I'm Not Alone (song)

"I'm Not Alone"
Single by Calvin Harris
from the album Ready for the Weekend
Released 6 April 2009
Format CD single, digital download, 12" single
Recorded December 2008; Earth's Core
(Glasgow, Scotland)
Genre
Length 3:31
Label Fly Eye, Columbia
Writer(s) Calvin Harris
Producer(s) Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris singles chronology
"Dance wiv Me"
(2008)		 "I'm Not Alone"
(2009)		 "Ready for the Weekend"
(2009)
Music video
"I'm Not Alone" on YouTube

"I'm Not Alone" is a song by Scottish recording artist Calvin Harris, released as the lead single from his second studio album, Ready for the Weekend. The track was first played by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1 as his "essential new tune" on 23 January 2009 and has been described as a slice of euphoric dance. On 12 April 2009, the song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, earning Harris his first solo number-one single on the chart and second overall following his 2008 collaboration with Dizzee Rascal and Chrome, "Dance wiv Me".

Background and writing

Harris said of this song: "The whole track's a light and shade thing, two styles put together. I find it quite hard to write a happy-happy lyric now, for some reason. I don't know why that is, to be honest with you. Maybe it's staying in a room for a huge amount of time on your own, and that's reflected in the lyrics!"[1]

Chart performance

"I'm Not Alone" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 12 April 2009 ― for the week ending 18 April 2009 ― knocking Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" off the top of the chart. It remained at the top position for two weeks, until it was dethroned by Tinchy Stryder's "Number 1" featuring N-Dubz. On 3 January 2010, "I'm Not Alone" reentered the chart at number ninety-nine.

In the Republic of Ireland, the single debuted at number fourteen on the Irish Singles Chart on 9 April 2009, peaking at number four by its third week.

Controversy

When Chris Brown's 2010 single "Yeah 3x" was released, comparisons by critics to "I'm Not Alone" and a tweet by Harris himself led to controversy resulting in Brown adding Harris to the song credits, though no legal action was taken.[2] The claims of theft caused multiple Brown fans to harass Harris over Twitter.[3] The two artists reportedly have no hard feelings toward each other since the controversy; Harris even called Brown his "best mate" and said that he enjoys listening to his work.[4]

Music video

Calvin, portrayed as the Frankenstein-like character in the video for "I'm Not Alone"

The music video for "I'm Not Alone" was filmed in Oslo, Norway on 6 February 2009. It was directed by Christian Holm-Glad.[5]

The clip begins with a small boy (potentially meant to represent a young Harris) found in thick snow wandering the woods dragging a sledge with a toy bear on top. He then sets up camp and lights a fire to keep warm whilst cuddling his toy bear. The bear is then found on the sledge again and is then dropped. The scene closes and cuts to a dungeon styled setting that showcases Harris portrayed as a Frankenstein-type character who is seen to perform experiments on numerous female captives, combining their essences to reanimate his "lost" teddy bear.

Track listings

UK CD single
  1. "I'm Not Alone" (Radio Edit) – 3:32
  2. "I'm Not Alone" (Extended Mix) – 4:28
UK 12" single
A1. "I'm Not Alone" (Hervé's See You at the Festival Remix) - 5:33
A2. "I'm Not Alone" (Radio Edit) - 3:32
B1. "I'm Not Alone" (Deadmau5 Remix) - 8:15
B2. "I'm Not Alone" (Extended Mix) - 4:28
UK iTunes single[6]
  1. "I'm Not Alone" (Tiësto Remix) – 6:41
  2. "I'm Not Alone" (Radio Edit) – 3:32
UK iTunes EP[7]
  1. "I'm Not Alone" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "I'm Not Alone" (Extended Mix) – 4:26
  3. "I'm Not Alone" (Deadmau5 Mix) – 8:15
  4. "I'm Not Alone" (Hervé's See You at the Festival Remix) – 5:33
  5. "I'm Not Alone" (Burns Rework) – 6:36
U.S. iTunes EP[8]
  1. "I'm Not Alone" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "I'm Not Alone" (Extended Mix) – 4:28
  3. "I'm Not Alone" (Tiësto Remix) – 6:41
  4. "I'm Not Alone" (Deadmau5 Mix) – 8:15
  5. "I'm Not Alone" (Hervé's See You at the Festival Remix) – 5:34
  6. "I'm Not Alone" (Hervé's See You at the Dub Parade) – 3:41
  7. "I'm Not Alone" (Burns Rework) – 6:36
  8. "I'm Not Alone" (Instrumental) – 3:31

Personnel

Official versions and remixes

Charts and certifications

Peak positions

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 8
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[12] 95
Denmark (Tracklisten)[13] 6
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[14] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 62
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 40
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[18] 2
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[19] 84
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[20] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[21] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2009) Position
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)[22] 58
Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia)[23] 47
UK Singles Chart[24] 23

Certifications

Country Certification
Denmark Gold[25]

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
12 April 2009 – 25 April 2009 		Succeeded by
"Number 1" by Tinchy Stryder featuring N-Dubz

Release history

Country Date Label Format
United Kingdom 6 April 2009 Fly Eye Records, Columbia Records Digital download
13 April 2009 CD single
22 April 2009 12" single

References

  1. ↑ "I'm Not Alone by Calvin Harris". Songfacts. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  2. ↑ Izundu, Chi Chi (4 October 2010). "Calvin Harris says Chris Brown 'stole' his song". BBC Radio 1. BBC. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2010/10/chris-brown-rips-off-calvin-harris-twitter-hosts-the-controversy/
  4. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/14648839
  5. ↑ http://kortfilmfestivalen.no/export/sites/kortfilmfestivalen/artikler/Katalogen09-2.pdf
  6. ↑ "I'm Not Alone – EP by Calvin Harris". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  7. ↑ "I'm Not Alone – EP by Calvin Harris". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  8. ↑ "I'm Not Alone – EP by Calvin Harris". iTunes Store U.S. Apple Inc. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  9. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200946 into search.
  13. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". Tracklisten.
  14. ↑ "European Hot 100 – Week of April 25, 2009". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  15. ↑ "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 23 April 2009". Irish Recorded Music Association. Chart-Track. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  17. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". Top 40 Singles.
  18. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2009-04-19". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  19. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200928 into search.
  20. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2009-04-19" UK Dance Chart.
  21. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2009-04-19" UK Singles Chart.
  22. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2009". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  23. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2009". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  24. ↑ "UK Year-End Charts 2009" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. ChartsPlus. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  25. ↑ "Certificeringer | ifpi.dk" (in Danish). IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 17 June 2011.

External links