I Don't Need Anyone

"I Don't Need Anyone"
Song by Kylie Minogue from the album Impossible Princess
Recorded Mayfair Studios, London, England. 1997
Genre Indie Rock
Length 3:13
Label Deconstruction Records
Writer
Producer
  • Bradfield
  • Dave Eringa

"I Don't Need Anyone" is a song recorded by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her sixth studio album Impossible Princess (1997). The song was written by Minogue herself alongside Welsh performers James Dean Bradfield and Nick Jones, while production and composition was handled by Bradfield and Dave Eringa. The song was written while Minogue was with her boyfriend Stéphane Sednaoui and had written several songs until Bradfield took parts of her lyrics and merged them with his lyrics.

"I Don't Need Anyone" is an Motown-influenced rock song that was noted as the albums most straightfoward and summery song.[1] The song was musically and lyrically compared to the albums lead single "Some Kind of Bliss" on several occasions. The song's narrative is non-linear narrative and talks about self-sufficiency and self-independence, knowing that the protagonist has someone to guide them, they do not need them all the time.

Critically, "I Don't Need Anyone" received positive reviews from most music critics who praised the composition and production. The song was noted as the better cut than the lead single and praised the songwriting and production values. Minogue has only performed "I Don't Need Anyone" once on her concert tours, this being her 2012 Australian and UK tour Anti Tour. The song received positive commentary for its retrospective performance.

Background

In 1995, Minogue recorded the song "Where the Wild Roses Grow", a duet with Australian rock musician Nick Cave. The song's lyrics narrated a murder from the points of view of both the murderer (Cave), and his victim (Minogue). Cave had been interested in working with Minogue since hearing "Better the Devil You Know", saying it contained "one of pop music's most violent and distressing lyrics".[2] The single became Cave's most successful single to date peaking inside the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and managed to enter the top twenty in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.[3][4] The song also managed to achieve critical acclaim from many of Minogue's fiercest critics, who praised her transition from being the once-dubbed "singing budgie" to a mature woman.[5]

Minogue began a personal relationship with French photographer Stéphane Sednaoui.[6] Together they embarked on a series of trips across the United States and southern China to help her become inspired for the album. The trips and her relationship with Sednaoui made Minogue feel free to express her own creativity and talent.[6] Sednaoui also introduced her to the work of musicians including Björk, Shirley Manson and her band Garbage, Towa Tei and the band U2, all of whom would influence the musical styles on Impossible Princess.[6]

Minogue had greater freedom to make Impossible Princess sound as she wanted it to. According to music press, Minogue wanted to establish herself as an indie artist. However, she denied, telling Mixmag: "I have to keep telling people that this isn't an indie-guitar album. I'm not about to pick up a guitar and rock."[7] The song was originally titled "Clever Girl (Did It Again)".[8] While in production, Deconstruction Records' A&R Pete Hadfield fell terribly ill that lasted for a year, which meant all creative production was handled by Minogue and producers Brothers in Rhythm.[9][10] When he managed to come to some sessions, he was intentionally concerned with the lack of single choices, where he felt the songs written by Minogue were not up to commercial standards.[11] Because of this, a potential January 1997 single release was postponed so producers can make the album "perfect".[11]

Composition

Musical styles and recording

"I Don't Need Anyone" is an Motown-indie rock song that has a duration off three minutes and thirteen seconds, and was composed by Welsh performer James Dean Bradfield and Dave Eringa, along with producing the track.[1][12][13] The song contains strong instrumentation from several instruments including bass guitar by Bradfield, drums by Sean Moore, keyboards and electronic synthesizers by Nick Nasmyth, percussion instruments by Andy Duncan, flute by Simon Clarke and all additional strings by Anne Stepherson, Jocelyn Pook, Claire Orsler, Sally Herbert and Gini Ball.[1] All string arrangements were then conducted by Herbert, Nasmyth and Eringa.[1]

"[Don't Need Anyone]... is very difficult to explain because [James Dean Bradfield] pieced it together from different songs and it hasn't got a story behind it. I like the sentiment away 'I don't need anyone / except for someone that I don't know'; it is about knowing that someone is there but you can still do it on your own."[14]

—Minogue talking about "I Don't Need Anyone".

The song had attracted attention for being the second song produced by Bradfield and was noted for its similarities with lead single "Some Kind of Bliss". Nick Levine from Digital Spy had reviewed the parent album in retrospect and said that, while labeling the parent album and tracks as "over the dance-pop shop" music, he commented that "Some Kind of Bliss" and "I Don't Need Anyone" were Motowny indie tracks.[12] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine said majority off the music was "gaunt", but remained cohesive and fresh, and selected tracks like "Limbo", "Say Hey" and "I Don't Need Anyone" as examples.[15] Adrian Denning had labelled the song a "guitar based take on Motown."[16] Robin Bresnek from Melody Maker said "musically, the song is identical to the lead single, all Motown thunder and hyperactive strings [...]"[17]

Tom Parker, who had written the re-released album's liner notes, commented that "I Don't Need Anyone" is the most "straightforward" and uplifting pop song on the album and said the song introduces high octave summery music.[1] "I Don't Need Anyone" was recorded in 1996 at Mayfair Studios in London, England with the Manic Street Preachers. Bradfield and his band, Manic Street Preachers had once wanted to work with Minogue on their track "Little Baby Nothing" from the album Generation Terrorists. However, Minogue was busy, so they used Traci Lords instead. Minogue later performed the song live with the group.

Lyrical content

"I Don't Need Anyone" was originally written by Minogue herself with Welsh performer James Dean Bradfield, until credits for Nick Jones were obtained.[1] In an interview for the album promotion, Minogue said it was difficult explaining the song because off the written process.[14] Just like "Some Kind of Bliss", the original versions was written solely by Minogue and Bradfield until Nick Jones contributed and wrote lyrics to another song and combined elements from two different sets of Minogue's and Bradfield's lyrical content, only to make them more "coherent."[1] Commenting that it was a "summery song", she joked that the song was about "driving in a car with your top off [...]"[14]

The song's narrative and depiction is non-linear narrative and does not contain an cohesive stories about one emotion like the rest off Impossible Princess.[14] Despite this, Minogue commented "I like the sentiment of it anyway; 'I don't need anyone / except for someone I don't know' because its about knowing someone is there but you can do it on your own."[14] She reflected the lyrics on her relationship with French photographer and designer Stéphane Sednaoui and commented that its "nice to be with some", but she felt that she didn't need to always be with someone.[14]

According to the lyric "I don't need anyone / except for someone that I don't know,", it exemplifies Minogue's need off independent but declares her self-vulnerability and sense that she needs help to achieve this, according to Cinquemani.[15] Bresnek', the song discusses the "claustrophobic" sense and the loss of control and submission and highlighted the chorus lines as examples; Bresnek believed the lyric was about herself.[17] Parker felt the song inflicted on self-sufficiency.[1]

Critical reception

"I Don't Need Anyone" received favorable reviews from most music critics. Darren Levin from FasterLouder was positive towards Bradfield's contributions and said his penned-tracks sounds vastly ahead of its time.[18] Ben Willmott from NME was particularly negative towards the parent album and called Minogue a "fraud" and the lead single "supremly irritating." However, he was more favorable towards this track and said "At least she sounds as she means "I Don't Need Anyone" [...] Imagine "From Despair to Where" with the Mike Flowers Pop adding a touch of lounge schmaltz here and there, and a genuinely stirring delivery on Kylie's part.[19] Adrian Denning from his own online publication site adriandenning.co.uk was critical towards the albums "misconception" off being "indie", but called "I Don't Need Anyone" "enjoyable".[16]

BSX from Sputnikmusic was positive in his review and commented "[I Don’t Need Anyone] has a 1960s pop feel to it, showing her playful side like in [Some Kind of Bliss]."[20] Heather Phares from Allmusic stated "[Impossible Princess], which found her stretching and growing beyond the pop princess image she had previously" Exemplified the track and "Limbo" and "Some Kind of Bliss", she said that Minogue "found her trying on different styles to replace the bubblegum pop of the past."[13] Susan Corrigan from I-D was positive towards the album and said the song was "sensible [...]"[21] Robin Bresnek from Melody Maker highlighted the track and its "twin" "Some Kind of Bliss" as an album highlight.[17]

Live performances

Minogue has only performed the song on one off her tours, this being her 2012 Anti Tour. To promote the song, Minogue performed the song alongside "Some Kind of Bliss" on MTV (Music Television) on October 4, 1997 in order to promote the single.[22][23] This was one off her only album tracks, that were not singles, to have live performances on live television.

In April 2011, Minogue was in talks about the conception off the Anti Tour after completing her Aphrodite World Tour.[24] After announcing two sellout shows in Australia and three sellout shows in the United Kingdom, Minogue revealed the setlist and included "I Don't Need Anyone" into the list.[25][26][27] The live performance featured Minogue in the same costume as the previous dates, a white singlet with denim hot pants on, featuring three back up singers and her live band in the background.[28] The performance received positive reviews from most music critics and publications who attended the performances, with many praising her including the song on the setlist in order to revive her previous catalog.[29] Minogue released a video from the tour on her YouTube channel, and had released a rehearsel video of the track.[30][31]

Other usage

"I Don't Need Anyone" has been featured on many of Minogue's compilation albums. The songs first appearance was on her 2002 BMG greatest hits compilation album Confide in Me, a compilation consisting majority off her singles and tracks from her Deconstruction period, and Heather Phares from the publication praised the Impossible Princess tracks including "I Don't Need Anyone".[32] It then appeared on her 2004 compilation album Artist Collection, that consisted majority off her Impossible Princess era.[33] It's most recent appearance was on her second disc off Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie released in July 2007 by UK independent label Music Club.[34]

In 2006, American record label BMG had released an compilation entitled Girly's Rockin' Girls Collection which featured a collection off female pop songs. "I Don't Need Anyone" had managed to be featured and is the only non-single from Impossible Princess to have received that treatment.[35]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes and the singer's official website.[1]

Song credits

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Impossible Princess; Special Edition. Parker, Tom. 2002.
  2. ↑ Baker and Minogue, p. 99
  3. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds + Kylie Minogue – Where The Wild Roses Grow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Kylie, La La La. 'Deconstrcting Kylie', 2002.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Baker and Minogue, Hodder and Stoughton, 2002. p 108.
  7. ↑ Petridis, Alex (October 1997). "Kylie Chameleon". Mixmag (Development Hell Ltd). Retrieved 4 October 2012. OCLC 780074556
  8. ↑ "Did It Again". Kylie.com. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Baker & Minogue 2002, pp. 113–114
  10. ↑ "That's Impossible, Princess!!". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). January 1998. Retrieved 17 September 2013. ISSN 0035-791X.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kylie by Sean Smith. Pg. 138-139.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Levine, Nick (March 14, 2015). "Digital Spy - Kylie Revisted: Impossible Princess #6". Digital Spy. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 True, Chris (March 14, 2015). "AllMusic - Kylie Minogue - Confide in Me". Allmusic. p. 1. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Liner notes from An Interview with Kylie Minogue. Promo CD. #31 'Say Hey'.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Cinquemani, Sal (19 November 2003). "Kylie Minogue: Impossible Princess". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Denning, Adrian (March 14, 2015). "Kylie Minogue Albums". adriandenning.couk. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Bresnark, Robin (March 15, 2015). "Impossible Princess". Melody Maker. p. 1.
  18. ↑ http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/34198/The-Most-Underrated-Albums-Of-All-Time?page=5
  19. ↑ Willmott, Ben. "Improbable Princess" archive. NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  20. ↑ Unknown, Author (March 14, 2015). "Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess (review)". Sputnikmusic. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  21. ↑ Corrigan, Susan (March 15, 2015). "Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess (review)". I-D. p. 1. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help);
  22. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - Some Kind of Bliss (Live MTV Some Kind Of Kylie 04-10-1997)". YouTube. March 14, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - "I Don't Need Anyone" 1997". YouTube. March 14, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Kylie Minogue Talks To Us About What’s Next For Her, Following Her Les Folies Tour". Idolator. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  25. ↑ "Kylie Responds To Pleas From Fans With Two Additional Anti Tour Shows! | Kylie Minogue". Kylie.com. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  26. ↑ "Kylie Minogue's 'Anti-Tour' UK dates sell out in 3 minutes — Music News". Digital Spy. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  27. ↑ http://idolator.com/6223551/kylie-minogue-anti-tour-melbourne-watch
  28. ↑ "15 - Kylie Minogue - I Don't Need Anyone (Live @ Anti Tour 2012) HD". YouTube. March 15, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  29. ↑ Geisel, Lyn (March 15, 2015). "Live Review: Kylie Minogue "Anti-Tour" - Palace Theatre". theaureview. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - Anti Tour Rehearsals I Dont Need Anyone March 2012". YouTube. March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  31. ↑ http://kylie-unlimited.com/en/anti-tour-wont-be-released-on-dvd-anytime-soon/
  32. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Confide in Me (Album) – Kylie Minogue". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  33. ↑ Liner notes off Artist Collection: Kylie Minogue by Kylie Minogue, September 2004. BMG and Deconstruction Records.
  34. ↑ Liner notes off Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie by Kylie Minogue, July 2007. Music Club.
  35. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/girlys-rockin-girls-collection-mw0000771748