Talking Body

For the song "Body Talking", see Dr. Hook.

"Talking Body" is a song by Swedish singer and songwriter Tove Lo, released to American contemporary hit radio on 13 January 2015 by Republic Records.^[1] It served as the second single from her debut studio album, Queen of the Clouds (2014). It reached the top 20 in Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"Talking Body"
Single by Tove Lo
from the album Queen of the Clouds
Released	13 January 2015 (2015-01-13)
Recorded	2014
Studio	MXM, Wolf Cousins (Stockholm)
Genre	Electropop dance-pop
Length	3:58
Label	Island Republic
Songwriter(s)	Tove Lo Jakob Jerlström Ludvig Söderberg
Producer(s)	The Struts Shellback
Tove Lo singles chronology
"Not on Drugs" (2014) "Talking Body" (2015) "Come Back to Me" (2015)
Music video
"Talking Body" on YouTube

Composition

"Talking Body" was written by Lo, Jakob Jerlström and Ludvig Söderberg, while its production was handled by The Struts and Shellback. It is an electropop song, with elements of trip hop, synthpop and indie pop. Lyrically, the song is about trying to seduce someone into having sexual relations. The song plays in the key of E minor, at a tempo of 120 beats per minute. It has a chord sequence of Em-D-G-C-D.^[2]

Critical reception

The song was praised for its impudence. Sam Lansky of Time wrote "Lo can be vulgar, as on the lusty 'Talking Body', which sets a scabrous singalong hook against some of Shellback's irresistibly catchy production, but that sexiness is shot through with frustration; she owns her desire, full-throttle."^[3]

Music video and live performances

The music video was premiered on 12 January 2015.^[4]

Since 2015, many of her live performances of the song for a live audience involved "stripping her clothes or flashing the crowd".^[5]

Chart performance

The song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her second top 20 entry after "Habits (Stay High)". Additionally, it peaked at number four on the Mainstream Top 40 charts, which lists the most played songs on pop radio stations. To date, the single has spent 30 weeks on the Hot 100, and has sold two million downloads. It has also peaked at number 14 in Canada. As for Europe, it has peaked at number 16 in Sweden, number 100 in Germany, number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and number eight in Scotland, becoming her third top 20 entry after "Habits (Stay High)" and "Heroes (We Could Be)" with Alesso.

Track listing

• Digital EP – The Remixes^[6][7]

1. "Talking Body" (Gryffin Remix) – 4:29
2. "Talking Body" (KREAM Remix) – 3:39
3. "Talking Body" (WDL Remix) – 3:41
4. "Talking Body" (Panic City Remix) – 4:46
5. "Talking Body" (The Young Professionals Remix) – 3:39

Credits and personnel

• Tove Lo – vocals, background vocals, songwriting
• Ludvig Söderberg – writing
• Jakob Jerlström – writing
• The Struts, Shellback – producer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2015) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 95 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[9] 19 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[10] 25 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 14 Canada AC (Billboard)[12] 30 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 7 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[14] 28 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[15] 52 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[16] 14 Denmark (Tracklisten)[17] 26 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 13 France Airplay (SNEP)[19] 87 Germany (GfK)[20] 100 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 41 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 74 Scotland (OCC)[23] 8 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[24] 49 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[25] 24 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[26] 71 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 17 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 12 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[30] 23 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[31] 8 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[32] 1 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[33] 11 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[34] 4 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[35] 31

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[36] 50 Denmark (Tracklisten)[37] 62 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 48 US Billboard Hot 100[39] 37 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[40] 36 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[41] 5 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[42] 36 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 18

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[44]	3× Platinum	180,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[45]	Platinum	60,000^
Germany (BVMI)[46]	Gold	200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[47]	Gold	25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[49]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[50]	5× Platinum	5,000,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	13 January 2015	Contemporary hit radio	Island Republic	[1]
	23 March 2015	Rhythmic contemporary radio		[51]
United Kingdom	3 May 2015	Digital download (Remixes EP)	Polydor	[52]
United States	26 May 2015		Island	[6]
Canada			Universal	[7]

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 2015 (U.S.)