I Am Not a Robot

"I Am Not a Robot"
Single by Marina and the Diamonds
from the album The Crown Jewels EP and The Family Jewels
Released 22 June 2009
26 April 2010 (re-release)
Format CD single, digital download,
7" single
Recorded 2009
Genre Indie pop
Length 3:35
Label Neon Gold (2009)
679
Chop Shop
Writer(s) Marina Diamandis
Producer Liam Howe
Marina and the Diamonds singles chronology
"Obsessions"/"Mowgli's Road
(2008)		 "I Am Not a Robot"
(2009)		 "Mowgli's Road"
(re-release)
(2009)
"Hollywood"
(2010)
"I Am Not a Robot"
(re-release)
(2010)
"Oh No!"
(2010)
Music video
"I Am Not a Robot" on YouTube

"I Am Not a Robot" is a song by Marina and the Diamonds. It was the lead single from her second extended play, The Crown Jewels EP, released on 22 June 2009. It was also re-released as the third single from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels, on 26 April 2010.[1] The single was added to BBC Radio 1's A Playlist during April 2010. A re-recorded gospel version of the song was used in an advertisement for Bupa in March 2011.

Contents

Description

In an interview with WalesOnline, Diamandis says:

“ ["I Am Not a Robot"] was me singing to myself. It's me saying, stop being so ridiculous, you can't let having a fear of failing hold you back and you're just one person. It's connected with a lot of people. I knew that would happen when I was writing it. I had a funny feeling. ”

—Marina Diamandis, WalesOnline[2]

In regards to the decision to re-release the single, Diamandis said it was because "people seem to empathize and relate with the song, regardless of gender or age."[1]

Critical reception

Gareth James from Clash called "I Am Not a Robot" "one of 2009's best singles [...] an infectious pop track featuring a unique vocal with more fluctuations than Florence sat on a washing machine."[3] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian commented on the song whilst reviewing The Family Jewels saying "the lovely delicacy of "I Am Not a Robot"'s tune is easy to miss when there's a woman doing Dalek voices over the top of it. Such are the dangers of trying a little too hard."[4] John Murphy from musicOMH praised the song saying it "shows a pleasing touch of vulnerability which works very well."[5] Marina was also praised following a performance on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 23 April 2010.[6]

Music video

The music video for "I Am Not a Robot" was directed by Rankin & Chris Cottam and was released onto YouTube on 24 June 2009, two days after the song's first single release. The music video features Diamandis in five scenes: one with her covered in black oil and glitter, one made-up in black, green and pink body paint, one with diamond lips and eyelids, one with the green, pink, and black body paint smeared, and lastly just her as her normal self. Each sequence shows Diamandis in the centre of the screen with either a starry, grey, white or black background whilst singing to the camera. Diamandis explained in a BBC Radio 1 interview with Scott Mills that the black oil reacted to her skin and it took forty minutes to rub off. It also took her 18 hours to get all of her make up done for the video.[7]

Track listings

    UK iTunes EP

  1. "I Am Not a Robot" – 3:35
  2. "I Am Not a Robot Flex'd Rework" (Passion Pit Remix) – 4:47
  3. "I Am Not a Robot" (Clock Opera Remix) – 4:35
  4. "I Am Not a Robot" (Doorly Remix) – 5:18
  5. "I Am Not a Robot" (Acoustic) – 3:48

    CD single

  1. "I Am Not a Robot" – 3:35
  2. "I Am Not a Robot" (Doorly Remix) – 5:20

    7" single

A. "I Am Not a Robot" – 3:35
B. "I Am Not a Robot Flex'd Rework" (Passion Pit Remix) – 4:54

    Limited edition 7" single in autographed envelope sleeve

A. "I Am Not a Robot" – 3:35
B. "I Am Not a Robot" (Clock Opera Remix) – 4:39

    U.S. promo CD single

  1. "I Am Not a Robot" (Passion Pit Remix) – 4:54
  2. "I Am Not a Robot" (Starsmith 24 Carat Remix) – 5:18
  3. "Obsessions" (Ocelot Remix) – 6:27

    Additional Remixes

  1. "You Are Not A Robot" (ft. Hoodie Allen)
  2. "I Am Not A (L.A.) Robot"

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[8] 21
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[9] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 11
Norway (VG-lista)[11] 6
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[12] 26

References

  1. ^ a b Marina and The Diamonds - News - I AM NOT A ROBOT WILL BE MARINA'S NEXT SINGLE IN THE UK! marinaandthediamonds.com - 12 March 2010 - Retrieved 23 March 2010
  2. ^ Rees, Claire (21 March 2010). "WalesOnline - Lifestyle - Showbiz - Marina and the Diamonds gives herself a telling-off in song", WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  3. ^ James, Gareth. "Marina and The Diamonds - The Family Jewels". Clash. http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/marina-and-the-diamonds-the-family-jewels. 
  4. ^ Petridis, Alexis (18 February 2010). "Marina and the Diamonds: The Family Jewels". The Guardian (London: guardian.co.uk). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/feb/18/marina-and-the-diamonds-cd-review. 
  5. ^ Murphy, John. "Marina & the Diamonds - The Family Jewels". musicOMH. http://www.musicomh.com/albums/marina-and-the-diamonds_0210.htm. 
  6. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/livelounge/artist/100423_marinaandthediamonds.shtml
  7. ^ BBC iPlayer Console - The Chris Moyles Show with Scott Mills: Wednesday - Marina off've the Diamonds BBC - 7 April 2010 - Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  8. ^ "Ultratop.be – Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot" (in Dutch). Ultratip. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  9. ^ "Ultratop.be – Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot" (in French). Ultratip. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  10. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  11. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  12. ^ "Chart Stats – Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats.
Marina and the Diamonds
Studio albums and singles
"Obsessions" / "Mowgli's Road"  · "I Am Not a Robot"  · "Hollywood"  · "Oh No!"  · "Shampain"
Extended plays
Tours and concerts
Related articles