Conqueror (Aurora song)

"Conqueror" is the eighth single released by Aurora and the fifth single from All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend. It was written by Aurora, Geir Luedy, Odd Martin Skålnes and Magnus Skylstad and produced by Skålnes, Skylstad and Jeremy Wheatley. On January 15, 2016 the song was officially released worldwide.

"Conqueror"
Single by Aurora
from the album All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend
Released15 February 2016 (2016-02-15)
Recorded2015
Genre
Length3:27
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Odd Martin Skålnes
  • Magnus Skylstad
  • Jeremy Wheatley
Aurora singles chronology
"Half the World Away"
(2015)
"Conqueror"
(2016)
"I Went Too Far"
(2016)
Music video
"Conqueror" on YouTube

Background and composition

edit

"Conqueror" is a Scandipop,[1] synth-pop,[2] and electropop song[3] with "clattering drum beats building towards a euphoric chorus".[4] Aurora wrote this song in 2013 with some of her band members.

She said: "This song is a rather strange one. It's an important contrast to all the other songs on my album - it's actually a bit happy! I wrote it with some of my band members during 2013 once. It was just for fun, we didn't even know if anything good would come out it!"[5]

"'Conqueror' is about a world [that] is kind of falling apart around you, and you're looking for a conqueror to save you. But you're looking for the conqueror in someone else, which I think is [something] you should not do. You should find the conqueror in yourself first, and be your own hero. If you stand strong, then you will stand for a bit longer."[6]

In the documentary Once Aurora, she expressed her dislike for the song due to its overly pop leanings.[7][8] However, in a 2021 interview with NME, she stated, "I like the song more now, but haven't played it live for five years. I stopped after 2016 and said, 'I'm never going to play this again – ever!'" She then said, "When I start touring again, I will start playing it again – because it is very fun. I just needed a five-year break from the song."[8]

Music video

edit

A music video for the song was released on February 16, 2016. It was directed by Kenny McCracken.

Charts

edit
Chart performance for "Conqueror"
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[9] 49
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[10] 47
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] 32

References

edit
  1. ^ Elmahdi, Adam (21 September 2015). "Aurora leads a joyous celebration of melancholy in East London". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend". MusicOMH. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  3. ^ i-D staff (15 January 2016). "premiere: aurora, 'conqueror'". i-D. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (19 January 2016). "Aurora's brilliant new single is the best thing you'll hear today". Gigwise. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Aurora Track by Track". www.thefourohfive.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.
  6. ^ "INTERVIEW: AURORA On Her Song 'Conqueror' & Upcoming Album | iHeartRadio". 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
  7. ^ En Gang Aurora [Once Aurora] (Motion picture). 2018.
  8. ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (7 July 2021). "AURORA talks new single 'Cure For Me': "Why is it so difficult to let others be themselves?"". NME. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Aurora Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  10. ^ "AURORA Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Aurora Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2022.