"Picking Up the Pieces" | ||||||||
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Single by Paloma Faith | ||||||||
from the album Fall to Grace | ||||||||
Released | 18 May 2012 | |||||||
Format | Digital download | |||||||
Recorded | 2011 | |||||||
Genre | ||||||||
Length |
4:04 (album version) 3:34 (radio edit) |
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Label | RCA Records | |||||||
Writer(s) | ||||||||
Producer(s) | Nellee Hooper | |||||||
Paloma Faith singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Picking Up the Pieces" is a song by English recording artist Paloma Faith from her second studio album Fall to Grace. Produced by Nellee Hooper and written by Faith, Wayne Hector and Tim Powell, it was released as the album's first single on 18 May 2012. Faith revealed "Picking Up the Pieces" was inspired by the issues and insecurity of dating someone who is recovering from a previous relationship. The artwork for the single was revealed on 5 April 2012.
"Picking Up the Pieces" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 7, making it Faith's first Top 10 single and her highest charting single in the UK until "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" (2014) debuted at number 6. Critical reception of the song has been positive. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Emil Nava and it was released on 12 April 2012. The video features Faith portraying a woman who is in "a tempestuous relationship" with her boyfriend. As the video progresses it shows Faith's relationship with her boyfriend crumbling and she becomes wax-like and melts.
In March 2010, Faith revealed that she was working on a second album. During an interview with a Popjustice reporter, she explained the album would contain more "agony and suffering." Faith enlisted record producer Nellee Hooper to work with her on the project. Hooper told a writer for NME that he had not really heard of Faith as he was living in Los Angeles when her first album was released. He said Sony and RCA Records contacted him and suggested he meet Faith. Faith wrote and recorded Fall To Grace in London. On 29 February 2012, it was announced "Picking Up the Pieces" would serve as the first single from the album. Faith described the song as being about "...the issues of being in a relationship with someone who is still recovering from a previous relationship with another person. It is a song about self-doubt and insecurity." She added that she was excited to introduce her new sound to the world. Co-written by Faith, Wayne Hector and Tim Powell, "Picking Up the Pieces" was released in the UK by RCA Records on 20 May 2012. The cover art for the single was released exclusively on the Digital Spy website on 5 April. The cover shows Faith dressed in a couture, full-length Dolce & Gabbana dress, wrapped up in a faux fur stole by seamstress Wendy Benstead. The image is completely un-retouched.