Meddle (song)

"Meddle"
Promotional single by Little Boots
from the EP Arecibo
Written2008
Released4 August 2008 (2008-08-04)
GenreElectropop
Length3:16
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Joe Goddard
  • Greg Kurstin
Little Boots singles chronology
"Stuck on Repeat"
(2008)		 "Meddle"
(2008)		 "New in Town"
(2009)

"Meddle" is a song by English singer and songwriter Little Boots from her debut extended play (EP), Arecibo (2008), and later appearing on her debut studio album, Hands (2009). It is the second single written by Little Boots and Joe Goddard, and was released as a limited-edition promotional single in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2008.[1] The song focuses on a woman who has been hurt by a previous relationship and warns another individual not to interfere with her emotional or psychological state, focusing on the tension between attraction and emotional danger and the idea of meddling with someone's “heart” and “mind”.[2]

"Meddle" was met with positive reviews upon release, with praise towards its writing, Little Boots' vocals, and haunting aesthetic. The song peaked on the UK Singles Top 100's chart during the week of 17 January 2009.[3] The song resurged and met a new audience with the release of the Xbox 360 game, Dance Central 2 (2011).

Background and composition

Much like "Stuck on Repeat", "Meddle" was originally written in secret by Little Boots while still with her former band, Dead Disco.[4]

Meddle was recorded in a closed space, with a stylophone, keyboards, and synthesizers.[5]

Live performances

Little Boots performing with her Tenori-on (right), an instrument she regularly uses. It was the primary instrument used during the recording process of "Meddle"

The song has been performed live numerous times by Little Boots. On 7 November 2008, "Meddle" was performed live on the Later… with Jools Holland show,[6] which Hesketh described as a nervous experience. Later that month, Little Boots formed "Meddle" live at Club NME showcase at Annex during CMJ, promoting her new EP, Arecibo.[7] Performing other songs from the upcoming release, the show resulted in multiple technical difficulties.[7][8]

The song was also performed live at the NME Radio Studio in London on 23 February 2009.[9] The song later aired on 26 February, a few days after the original recording.[9] On 25 March 2009, Little Boots exclusively performed "Meddle" live at the FADER Fort in Austin, Texas with her Tenori-on and stylophone.[10] On 26 June, she performed "Meddle" and other songs off her debut album, Hands, at the John Peel Stage in Glastonbury.[11] In September of that same year, the song was performed with a live band in Toronto, Canada, alongside other songs from Hands.[12]

Critical reception

"Meddle" garnered acclaim from music critics, with praise towards the song's originality, instrumentals, lyrics, and overall composition. In a review for musicOMH, John Murphy called the song a "squealy electro goodness" that had "a terrific bit near the end where the backing vocals seem to turn into Gregorian chants before kicking back into the disco beat."[13] Neil Queen of The Times described it as a "barnstormer" that comes "across like a brain-stabbing disco/drum and bass hybrid."[14] Stephen Ackroyd for DYI praised the song's instrumentals, comparing the track to Gwen Stafani's work.[15] Ian Wade for BBC cited the song, alongside "Stuck on Repeat", as the best moment of Hands.[16] Alex Young for Consequence of Sound called the song "irresistible" and it's addictiveness, praising the track's "crunch bass line, [the] unearthly electronics in the background and [the] eerie choir of men during the bridge".[17] In addition, Miranda Sawyer for The Guardian praised the songwriting and instrumentals, applauding the song's jingles, crisp handclaps, and the "warm, whip-smart, machine-driven" synth composition.[18]

Lauren Down for The Line of Best Fit was slightly more critical of the track and the album Hands as a whole. While she praised "Meddle" as a catchy and upbeat track, Down minimally criticized the track for becoming "tiresome" after multiple listens.[19]

Legacy

In 2009, "Meddle" was featured in an advertisement for Victoria's Secret.[20]

"Meddle" was featured in the 2011 Kinect game, Dance Central 2.[21] The song also makes appearances in the British Comedy Show Friday Night Dinner as a transitional jingle.

Track listings

  • UK promotional CD single[22]

(4Bones; released 4 August 2008)

  1. "Meddle" – 3:16
  • UK limited-edition promotional 7" single[23]

(4Bones; released 4 August 2008)

A. "Meddle" – 3:16
B. "Meddle" (Toddla T & Ross Orton Remix) – 3:23
  • Danish promotional CD single – remixes[24]

(Atlantic Records; released 2009)

  1. "Meddle" – 3:15
  2. "Meddle" (Treasure Fingers Remix) – 5:41
  3. "Meddle" (Toddla T and Ross Orton Remix) – 3:28
  4. "Meddle" (Tenorion Piano Version) – 3:12
Other versions

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts)[28]97

References

  1. ↑ "Little Boots – Hands / Releases". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Dollars To Pounds: Fill Your Boots". The FADER. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  3. ↑ "MEDDLE by Little Boots". Official Charts. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Freeload: Little Boots' Computer Fairyland Mix + Gen F". The FADER. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  5. ↑ Lester, Paul (2008-11-24). "Synths, glitter and a cosmic disco vibe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-14.
  6. ↑ synthhead (2008-11-12). "Little Boots Performs Meddle Live". Synthtopia. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  7. 1 2 NME (2008-11-06). "Little Boots' debut EP to be released in the US". NME. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  8. ↑ Lester, Paul (2008-11-24). "Synths, glitter and a cosmic disco vibe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  9. 1 2 NME (2009-03-10). "JD Set Tour 2". NME. Retrieved 2026-08-14.
  10. ↑ "FADER TV: Little Boots, "Meddle" (Live at the Levi's®/FADER Fort)". The FADER. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  11. ↑ Martin, Daniel (2009-06-26). "Little Boots watched by her mum at Glastonbury show". NME. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  12. ↑ ".: chromewaves.net v7.5 » Blog Archive » Little Boots and Yes Giantess at Wrongbar in Toronto". Retrieved 2026-08-14.
  13. ↑ Murphy, John. "Little Boots – Meddle (50 Bones)". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  14. ↑ Queen, Neil (1 July 2008). "Track of the Day: Meddle by Little Boots". The Times. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  15. ↑ July 2024, Reviewer: Stephen Ackroyd Released: 20th (2008-07-31). "Little Boots - Meddle". DIY. Retrieved 2026-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Wade, Ian. "BBC - Music - Review of Little Boots - Hands". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
  17. ↑ Young, Alex (11 June 2009). "Album Review: Little Boots -- Hands". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Sawyer, Miranda (2009-06-06). "Victoria's secret? She's a truly great songwriter". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  19. ↑ "Little Boots – Hands". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  20. ↑ McLean, Craig (30 May 2009). "Little Boots was made for stardom". The Times. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  21. ↑ North, Dale (2011-10-18). "Dance Central 2: Demo today, song list announced". Destructoid. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  22. ↑ "Meddle" (UK promotional CD single). Little Boots. 50 Bones. 2008. 4Bones.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ "Meddle" (UK limited-edition promotional 7" single). Little Boots. 50 Bones. 2008. 4Bones.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ↑ "Meddle" (Danish promotional CD single – remixes). Little Boots. Atlantic Records. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ↑ "Freeload: Little Boots, "Meddle" (Baron von Luxxury Remix)". The Fader. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  26. ↑ "Release #356: Arecibo". Iamsound Records. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  27. ↑ "Stuck on Repeat" (UK promotional CD single #5). Little Boots. 679 Recordings. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ↑ "Search results for "Little Boots" | Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
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