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A music video directed by the team Terri Timely was produced for "Actor Out of Work", where St. Vincent holds auditions for a series of actors, each of whom attempts their best performative crying breakdown. St. Vincent commented on the reaction to the video, "A lot of people got confused and thought
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stated, "Her acerbic lyrics and skewed production—the kind that wouldn't sound out of place at the mixing board of a beardy noise-rocker—belie a crystalline voice and a face that could land any actor work. Tough love never sounded sweeter, and 'Actor Out of Work' is no exception."
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Released as a single, "Actor Out of Work" was accompanied by a music video featuring actors crying at an audition run by St. Vincent. The song saw positive reviews from music writers upon its release and has since attracted praise as a highlight of
262:." St. Vincent recalled, "I wrote 'Actor Out of Work' at my mom's house in my childhood bedroom. I felt like a fraud. I felt like people were frauds. I wanted to be hit. I wanted to hit."
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listed it as the 52nd best song of 2009, noting, "Annie Clark gave herself exactly 135 seconds for this audition, and makes the most of them." Additionally,
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commented, "The song features some nice backup vocals, driving drums, and has a nice hummable melody. ... Check it out."
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described it as "forceful" and noted, "The song's brisk dance between hot and cold is dazzling."
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I was so mean that I made people cry, which was not what I intended... but I sort of like it."
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299:"Actor Out of Work" saw a positive critical reception upon its release as a single.
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671:"Friendly, and Just a Bit Creepy: St. Vincent Defies Categories (Published 2009)"
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in April 2009. The B-side of the single was "Bicycle". The single did not chart.
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219:. Written in one night as a reaction to her producer's comments on the rest of
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The video also brought St. Vincent to the attention to future collaborator
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wrote "Actor Out of Work" in one night at the request of her producer
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all included the song on their lists of the best St. Vincent songs.
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246:, who was frustrated with how the rest of the material for the
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283:"Actor Out of Work" was chosen as the lead single for the
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noted how the song evoked the "tumultuous marriage of
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265:The song's studio arrangement took influence from
464:"St. Vincent – Chart History: Alternative Songs"
354:The song has also appeared in several rankings.
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414:"St. Vincent Reflects on Ten Years of "Actor""
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645:"New St. Vincent Video – "Actor Out of Work""
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1065:Song recordings produced by John Congleton
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830:Nina Kraviz Presents Masseduction Rewired
231:and as one of St. Vincent's best songs.
215:, the second album by American musician
1060:Songs written by St. Vincent (musician)
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514:"New! St. Vincent - Actor Out of Work"
252:album "sounded like outtakes from the
539:"The Top 100 Tracks of 2009 - Page 5"
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489:"St. Vincent: "Actor Out of Work""
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643:Stosuy, Brandon (10 April 2009).
618:"The 10 Best St. Vincent Songs"
593:"The 20 Best St. Vincent Songs"
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566:Allen, Jeremy (1 July 2015).
1055:St. Vincent (musician) songs
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568:"St Vincent: 10 of the best"
209:" is the first single from
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16:2009 single by St. Vincent
994:I Am a Lot Like You! Tour
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287:album, being released by
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72:April 20, 2009
272:Here Come the Warm Jets
179:"Jesus Saves, I Spend"
989:Fear the Future Tour
984:Love This Giant Tour
955:Pay Your Way in Pain
866:Ratsliveonnoevilstar
439:"St. Vincent: Actor"
22:"Actor Out of Work"
890:(with David Byrne)
805:All Born Screaming
295:Critical reception
170:singles chronology
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934:Under Neon Lights
906:Actor Out of Work
840:Soundtrack albums
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315:In reviews for
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678:. Retrieved
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572:The Guardian
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473:December 19,
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1050:4AD singles
948:Los Ageless
880:4AD Session
784:St. Vincent
777:David Byrne
734:Discography
723:St. Vincent
390:David Byrne
380:Music video
240:St. Vincent
217:St. Vincent
168:St. Vincent
158:Annie Clark
144:Producer(s)
136:Annie Clark
41:St. Vincent
1040:2009 songs
1034:Categories
979:Actor Tour
962:Broken Man
396:References
347:and early
235:Background
92:Indie rock
76:2009-04-20
649:Stereogum
622:Stereogum
543:Pitchfork
493:Pitchfork
468:Billboard
443:Pitchfork
373:Stereogum
356:Pitchfork
302:Pitchfork
267:Brian Eno
255:Lion King
193:"Marrow"
64:"Bicycle"
941:New York
751:Marry Me
335:new wave
321:AllMusic
260:Broadway
69:Released
898:Singles
680:29 July
654:29 July
628:29 July
602:29 July
577:29 July
548:29 July
523:29 July
518:Complex
498:29 July
448:29 July
423:29 July
309:Complex
279:Release
195:(2009)
190:(2009)
181:(2007)
74: (
775:(with
370:, and
100:Length
59:B-side
37:Single
1003:Films
972:Tours
758:Actor
418:FLOOD
345:Bowie
343:-era
317:Actor
285:Actor
249:Actor
229:Actor
221:Actor
212:Actor
117:Label
85:Genre
50:Actor
682:2023
656:2023
630:2023
604:2023
579:2023
550:2023
525:2023
500:2023
475:2017
450:2023
425:2023
333:and
331:prog
858:EPs
351:."
289:4AD
269:'s
258:on
122:4AD
39:by
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