| "Raoul" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by The Automatic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| from the album Not Accepted Anywhere | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B-side | "Trophy Wives" "On The Camping Trail" (re-release) "Gold Digger" "Easy Target" |
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| Released | 27 March 2006 (original) 8 January 2007(re-release) |
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| Format | 7", CD, CD (maxi), Digital Download | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | Elevator Studio, Liverpool | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Post-punk revival Alternative rock |
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| Length | 3:53 (original) 3:41(re-release) |
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| Label | B-Unique Records[1] Polydor Records[2] |
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| Writer(s) | James Frost Iwan Griffiths Robin Hawkins Alex Pennie |
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| The Automatic singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Raoul" is both second and fifth single from Not Accepted Anywhere, the debut album by Welsh band The Automatic. The single was released twice, first on 27 March 2006[3] and then again on 8 January 2007 at the decision of the bands record labels Polydor and B-Unique.[4][5]
Contents |
The songs lyrics deal with the drill of peoples day-to-day lives - getting stuck in the same routines and casting aside ambitions, Raoul - a sandwich shop owner in Cardiff was where the band would go during days spend in their studio to get away from this drill.[6] The vocals on Raoul were originally split three ways between Rob - providing lead, Pennie - providing shouts over the top and Frost - singing joint lead in the second verse and backing in the choruses. After Pennie's departure and the addition of Paul Mullen in 2007 the vocals continued to be split three ways. In 2008 the band re-worked the track, replacing the guitar and bass in the first verse, with both Frost and Paul playing synthesizer's, building into two guitars in the choruses.[7][8]
"Raoul" was originally released on 27 March 2006 on CD, digital download and limited edition 7" vinyl. Selected Tastemaker Stores stocked limited amounts of signed Raoul 7" vinyls. The release was promoted on the bands tour with Goldie Lookin Chain in March 2006, with Raoul pre-order passwords handed out on flyers on the tour dates. The release would feature two new tracks along with "Raoul" - "On The Campaign Trail" on the CD single and "Trophy Wives" on the 7" vinyl.[9] Three in-store signings with performances were used to mark the singles release - Bridgend Jungle on 27 March Cardiff Spillers on 28 March and Manchester Fopp on 30 March.[10] The release was also celebrated by a sandwich giveaway courtesy of Cardiff sandwich shop - Obriens, limited to 500 through the bands website.[11] The band were asked in an interview with The Sun if Raoul had befitted from the song endorsement and in actuality the shop had been closed down.[12]
In 2007 the bands record labels Polydor Records and B-Unique Records decided to re-release "Raoul" against the bands wishes to release another track from Not Accepted Anywhere or there newly recorded tracks "Steve McQueen" and "Revolution"[13] The re-release was accompanied by a cover of Kanye West's "Gold Digger" as a b-side, as well as a new track "Easy Target"
It's not something us as a band wanted to do, but the radio were begging for us to re-release it again. Basically we had radio stations begging us saying if you release this song we'll play it. It's really frustrating for a band to be releasing the same things when all you want to do is put out new stuff and get people to listening to your other music
— Iwan Griffiths discusses the "Raoul" re-release[14]
The band made their TV debut performing "Raoul" on London Live,[15] also performing the track on Channel 4's Popworld, The Friday Night Project and T4 on the Beach 2006. The track was played live on Later with Jools Holland, along with "Thats What She Said and "Monster".[16]
Raoul has been featured on Soccer Am's 2006 Soundtrack, as well as being remixed by Culprit 1 - however unlike "Recover" and "Monster" remixes by Culprit 1 the remix was not released on the single.
All of the releases artwork were created by Dean 'D*Face' Stockton, except for the original artwork which ended up only being used for promo CD's - which was created by Antar.[17] The globe style artwork was recreated by 'Rock Drops' and used throughout tour and festival appearances by the band as a stage banner.[18]
The video directed by Charlie Paul[19] depicts the 'taking a break' from studio work, the band leave the studio and begin walking through a 1970s style concert where the look at themselves playing, they then walk through a gym, and into another room where they are playing in a smaller dark venue. The video ends up with them at Raoul's sandwich shop, with an actor who represents 'Raoul', making their sandwiches. the line from the song "Let's Go Back To Work" then links in to the video, as they leave.[20]
The 2007 video directed by Up the Resolution[21] is set in an office, and opens with a man singing "Monster", another man does not seem to appreciate this and pushes him against a wall, this possibly showing how the band are not happy with just being known for playing the song "Monster". The video then goes on to show the band members working in the office, firstly Robin Hawkins is delivering mail to the other employers, whilst in clips the whole band are shown at an office party, performing "Raoul", whilst Alex Pennie makes out with another older employee, whose husband is in a meeting with James Frost's character, the video ends with Iwan Griffiths urinating in a bowl.[22]
The single received fairly mixed reviews on both of its releases, many reviewers believing it did not match up to its predecessors "Recover" and "Monster". Lee Eynon of God Is In The TV reviewed the track stating; "it isn’t really the colossal moby dick sized hook they need to follow their summer blockbuster", Donna Dobson of Click Music also listed how the track does not have "the charm or quirkiness of 'Monster'".[23][24] During its original single run in 2006 Scott Colothan at Gigwise.com stated how the song didn't match up to the standards of the bands first single from 2005 - "Recover".[25] Joanne Nugent of Contactmusic.com praised the track saying "definitely worth a listen and easily likeable"[26] Tim Lee of Music OHM had mixed feeling on the song, ending his review with "as derivative additions to an over-saturated genre go, it's damn fine".[27]
'Raoul' and 'Monster' both competed for success in the UK Singles Chart after 'Monster' left the top 40, and re-entered when Downloads via iTunes and other online stores were allowed to be included in the Single charts. Ultimately the single only got to #30, with Monster staying at re entering at #33.
| Chart | Peak | Date |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | #32 original release | 9 April 2006 |
| UK Single Chart | #30 re-release | 14 January 2007 |
| vinyl 26 March 2006 | |||||||||
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| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Raoul" | 3:29 | |||||||
| 2. | "Trophy Wives" | 1:57 | |||||||
| CD single, 26 March 2006 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Raoul" | 3:29 | |||||||
| 2. | "On The Campaign Trail" | 3:03 | |||||||
| vinyl 8 January 2007 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Raoul" | 3:29 | |||||||
| 2. | "Monster (Fatboy Slim Remix)" | 5:59 | |||||||
| CD single, 8 January 2007 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Raoul" | 3:28 | |||||||
| 2. | "Easy Target" | 3:52 | |||||||
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