Format Digital download Genre Acoustic
folk Label Capitol | Recorded 2016 Length 3:52 | |
Released 29 September 2016 (2016-09-29) | ||
"This Town" is a song recorded by Irish singer Niall Horan, released as his debut single on 29 September 2016 by Capitol Records. An accompanying music video of a live performance was released the same date. The song was written by Horan, Jamie Scott, Mike Needle, Daniel Bryer, Aodhán Dorrian and produced by Greg Kurstin. It is Horan's first solo single, as well as the first solo single released by any of One Direction's remaining members, following the hiatus of the band, which was announced earlier in 2016. Since its release, it has peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Contents
Composition
The song is written in the key of A major with a common time tempo of 112 beats per minute. Horan's vocals span from D3 to E4 in the song. The acoustic track reflects on the things the singer never got to say to a lost lover.
Critical reception
Harriet Gibsone from The Guardian thought Horan’s "This Town" "promotes his guise as an acoustic balladeer," while the video is "reinforcing the authenticity of his future career as a credible artist with skills beyond being adorable." She concluded "The modern music world can be discombobulating for those opposed to gender fluid pop stars or auto-tuned trap." Entertainment Weekly editor Madison Vain wrote "the song shows growth thanks to its nuance in storytelling. He’s burdened by all the things he never got to say—and it sounds believable." Vain also thought "Horan has said he’s mining the sound of some of his biggest influences: Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. But with collaborator Greg Kurstin behind the boards, “This Town” skews more towards the modern, folk-influenced songwriting of Vance Joy and Ed Sheeran." For Raisa Bruner of Time is a "lush, guitar-forward ballad in the vein of the band’s earlier tearjerkers, with hints of Sheeran in the small-town storytelling of the lyrics." For Noisey, Sarah Sahim was critical of the track, noting the song was "nothing special, but its saccharine sweetness gives it all the makings of a decent hit. Niall claims that it was inspired by Bob Dylan and The Lumineers, so that should give you an idea of just how basic it is."
Live performances
Horan gave the first televised performance of "This Town" on The Graham Norton Show on 22 October 2016. On 26 October 2016 he performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Later that day, he appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden to sing the single. On 13 December 2016, he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He also performed the song at the Radio 1 Teen Awards, and the American Music Awards. In December, he made guest appearances across North America as part of iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball Tour.