Mile High

Album: Assume Form (2019)
Charted: 47
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This dark, atmospheric banger finds James Blake crooning about a romantic relationship. He declares that he's so in love it's like having an imaginary friend.

    The song was released as the second single from Assume Form, an album which is said to be an ode to actress Jameela Jamil, whom Blake began dating back in 2015.
  • The song reunites Blake with Travis Scott. The pair previously collaborated on Scott's Astroworld track "Stop Trying to Be God." The English singer also supplied backing vocals on the Texan rapper's 2016 cut "The Ends."
  • Scott delivers a murky but celebratory hook ("We just be mile high clubbing. I'm on a thousand mile running"), which is followed by Blake's vulnerable crooning ("Don't wanna see you by yourself, by yourself"). Blake told DazedDigital about The Texan native's contribution to their duet.

    "He basically came in and did it in one take. I found it so impressive how much range he has. He'd just released Astroworld, which is like banger after banger, and then he comes and does this really vulnerable, sweet love song."
  • Metro Boomin supplies a signature hypnotic beat. This was the first time that Blake had worked with the trap producer, who also provides production on the album's next song, "Tell Them."
  • The song's music video was directed by Los Angeles-based photographer Nabil, who has also worked with Bruno Mars ("Grenade") and Kanye West ("Paranoid"). The clip starts with Blake and a talkative Scott meeting at the "Mile High Café." As Blake stirs his tea, the pair fall into a swirling vortex inside the cup where they perform the song.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?