"Porcelain"
Single by Moby
from the album Play
B-side
  • "Flying Over the Dateline"
  • "Summer"
ReleasedApril 25, 2000 (2000-04-25)
StudioMoby's home studio (Manhattan, New York)
GenreDowntempo
Length
  • 4:01 (album version)
  • 3:32 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Moby
Producer(s)Moby
Moby singles chronology
"Natural Blues"
(2000)		 "Porcelain"
(2000)		 "South Side"
(2000)

"Porcelain" is a song by American electronic musician Moby. It was released on April 25, 2000, as the sixth single from his fifth studio album Play (1999). Written by Moby, who also performs vocals on the recording, "Porcelain" is a melancholic song with lyrics reflecting on the breakup of a relationship. It features a lush musical backing that incorporates reversed strings and various synthesized elements. While Moby initially expressed disdain over the song and its production, he was eventually talked into including it on Play.

One of the most successful singles from Play, "Porcelain" became a top five hit in the United Kingdom and entered various other national record charts. Contributing to the song's commercial exposure was its use in several forms of media, including a notable placement in the 2000 film The Beach. Music critics have highlighted "Porcelain" as a standout track on Play, and it has also been included on several year-end and all-time lists of the best songs. Two different music videos were produced for "Porcelain", directed by Jonas Åkerlund and Nick Brandt.

Background and composition

"Porcelain" was written and produced by Moby for his fifth studio album Play (1999).[1] Moby recorded the song, and the rest of Play, in his apartment in Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood.[1] According to him, the song's lyrics were inspired by a personal experience: "I was involved with this really, really wonderful woman, and I loved her very much. But I knew deep in my heart of hearts that we had no business being romantically involved. So, it's sort of about being in love with someone but knowing you shouldn't be with them."[2] Moby initially disliked "Porcelain", finding his production "mushy" and his vocals "really weak".[3] He recalled that he "couldn't imagine anyone else wanting to listen to it" and had to be talked into including the song on Play.[3]

Andy Gensler of The Hollywood Reporter described "Porcelain" as a "lush" downtempo track.[4] The song features vocals performed by Moby,[5] and introspective, wistful lyrics that describe "loving someone, but having to break up with them anyway."[6] Composed in the key of E♭ major and running at a tempo of 96 beats per minute, "Porcelain" follows a constant four-chord progression (Gm−B♭−Fm−A♭) in the B♭ mixolydian mode, with the exception of a bridge midway through the song.[7] The music incorporates several layered elements, including a reversed sample of strings from the Ernest Gold composition "Fight for Survival" (from his soundtrack for the 1960 film Exodus),[8] synthesizer chords, piano and cello lines, vocal samples, and a drum machine rhythm.[1][9] Pilar Basso performs additional vocals on the song.[5]

Release

The sixth single from Play, "Porcelain" was first released to radio on April 25, 2000,[10] then issued as a physical single on June 12, 2000.[11] Like other tracks from the album,[12] "Porcelain" was licensed for use in numerous commercials and films.[13] English director Danny Boyle featured "Porcelain" in his 2000 film The Beach, with Moby later crediting the film with significantly raising exposure of the song.[3] "Porcelain" was also notably featured in commercials for the Volkswagen Polo, Bosch, and France Télécom.[13] Spanish television channel TVE 1 also used Porcelain as its background music for idents from 2001 to 2004.

"Porcelain" became one of the most successful singles from Play, and Moby has since referred to it as "probably the most signature song" on the album.[3] It debuted at its peak position of number five on the UK Singles Chart.[14] The single also charted in numerous other European countries, including France,[15] Germany,[16] Ireland,[17] the Netherlands,[18][19] and Switzerland.[20] In Canada, "Porcelain" peaked at number 50 on the RPM national singles chart,[21] while in the United States, it placed on several genre-specific Billboard charts tracking popular records in dance[22][23] and rock[24][25] markets.

Surprisingly, the song could be heard in Playing by Heart film released in 1998.

Critical reception and legacy

Entertainment Weekly's David Browne deemed "Porcelain" a standout track on Play, praising it as a "gorgeous" song anchored by Moby's "plaintive" vocal performance.[26] Chicago Sun-Times critic Jim DeRogatis found the song "emotional and gripping" and remarked that if it "didn't move you (in every sense of the word), then you probably had no pulse."[27] Alexandra Marshall of MTV described "Porcelain" as "a lush little snippet which sounds like a basement tape from a Magnetic Fields EP."[28] The Birmingham Evening Mail said that the song's "sweeping melody and atmospheric vocals" create a "distinctive soundscape".[29]

Naming it the 26th best single of 2000, Playlouder referred to "Porcelain" as Play's "most crushingly heavenly track" and stated that "familiarity made it no less of a glorious single."[30] It was voted by critics as the 56th best single of 2000 in The Village Voice's year-end Pazz & Jop poll.[31] In 2003, Q listed "Porcelain" as one of the 1,001 best songs of all time.[32] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame featured the track in its exhibit "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll".[33] Liana Jonas of AllMusic referred to "Porcelain" as "a groundbreaking recording", noting that the song's commercial success "helped bring electronica music into the limelight."[1] Moby named his 2016 memoir after the song.[34] Later, "Porcelain" was prominently sampled on rapper ASAP Rocky's 2018 song "ASAP Forever", with Moby being credited as a featured artist on the track.[35] For his 19th studio album Reprise (2021), Moby recorded a new version of "Porcelain" featuring Jim James of My Morning Jacket on vocals,[36] which was released as the first single from the album on March 26, 2021.[37]

Music videos

Two separate music videos were produced for "Porcelain". The first version, directed by Jonas Åkerlund,[38] is primarily a simple closeup of a human eye; various images are reflected onto the eye throughout the entire video, including Moby performing the song, people smiling, and a piano being played. This version only aired in European markets and was not released in the US until its inclusion on the 2001 video album Play: The DVD.[39]

The second video, directed by Nick Brandt,[38][40] follows a driverless 1972 Cadillac DeVille, in which Moby is a passenger, as it travels through a city and a countryside, passing various people in slow motion. The car drives through a field, a forest, past cattle, and finally down a hillside going into the distance.

Track listing

  1. "Porcelain" (single version) – 3:32
  2. "Flying Over the Dateline" – 4:48
  3. "Summer" – 5:55
  • Cassette single (CMute252)[43]
  1. "Porcelain" (single version) – 3:32
  2. "Porcelain" (Torsten Stenzel's Vocaldubmix) – 8:22
  3. "Summer" – 5:55
  • CD single – remixes (LCDMute252)[44]
  1. "Porcelain" (Clubbed to Death version by Rob Dougan) – 6:36
  2. "Porcelain" (Futureshock instrumental) – 8:21
  3. "Porcelain" (Torsten Stenzel's edited remix) – 4:49
  • 12-inch single – remixes (12Mute252)[45]
  1. "Porcelain" (Torsten Stenzel's remix) – 9:05
  2. "Porcelain" (Force Mass Motion remix) – 8:32
  • 12-inch single – remixes (L12Mute252)[46]
  1. "Porcelain" (Futureshock instrumental) – 8:21
  2. "Porcelain" (Futureshock beats) – 3:59
  3. "Porcelain" (Clubbed to Death variation by Rob Dougan) – 6:36
  • 12-inch single (63881-27650-1)[47]
  1. "Porcelain" (Clubbed to Death variation by Rob Dougan) – 6:36
  2. "Porcelain" (album version) – 4:01
  3. "Porcelain" (Futureshock remix) – 8:35
  4. "Porcelain" (Futureshock beats) – 3:59
  • "Honey" / "Porcelain" CD single (MUSH019852)[48]
  1. "Honey" (remix edit; featuring Kelis) – 3:13
  2. "Porcelain" (album mix) – 4:01
  3. "Honey" (Fafu's 12" mix; featuring Kelis) – 6:19
  4. "Porcelain" (Clubbed to Death variation by Rob Dougan) – 6:36
  5. "Honey" (Moby's 118 mix) – 4:48
  • Digital single – remixes (ANJ396D)[49][50]
  1. "Porcelain" (Above & Beyond remix) – 6:41
  2. "Porcelain" (Arty remix) – 3:31
  • Digital single – remix (SHA120S1)[51]
  1. "Porcelain" (Pola & Bryson remix) – 5:27
  • Digital EP – remixes (ROCKD025)[52][53]
  1. "Porcelain" (Timo Maas & James Teej's Broken China dub) – 9:16
  2. "Porcelain" (Sebastian Mullaert's Transformation mix) – 13:27

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Porcelain"
Chart (2000–2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[54]
with "Honey" (remix)		 56
Australia Alternative (ARIA)[55]
with "Honey" (remix)		 4
Australia Dance (ARIA)[56]
with "Honey" (remix)		 25
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[57] 4
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[58] 22
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[59] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] 50[lower-alpha 1]
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[60] 46[lower-alpha 2]
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[61] 24
France (SNEP)[15] 99
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 63
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[62] 14
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 26
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[63] 7
Italy (FIMI)[64] 30
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 30
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 68
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[65] 17
Scotland (OCC)[66] 6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 79
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 5
UK Indie (OCC)[67] 2
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[24] 11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[68] 24
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[25] 18
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[22] 14
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[23] 38

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Porcelain"
Chart (2000) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[69] 187

Certifications

Certifications for "Porcelain"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[70] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Porcelain"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
United States April 25, 2000 Alternative radio Original V2 [10]
May 22, 2000 Hot adult contemporary radio [72]
United Kingdom June 12, 2000 Mute [11]
CD Remixes
June 26, 2000 12-inch
United States August 22, 2000 Original V2 [73]
Australia 2000 CD Original
double A-side with "Honey" (remix)		 Festival Mushroom [48]
New Zealand
France April 30, 2001 CD (enhanced) Original
  • Labels
  • Mute
 [74]
Various August 26, 2016 Digital download Remixes Anjunabeats [49]
April 18, 2017 Shogun [51]
May 26, 2017 Rockets & Ponies [52]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Porcelain" reached number 50 when RPM ceased publication in November 2000.
  2. ↑ "Porcelain" reached number 46 when RPM ceased publication in November 2000.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jonas, Liana. "Porcelain – Moby". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ Pesselnick, Jill (July 22, 2000). "The Modern Age". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 30. New York. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 2, 2009). "'Play' 10 Years Later: Moby's Track by Track Guide to 1999's Global Smash". Rolling Stone. New York. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  4. ↑ Gensler, Andy (December 15, 2014). "Moby on 'Hotel: Ambient,' L.A. Shows, Selling His 'Castle in the Hills'". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Play (liner notes). Moby. Mute Records. 1999. CDStumm172.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ "Moby The Very Best Of Interview". Shakenstir. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  7. ↑ Hall, Richard (1999). "Porcelain". The Little Idiot Music / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. MN0039682. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ Bein, Kat (July 25, 2017). "Moby's 15 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. New York. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  9. ↑ Bush, John. "Play – Moby". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Alternative: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1347. Los Angeles. April 21, 2000. p. 118. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Mute UK Release Schedule: Current". Mute Records. Archived from the original on October 21, 2000. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  12. ↑ Grundy, Gareth (June 15, 2011). "Moby licenses every track on Play. Ker-ching!". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  13. 1 2 Simpson, Dave (May 5, 2000). "Plug and play". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  14. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  15. 1 2 "Moby – Porcelain" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Moby – Porcelain" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Irish-charts.com – Discography Moby". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Moby – Porcelain" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  20. 1 2 "Moby – Porcelain". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  21. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7099." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  22. 1 2 "Moby Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  23. 1 2 "Moby Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  24. 1 2 "Moby Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  25. 1 2 "Moby Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  26. ↑ Browne, David (June 11, 1999). "Play". Entertainment Weekly. New York. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  27. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (December 26, 1999). "Best music off the beaten path: It was a bad year for pop-rock music". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  28. ↑ Marshall, Alexandra (February 23, 2001). "Play". MTV. Archived from the original on February 3, 2002. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Music Power: Singles: Pick Of The Week". Birmingham Evening Mail. June 13, 2000. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Top 50 Singles". Playlouder. p. 6. Archived from the original on April 20, 2001. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  31. ↑ "pazz & jop 2000". The Village Voice. New York. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 23, 2004. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  32. ↑ "1001 Best Songs Ever". Q (special ed.). London. 2003.
  33. ↑ "Experience The Music: One Hit Wonders and The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  34. ↑ Zlatopolsky, Ashley (June 7, 2016). "Moby on New Memoir, the Decade in NYC That Changed His Life". Rolling Stone. New York. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  35. ↑ Renshaw, David (April 5, 2018). "A$AP Rocky samples Moby on new single 'A$AP Forever'". The Fader. New York. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  36. ↑ VanValkenburgh, Anna (March 26, 2021). "Moby Shares New Version of 'Porcelain' With My Morning Jacket's Jim James on Vocals". Spin. New York. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Porcelain – Single". moby-reprise.com. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  38. 1 2 Play: The DVD (liner notes). Moby. Mute Records. 2001. DVDSTUMM172.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  39. ↑ D'Angelo, Joe (June 12, 2001). "Moby Gives Fans The Order: Play The DVD". MTV News. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  40. ↑ Rahman, Rema (November 22, 2008). "Songs I Forgot I Loved: Moby's Porcelain". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  41. ↑ Porcelain (liner notes). Moby. Mute Records. 2000. CDMute252.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ↑ "Porcelain (CD – Mute #252) – Moby". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  43. ↑ Porcelain (liner notes). Moby. Mute Records. 2000. CMute252.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. ↑ Porcelain (Remix) (liner notes). Moby. Mute Records. 2000. LCDMute252.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  45. ↑ Porcelain (Mixes #1) (liner notes). Moby. Mute Records. 2000. 12Mute252.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  46. ↑ Porcelain (Mixes #2) (liner notes). Moby. Mute Records. 2000. L12Mute252.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  47. ↑ Porcelain (liner notes). Moby. V2 Records. 2000. 63881-27650-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  48. 1 2 Honey / Porcelain (liner notes). Moby featuring Kelis / Moby. Festival Mushroom Records. 2000. MUSH019852.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  49. 1 2 "Porcelain (The Remixes) – Single by Moby". United States: Apple Music. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Porcelain (The Remixes)". Beatport. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  51. 1 2 "Porcelain (Pola & Bryson Remix)". Beatport. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  52. 1 2 "Porcelain Remixes – EP by Moby". United States: Apple Music. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Porcelain Remixes". Beatport. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  54. ↑ "Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 1st January 2001" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 566. Sydney. January 1, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Alternative – Week Commencing 1st January 2001" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 566. Sydney. January 1, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Dance – Week Commencing 1st January 2001" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 566. Sydney. January 1, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Moby – Porcelain" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Moby – Porcelain" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  59. ↑ "Moby – Porcelain" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  60. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7217." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 27. London. July 1, 2000. p. 11. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  62. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn". DV (in Icelandic). Reykjavík. October 6, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  63. ↑ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 15 June 2000". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  64. ↑ "Moby – Porcelain". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  65. ↑ "Moby – Porcelain". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  66. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  67. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  68. ↑ "Moby Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  69. ↑ Zywietz, Tobias (September 2001). "The Top 200 Singles of 2000" (PDF). Chartwatch (2000 chart booklet). Ilminster. pp. 41–42. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  70. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Moby – Porcelain" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 9, 2018. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Porcelain" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  71. ↑ "British single certifications – Moby – Porcelain". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  72. ↑ "Hot AC: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1351. Los Angeles. May 19, 2000. p. 87. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  73. ↑ "Porcelain Pt.1". United States: Amazon. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  74. ↑ "Porcelain" (in French). France: Amazon. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
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