Fiction

Album: Coexist (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds singer-bassist Oliver Sim broodingly lamenting, "Why do I refuse you?" Unusually for The xx it finds Sim singing on his own without singer-guitarist Romy Madley Croft. DJ-producer Jamie Smith told Spin magazine it is, "a song Ollie started. We wanted it to show his strength, especially as his voice and ability to write has gotten so much stronger."

    Madley Croft added: "['Fiction'] is something that I loved and I thought very much that it didn't need me on the song. I really feel that it's [Oliver's] moment to shine."
  • The song's music video was directed by Young Replicant and shot in Palm Springs, Florida during The xx's early 2013 tour across North America. The clip features Sim performing the track while wandering about and dancing outdoors under a full moon. His bandmates had decided very early on that the bassist would be the star of the clip. "We love to be really involved in our videos, and the idea came out of a conversation," Madley Croft explained to MTV News. "I really wanted it to be all about Oliver, really, as it should be; that's his song on the album, 'Angels' is my song, so it should be about him ... The idea of him performing a bit more was a big focus."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.