Apocalypse City

"Apocalypse City" is a song performed by British singer-songwriter Alesha. It was written and produced by Alesha and Shell Ruin for the former's sixth studio album Bigger Than God (2009). Drawing influence from dystopian literature, most significantly George Orwell's classic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alesha and Ruin critique the power of media and government on an ignorant public, as well as the vicious cycle of fame. "Apocalypse City" was released as the album's lead single on April 20.

Musically the song is an uptempo electroclash song with noise pop influences. To accompany the description of a dystopian setting, Alesha and Ruin purposefully strived to create a darker ambience for the track. The song begins and ends with a sample of David Bowie's "We Are the Dead." "Apocalypse City" received widespread acclaim from critics, who enjoyed the song's composition and complimented Alesha's social commentary for its subtlety. Critics made comparisons between the song and Alesha's 2008 single "Tsunami of the Soul". Upon its release, "Apocalypse City" became Alesha's eighth number one single. The song won Best Single at the 17th Urapopstar Awards, which Alesha hosted.

The corresponding music video was modeled after action thrillers, portraying Alesha as a fugitive on the run from a Big Brother-esque totalitarian government in a dystopian future. Helmed by Swedish directing team Traktor, the clip ranks as one of the most expensive music videos ever made. Critics responded positively to the video, which was continued with Alesha's next release "Brooklyn to Brixton". Alesha first performed "Apocalypse City" on the eponymous 2009 tour and on each of her subsequent tours.

Background and composition
Alesha began recording her sixth studio album Bigger Than God (2009) in September 2008, when rough demos of "Apocalypse City" and "Bear Dance" were recorded. She then revised the songs with close friend and frequent collaborator Shell Ruin, who had penned Alesha's hit singles "Tsunami of the Soul" and "Disciplinary". Musically, the song is "pounding electro-punk" which is “fashioned from the same template as 'Tsunami of the Soul.'"

"Apocalypse City" depicts a dystopian future with a Big Brother figure. The song’s introduction and conclusion sample David Bowie’s "We Are the Dead." Alesha was inspired by Bowie's 1974 concept album Diamond Dogs, which was inspired by George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and his own glam rock vision of a post-apocalyptic world. Alesha also drew her own inspiration from Nineteen Eighty-Four and other examples of dystopian fiction.

Released as a single alongside the album on April 20, "Apocalypse City" includes a cover of Skeeter Davis' "The End of the World" as a B-side. The song was memorably featured in the 1999 film Girl, Interrupted (which inspired Alesha to write "Girl, Interrupted" for Josie Matthews in 2007). Alesha also covered Norwegian pop singer Annie's "Anthonio," while the digital EP included an exclusive cover of Bowie's "We Are the Dead".

Critical reception
Upon its release, "Apocalypse City" received generally favorable reviews. James Hannaham from Spin was positive in his review, writing that it is a "brilliant, melodramatic song, that sounds like a stoic response to a world gone mad." Stylus Magazine's Ed Howard described the song as "a great slice-and-dice hit of fucked-up electroclash." Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine considered it "forward-thinking." Chuck Taylor from Billboard was positive in his response, describing the track as "a blistering zeitgeist-negation, hostile and uneasy—as a lead single, a club track, an album opener."

A more critical review, Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal panned the song calling it "dumb." Writing for The A.V. Club, Stephen Thompson called the track "pneumatic" and "hook-deficient."

Music video
The music video for "Apocalypse City" was helmed by Swedish directing team Traktor. It was filmed from February 22–27, 2009 at Hollywood Center Studios in Hollywood, California. The total production costs for the video was around $5.9 million, making it one of the most expensive music videos ever made. Alesha drew influence from V for Vendetta and James Bond films. The premiere of the video took place on MTV channels worldwide on Sunday, April 12, a first occurrence in the music channel's history. The music video was included in the enhanced CD of the single as well as the digital EP, along with the making of the video.

The video begins with a continuation of "Tsunami of the Soul"; in an empty city after a storm, Alesha is perched on top of a skyscraper as she sings the Bowie-sampling intro. As the song kicks in full force, Alesha is seen being interrogated by police. Visible headlines read: "Alesha debuts at #1," "'Power Power' cut," "Alesha's return to #1" and "Pop star slams party leaders." In a smog-filled industrial city, buildings are plastered with posters stating "Big Brother is watching you" or declaring government opponents "public enemy." In the centre of the city, Big Brother's face looms on two giant screens. Meanwhile, Alesha disappears from the interrogation room to the officers' anger and confusion.

Alesha escapes to the city centre; she smashes the LCD screens with a hammer and sings the song through the megaphone. Alesha is placed in a maximum security cell, where she is lightly spars with a security guard. Later, police officers escort Alesha to the city centre where she is to be executed in public. Alesha starts to laugh, confusing the hysterical public. Suddenly, buildings start to blow up or go up in flames, while fireworks go off in the windows. The police officers leave Alesha's side to control the panicked and riotous crowd. Alesha slides into a back alley and literally dislocates her thumb out of the handcuff.

Alesha manages to make her way to an airport, but she is caught by police officers upon arrival. Afterwards, she is strapped to an electric chair. A man pulls down the switch to trigger the chair. A close-up of Alesha's face is shown as she sings one final line of "We are the dead." A flame shoots up and obscures the view.

Live performances
Alesha performed the song at the 16th Urapopstar Awards in 2009 in a medley with Best Single nominee "Tsunami of the Soul". The performance makes allusions to the videos of both songs, while Alesha wore a Gareth Pugh design. Alesha would later recruit Pugh to design all of the costumes for her tour. "Apocalypse City" was performed during Alesha's headlining set at Radio 1's Big Weekend in May 2008, as well as at Urabeachstar.

"Apocalypse City" was the opening number to 2009's Apocalypse City Live tour, Alesha's third world tour in as many years and her first to use stadiums as venues. The tour told the story of a dystopian future much like the one described in the song's lyrics. "Apocalypse City" serves as "an introduction" to "The Tragic Kingdom." The following year, Alesha sang "Apocalypse City" as her final song on The Reckoning, a joint world tour with Putanovska. It served as her final song before the encore at Judgment Day, a televised greatest hits concert held at Wembley Stadium in June 2010.

Track listing

 * CD1 / Limited edition 7"
 * 1) "Apocalypse City"
 * 2) "Anthonio" (Annie Strand, Richard X)
 * CD2
 * 1) "Apocalypse City"
 * 2) "The End of the World" (Arthur Kent, Sylvia Dee)
 * 3) "Apocalypse City" (Darfurian Refuge Bathhouse MetroMix)
 * 4) "Apocalypse City" (Benny Blanco Remix)
 * 5) "Apocalypse City" (music video)


 * Digital EP
 * 1) "Apocalypse City"
 * 2) "Apocalypse City" (Darfurian Refuge Bathhouse MetroMix)
 * 3) "Apocalypse City" (Benny Blanco Remix)
 * 4) "Apocalypse City" (Designer Drugs Remix)
 * 5) "We Are the Dead" (David Bowie)
 * 6) "Apocalypse City" (music video)
 * 7) "Apocalypse City" (making the video)

Chart performance
"Apocalypse City" entered the official singles chart at number one on April 26, 2009, becoming Alesha's eighth (and second consecutive) number one single. It sold 310,866 copies, receiving a platinum cerification.