Sweet Talker (song)

"Sweet Talker" is a song by English singer Olly Alexander, who performs under his solo project Years & Years, and Swedish electronic music duo Galantis. The song was released on 24 November 2021 as the third and final single from the former's third studio album Night Call (2022). The song was written by Alexander, Max Wolfgang, Max Ralph, and Christian Karlsson, while being produced by the latter two. Lyrically, the song finds Alexander searching for a "love-em-and-leave-em dreamboat he's not ready to forget, as lush disco flourishes coat his sensual, aching croon".^[2] Commercially, the song debuted at 94 on the UK Singles Chart, later peaking at 26, becoming the highest-charting single from Night Call.^[3]

This article is about the Years & Years and Galantis song. For other songs, see Sweet Talker.

"Sweet Talker"
Single by Years & Years and Galantis
from the album Night Call
Released	24 November 2021 (2021-11-24)
Genre	Dance-pop disco house[1]
Length	2:56
Label	Polydor Universal Music
Songwriter(s)	Olly Alexander Max Wolfgang Mark Ralph Christian Karlsson
Producer(s)	Mark Ralph Bloodshy
Years & Years singles chronology
"A Second to Midnight" (2021) "Sweet Talker" (2021) "Hallucination" (2022)
Galantis singles chronology
"Tears for Later" (2021) "Sweet Talker" (2021) "Alien" (2021)
Music video
"Sweet Talker" on YouTube

Music video

A music video for "Sweet Talker" premiered on YouTube on 10 December 2021, and was directed by Sophia Ray. Inspired by films Labyrinth (1986) and Gretel and Hansel (2020), the video shows Olly Alexander trapped in a magical castle by a mysterious and "sexy" beast. The video's concept is a take on the Greek mythical tale King Midas, with Alexander finding a magic sword in his escape through the castle that "turns anyone he slays into candy".^[4]

Live performances

"Sweet Talker" was first performed at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball on 12 December 2021.^{[5][better source needed]} It was also performed on BBC's 'The Big New Years & Years Eve Special' on 31 December 2021.^{[6][better source needed]} It was performed on Alexander's Night Call Tour as the second song of the show.^[7]

Track listings

Digital download and streaming – original^[8]

1. "Sweet Talker" – 2:56

Digital download and streaming – acoustic^[9]

1. "Sweet Talker" (acoustic) – 3:01
2. "Sweet Talker" – 2:56

Digital download and streaming – Navos remix^[10]

1. "Sweet Talker" (Navos Remix) – 2:39
2. "Sweet Talker" – 2:56

Charts

Chart performance for "Sweet Talker"

Chart (2021–2022)	Peak position
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11]	18
Ireland (IRMA)[12]	29
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13]	33
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[14]	33
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[15]	2
UK Singles (OCC)[16]	26
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[17]	21

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "Sweet Talker"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	24 November 2021	Digital download streaming	Polydor Universal	[19]
Italy	24 December 2021	Contemporary hit radio	Universal	[20]

References

1. "Years & Years, Galantis join forces on melodic house anthem, 'Sweet Talk'". Dancing Astronaut. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
2. Lynch, Joe (29 November 2021). "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Mura Masa, Allie X & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
3. "We Don't Talk About Bruno claims fourth week at Number 1". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
4. "Watch Years & Years' fantasy-themed new video for 'Sweet Talker'". NME. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
5. "Years & Years - Sweet Talker (Live at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2021) | Capital". Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via YouTube.
6. "@Years & Years perform 'Sweet Talker' 🎉 BBC". Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via YouTube.
7. "Years & Years Setlist at Brighton Centre, Brighton". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
8. "Sweet Talker". Spotify. 24 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
9. "Sweet Talker (Acoustic)". Spotify. 24 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
10. "Sweet Talker (Navos Remix)". Spotify. 7 January 2022. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
11. "Years & Years Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
12. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
13. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
14. "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 21/03/2022" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 21 March 2024. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
15. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 48". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
17. "Years Years Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
18. "British single certifications – Years & Years/Galantis – Sweet Talker". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
19. "Sweet Talker - Single by Years & Years & Galantis". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via Apple Music.
20. "Years & Years feat. Galantis "Sweet Talker" | (Radio Date: 24/12/2021)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.