Fancy (feat. Charli XCX)

“Fancy” is a song by Australian recording artist Iggy Azalea from her debut studio album, The New Classic (2014). It features English singer-songwriter Charli XCX, and was released on February 17, 2014 by Island Records as the fourth single from the album.

In the United States, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming both Azalea’s and Charli XCX’s first number-one on that chart, holding the spot for seven consecutive weeks. “Fancy” also became XCX’s second top-ten single on the US Hot 100 after collaborating with Swedish synthpop duo Icona Pop on their single “I Love It”, which reached #7 in 2013.

“Fancy” is an electro-hop number that was written by Iggy Azalea, Charli XCX, Kurtis McKenzie, and the production team The Invisible Men, who also produced it, alongside The Arcade. The song is played in the key of C minor without any chord progression followed, and Charli XCX’s vocals range from G3 to C5. It is in common time and is played at a tempo of 94 beats per minute. Stabby synths, hip-hop chants, and finger snaps are heard in the original mix. Lyrically, the song is about being “the realest”, “bringing ‘88 back”, and ignoring “haters”, while Charli XCX brings some recklessness, threatening to trash the hotel and raid the minibar.

On 5 December 2013, an unfinished song by Azalea, which surfaced with the title “Leave It” was leaked online. Azalea later revealed the song was produced by The Invisible Men and The Arcade, whom she collaborated with on her entire album. On 5 February 2014, Azalea announced that she would be releasing a new single titled “Fancy”, featuring English singer-songwriter Charli XCX, later that week. The song was premiered on BBC Radio 1 Xtra at 7PM GMT on 6 February 2014. After the song’s premiere, it was revealed “Fancy” was the song that had leaked titled “Leave It”. On 17 February 2014, the song was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United Kingdom as the album’s fourth single.

On 5 April 2014, Anna Kendrick covered the song on the 39th season of Saturday Night Live. On 28 April 2014, late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon lip synched the song in a “Lip Sync Battle” against actress Emma Stone. On 15 May 2014, “Fancy” was the featured song on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s “New Lyrics for Old People” skit, featuring the show creator-host Jimmy Kimmel and Iggy Azalea.

Fancy was covered by Rising Star contestant Egypt Dixon on the second week of the show. “Weird Al” Yankovic parodied the song as “Handy” for his 2014 album Mandatory Fun. Azalea and XCX also appeared on Samsung’s Milk Music app ad performing the single. On July 7, 2014, Jimmy Fallon did his Neil Young impression while covering the track again on The Tonight Show as a earthy 1970s-styled version, backed up by the real Crosby, Stills and Nash.

It peaked at #1 in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.

It also reached #5 in Australia, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, #11 in the Czech Republic (digital sales charts), #12 in Ireland,#14 in Israel, #23 in Sweden, #36 in Denmark, #44 in the Netherlands (digital sales charts), #48 in Slovakia, #49 in Austria, #51 in Germany, #56 in the Wallonia region of Belgium, #59 in the Flanders region of Belgium, #64 in France, and #66 in the Czech Republic.