Released 2 September 2013 Recorded 2012, March 2013 Length 2:57 | Format Digital download Genre Pop | |
Label Universal (UK)
Hear Music (US) | ||
"New" is a song written by Paul McCartney. It was originally recorded by McCartney and produced by English musician Mark Ronson for McCartney's sixteenth studio album New, and appears as the sixth track on the album. After being released early on the iTunes Store as a track available to download from New on 28 August 2013, the song was released as a single on 2 September 2013 and available exclusively on Amazon.com. The single's premiere on 28 August was concurrent with the official reveal of New on the same day. The single gained heavy airplay on Japanese radio stations, where it became a number 4 hit on the Japan Hot 100.
Contents
The single joined BBC Radio 2's playlist and the album of the same name was their Record of the Week.
The song appears in both the opening and the end credits of the 2013 animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
Reception
"New" was greeted positively by critics and the musical press. As well as being selected as BBC Radio 2's Record of the Week and placed on their A-list, the track was greeted as the "Track of the Day" by Mojo which praised its "doe-eyed optimism, irresistible melody" and "orchestrated pop arrangements". Rolling Stone's Will Hermes, praised its "bouncy harpsichord-laden melody", giving it a four-star rating and drawing comparisons to the Beatles' "Got to Get You into My Life", a view shared by The Daily Telegraph which described it as a "jaunty, Beatles-esque stomp".
Live performances
McCartney performed the song live on late night shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as well as at the iHeartRadio Music Festival where he premiered it as well as several other songs off the new album.