Sanctify (song)

"Sanctify" is a song recorded by British synthpop band Years & Years. Written by Olly Alexander and its producer Kid Harpoon, it was released on 7 March 2018 by Polydor Records, as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Palo Santo (2018). It was voted as the 3rd hottest record of the year 2018 as part of Annie Mac's hottest record of the year.^[1]

"Sanctify"
Single by Olly Alexander (Years & Years)
from the album Palo Santo
Released	7 March 2018 (2018-03-07)
Recorded	2017
Genre	Dance dark pop pop R&B
Length	3:09
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Olly Alexander Tom Hull
Producer(s)	Kid Harpoon
Olly Alexander (Years & Years) singles chronology
"Meteorite" (2016) "Sanctify" (2018) "If You're Over Me" (2018)
Music video
"Sanctify" on YouTube

Release and background

The band first teased the song via social media on 16 February 2018, with a cryptic video featuring a grainy footage of their "King" music video as well as ideograms, leading to speculation of an upcoming announcement. They later shared another video featuring a picture of lead singer Olly Alexander that encouraged fans to sign up to their mailing list.^[2] Their website, which was linked in the video captions, also hinted that something was "coming soon".^[3] On 2 March 2018, the band posted a video which revealed the song's title and release details.^[4]

According to Nylon, "Sanctify" was inspired by Alexander's relationship with a straight man, in which "things became chaotic at a certain point". He explained: "There's so much that goes on in an experience like that. On the one hand, the guy is struggling with his sexuality and feeling unable to express himself as anything other than straight while also desiring me. I'm on the other side feeling like both a sinner and saint or a devil and angel, leading this guy down a path of 'sinfulness' while, at the same time, helping him explore his sexuality." The band's older songs "have been about [Alexander] and [his] life", but "Sanctify" was referred to as one of the "more sexually overt songs". Alexander stated that he has "felt more empowered to be even more confessional in [his] writing" and is "not shying away from certain topics anymore". He concluded by saying: "I feel like being gay is a blessing. I wanted that to come through in the song."^[5][6]

Composition

"Sanctify" is a BDSM-referencing dance, dark pop, pop and R&B song,^[7] with early 2000s pop music influences.^[8][9] Alexander told Beats 1: "Then the music side of it, I wanted something that felt like it could be Britney-era 'Slave 4 U' meets Timbaland or Neptunes... that's my favorite kind of stuff to listen to."^[10][11] He added in an interview with Capital: "When we were making it, it just sounded like a really nice blend of my favourite kind of old skool RnB, but also felt kinda fresh, so it felt like the best foot forward."^[12]

Music video

The accompanying music video was directed by Fred Rowson. It was situated in an imaginary future metropolis called Palo Santo, where people are captured and made to dance as a form of entertainment for androids.^[13][14] It began with Alexander being taken to an audition. At first, he is restrained by a cuff around his neck. After it releases, he dances and emotes more freely.^[15] Alexander revealed in a press release: "It's the first part of a bigger jigsaw puzzle and my hope is that it confuses the hell out of people but also excites them in a mysterious and sensual way. We've deliberately hidden lots of different meanings and I want people to come up with their own interpretations, I'm asking people to jump down the rabbit hole with me and let their imagination run free."^[16][17]

Live performances

Olly Alexander performed "Sanctify" on the opening episode of the second series of Sounds Like Friday Night on 6 April 2018 alongside an acoustic performance of "King".^[18] The song was subsequently included as the opening number on the band's Palo Santo Tour and was performed as part of their set on the Pyramid Stage at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival. The song was also featured in the setlist of Alexander's 2022 Night Call Tour in a section of the show which also included "Worship", "Rendezvous" and "Desire".^[19]

Critical reception

Robin Murray of Clash regarded the song as a piece of "potent, poised pop music" which "embraces creativity as a realm for reinvention".^[20] Bianca Gracie of Fuse felt that the song indicates "an unexpected but thrilling sonic direction", writing that it "takes a much sharper turn into dark-pop territory".^[21] Philip Cosores of Uproxx opined that it "sounds decidedly more Justin [Bieber]", despite Alexander's claim of Spears influences, "but either way, the pop bona fides of the track can't be denied".^[22]

Track listing

• Digital download – remixes^[23]

1. "Sanctify" (Remix) (featuring ALMA)  – 3:10
2. "Sanctify" (Bernard Sumner / New Order Remix)  – 4:11
3. "Sanctify" (Vato Gonzalez Remix)  – 4:07
4. "Sanctify" (Gerd Janson Remix / Radio Edit)  – 4:10
5. "Sanctify" (Michael Calfan's Prayer Remix)  – 2:51

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[24]

• Olly Alexander – composition, vocals
• Kid Harpoon – composition, production
• John Davis – master engineering
• Michael Freeman – engineering
• Spike Stent – mixing

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[25]	47
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[26]	3
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27]	77
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[28]	34
Ireland (IRMA)[29]	57
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[30]	5
Scotland (OCC)[31]	16
UK Singles (OCC)[32]	25
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[33]	19

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[34]	Gold	20,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[35]	Gold	10,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. BBC Radio 1 (6 December 2018), 3 - Years & Years – Sanctify | Annie Mac's Hottest Record Of The Year 2018, retrieved 2018-12-14{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. Daly, Rhian (7 March 2018). "Years & Years return with new track 'Sanctify'". NME. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
3. Britton, Luke (23 February 2018). "Are Years & Years set to return with new music?". NME. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
4. Konemann, Liam (5 March 2018). "Years & Years have a new single coming out on Wednesday". Dork. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
5. Manders, Hayden (7 March 2018). "Olly Alexander On Years & Years' New Song And Hooking Up With A Straight Man". Nylon. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
6. Damshenas, Sam (8 March 2018). "Years and Years' new single is about Olly Alexander's relationship with a straight man". Gay Times. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
7. Sources concerning the song's genres:

   • Dance: O'Flynn, Brian (8 March 2018). "Years & Years return from their hiatus with an unapologetic, BDSM-referencing dance track - review". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
   • Dark pop: Gore, Sydney (7 March 2018). "Years & Years Officially Return With New Song "Sanctify"". MTV News. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
   • Pop and R&B: O'Connor, Roisin (5 July 2018). "Years & Years Palo Santo album review: Olly Alexander is a pop icon for this generation". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
8. Crowley, Patrick (7 March 2018). "Years & Years Return With Futuristic Video for 'Sanctify': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
9. O'Neill, Lauren (8 March 2018). "Years & Years Are Back and Very Dystopian with New Track "Sanctify"". Noisey. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
10. Duffy, Nick (9 March 2018). "Olly Alexander: Years & Years single Sanctify is about straight guys who experiment with gay sex". PinkNews. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
11. Dommu, Rose (8 March 2018). "Olly Alexander is a Collared Boy Toy in Years & Years' 'Sanctify' Music Video". Out. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
12. "When Is Years & Years New Album Release Date? Everything We Know About 'Sanctify' & More". Capital FM. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
13. Miller, Jamie (8 March 2018). "Years & Years return with new track 'Sanctify'". DIY. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
14. Wass, Mike (7 March 2018). "Years & Years Explore A Bold New Pop Sound On "Sanctify"". Idoator. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
15. Howard, Lindsay (7 March 2018). "Years & Years Is Free in Video for New Single 'Sanctify'". Variance. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
16. Renshaw, David (8 March 2018). "Years & Years return with new single "Sanctify"". The Fader. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
17. Copsey, Rob (8 March 2018). "Years and Years release new single Sanctify and unveil futuristic music video". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
18. "BBC One - Sounds Like Friday Night, Series 2, Episode 1".
19. "Years & Years Setlist at Brighton Centre, Brighton". setlist.fm.
20. Murray, Robin (8 March 2018). "Years & Years Nail Their Colours To The Mast On 'Sanctify'". Clash. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
21. Gracie, Bianca (7 March 2018). "Years & Years Return With Electric 'Sanctify' Single: Watch The Dystopian-Themed Video". Fuse. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
22. Cosores, Philip (7 March 2018). "Years & Years' 'Sanctify' Video Goes To A Sci-Fi Dystopia And Finds Humanity In Dancing". Uproxx. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
23. "Sanctify (Remixes) by Years & Years". Amazon. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
24. "Sanctify / Years & Years TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
25. "Years & Years – Sanctify" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
26. "Years & Years – Sanctify" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
27. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 11. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
28. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
29. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Years & Years". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
30. "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
32. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
33. "Years Years Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
34. "Brazilian single certifications – Olly Alexander (Years & Years) – Sanctify" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
35. "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 July 2020.