Years & Years team up with MNEK for "Valentino"
Friday 22nd February 2019
Valentino
Release date: TBC Label: Polydor
Years & Years + MNEK have shared a brand-new track just in time for Valentine’s Day – appropriately named ‘Valentino’. You can watch the video for ‘Valentino’ now.
Having been friends for a long time, it feels only natural that Years & Years and MNEK would collide musically for something special. ‘Valentino’ is their magnificent, flamenco-inspired love-child which once again see’s Years & Years and MNEK break new unchartered ground as they duet in perfect harmony about former lovers who have messed each of them around in the past. They wrote the track together last year and fast became a fan-favourite after they played it together on a few of the Years & Years arena tour dates.
On creating ‘Valentino’ together, Olly says – “Uzo and I were inspired to write a song about the many fuck boys who have done us dirty. I’m lucky to have a friend like Uzo - somebody I talk to when I’m upset about a boy and working together was basically an extension of us hanging out. I’ve known Uzo for a while now and I’m just in awe of his talent. I hope the lyrics connect with people regardless of their sexuality - we all know a Valentino! - but I am so proud of this song for how unashamedly gay it is. Two men singing about a boy is still disappointingly uncommon so it makes me very happy to be putting this song out with MNEK.'
MNEK says – “Olly has become a really good friend of mine, so I had the best time not only producing this record but also writing and singing it with him. He invited me to perform the song with him on a few stops of the Years & Years’ tour last year which was amazing. He texted me a few days ago saying, “we need to put Valentino out on Valentine’s Day” so of course I said, “let’s go!”
The accompanying video is also unleashed today. Watch the two friends get over their fuckboi syndrome by going on an Anti-Valentine’s mission to purge the nefarious ‘Valentino’ for good. It was shot in Stockholm- a stop on Years & Years’ EU tour and was directed by Olly, Uzo and Jordan Rossi.
It’s been a magnificent start to 2019 for Years & Years. Their recent single ‘Play’ with Jax Jones went Top 10 in the UK singles chart (watch the video HERE) alongside a nomination for Best British Band at this year’s BRIT Awards, Years & Years are currently bringing their wonderful world of ‘Palo Santo’ to Russia and the Ukraine, before they head to Asia and South America for a further string of live shows.
And thanks to the guys at Polydor, we are so excited to deliver this to you guys as we truly LOVE this so please make sure you push this to the max
Craig & Scott
Posted by Craig Jones