Crystal Ball

Crystal Ball
EP artwork
General Information
Title	Crystal Ball
Released	18 Apr 2011
Album	Darkbloom
Type	Album only
Length	3:16
Key + BPM	A Minor • 133
Format	CD • Vinyl • Digital Download • Streaming
Credits
Artist	Grimes
Writer(s)	Grimes
Producer(s)	Grimes
Label	Arbutus Records
Darkbloom Tracklist
Vanessa
Crystal Ball
Urban Twilight

Crystal Ball is a song by Grimes. It is the third track on her split EP with d'Eon, Darkbloom.

Background

A demo version was released in October 2010. This version features the breakdown in the second verse as heard in the live performances of the song. The final version was made available on April 11, 2011.

The song was played on KCRW on March 12, before the final version of the song was released meaning the radio station may have played the demo.

On August 13, 2011, Grimes posted a sped up version of the song to her blog d r o m e, with the caption:

❝ my friend Tim sped this up, but it might be better this way ❞

Media

Video	Credits
	Title	Crystal Ball
	Premiere	09 May 2011
	Length	3:20
	Location	Canada
	Featuring	Grimes, d'Eon
	Director	Tim Kelly
	Producer	Marilis Cardinal
	DP	John Londono
	Notes	This is a reupload.

Additional Credits

• Costume Design: Renata Morales
• Prop Design: Ted Stafford

Behind the Scenes

Background

A music video was released for the song, however the video was later taken down as she was unhappy with the end result, calling it a "fricking mess". In a blog called "Crystal Ball Music Video: a photo-essay" on Blogspot, Grimes said:

❝ So I thought it's about time I wrote a post about the crystal ball video shoot. Everyone involved was amazing and did way more work than was expected of them. D'eon fell through ice into a freezing river and almost died, and at the end we accidently made napalm and had to flee as firetrucks arrived to save the day! The director of photography was the amazing John Londono, and the director was a crazed foreigner named Tim Kelly. [..] But despite hardship, the end results were incredible.

We also shot everything in double time so it could all be in slow motion in the final version, which resulted in me listening to this sped up techno version of the song about 500 times: CRYSTAL BALL 160% by grimes69

SPECIAL THANKS TO : MARILIS CARDINAL, TIM KELLY, JOHN LONDONO, RENATA MORALES (who did the crazy costume), JASPAR BAYDALA, SEB COWAN, THEA GOVORCHIN, CAROLINE DUTKA, CHRIS D'EON, CYNTHIA-CHRISTINA CEE, TED STAFFORD, and if anyone knows the name of the fourth slave, the male model - I would love to know so I can credit him here.. ❞

Lyrics

[Intro]
Ah, Mother
I reach for you in the dark
Ah, Mother
I reach for the dark
Ah, ah

[Interlude]
All alone and I can't decide
And I can't decide on him
All alone and I can't seem to
Can't seem to, oh, begin

[Refrain]
Holding on (I won't)
And I got my mind (I can't)
And I got my heart (I know)
And I'm in a bind
Holding on (I won't)
And I can't decide (I can't)
On him (I know)
I won't, I can't
I know, I'll let you go!
I won't, I can't
I know, I'll let you go!
I'll let you go!

[Verse]
I go, and I know, and I wait for you
Hold on, and go on, 'cause I'll wait for you
Faster, faster, the leaves will fall
The sky will grey and my skin will dull
Hold on, and go on, 'cause I'll wait for you

[Interlude]
All alone and I can't decide
And I can't decide on him
All alone and I can't seem to
Can't seem to, oh, begin

[Refrain]
Holding on (I won't)
And I can't decide (I can't)
I can't decide on him (I know, I'll let you go!)
Holding on (I won't)
And I can't (I can't)
Seem to, can't seem to, oh, begin
(I know, I let you go!)

[Outro]
Can't seem to begin
Can't seem to begin
(I let you go!)
Can't seem to begin
Can't seem to begin
(I let you go!)