View source for Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap song)

{{Short description|2005 single by Imogen Heap}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Hide and Seek
| cover      = Imogenhideseek.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Imogen Heap]]
| album      = [[Speak for Yourself]]
| B-side     = Cumulus
| released   = 19 May 2005
| recorded   = 2004
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = <!--Only use sourced genres-->
* [[A cappella]]
* [[folktronica]]
| length     =
* 4:29 (album version)
* 3:01 (radio edit)
| label      = Megaphonic
| writer     = Imogen Heap
| producer   = Imogen Heap
| prev_title = [[Aeroplane (Imogen Heap song)|Aeroplane]]
| prev_year  = 2002
| next_title = [[Goodnight and Go]]
| next_year  = 2006
| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|UYIAfiVGluk|"Hide and Seek"}}}}
}}

"'''Hide and Seek'''" is a song recorded by English singer [[Imogen Heap]] and released on 19 May 2005 as the first single from her second album ''[[Speak for Yourself]]''. Written and produced by Heap, the [[a cappella]] [[folktronica]] [[ballad]] heavily uses the [[Pitch shift#Pitch shifter and harmonizer|harmonizer]] and describes painfully losing someone due to a breakup or a divorce.

"Hide and Seek" first gained popularity after appearing in a scene in the final episode of the second season of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television series ''[[The O.C.]]'' and in [[SNL Digital Short#The Shooting|''The Shooting'']], a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' parody of the scene. It gained renewed popularity after being featured in an episode of the [[Hulu]] television series ''[[Normal People (TV series)|Normal People]]'' in 2020. The song's bridge was notably [[Sampling (music)|sampled]] in American singer [[Jason Derulo]]'s 2009 debut single "[[Whatcha Say]]" – which she also helped write – the song eventually topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart. "Hide and Seek" went on to sell over 647,000 copies in the United States, earning it a [[RIAA certification|gold certification]] from the [[RIAA]]. It was also a critical success, and has been cited by several critics as Heap's best song.

Heap performed "Hide and Seek" during the 2017 benefit concert [[One Love Manchester]] and during her 2019 performance on [[NPR]]'s ''[[Tiny Desk Concerts]]'' series. The song also appeared on NPR's 2018 list of The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+.

==Background and composition==
"Hide and Seek" was recorded during a late-night studio session, where Heap decided to record her voice using the "[[vocoder]]" setting on a DigiTech Vocalist Workstation [[harmonizer]] after her computer lost power.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hodgson |first1=Jay |title=A field guide to equalisation and dynamics processing on rock and electronica records |journal=Popular Music |date=May 2010 |volume=29 |issue=2 |page=292 |url=http://jstor.org/stable/40926923 |access-date=1 December 2020 |publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/S0261143010000085 |jstor=40926923 |s2cid=162193029 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Powers">{{Cite web|url=http://emusician.com:80/remixmag/artists_interviews/musicians/remix_imogen_heap/index.html|title=Imogen Heap|last=Powers|first=Genevieve|date=1 Jan 2006|website=Electronic Musician|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914082247/http://emusician.com/remixmag/artists_interviews/musicians/remix_imogen_heap/index.html|archive-date=14 September 2011|access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="sglist" /> During the making of "Hide and Seek", Heap said she found the song "so self indulgent" and believed that no one would enjoy it. Although she was frequently told during recording that "something was missing" from it, she decided to release it after sending it to a friend who called it "genius" and "the most amazing thing he had ever heard". The song is written in the key of [[A major]] and Heap's vocals span from B2 to B5.<ref name="paperint" />

"Hide and Seek" was released in 2005. It was featured in the season two finale of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television series ''[[The O.C.]]'', "[[The Dearly Beloved]]". It is an [[a cappella]]<ref name="sglist" /><ref name="nytsynth" /> [[folktronica]]<ref>{{cite web |title=8 sampled tracks behind some of the biggest tunes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5M1LctGZFMR54Pp4SxflyfB/8-sampled-tracks-behind-some-of-the-biggest-tunes |website=BBC |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="chartsnp">{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Jack |title=Normal People: Streaming boost in Ireland for songs featured on hit TV series |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/normal-people-streaming-boost-in-ireland-for-songs-featured-on-hit-tv-series-including-imogen-heap-london-grammar-and-aslan__29934/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=11 June 2020}}</ref> song. Heap uses a [[MIDI keyboard|keyboard-controlled]] digital harmonizer (similar to a [[vocoder]]) on the song to generate distorted harmonies of her voice, lending the song its altered a cappella sound.<ref name="Powers"/> Fans have speculated that the song was written about the divorce of Heap's parents at age 12.<ref name="sglist" /> The song ends with a sample of a train passing by.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goggins |first1=Joe |title=DiS meets Imogen Heap: "I wanted to live in the moment" |url=https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4148136-dis-meets-imogen-heap--i-wanted-to-live-in-the-moment |website=[[Drowned in Sound]] |access-date=27 November 2020 |language=en |date=3 September 2014 |archive-date=6 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206090348/https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4148136-dis-meets-imogen-heap--i-wanted-to-live-in-the-moment |url-status=dead }}</ref> Heap described the song as one which "doesn't connect to a genre, it's completely open", adding "It's full of color, but it's colorless. It's full of meaning, but it has no meaning. It has so much for you as the listener to identify with it and fill in the gaps."<ref name="paperint" /> ''[[Stereogum]]''{{'}}s Margaret Farrell wrote that the song's vocal effects make Heap "sound possessed with disquieting misery, bubbling to an overdose where she sounds occasionally alien".<ref name="sglist" />

==Critical reception and commercial performance==
"Hide and Seek" received critical acclaim upon its release. Writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', Laura Sinagra wrote that "Hide and Seek" was "the ghostly pièce de résistance" of ''Speak for Yourself'', adding that the song "suggest[s] a kind of lovesick cyborg alienation, an almost disembodied, distinctly modern malaise".<ref name="nytsynth">{{cite web |last1=Sinagra |first1=Laura |title=With Her Synthesizer, She Mesmerizes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/13/arts/music/with-her-synthesizer-she-mesmerizes.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=13 January 2006}}</ref> Sophie Heawood of ''[[The Guardian]]'' referred to the song as "extraordinary", describing its use of vocal layering as "startling" albeit with a "[[Marmite]]-style love-or-hate effect on listeners".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heawood |first1=Sophie |title=CD: Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/12/popandrock.shopping1 |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=12 August 2005}}</ref> For ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', David Raposa identified "Hide and Seek" as the "black sheep" of ''Speak for Yourself'', writing, "It's gorgeous, it's impressive, it's grandiose, and it's barely there at all {{em dash}} just Heap's voice darting and divebombing, making itself scarce, disappearing into itself."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raposa |first1=David |title=Imogen Heap: Speak for Yourself |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4025-speak-for-yourself/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=31 October 2005}}</ref> ''[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]]''{{'}}s Dave Reid suggested that "Hide and Seek" "threatens to put the rest of the album in the shade".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reid |first1=Dave |title=Imogen Heap - 'Speak for Yourself' {{!}} The Skinny |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/imogen-heap-speak-for-yourself |website=The Skinny |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=16 April 2006}}</ref> Jeff Vrabel of ''[[PopMatters]]'' wrote that the song was "uniformly gorgeous" with "no beat required", adding, "Its sonic trickery makes the song lap itself; there's so much synthetic beauty in there that it comes off sounding organic anyway."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vrabel |first1=Jeff |title=Imogen Heap: Speak For Yourself |url=https://www.popmatters.com/heapimogen-speak-2495933861.html |website=PopMatters |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=19 December 2005}}</ref>

Since its release, "Hide and Seek" has continued to garner acclaim, with many critics identifying it as Heap's best song. [[NPR]] placed "Hide and Seek" at number 147 on their list of The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+, writing that the song was "the stand-out gem of [Heap's] illustrious career".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kimball |first1=Lindsay |title=The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/30/627396076/turning-the-tables-the-200-greatest-songs-by-21st-century-women-part-3 |website=NPR |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=30 July 2018}}</ref> On ''Stereogum''{{'}}s Farrell's list of Heap's best songs, "Hide and Seek" was named as Heap's best song, with Farrell writing, "'Hide And Seek' is Imogen Heap’s most devastating and haunting track to date. Whether heard via a choice sync by a music supervisor or a chance encounter over a streaming service, the song lingers for days or even years."<ref name="sglist">{{cite web |last1=Farrell |first1=Margaret |title=The 10 Best Imogen Heap Songs |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2022304/imogen-heap-best-songs-playlist-frou-frou/lists/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=9 November 2018}}</ref> [[KCMP]] included the song on their list of "893 Essential Songs" at number 494.<ref>{{cite web |title=893 Essential Songs |url=https://www.thecurrent.org/list/893-essential-songs/5 |website=The Current |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Matt Moen of ''[[Paper (magazine)|Paper]]'' referred to "Hide and Seek" as "Heap's greatest hit" which "not only has paved the way for the judicious use of the vocoder as an emotional vocal treatment in today's top 40 but has been objectively one of the strangest songs to weave its way into our cultural fabric."<ref name="paperint">{{cite web |last1=Moen |first1=Matt |title=Imogen Heap: 'I've Never Been Burdened by Fame' |url=https://www.papermag.com/imogen-heap-profile-2635198880.html?rebelltitem=49#rebelltitem49 |website=Paper |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=8 May 2019}}</ref> ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' listed "Hide and Seek" as one of the best [[breakup song]]s of all time, writing that it "toes the line between poignantly lachrymose and sickeningly maudlin".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lowery |first1=Tim |title=The 50 best breakup songs ever |url=https://www.timeout.com/music/50-best-breakup-songs |website=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |access-date=18 January 2022 |language=en |date=26 November 2021}}</ref> For ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'', Lindsay Zoladz wrote, "Imogen Heap rarely gets credit for the ripple effects that 'Hide and Seek' sent through the pop mainstream," adding that the song was "indebted" to [[Laurie Anderson]]'s "[[O Superman]]" and [[Daft Punk]]'s 2001 album ''[[Discovery (Daft Punk album)|Discovery]]''.<ref name="ringring" /> As of 2009, the song has sold 647,000 copies<ref name=sales>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBeEDJhw110C&pg=PA26|magazine=Billboard|title=Greatest Synchs|first= Mark|last=Sutherland|date=20 June 2009}}</ref> in the United States and has been [[certified gold]] by the [[RIAA]].<ref name=RIAA/>

==Music video==
[[File:Hide and Seek Imogen Heap music video screenshot.jpg|thumb|Still from the music video for "Hide and Seek" ({{abbr|dir.|directed by}} [[Joel Peissig]])]]
A music video "Hide and Seek" was released in November 2005. Directed by [[Joel Peissig]], it features Heap singing in a dark windy set, in front of a breathing wall of [[back light]].<ref name=nyt /> The video is shot in a [[Vertical video|vertical orientation]], one of the earliest music videos in this format.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bereznak | first=Alyssa | date=September 10, 2019 | url=https://www.theringer.com/tech/2019/9/10/20858151/vertical-music-videos-spotify | title=This Music Video Has Been Modified From Its Original Version (and Now It's Vertical) | work=The Ringer | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916092912/https://www.theringer.com/tech/2019/9/10/20858151/vertical-music-videos-spotify | archive-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'s}} Kelefa Sanneh wrote that the video "resembles a glamorous dance-pop video, except that you'll wait in vain for the beat to arrive."<ref name=nyt>{{cite journal | last=Sanneh | first=Kelefa | date=November 20, 2005 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/433202597/ | title=Reggae's Bootleg Respect and a Hit for the Text-Message Set | journal=The New York Times | page=2.38 | via=ProQuest}}</ref> Peissig explained that the video's [[lighting effects]] were accomplished [[In-camera effect|in camera]], the intensity of the light controlled by applying pressure to the [[35 mm movie film|35&nbsp;mm film]] in front of his camera's [[Film gate|gate]] in time with the crescendo and decrescendo of Heap's voice. He explained that he decided to shoot the frame portraiture as it "complimented her face and her solitude ... also the light streaks we created in camera looked better if you put the camera on its side."<ref>{{cite web | last=Peissig | first=Joel | date=November 13, 2017 | url=https://vimeo.com/44002256 | title='Hide and Seek' Imogen Heap | type=Comment | publisher=Vimeo | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230124060924/https://vimeo.com/44002256 | archive-date=January 24, 2023}}</ref>

==Covers, remixes, and samples==
[[Jason Derulo]]'s 2009 single "[[Whatcha Say]]" prominently sampled Heap's song in its chorus after Derulo and producer [[J. R. Rotem]] chose to use the sample.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lipshutz |first1=Jason |title=Heartbreak tale pays off for singer Jason Derulo |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-derulo/heartbreak-tale-pays-off-for-singer-jason-derulo-idUSTRE59405N20091005 |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=5 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lockett |first1=Dee |title=8 Songwriters on the Line Between Inspiration and Theft |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/04/songwriters-on-song-copying-sampling-interpolation.html |website=Vulture |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> In the United States, the single topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Kyle |title=Jason Derulo's 'Whatcha Say' Tops The Billboard Hot 100 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2577087/jason-derulo-whatcha-say-billboard/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501071548/http://www.mtv.com/news/2577087/jason-derulo-whatcha-say-billboard/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 May 2017 |website=MTV News |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=5 November 2009}}</ref> On the [[Australian Idol season 5|fifth season]] of Australian reality competition series ''[[Australian Idol]]'', finalist Ben McKenzie performed the song on the season's fourth episode.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Tara |title=An 'Australian Idol' Contestant Has Spoken Out About Being "Physically Attacked" While On The Show |url=https://punkee.com.au/australian-idol-ben-mckenzie-attacked/112682 |website=[[Junkee|Punkee]] |access-date=9 January 2021 |date=24 November 2020}}</ref> British [[alternative rock]] band [[Fightstar]] covered the song as a B-side to their single, "[[The English Way]]", in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fightstar Single Details |url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/fightstar-single-details |website=Rock Sound Magazine |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=30 September 2008}}</ref> American metal band [[And Then There Were None (band)|And Then There Were None]] covered the song in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Free Download Of And Then There Were None's "Hide and Seek" Cover |url=http://classic.toothandnail.com/news/2203/Free_Download_Of_And_Then_There_Were_Nones_Hide_and_Seek_Cover/ |website=Tooth & Nail Records |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=17 February 2009}}</ref> In 2010, Canadian guitarist [[Antoine Dufour]] recorded a solo guitar version of the song.<ref>{{cite web |title=Album Review: Back & Forth by Antoine Dufour |url=https://www.theguitarjournal.com/album-review-back-forth-by-antoine-dufour/ |website=The Guitar Journal |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=29 November 2018}}</ref> British a cappella ensemble [[The King's Singers]] included a cover of the song on their 2010 album ''Swimming Over London''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek: the best classical covers |url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/modern/hide-and-seek-classical-covers/ |website=Classic FM |access-date=7 December 2020 |language=en |date=30 March 2017}}</ref> In 2010 and 2011, respectively, Dutch DJ [[Afrojack]] and Swedish DJ [[Otto Knows]] released remixes of the song.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forgotten Friday: Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek (Otto Knows Remix) |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2011/02/forgotten-friday-imogen-heap-hide-and-seek-otto-knows-remix/ |website=Dancing Astronaut |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=4 February 2011}}</ref> In 2012, British [[pop rock]] band [[The Dunwells]] released a cover of the song on their EP ''Leaving the Rose''. In 2017, English musician [[Jacob Collier]] recorded his solo harmonizer rendition of the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7_1HUEvieE|title=Hide and Seek - Jacob Collier [Live at House]|last=Collier|first=Jacob|date=2 September 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref> A [[Trance music|trance]] remix of the song by Dutch DJ [[Ferry Corsten]] was released in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Imogen Heap - Hide & Seek (Ferry Corsten Bootleg) [Preview] |url=https://www.edmsauce.com/2013/06/14/imogen-heap-hide-seek-ferry-corsten-bootleg-preview/ |website=EDM Sauce |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=14 June 2013}}</ref> American DJ [[Slushii]] released a [[future bass]] remix of the song in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Christina |title=Slushii lightens Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek' with a future bass rinsing |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2018/06/slushii-lightens-imogen-heaps-hide-seek-future-bass-rinsing/ |website=Dancing Astronaut |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=en |date=4 June 2018}}</ref> British band Amber Run released a cover of the song <ref>{{cite web | url=https://open.spotify.com/track/56tNMp3B93TFDbWRg92qZSsi=AmVubM1ITIOWciLCLvRXbw&context=spotify%3Asearch%3Aamber%2Brun%2Bhide | title=Hide & Seek | website=[[Spotify]] }}</ref> In 2025, Australian indie rock band [[Ball Park Music]] perfomed a cover of "Hide and Seek" on Triple J's [[Like a Version|Like a Version series]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdX8ZfMB02k&ab_channel=triplej</ref>

==Appearance in media==
"Hide and Seek" gained immense popularity after being featured during the climax of the 2005 season two finale of ''[[The O.C.]]''.<ref name="paperint" /> After director [[Norman Buckley]] was given a copy of ''Speak for Yourself'' by [[music supervisor]] [[Alexandra Patsavas]], Buckley suggested to creator [[Josh Schwartz]] that he listen to the album early on in the season. Schwartz then decided that "Hide and Seek" would be used in the season finale.<ref name="insidehook">{{cite web |last1=Lauer |first1=Alex |title=The Bizarre, Unexpected, Neverending Life of Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek" |url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/music/imogen-heap-hide-and-seek |website=InsideHook |access-date=6 December 2020 |language=en |date=19 May 2020}}</ref> The song was originally written to be played during the funeral scene of [[List of The O.C. characters#Caleb Nichol|Caleb Nichol]]. It was eventually decided that the song would instead be used in the climax of the episode, wherein [[Marissa Cooper]] shoots [[List of The O.C. characters#Recurring characters|Trey Atwood]], during an altercation between Atwood and his brother, [[Ryan Atwood]].<ref name="ewoc">{{cite magazine |last1=Highfill |first1=Samantha |title='The O.C.': 5-minute oral history on the shocking season 2 finale |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/04/29/the-oc-oral-history-dearly-beloved/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=EN |date=29 April 2016}}</ref> The use of the song in the episode received praise from critics: [[New York (magazine)#Vulture|''Vulture'']]'s Lindsey Weber called it "the most obviously important" musical moment on the show, while Celina Torrijos of [[Much (TV channel)|Much]] stated, "Most fans of the show...will cite the scene where Marissa shoots Trey to Imogen Heap’s "Hide And Seek" as the most memorable music moment of the series."<ref name="vultoc" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Torrijos |first1=Celina |title=15 Years Later: Artists That Defined 'The O.C.' Soundtrack |url=https://www.much.com/the-oc-15-years-anniversary-most-important-artists-soundtrack/ |website=[[Much (TV channel)|Much]] |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=3 August 2018}}</ref> Ilana Kaplan of ''[[Nylon (magazine)|Nylon]]'' also included it on her list of the most memorable music moments from the show, calling it "one of the most defining songs of ''The O.C.''," and Angela Law of ''[[PopSugar]]'' included it on her list of the best songs used in the show.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Ilana |title=The 20 Most Memorable Music Moments On 'The O.C.' |url=https://www.nylon.com/articles/memorable-music-moments-the-oc |website=Nylon |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=22 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Angela |title=Season 2, Episode 24: "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/46488778/embed/46488760/embed |website=Popsugar Entertainment |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=18 September 2019}}</ref> Grant Ridner of ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' described the scene as "infamous" due to its use of the song.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rindner |first1=Grant |title=How music supervisors create iconic TV moments |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/9/15/16228376/music-supervision-tv-explained-who-picks-songs-for-shows |website=Vox |access-date=2 December 2020 |language=en |date=15 September 2017}}</ref> Lindsay Zoladz of ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'' called it "arguably the most absurd and melodramatic shooting scene in the history of televisual media" and "stupid and ridiculous and somehow (largely due to the song) genuinely, deeply moving";<ref name="ringring">{{cite web |last1=Zoladz |first1=Lindsay |title='Hide and Seek'–ing Is the New Rickrolling |url=https://www.theringer.com/2016/10/1/16036440/hide-and-seeking-imogen-heap-the-oc-f777cfceb87f |website=The Ringer |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en |date=1 October 2016}}</ref> ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]''{{'}}s Emma Kelly wrote that it was "the most memorable track from a series [[Music on The O.C.|known for its music]]".<ref name="metro">{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Imogen Heap on 'unimaginable' life of Hide and Seek from The OC to Normal People |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/27/imogen-heap-life-hide-seek-oc-normal-people-enigma-12766099/ |website=Metro |access-date=6 December 2020 |language=en |date=27 May 2020}}</ref>

The scene was later parodied in a 2007 ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' [[SNL Digital Shorts|digital short]] created by American comedy trio [[The Lonely Island]] called ''[[SNL Digital Short#The Shooting|The Shooting]]'', which also featured the song.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Serrao |first1=Nivea |title=From The O.C. to Saturday Night Live: How Lonely Island's 'Dear Sister' came about |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/05/12/lonely-island-dear-sister-the-oc-snl-oral-history/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=1 December 2020 |language=EN |date=12 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="vultoc">{{cite web |last1=Weber |first1=Lindsey |title=Vulture's Very Important Ranking of All 6 Soundtracks From The O.C. |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/08/vulture-ranks-the-oc-soundtracks-mixes.html |website=Vulture |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en-us |date=6 August 2013}}</ref> ''[[New York (magazine)#The Cut|The Cut]]''{{'}}s Claire Lampen noted that the "infamous" status of "Hide and Seek" was "cemented" by its use in ''The Shooting''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lampen |first1=Claire |title=What Is *That* Song Doing in Normal People? |url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/05/why-is-imogen-heaps-hide-and-seek-in-normal-people.html |website=The Cut |access-date=2 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=5 May 2020}}</ref> The sketch caused the song to become a popular internet meme, where the song's bridge ("Mmm, whatcha say") would be played over death or otherwise emotional scenes in television and film. The first parody to gain traction was of a scene from the teen drama series ''[[Degrassi: The Next Generation]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knibbs |first1=Kate |title=The complete history of the 'Mmm Whatcha Say' meme |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/mmm-whatcha-say-oc-game-thrones/ |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en |date=14 June 2014}}</ref> "Hide and Seek" went on to be featured in the BBC and [[Hulu]] miniseries ''[[Normal People (TV series)|Normal People]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jackson|last=McHenry|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/normal-people-soundtrack-13-key-songs.html|title=How Normal People Chose 13 Key Songs for Marianne and Connell|website=vulture.com|date=May 1, 2020|access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref> Although Maggie Phillips, the music supervisor for ''Normal People'', was initially against using the song due to its association with ''The O.C.'' and ''Saturday Night Live'', the song was included in the second episode by director [[Lenny Abrahamson]] during a montage of the two main characters, Marianne and Connell.<ref name="metro" /><ref name="insidehook" /> Its appearance in ''Normal People'' in 2020 caused the song to experience a temporary boost in popularity in Ireland, earning six times as many streams in the six weeks following its appearance than it had throughout 2019 and becoming the most-streamed song from the show.<ref name="chartsnp" />

"Hide and Seek" was also adapted to be featured in the [[West End theatre|West End]] and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions of the 2016 play ''[[Harry Potter and the Cursed Child]]'', for which Heap wrote the music. Listed on the soundtrack album as "Edge of the Forest", it appears during a scene at the edge of the [[Hogwarts#Forbidden Forest|Forbidden Forest]] and is sung by a choir.<ref name="spinoff">{{cite web |first1=Madeleine |last1=Chapman |author-link1=Madeleine Chapman|title=How the hell did 'Hide and Seek' end up in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/music/28-02-2019/how-the-hell-did-hide-and-seek-end-up-in-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child/ |website=The Spinoff |access-date=7 December 2020 |language=en |date=28 February 2019}}</ref> It is the only time in the show during which lyrics are heard.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McHenry |first1=Jackson |title=How Imogen Heap Created Her Magical Tracks for the Harry Potter Play |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-music-imogen-heap.html |website=Vulture |access-date=7 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=2 November 2018}}</ref> The song also appears in the films ''[[The Last Kiss (2006 film)|The Last Kiss]]''<ref name="nprsparks">{{cite web |last1=Powers |first1=Ann |title=First Listen: Imogen Heap, 'Sparks' |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/08/10/338018328/first-listen-imogen-heap-sparks |website=NPR |access-date=25 November 2020 |language=en |date=10 August 2014}}</ref> and ''[[Warren Miller (director)|Warren Miller]]'s Off the Grid''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Off the Grid Music |url=https://www.skimag.com/uncategorized/ioff-the-gridi-music |website=Ski Mag |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=31 October 2006}}</ref> It was also featured in the series ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (US)|So You Think You Can Dance]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reid |first1=Joe |title=The All-Time Best 'So You Think You Can Dance' Routines in Every Dance Style, Part 1 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2014/05/the-all-time-best-so-you-think-you-can-dance-routines-in-every-dance-style/371591/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=5 December 2020 |language=en |date=28 May 2014}}</ref>

==Live performances==
"Hide and Seek" was performed live by Heap at [[One Love Manchester]], a [[benefit concert]] and [[television special]] held in [[Manchester]] on 4 June 2017 and organised by [[Ariana Grande]] as a tribute to the victims of [[Manchester Arena bombing|the bombing at her Manchester Arena concert]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Alanna |title=Highlights from Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester Concert - FLARE |url=https://www.flare.com/celebrity/highlights-from-ariana-grandes-one-love-manchester-concert/ |website=Flare |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=4 June 2017 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028123106/https://www.flare.com/celebrity/highlights-from-ariana-grandes-one-love-manchester-concert/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The performance was praised by critics, with writers from ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' and ''[[NME]]'' naming it one of the best moments of the concert.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester concert: the 10 best moments from last night |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/ariana-grandes-one-love-concert-best-moments-last-night/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=5 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bartleet |first1=Larry |title=One Love Manchester: 7 transformative music moments |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/seven-transcendent-musical-moments-ariana-grandes-one-love-manchester-benefit-concert-2084094 |website=NME |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=5 June 2017}}</ref> Heap later performed "Hide and Seek" during her performance on [[NPR]]'s ''[[Tiny Desk Concerts]]'' series with her Mi.Mu gloves on 20 June 2019,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Spruch |first1=Kristen |title=Imogen Heap Brings High-Tech Wizardry To NPR's Tiny Desk Concert: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8516824/imogen-heap-tiny-desk-concert-video |magazine=Billboard |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=20 June 2019}}</ref> and performed a "jolly" rendition of the song for [[Royal Albert Hall]]'s ''Royal Albert Home'' free virtual concert series on 29 May 2020.<ref name="metro" /> After three years of absence from the live stage, Heap joined Swedish artist [[Jonna Lee (singer)|ionnalee]] on 2 March 2023 for a live duet of "Hide and Seek" in London at [[EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney)]], as part of [[iamamiwhoami]]'s then ongoing world tour.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Hide and Seek - Jonna Lee (ionnalee / iamamiwhoami) and Imogen Heap - London, 2nd March 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mwS-cuSw6o|website=youtube.com |language=en |format=video |date=March 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Track listings==

'''CD single'''
#"Hide And Seek (Radio Edit)" – 3:02
#"Hide And Seek (Album Version)" – 4:29

'''Vinyl'''
#"Hide And Seek" – 4:29
#"Cumulus" – 3:34

== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for "Hide and Seek"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2005–2008)
! scope="col"| Peak<br> position
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Digital Song Sales (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="Can Digital">{{cite magazine|title=Imogen Heap Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/imogen-heap/chart-history/cns/|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref>
| 57
|-
!scope="row"| Italy ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Imogen Heap – FIMI|url=http://www.fimi.it/ricerca#/type:artists/show:charts/keyword:Imogen%20Heap/page:0|publisher=[[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana]]|language=it|access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref>
| 4
|-
!scope="row"| UK Singles ([[UK Singles Chart|Official Charts Company]])<ref name="UK-chart">{{cite web|title=H & Claire – Hysterix|url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_H.HTM|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref>
| 125
|-
!scope="row"| UK Download Chart ([[UK Download Chart|Official Charts Company]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 40, 17 July 2005 - 23 July 2005|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/20050717/7000/|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|access-date=10 May 2021}}</ref>
| 22
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddigitalsongs|37|artist=Imogen Heap|rowheader=true|access-date=31 December 2017|refname="Digital Songs"}}
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales and certifications for "Hide and Seek"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Imogen Heap|title=Hide and Seek|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2021|id=17143-5567-1|access-date=9 April 2021|refname=BPI}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Imogen Heap|title=Hide and Seek|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2009|digital=true|salesamount=647,000|salesref=<ref name=sales/>|access-date=11 January 2016|refname=RIAA}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Imogen Heap}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Imogen Heap songs]]
[[Category:2005 singles]]
[[Category:2000s ballads]]
[[Category:Songs about divorce]]
[[Category:Songs written by Imogen Heap]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Folktronica songs]]
[[Category:A cappella songs]]
[[Category:Folk ballads]]
[[Category:2005 songs]]
[[Category:English folk songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Imogen Heap]]
[[Category:Breakup songs]]