The Golden Age (Woodkid album)

The Golden Age is the debut studio album from French singer-songwriter and director Woodkid. It was released on 18 March 2013 through independent label, Green United Music. Lemoine released the official album cover through a video he created himself on 14 December 2012^[2] and released the album's corresponding track listing one week later on 21 December 2012 on his official Facebook page.

The Golden Age
Studio album by Woodkid
Released	18 March 2013
Recorded	2010–2012
Genre	Orchestral pop[1] chamber pop neofolk classical
Length	48:34
Label	Green United Music
Woodkid chronology
Run Boy Run (EP) (2012) The Golden Age (2013) S16 (2020)
Singles from The Golden Age
"Iron" Released: 28 March 2011 "Run Boy Run" Released: 21 May 2012 "I Love You" Released: 9 February 2013

During an interview with NBHAP, Lemoine indicated that The Golden Age was inspired by his childhood, which he considered his "Golden Age".^[3]

Singles

Three songs appearing in the album have been released as singles:

• "Iron" – Released on 28 March 2011
• "Run Boy Run" – Released on 21 May 2012
• "I Love You" – Released in February 2013 to coincide with official release of the album

"Run Boy Run" was used in several O₂ adverts (those voiced by Sean Bean).^[4][5]

The music video for Woodkid track "Run Boy Run" was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video at the 2013 Grammy Awards. It was directed by Yoann Lemoine (Woodkid) himself.^[6]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	66/100[7]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
The Guardian	[1]
PopMatters	5/10[9]

On Metacritic, the album has a score of 66 out of 100, based on 9 reviews.^[7]

Logan Smithson of PopMatters states "There can be no doubt against the fact that The Golden Age feels powerful. Whether it’s more of a thoughtless Michael Bay thriller or a deep adventure with the intricacies of Christopher Nolan, there are definitely explosions galore and production values that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There aren’t many albums that sound like Woodkid’s The Golden Age. If you’re in the mood for something bold, with loud production and poetic lyrics, The Golden Age might be worth hearing. It just might not be an experience that sticks with you in the long run."^[9]

Heather Phares of AllMusic said that while "it's beyond cliche to call sweeping, orchestral music "filmic," but in the case of music video director Yoann Lemoine's debut album as Woodkid, The Golden Age, the term fits." He also stated that "Lemoine's music is more in line with Antony & the Johnsons -- lavish, often torchy songs that pair dramatic backdrops with his charmingly imperfect vocals", and, despite the fact that it is an "at times exhausting album, The Golden Age shows Lemoine is skilled at making music as well as music videos."^[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Golden Age"	Yoann Lemoine, Dany Héricourt	3:44
2.	"Run Boy Run"	Lemoine, Ambroise Willaume	3:33
3.	"The Great Escape"	Lemoine, Héricourt, Guillaume Brière	3:17
4.	"Boat Song"	Lemoine, Mitchell Yoshida	4:28
5.	"I Love You"	Lemoine, Willaume, arranged by Ambroise Willaume	3:51
6.	"The Shore"	Lemoine	4:14
7.	"Ghost Lights"	Lemoine, arranged by Ambroise Willaume	3:41
8.	"Shadows"	Lemoine	2:02
9.	"Stabat Mater"	Lemoine, Héricourt, SebastiAn, arranged by SebastiAn	2:49
10.	"Conquest of Spaces"	Lemoine, Héricourt	4:30
11.	"Falling"	Lemoine	0:44
12.	"Where I Live"	Lemoine	4:26
13.	"Iron"	Lemoine, arranged by Gustave Rudman	3:23
14.	"The Other Side"	Lemoine, Héricourt, arranged by Ambroise Willaume	3:41

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2013) Peak position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[10] 13 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 34 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[12] 6 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[13] 23 French Albums (SNEP)[14] 2 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] 8 Irish Albums (IRMA)[16] 74 Italian Albums (FIMI)[17] 55 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 4 UK Albums (OCC)[19] 38 US Billboard 200[20] 133 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[21] 38

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 74 French Albums (SNEP)[23] 45 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 72 Chart (2014) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 165 French Albums (SNEP)[26] 139

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[27]	Gold	100,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[28]	Gold	10,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.