Calvin Harris - 'I'm Not Alone'
In the interests of total honesty and fairness, this review is an attempt to capture the raging argument that goes on in my head every time this song begins. The pros slightly out-number the cons, but the cons have better weapons and defences. Flack-jackets at the ready? Let's do this!
ProBrain: Ooh! Moody beginning! It's like indie meets trance, or something. That's kind of new, isn't it?
ConBrain: Well possibly, but are we so starved of decent singers that a man who sounds like an unsteady, giggly version of Gary Lightbody out of Snow Patrol counts as good enough? Surely there's a few X Factor rejects out there who could put a bit of oomph into this? That one who looks like a Mr Whippy ice-cream, he was alright, wasn't he? Or that girl with the Duffy-squeak and Eoghan Quigg hanging around her neck? Hell, Steve Brookstein could've had a go, it's not like he's doing a right lot else at the moment...
( Ignore the sales technique, if you can...)
ProBrain: Yeah, but it's Calvin Harris singing. He wrote the song, and played all the instruments. He's got the right to sing his own tunes, hasn't he? And listen to that enormous synth riff. Doesn't that tickle your fun zones?
ConBrain: [Hotly] FUN ZONES? I don't have ANY SUCH THING!
ProBrain: Wow...I do... C'mon, it's a choooon....
ConBrain: For your information, it is spelled 'tune'. That's tuh, uh, nuh, eh. And besides, the whole thing sounds like a Snow Patrol remix, or a trance reworking, or something similar. I know I said Snow Patrol before, but you have to admit, there's a definite similarity. And what did we agree about Snow Patrol?
ProBrain: [Sullen] No Snow Patrol.
ConBrain: Exactly. You signed the internal memo, after all.
ProBrain: Yeah, but this is like an entire Friday night/Saturday morning condensed into three minutes. The highs, the lows, the glassy-eyed fatigue, the excitement. We've all been there.
ConBrain: Have we? I most certainly have not.
ProBrain: Oh you should. It's great.
ConBrain: Do you think I'd like it? I'm never sure...
ProBrain: Oh yeah, you've just got to relax a bit, y'know? Let yourself go.
ConBrain: Well, I could give it a go, I suppose.
ProBrain: Attaboy! Now, who wants a cuppa?
ConBrain: Not me!
ProBrain: [Laughing] Oh YOU GUYS!
FIN
Download: Out now
CD Released: April 13th
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 6th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:I have enjoyed this song for the last three months and I am very happy its now being released.
I love dancin to it and like the way he is trying new things and confusing people who want to place him in a box with a label on.
It starts somewhere then goes off in a different direction..... good.... be excitin.... toy with your audience.....
This song is destined for the TOP 20...... I am sure you will see differing comments below mine regarding the songs merits and CALVINS singing style.
Personally I think it all works and will be a big hit !
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Comment number 2.
At 6th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:YO...... like the way you weighed up the pros and the cons of CALVIN'S song... very cool.... I think you can say it was a good OBJECTIVE review ! lol
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Comment number 3.
At 6th Apr 2009, hackerjack wrote:i really like it. That said he did NOT write that riff, it's from some other track. I cant quite place it. It's NOT madagascar though despite sounding similar.
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Comment number 4.
At 7th Apr 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Actually, two SUBJECTIVE ones running concurrently. :-)
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Comment number 5.
At 7th Apr 2009, Oliviaaa987 wrote:You're right, Steve Brookstein isn't up to much. He and my dad used to be work colleagues, and he used to pop in and say hello to my dad at his work occasionally as he lived in the area. He recently moved though, and I'm not sure what it is he's doing at the moment exactly, but I know it's not singing.
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Comment number 6.
At 8th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:FRASER or someone help me out !
What is the video symbolising.... what is it all about ?
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Comment number 7.
At 10th Apr 2009, puh-leaze wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 8.
At 12th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:Well I don't feel you need to do PROBRAIN AND CONBRAIN anymore.....
This song is an outright tune and after spending an evening and seein the reaction it has to people on a dancefloor it is settled....
This song feels like a NUMBER ONE single to me..... it has that vibe and the ability to connect with a lot of people...... yeah............ NUMBER ONE.....
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Comment number 9.
At 12th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:WOO HOO !!!!!!!!
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Comment number 10.
At 12th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:CONGRATULATIONS CALVIN !
I know you read this and you will now be celebrating your first solo number one single !!!
I have been playing this song since JANUARY and it sounded like a SUMMER ANTHEM back then... you must feel so proud... I know you had that riff for ages... and its brilliant you turned it into this fantastic song.
All the best.
Spirit.
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Comment number 11.
At 13th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:The big question is..... will CALVIN be number one next week as EMINEM could be there with his new single WE MADE YOU. ( that will be big ) AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW.
LADY GAGA gets a physical release of POKER FACE so she could challenge again ! ( I love dancing to this song in clubs )
I have just found out some news that her next single from her number one album THE FAME will be PAPARAZZI . (A good choice.... a slightly different vibe from the first two singles )
FRANKMUSIK'S BETTER OFF AS TWO is released today so expect a high new entry for MR FRANK..... top 20 AT LEAST !
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Comment number 12.
At 15th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:I would like to give a big congratulation to RADIO 1.
So far in my estimation you are the only site that updated the TOP 40 SINGLES AND ALBUM CHART STRAIGHT AWAY on SUNDAY at 7pm.
A lot of other sites still at this moment on WEDNESDAY still have last weeks chart. To let all these other sites on their EASTER BREAK know.... on SUNDAY CALVIN HARRIS IS NUMBER ONE !!!!!
To not update charts straight away.........for any music fan that is unforgiveable.
Another reason why RADIO 1 is in a league of their own.
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Comment number 13.
At 20th Apr 2009, spirit wrote:2 weeks at Number One !!
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Comment number 14.
At 8th Dec 2009, PP_MICK_c wrote:I may be late on this track, but having heard it so many times now, i like this track and the mesh between Vocal and Music
But i cant help thinking that that Pads in the chorus are a variation of a Classic trance toon, but for the life of me. i cant remeber its name.
I know i have it and know what it sounds like, but i am curious if anyone thinks the same
Regards, PP_MICK_c
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