Call the Shots
Encyclopedia
"Call the Shots" is a song performed by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud
, taken from their fourth studio album Tangled Up
(2007). The song was written by Miranda Cooper
, Brian Higgins
and his production team Xenomania
, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania. Inspired by an article about the advance of women in business, "Call the Shots" showed a more mature side of Girls Aloud and proved to be commercially successful upon its release in November 2007. It charted at number three in the band's native United Kingdom
, continuing Girls Aloud's five-year streak of top ten hits, and received a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry
.
The music video was filmed in Los Angeles
, California
. "Call the Shots" was promoted through numerous live appearances, including a high-profile performance on The X Factor
, and has since been performed on all of Girls Aloud's subsequent concert tours. The song, described as "an elegant electro-pop ballad," received positive reviews from most contemporary music critics. Music journalist, Peter Robinson
, who runs the successful Popjustice
describes the song as the "greatest pop song of the 21st century".
against an introduction and chorus heavy on synthesizer
. The song is written in D major
with a time signature
in common time
and a tempo
of 126 beats per minute. The vocal range spans from B3
to B4. The chord progression
s vary throughout the song, but include Bm, G♯m, G, Em, A, and D. The song follows verse-chorus form
, which is rare for a Girls Aloud song to do.
The song's lyricist, Miranda Cooper
, said that "Call the Shots" was actually "inspired by an article she read on something called (coincidentally) the Miranda Complex, named after the ambitious lawyer in Sex and the City
, about how women are earning more than men and pushing ahead." The song's music was initially composed by Xenomania in 2005. The lyrics were written a year later during a songwriting session in Paris, France. "Call the Shots" was almost put forward as a single for Girls Aloud's 2006 greatest hits compilation The Sound of Girls Aloud
, but the song was deemed "too downbeat, when a greatest hits single needs to be a celebration." Cheryl Cole
told the Daily Star that the song is her favourite from Tangled Up
, and that it "gives me goosebumps
".
on 17 November 2007, although they performed the song at a UNICEF charity ball. During promotion, Girls Aloud announced details of their 2008 Tangled Up Tour
.
"Call the Shots" was made available digitally alongside the release of Tangled Up
on 19 November 2007. A physical CD single
followed a week afterwards. One version of the CD single includes Girls Aloud's version of the Amy Winehouse
song "Rehab", as performed on the BBC Radio 1
programme Jo Whiley
's Live Lounge
. The second disc includes an original composition entitled "Blow Your Cover", co-written by Girls Aloud. It also includes the Xenomania Club Mix of "Call the Shots". The Tony Lamezma's Sniper Mix was released as an exclusive digital download
on the iTunes Store
.
described the song as having "a wonderfully ambient feel, echoing an arty electro band." Digital Spy
also praised the song, calling it "more tasteful than some of the more lurid, poke-you-in-the-eyes pop glories of previous hits". Kim Dawson, a writer for the Daily Star, said that it was "one of their best yet". The Daily Star described the song as "classy electronic Euro-pop
with real edge" in their exclusive track by track review of Tangled Up on 7 November 2007. However, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian
noted that "its structure and production seem a bit commonplace coming from the people who made Biology, an audacious three-minute pop single on which the chorus didn't turn up for a full two minutes." John Murphy of musicOMH
agreed but still liked the song: "It's sheer normality sounds a bit jarring at first listen, given the slightly unhinged nature of much of their previous singles, but that naggingly insistent chorus soon wears its way into the brain."
Digital Spy
placed it at number 17 in their countdown of the top singles of 2007, nothing that the song "proved Girls Aloud hadn't lost their knack for making supremely catchy pop hits." In 2008, the song won the Popjustice £20 Music Prize
- Girls Aloud's fourth win. Popjustice
writer Peter Robinson
referred to "Call the Shots" as the "greatest pop song of the 21st century."
at number nine. It became their seventeenth consecutive top ten single, as well as their second single to chart in the top ten on downloads alone. The following week, "Call the Shots" rose six places to peak at number three. It managed to stay at number three the following week, but slipped to number five in its fourth week. Through the Christmas week chart, the single managed to stay in the top ten, returning to its debut position of number nine. It then returned to number seven for two weeks. Following its seven consecutive weeks in the top ten, "Call the Shots" fell to number eleven. The single spent a total of twenty-five weeks in the chart; it briefly reentered in November 2008 following the popularity of "The Promise
". "Call the Shots" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry
.
's video for "I'd Wait for Life
". The video was filmed in October 2007 in Malibu, California, while Girls Aloud were filming The Passions of Girls Aloud. The video features the girls in purple dresses performing on Malibu Beach at night with flames and white fabric surrounding them.
The girls are also shown in different locations with individual story lines. Cole is simply seen looking out of a sunny window. Walsh is sat in front of a mirror, putting on make-up; her boyfriend comes to get her and they hug, though she appears to be sad. Coyle is seated on a couch, flipping through photographs with her and a man. She takes a lighter to the photos and sets them alight. Roberts is lying down by a swimming pool, running her fingers through the water. Her boyfriend walks up to her with a bouquet of flowers and tosses them into the water. Harding watches her boyfriend in the shower and goes through his phone.
The video premièred on The Box, Smash Hits! TV
and The Hits
on 17 October 2007.
. Girls Aloud wore coordinated white or black dresses with gold or silver embellishment, performing a simple dance routine against a glittered backdrop. The performance ended with an explosion of pyrotechnics. The group also performed the song on The Paul O'Grady Show
, This Morning
, and the Top of the Pops
Christmas special. The band visited BBC Radio 1
to sing an acoustic version of "Call the Shots" on Jo Whiley
's Live Lounge
, alongside an acoustic cover of Robyn
's "With Every Heartbeat
", and they also visited 96.4FM BRMB to perform the song as a part of their Live at the Local set. Girls Aloud also performed "Call the Shots" at a UNICEF charity ball and at London
gay nightclub
G-A-Y
for a World AIDS Day
charity event, in addition to their appearance at 2008's V Festival
. The song was showcased on the ITV1
special The Girls Aloud Party
.
Girls Aloud have performed "Call the Shots" on each of their concert tours since its release. They performed the song in gold sequined minidresses on 2008's Tangled Up Tour
. The following year, the song was the final in a section performed in the middle of the venue on the Out of Control Tour
. "Call the Shots" was also performed at Wembley Stadium
when Girls Aloud opened for Coldplay
.
UK CD2 (Fascination / 1753047)
iTunes Exclusive digital download
The Singles Boxset (CD17)
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
, taken from their fourth studio album Tangled Up
Tangled Up
Tangled Up is the fourth studio album by the British all-female pop group Girls Aloud. It was released in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2007 by Fascination Records. Like their previous albums, Tangled Up was crafted by the production team of Brian Higgins and Xenomania...
(2007). The song was written by Miranda Cooper
Miranda Cooper
Miranda Eleanor De Fonbrune Cooper has been on the UK charts longer than any other female songwriter in the country. In 2007 Harper's Bazaar wrote of her: ‘If it's a hit you want, you'd better talk to Cooper...
, Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins (producer)
Brian Thomas Higgins is a British music producer who has written and produced albums and tracks for several highly successful pop music singers and groups, most notably Girls Aloud, through his Xenomania production group...
and his production team Xenomania
Xenomania
Xenomania is a British songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins and based in Kent, England. Formed after Higgins met Miranda Cooper, Xenomania has written and produced for renowned artists such as Cher, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, and Sugababes...
, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania. Inspired by an article about the advance of women in business, "Call the Shots" showed a more mature side of Girls Aloud and proved to be commercially successful upon its release in November 2007. It charted at number three in the band's native United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, continuing Girls Aloud's five-year streak of top ten hits, and received a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
.
The music video was filmed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. "Call the Shots" was promoted through numerous live appearances, including a high-profile performance on The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, and has since been performed on all of Girls Aloud's subsequent concert tours. The song, described as "an elegant electro-pop ballad," received positive reviews from most contemporary music critics. Music journalist, Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson may refer to:* Peter Robinson , member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada who oversaw emigration schemes* Peter Robinson , professor at the University of Cambridge...
, who runs the successful Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
describes the song as the "greatest pop song of the 21st century".
Background and composition
Described as "an elegant electro-pop ballad delivered with a restraint and maturity to rival groups of twice their age," the song juxtaposes guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
against an introduction and chorus heavy on synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
. The song is written in D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
with a time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
and a tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of 126 beats per minute. The vocal range spans from B3
B (musical note)
B, also known as H, Si or Ti, is the seventh note of the solfège. It lies a chromatic semitone below C and is thus the enharmonic equivalent of C-flat....
to B4. The chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
s vary throughout the song, but include Bm, G♯m, G, Em, A, and D. The song follows verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse , in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted...
, which is rare for a Girls Aloud song to do.
The song's lyricist, Miranda Cooper
Miranda Cooper
Miranda Eleanor De Fonbrune Cooper has been on the UK charts longer than any other female songwriter in the country. In 2007 Harper's Bazaar wrote of her: ‘If it's a hit you want, you'd better talk to Cooper...
, said that "Call the Shots" was actually "inspired by an article she read on something called (coincidentally) the Miranda Complex, named after the ambitious lawyer in Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
, about how women are earning more than men and pushing ahead." The song's music was initially composed by Xenomania in 2005. The lyrics were written a year later during a songwriting session in Paris, France. "Call the Shots" was almost put forward as a single for Girls Aloud's 2006 greatest hits compilation The Sound of Girls Aloud
The Sound of Girls Aloud
The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits anthology by British and Irish all-female pop group Girls Aloud. It was released in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2006 and entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, making it Girls Aloud's first number one album. As of...
, but the song was deemed "too downbeat, when a greatest hits single needs to be a celebration." Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
told the Daily Star that the song is her favourite from Tangled Up
Tangled Up
Tangled Up is the fourth studio album by the British all-female pop group Girls Aloud. It was released in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2007 by Fascination Records. Like their previous albums, Tangled Up was crafted by the production team of Brian Higgins and Xenomania...
, and that it "gives me goosebumps
Goose bumps
Goose bumps, also called goose flesh, goose pimples, chill bumps, chicken skin, funky spots, Dasler Bumps, chicken bumps or the medical term cutis anserina, are the bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which may involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong...
".
Release
The single leaked weeks ahead of schedule. Despite this, a 30-second clip appeared on the group's official website in October 2007 ahead of the official radio premiere. Unusually for Girls Aloud's promotional campaigns, the song's first televised performance was not until their appearance on The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
on 17 November 2007, although they performed the song at a UNICEF charity ball. During promotion, Girls Aloud announced details of their 2008 Tangled Up Tour
Tangled Up Tour
The Tangled Up Tour was the fourth concert tour third arena tour, by British pop group Girls Aloud, in support of the group's fourth studio album Tangled Up. The tour was initially announced to reach arenas across the United Kingdom in November 2007. The shows commenced in Belfast on 3 May 2008 and...
.
"Call the Shots" was made available digitally alongside the release of Tangled Up
Tangled Up
Tangled Up is the fourth studio album by the British all-female pop group Girls Aloud. It was released in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2007 by Fascination Records. Like their previous albums, Tangled Up was crafted by the production team of Brian Higgins and Xenomania...
on 19 November 2007. A physical CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
followed a week afterwards. One version of the CD single includes Girls Aloud's version of the Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
song "Rehab", as performed on the BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
programme Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
's Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
. The second disc includes an original composition entitled "Blow Your Cover", co-written by Girls Aloud. It also includes the Xenomania Club Mix of "Call the Shots". The Tony Lamezma's Sniper Mix was released as an exclusive digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
.
Critical reception
"Call the Shots" was mostly praised by contemporary music critics, who felt the song showed a more elegant and mature side to Girls Aloud. Marie ClaireMarie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
described the song as having "a wonderfully ambient feel, echoing an arty electro band." Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
also praised the song, calling it "more tasteful than some of the more lurid, poke-you-in-the-eyes pop glories of previous hits". Kim Dawson, a writer for the Daily Star, said that it was "one of their best yet". The Daily Star described the song as "classy electronic Euro-pop
Europop
Europop refers to a style of pop music that first developed in today's form in Europe, throughout the late 1970s. Europop topped the charts throughout the 1980s and ’90s...
with real edge" in their exclusive track by track review of Tangled Up on 7 November 2007. However, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
noted that "its structure and production seem a bit commonplace coming from the people who made Biology, an audacious three-minute pop single on which the chorus didn't turn up for a full two minutes." John Murphy of musicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
agreed but still liked the song: "It's sheer normality sounds a bit jarring at first listen, given the slightly unhinged nature of much of their previous singles, but that naggingly insistent chorus soon wears its way into the brain."
Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
placed it at number 17 in their countdown of the top singles of 2007, nothing that the song "proved Girls Aloud hadn't lost their knack for making supremely catchy pop hits." In 2008, the song won the Popjustice £20 Music Prize
Popjustice £20 Music Prize
The Popjustice £20 Music Prize is an annual prize awarded by a panel of judges organised by music website Popjustice to the singer of the best British pop single of the past year....
- Girls Aloud's fourth win. Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
writer Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson (journalist)
Peter Robinson is a British music journalist. He is the creator of the pop music-based blog Popjustice. Robinson first came to the attention of music fans with his self-published biography/fanzine of The KLF, Justified and Ancient History...
referred to "Call the Shots" as the "greatest pop song of the 21st century."
Chart performance and sales
Following the availability of "Call the Shots" due to the release of Tangled Up, the song entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number nine. It became their seventeenth consecutive top ten single, as well as their second single to chart in the top ten on downloads alone. The following week, "Call the Shots" rose six places to peak at number three. It managed to stay at number three the following week, but slipped to number five in its fourth week. Through the Christmas week chart, the single managed to stay in the top ten, returning to its debut position of number nine. It then returned to number seven for two weeks. Following its seven consecutive weeks in the top ten, "Call the Shots" fell to number eleven. The single spent a total of twenty-five weeks in the chart; it briefly reentered in November 2008 following the popularity of "The Promise
The Promise (Girls Aloud song)
"The Promise" is a pop song performed by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, taken from their fifth studio album Out of Control . The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania...
". "Call the Shots" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
.
Music video
The video was directed by Sean de Sparengo, who previously directed Take ThatTake That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
's video for "I'd Wait for Life
I'd Wait for Life
"I'd Wait for Life" was the third single released from Take That's album Beautiful World.-Background:The song was written by Take That. Featuring Gary Barlow on lead vocals, the single was released internationally on June 18, 2007 as a download and CD Single. Take That performed the song live on...
". The video was filmed in October 2007 in Malibu, California, while Girls Aloud were filming The Passions of Girls Aloud. The video features the girls in purple dresses performing on Malibu Beach at night with flames and white fabric surrounding them.
The girls are also shown in different locations with individual story lines. Cole is simply seen looking out of a sunny window. Walsh is sat in front of a mirror, putting on make-up; her boyfriend comes to get her and they hug, though she appears to be sad. Coyle is seated on a couch, flipping through photographs with her and a man. She takes a lighter to the photos and sets them alight. Roberts is lying down by a swimming pool, running her fingers through the water. Her boyfriend walks up to her with a bouquet of flowers and tosses them into the water. Harding watches her boyfriend in the shower and goes through his phone.
The video premièred on The Box, Smash Hits! TV
Smash Hits TV
Smash Hits! is a British commercial television channel provided by Box Television. The channel broadcasts general pop music in shows such as Chartbusters, which is recent music and Pop Domination, which is new and old music. It also shows other programmes such as themed countdowns and charts such...
and The Hits
The Hits
The Hits was a music video channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, owned by Box Television.-Overview and availability:The channel showcased a range of pop centering on chart hits and current favourites...
on 17 October 2007.
Live performances
"Call the Shots" received its first televised live performance on The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
. Girls Aloud wore coordinated white or black dresses with gold or silver embellishment, performing a simple dance routine against a glittered backdrop. The performance ended with an explosion of pyrotechnics. The group also performed the song on The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
, This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
, and the Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
Christmas special. The band visited BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
to sing an acoustic version of "Call the Shots" on Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
's Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
, alongside an acoustic cover of Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
's "With Every Heartbeat
With Every Heartbeat
"With Every Heartbeat" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn with Swedish producer Kleerup. It was released on 30 July 2007 in the United Kingdom as the second single from the international edition of Robyn's self-titled fourth studio album, Robyn...
", and they also visited 96.4FM BRMB to perform the song as a part of their Live at the Local set. Girls Aloud also performed "Call the Shots" at a UNICEF charity ball and at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
gay nightclub
Gay bar
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clientele; the term gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and queer communities...
G-A-Y
G-A-Y
G-A-Y is a gay nightclub in London. It operated from the London Astoria music venue for 15 years until July 2008. The Boston Globe described it as "London's largest gay-themed club night", NME reported that it "attracts 6,000 clubbers each week", and The Independent described it as "the one London...
for a World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...
charity event, in addition to their appearance at 2008's V Festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
. The song was showcased on the ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
special The Girls Aloud Party
The Girls Aloud Party
The Girls Aloud Party was a one-off Christmas variety show starring British girl group Girls Aloud, produced for ITV. The show was aired on 13 December 2008, in between The X Factor series finale and its results show....
.
Girls Aloud have performed "Call the Shots" on each of their concert tours since its release. They performed the song in gold sequined minidresses on 2008's Tangled Up Tour
Tangled Up Tour
The Tangled Up Tour was the fourth concert tour third arena tour, by British pop group Girls Aloud, in support of the group's fourth studio album Tangled Up. The tour was initially announced to reach arenas across the United Kingdom in November 2007. The shows commenced in Belfast on 3 May 2008 and...
. The following year, the song was the final in a section performed in the middle of the venue on the Out of Control Tour
Out of Control Tour
The Out of Control Tour is Girls Aloud's fourth arena-based concert tour and their fifth tour overall. The tour started on 24 April 2009 in Manchester's MEN Arena, with the final show on 6 June 2009 in Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena...
. "Call the Shots" was also performed at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
when Girls Aloud opened for Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
.
Cover versions
- Bloc PartyBloc PartyBloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
covered the song for the BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
programme Jo WhileyJo WhileyJohanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
's Live LoungeLive LoungeThe Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
. - Billy CorganBilly CorganWilliam Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
, ColdplayColdplayColdplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, David JordanDavid Jordan (singer)David Jordan is an English singer-songwriter.Born to a mother from Montserrat and a father from Calcutta, Jordan has been writing pop-rock songs since he was 11 . Growing up his music idol was Prince...
, Fyfe DangerfieldFyfe DangerfieldFyfe Antony Dangerfield Hutchins is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the founding member of the indie rock band Guillemots.-Early life:...
, and Mark MorrissMark MorrissMark James Morriss is an English singer-songwriter. He is the lead singer for The Bluetones, and is the older brother of bandmate Scott Morriss. He is also pursuing a solo career....
have performed a cover of "Call the Shots" at live concerts. - Malcolm MiddletonMalcolm MiddletonMalcolm Bruce Middleton is a Scottish musician best known for his work with Aidan Moffat in post-folk indie band Arab Strap as well as his solo career writing and producing...
covered the song for his 2009 EP Girl Songs. - Hold Fire have included a cover of "Call the Shots" on an EP sold at their gigs.
Formats and track listings
UK CD1 (Fascination / 1749896)- "Call the Shots" — 3:43
- "Rehab" (Live LoungeLive LoungeThe Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
cover) (Winehouse) — 3:42
UK CD2 (Fascination / 1753047)
- "Call the Shots" — 3:43
- "Call the Shots" (Xenomania Club Mix) — 4:50
- "Blow Your Cover" (Girls Aloud, Cooper, Higgins, Jody Lei, Xenomania) — 3:27
- "Call the Shots" (video) — 3:43
iTunes Exclusive digital download
- "Call the Shots" (Tony Lamezma's Sniper Mix) — 7:22
The Singles Boxset (CD17)
- "Call the Shots" — 3:43
- "Rehab" (Live Lounge cover) — 3:42
- "Call the Shots" (Xenomania Club Mix) — 4:50
- "Blow Your Cover" — 3:27
- "Call the Shots" (Tony Lamezma's Sniper Mix) — 7:22
- "Call the Shots" (Tony Lamezma's Radio Edit) — 3:29
- "Call the Shots" (video) — 3:43
Credits and personnel
- Guitar: Nick Coler, Owen Parker
- Keyboards: Miranda CooperMiranda CooperMiranda Eleanor De Fonbrune Cooper has been on the UK charts longer than any other female songwriter in the country. In 2007 Harper's Bazaar wrote of her: ‘If it's a hit you want, you'd better talk to Cooper...
, Brian HigginsBrian Higgins (producer)Brian Thomas Higgins is a British music producer who has written and produced albums and tracks for several highly successful pop music singers and groups, most notably Girls Aloud, through his Xenomania production group...
, Matt Gray, Tim Powell, Toby Scott - Mastering: Dick Beetham for 360 Mastering
- Mixing: Jeremy Wheatley
- Production: Brian Higgins, XenomaniaXenomaniaXenomania is a British songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins and based in Kent, England. Formed after Higgins met Miranda Cooper, Xenomania has written and produced for renowned artists such as Cher, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, and Sugababes...
- Programming: Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Matt Gray, Tim Powell, Toby Scott
- Songwriting: Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Lisa Cowling, Giselle Somerville
- Vocals: Girls AloudGirls AloudGirls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
- Published by Warner/Chappell MusicWarner/Chappell MusicWarner/Chappell Music, Inc. is an American music publishing company, and a division of the Warner Music Group. The company traces its origins back to 1811 and the founding of Chappell & Company, a music publishing company and instrument shop on London’s Bond Street that, in 1929, began a rapid...
and Xenomania Music
Charts
| Chart (2007/2008) | Peak position |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2007/2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (2007 2007 in British music This is a summary of the year 2007 in British music. It was the first year of digital downloads being fully integrated into the charts, leading to many songs not given physical releases to enter the chart on download sales alone. Leona Lewis had the most successful single of the year, with Bleeding... ) |
59 |
| UK Singles (2008 2008 in British music This is a summary of the year 2008 in British music. 21 singles occupied the number one position during the year, with 11 being new. The average sale for a number one, for the whole of 2008 was 71,528, a vast improvement over 2007, when the average sale for a number one was 55,425... ) |
84 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
Silver |