Fly Me Away
Encyclopedia
"Fly Me Away" is an electronic
song performed by British
group Goldfrapp
. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp
and Will Gregory
for the duo's third album Supernature
(2005). The song is based around a synthesizer
and orchestra
l arrangement and was written about the need to escape from the troubles of daily life.
The song was released as the album's fourth single
in May 2006 to positive reviews from music critics. It was a modest commercial success, reaching the top forty in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The song has been remixed a number of times and was featured in advertising campaigns for the US retail company Target
.
song about the need to escape from the troubles of daily life. It was composed as a collaborative effort between Alison Goldfrapp
and Will Gregory
in late 2004 in a rented cottage in the countryside of Bath, England. The song was written and recorded while Goldfrapp and Gregory were "jamming in the recording studio, bouncing song ideas off each other". "Fly Me Away" is written in the common verse-chorus form and features instrumentation from synthesizer
s and an orchestra
that was conducted by Nick Ingman
.
The North American digital EP
featured a cover version
of "Boys Will Be Boys
" as its B-side
. The song was originally performed by British rock
group The Ordinary Boys
.
advertising campaigns for the US retail company Target
. The song, along with "Number 1", was featured in six winter themed television commercials. An instrumental of the song was also featured in advertisements for L'Oréal
Feria, which starred actress Scarlett Johansson
.
"Fly Me Away" was released as a various formats throughout the world. While most territories received a CD single
and digital download
release, the single was released as a limited edition 12-inch single
in April 2006 in the UK. A DVD single
was also issued and included the "Fly Me Away: Inflight Movies (Paris - New York - London)" film, directed by Hannah Holland, and Diane Martel
's music video for "Ride A White Horse
".
The Chris Hopewell-directed music video for "Fly Me Away" was never released. Clips from the video have, however, leaked
on to the internet
, appearing on the video sharing
website YouTube
. Instead, Goldfrapp released a performance video on their MySpace
page and an animated short film version, directed by Andreas Nilsson and titled "Jakko & the Poet", on the Supernature Limited Edition DVD
.
in the UK. The song entered the UK Singles Chart
on 8 May 2006 at number twenty-six. The following week it dropped thirty-five positions to number sixty-one and exited the singles chart in its third week of release. In Ireland
, the song entered at number forty, remaining on the singles chart for one week. In the US, "Fly My Away" became Goldfrapp's fourth song to chart within the top ten of the Billboard Dance Chart
, reaching number six.
made the most well-known remix
of the song, titled the "C2 rmx 4", which was included on the limited edition CD single. The track uses Goldfrapp's original vocals over a heavy bass line and layered synths. Craig also created two other C2 remixes, which focus on Gregory's instrumentation. Ladytron
's remix of "Fly Me Away" remained close to the original, but was called less "fun and bouncy" by About.com
reviewer Mike Stier. Stier also disliked Filippo Moscatello's "Naughty rmx" writing that it did not contain the "zest and zing" that Craig's remixes had.
CD single #1
(CDMUTE361, Released 1 May 2006)
CD single #2
(LCDMUTE361, Released 1 May 2006)
DVD single
(DVDMUTE361, Released 1 May 2006)
12-inch single
(12MUTE361, Released 22 May 2006)
European maxi single
(Released 25 September 2006)
iTunes North American EP
(Released 25 September 2006)
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
song performed by British
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...
group Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
and Will Gregory
Will Gregory
William Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
for the duo's third album Supernature
Supernature (Goldfrapp album)
Supernature is the third studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2005 by Mute Records, and received mostly favourable reviews. Most critics complimented its blend of pop and electronic music, while others called it uninspiring...
(2005). The song is based around a 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...
and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l arrangement and was written about the need to escape from the troubles of daily life.
The song was released as the album's fourth single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in May 2006 to positive reviews from music critics. It was a modest commercial success, reaching the top forty in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The song has been remixed a number of times and was featured in advertising campaigns for the US retail company Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
.
Background and writing
"Fly Me Away" is a mid-tempo electronicElectronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
song about the need to escape from the troubles of daily life. It was composed as a collaborative effort between Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
and Will Gregory
Will Gregory
William Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
in late 2004 in a rented cottage in the countryside of Bath, England. The song was written and recorded while Goldfrapp and Gregory were "jamming in the recording studio, bouncing song ideas off each other". "Fly Me Away" is written in the common verse-chorus form and features instrumentation from 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...
s and an orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
that was conducted by Nick Ingman
Nick Ingman
Nicholas Ingman is an orchestra conductor and composer.Early recordings include:*'Big Beat' *'The Love Album' *'Terminator'...
.
The North American digital EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
featured a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Boys Will Be Boys
Boys Will Be Boys (song)
"Boys Will Be Boys" is a single by British rock group The Ordinary Boys.It was released in 2005, when it reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart, but it re-entered the charts in January 2006, following singer Samuel Preston's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother...
" as its B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. The song was originally performed by British rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group The Ordinary Boys
The Ordinary Boys
The Ordinary Boys are an English indie rock band from Worthing, in West Sussex, England. Originally named Next in Line, they were influenced by mod revival and Britpop music, as well as the bands Madness, The Specials, The Kinks and The Smiths...
.
Marketing and release
In late 2006, "Fly Me Away" was featured in ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
advertising campaigns for the US retail company Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
. The song, along with "Number 1", was featured in six winter themed television commercials. An instrumental of the song was also featured in advertisements for L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
Feria, which starred actress Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
.
"Fly Me Away" was released as a various formats throughout the world. While most territories received a 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...
and 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...
release, the single was released as a limited edition 12-inch single
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
in April 2006 in the UK. A DVD single
DVD single
A DVD single is a music single in the form of a DVD. The format was introduced in the late 1990s/early 2000s as a replacement for the VHS single...
was also issued and included the "Fly Me Away: Inflight Movies (Paris - New York - London)" film, directed by Hannah Holland, and Diane Martel
Diane Martel
Diane Martel is a music video director and choreographer.-Choreographer:1989*Bloodhounds of Broadway 1991*"Shiny Happy People" - R.E.M...
's music video for "Ride A White Horse
Ride a White Horse
"Ride a White Horse" is an electronic–dance song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt for Goldfrapp's third album Supernature . The song was inspired by the disco era nightclub Studio 54.The song was released as the album's...
".
The Chris Hopewell-directed music video for "Fly Me Away" was never released. Clips from the video have, however, leaked
Internet leak
An Internet leak occurs when a party's confidential information is released to the public on the Internet. Various types of information and data can be, and have been, "leaked" to the Internet, the most common being personal information, computer software and source code, and artistic works such...
on to the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, appearing on the video sharing
Video sharing
Video hosting services refers to websites or software where users can distribute their video clips. Other sites such as file hosting services image hosting services and social network services might support video sharing as an enhancement to their primary mission, but in general, they are not...
website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. Instead, Goldfrapp released a performance video on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page and an animated short film version, directed by Andreas Nilsson and titled "Jakko & the Poet", on the Supernature Limited Edition DVD
Supernature (Goldfrapp album)
Supernature is the third studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2005 by Mute Records, and received mostly favourable reviews. Most critics complimented its blend of pop and electronic music, while others called it uninspiring...
.
Chart performance
"Fly Me Away" was released in the United Kingdom on 1 May 2006. Because it was released as the fourth single, success was very limited since many consumers had already purchased the album, which at the time had been certified platinumMusic 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,...
in the UK. The song entered the UK Singles Chart
UK 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 ...
on 8 May 2006 at number twenty-six. The following week it dropped thirty-five positions to number sixty-one and exited the singles chart in its third week of release. In Ireland
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
, the song entered at number forty, remaining on the singles chart for one week. In the US, "Fly My Away" became Goldfrapp's fourth song to chart within the top ten of the Billboard Dance Chart
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
, reaching number six.
Remixes
Carl CraigCarl Craig
Carl Craig is a Detroit-based producer of techno music, and is considered to be one of the most important names in the Detroit second generation of techno producers and DJs...
made the most well-known remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of the song, titled the "C2 rmx 4", which was included on the limited edition CD single. The track uses Goldfrapp's original vocals over a heavy bass line and layered synths. Craig also created two other C2 remixes, which focus on Gregory's instrumentation. Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
's remix of "Fly Me Away" remained close to the original, but was called less "fun and bouncy" by About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
reviewer Mike Stier. Stier also disliked Filippo Moscatello's "Naughty rmx" writing that it did not contain the "zest and zing" that Craig's remixes had.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "Fly Me Away".CD single #1
(CDMUTE361, Released 1 May 2006)
- "Fly Me Away" (single version) - 3:37
- "Satin ChicSatin Boys, Flaming Chic"Satin Boys, Flaming Chic" is a limited edition 7" vinyl picture single by British duo Goldfrapp. The single features a remix of the band's song "Satin Chic" from their third album Supernature and a cover version of The Ordinary Boys' "Boys Will Be Boys", as performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge...
" (Bombay mix by The Shortwave SetThe Shortwave SetThe Shortwave Set are a British alternative pop band whose debut album, The Debt Collection, was released in 2005 on Independiente Records. The band's music combines sample-based music with more traditional songwriting and instrumentation to create a sound the group have described as "Victorian Funk"...
) - 4:41
CD single #2
(LCDMUTE361, Released 1 May 2006)
- "Fly Me Away" (C2Carl CraigCarl Craig is a Detroit-based producer of techno music, and is considered to be one of the most important names in the Detroit second generation of techno producers and DJs...
rmx 4) - 7:03 - "Fly Me Away" (LadytronLadytronLadytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
remix) - 5:26 - "You Never Know" (MúmMúmmúm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
remix) - 3:00
DVD single
(DVDMUTE361, Released 1 May 2006)
- Visuals: Fly Me Away: Inflight Movies (Paris – New York – London) - 3:11
- "Ride a White HorseRide a White Horse"Ride a White Horse" is an electronic–dance song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt for Goldfrapp's third album Supernature . The song was inspired by the disco era nightclub Studio 54.The song was released as the album's...
" music video - 3:21 - "Time Out From the World" (Fields remix - audio) - 6:01
12-inch single
(12MUTE361, Released 22 May 2006)
- "Fly Me Away" (C2 rmx 1) - 7:25
- "Fly Me Away" (C2 rmx 2) - 7:14
- "Slide In" (DFADFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
remix) - 12:59
European maxi single
(Released 25 September 2006)
- "Fly Me Away" (single version) - 3:37
- "Fly Me Away" (C2 rmx 1) - 7:25
- "Fly Me Away" (C2 rmx 4) - 6:59
- "Fly Me Away" (LadytronLadytronLadytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
remix) - 5:26 - "Satin ChicSatin Boys, Flaming Chic"Satin Boys, Flaming Chic" is a limited edition 7" vinyl picture single by British duo Goldfrapp. The single features a remix of the band's song "Satin Chic" from their third album Supernature and a cover version of The Ordinary Boys' "Boys Will Be Boys", as performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge...
" (Bombay mix by The Shortwave SetThe Shortwave SetThe Shortwave Set are a British alternative pop band whose debut album, The Debt Collection, was released in 2005 on Independiente Records. The band's music combines sample-based music with more traditional songwriting and instrumentation to create a sound the group have described as "Victorian Funk"...
) - 4:41 - "You Never Know" (MúmMúmmúm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
remix) - 3:00 - Visuals: Fly Me Away: Inflight Movies (Paris – New York – London) - 3:11
- "Ride a White HorseRide a White Horse"Ride a White Horse" is an electronic–dance song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt for Goldfrapp's third album Supernature . The song was inspired by the disco era nightclub Studio 54.The song was released as the album's...
" music video - 3:21
iTunes North American EP
(Released 25 September 2006)
- "Fly Me Away" (single version) - 3:37
- "Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys (song)"Boys Will Be Boys" is a single by British rock group The Ordinary Boys.It was released in 2005, when it reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart, but it re-entered the charts in January 2006, following singer Samuel Preston's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother...
" - 2:52 - "Fly Me Away" (C2 rmx 1) - 7:25
- "Fly Me Away" (C2 rmx 2) - 7:14
- "Fly Me Away" (The Naughty rmx) - 6:28
Personnel
The following people contributed to Fly Me Away:- Alison Goldfrapp – lead vocals, backing vocals, synthesizerSynthesizerA 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...
- Nick Batt – synthesizer, programming
- Will Gregory – synthesizer
- Mark "Spike" StentMark StentMark 'Spike' Stent is a British record producer, and audio engineer who has worked with The KLF, Björk, Keane, Depeche Mode, Muse, Erasure, Hard-Fi, Massive Attack, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Marilyn Manson, Pet Shop Boys, Dave Matthews, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, CSS, Beth Orton,...
– mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Ted Jensen – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
40 |
| UK Singles Chart UK 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 ... |
26 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
6 |