorporate a voodoo-inspired portrayal of witchcraft, inspired by the popular television series American Horror Story: Coven. The video depicts Alesha and Malaya as archnemeses, both practicing black magic and performing voodoo on one another. Like its parent album, the "Witch" video reflects "a journey from dark to light."

At the beginning of the video, Malaya is in a dance studio while Alesha is contorting a voodoo doll's figure, eventually causing Malaya's legs to buckle. As Alesha snaps the doll's legs, Malaya falls to the ground. Though lifeless and still, Malaya sings the bridge. Images of the coal-eyed Alesha with a snake slithering out of her mouth and holding a black whip are interspersed. In the second verse, Alesha is walking two large dogs in a fur coat (as per the cover art), while shots of dilating pupils, smoke and a snake hissing appear in bursts. Alesha stands by idly, continuing to sing, as the dogs are seen tearing a man to shreds. In the second recitation of the song's bridge, a close-up of Malaya reveals her eyes are pitch black. She lights a match and sets fire to a voodoo doll; the camera cuts to Alesha's fur coat beginning to flame.

Malaya continues to toy with Alesha's voodoo doll, causing Alesha to move down the urban alley in a choreographed, robotic routine. She ties the voodoo doll tied to a small wooden post. We see Alesha bound to a modern, iron stake. As Malaya growls "Witch", she lights the doll (and thus Alesha) aflame. A phoenix flutters out of the flames and ashes beside Malaya. Later, Alesha is buried alive and makes her way out of her grave, while Malaya is hounded by paparazzi, who are later replaced with an angry mob carrying lit torches. By the end of the third verse, Malaya has been taken to the gallows. Malaya is left there overnight, during which she sings the bridge.

Beams of light fill the screen as the sun rises and the song enters its final chorus. Out of the light, Alesha emerges in a white bodysuit embroidered with glittering, megawatt diamonds. She approaches Malaya, whose head is facing the ground. Alesha lifts her chin up and softly kisses her on the mouth, freeing Malaya from her chains with a flick of the wrist. Another burst of light envelopes the view. Malaya is standing beside Alesha in an extravagant white dress and six-inch white heels. The townspeople approach the scaffold in panic, but Alesha and Malaya flick their wrists and send them flying backwards. The video ends with Alesha and Malaya walking away into the sunlight, holding hands.

Live performances
"Witch" was first performed live at Alesha's album launch gig, A Night At Royal Albert Hall. Alesha was joined by Malaya to perform the song at the gig, which was later released on DVD and Blu-ray. Alesha again performed the song on her 2014 world tour, Alesha: Renaissance Live, her first tour in three years.

Track listing

 * CD / 7" vinyl (online exclusives)
 * 1) "Witch" (featuring Malaya)
 * 2) "Save the Last Dance"


 * Digital EP
 * 1) "Witch" (featuring Malaya)
 * 2) "Renaissance" (Live at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge)
 * 3) "Letting You Go" (Live at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge)


 * Digital remix EP
 * 1) "Witch" (featuring Malaya)
 * 2) "Witch" (featuring Malaya) (Christian Stone the Teenage Witch Remix)
 * 3) "Witch" (featuring Malaya) (Dave Audé Remix)
 * 4) "Witch" (featuring Malaya) (Fred Falke Radio Remix)
 * 5) "Witch" (featuring Malaya) (Lindstrom Remix)
 * 6) "Witch" (featuring Malaya) (St Lucia Remix)