B-side "Where You End" Recorded 2005 Label Mute | Format CD, 12" Length 3:38 | |
Released 23 January 2006 (original version)
25 September 2006 (with Mylène Farmer) | ||
"Slipping Away" is a song by American electronica musician Moby. It was released on 23 January 2006 as the fourth UK and sixth international single from his 2005 album Hotel. It peaked at number 53 and stayed for a sole week on the chart. It also reached number three in Spain. The single version features Alison Moyet as backing vocals.
Contents
Track listing
Moby and Amaral version
The release of the album in some Spanish speaking countries included a full-Spanish version called "Escapar (Slipping Away)" with famous Spanish group Amaral. The song peaked at number three in Spain.
Background and release
In June 2006, a rumor was launched that Mylène Farmer would record a duet with an international star. Several artists were mentioned, such as Lara Fabian, Benjamin Biolay, Diam's, or Madonna, but especially Robbie Williams who had apparently declared at the 2002 NRJ Music Awards that he would like to work with her. Then the name of Moby was suggested because a possible collaboration with Mylène Farmer had been mentioned in the past by Moby himself. In late August, the purchase order and Moby's official website indicated that the name of the song was "Slipping Away (Crier la vie)".
Produced and remixed by MHC in London, this dance version of "Slipping Away" adds French lyrics. On his blog on 9 September 2006, then in the edition of the 16 December 2006 of French newspaper Le Parisien, Moby stated that Farmer came to his restaurant Teany in New York, told him to record a duet version of "Slipping Away", as she liked this song from Moby's last album then, his best of. He explained that she wrote her lyrics in French and they worked together at a distance from each other (New York and Paris).
The song was very regularly aired by all French radio stations, including Fun Radio which aired it several times every day. As the song was very successful, new remixes were made and a second CD maxi and vinyl were released on November 15.
Farmer's 2008 album Point de Suture contains another duet with Moby called "Looking for My Name", which was recorded just after "Slipping Away (Crier la vie)".
Music video
On 15 September 2006, the website Yahoo! presented the video in preview and five days later, it was broadcast for the first time on the French television channels. On 23 September, a TV promo campaign began and the video was aired every hour on the day of the single's release on Europe 2 TV. The video, directed by Hugo Ramirez and available on a track of the CD maxi, is almost the same as that of the original version and is composed of a series of photos representing various events in U.S. during the 20th century, plus some new photos (Moby and Farmer when they were babies). The song's lyrics are written in these images.
Live performances
The song was performed for the first time on the Timeless Tour in 2013, including a virtual duet with Moby.
Chart performance
The single debuted at number one on the French SNEP Singles Chart, on 30 September, with 26,019 units. The single remained for 11 weeks in the top ten, 22 weeks in the top 50 and 37 weeks in the top 100. Thus, it was Moby's first and Farmer's fourth number one in France (after "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces", "Désenchantée", and "XXL"). It was also the single with longest chart trajectory in France for both artists. The song peaked also at number one on French Digital Download Chart and performed well in the various Airplay Charts. On 2006 Annual Charts, the song ranked at number 22 (physical sales) and number 51 (digital download).
The song was heavily aired on radio: it peaked at number two on the French Airplay Chart, number three on the Power 70 Airplay Chart, number two on the television Airplay Chart, and number 29 on the Club Chart.
Formats and track listings
Credits and personnel
The credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single: