I Need You (N-Dubz song)
Encyclopedia
"I Need You" is a song performed, written and produced by MOBO
Award-winning English
hip hop
trio
, N-Dubz
. The song was written by all the group members: Dappy, Fazer
and Tulisa
. Dappy and Fazer have been noted as the track's producers. Released through All Around The World
on November 9, 2009, "I Need You" acted as the group's eighth official single as well as the lead single from their Platinum
-certified second album, Against All Odds
.
. "I Need You" is a hip-house song that uses club synthesisers and siren
s that were described by Digital Spy
as "Hawk
ish." Among the influences in the song include: R&B
, pop
, house
and British hip hop
. The track is composed in the key of A-minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute. The track has a vocal structure of intro - verse - chorus - verse - chorus - bridge - chorus - outro. The intro and outro use lines from the chorus where Dappy sings and ad-libs, the outro however combines ad-libs of both Dappy and Tulisa
. The first verse and chorus
is sung and rap
ped in call-response by Dappy. The second verse is sung in call-response by Tulisa, who then joins in on call-response with Dappy in the second and final choruses. Fazer raps the song's bridge. Ad-libs are sung throughout the song by Dappy with Tulisa contributing to the ad-libs in the final chorus.
In an interview, Dappy described the song as being "up-tempo, fast, party music" as well as being "Up-to-date and about Facebook
and stuff." The song lyrics follow a theme of infatuation and disappointment with each member describing their own personal experience of how they met someone they thought was 'The one' and how the person left before they were able to get the phone number. References by Dappy include how he searched on Facebook for the woman he never got a phone number from. Tulisa's story includes how she wore a "LBD" and "Bang bang shoes" when leaving her date for a moment to go to the ladies bathroom at a club and on return discovering he left her without his phone number. Despite the lyric in the song referring to searching for someone you are in love with on Facebook, in an interview with Hollyoaks
, Dappy said that that is not something he does:
The single made A-list rotation on BBC Radio 1
on October 21 - making it the trio's second single to be A-listed on the station after "Strong Again
" which was A-listed in early 2009. The song garnered commercial success for the group in both the United Kingdom
and Ireland
, where it reached peaks of #5 and #22. The song became the group's most successful single and first top ten hit as solo artists. A modern, club-scene inspired music video
directed by Rage, to "I Need You" was released on September 21, 2009. N-Dubz promoted the single by performing it on various television
and radio
shows. Of which included: GMTV
, Live Lounge
and T4's Stars of 2009
. "I Need You" became the group's second single to feature on a Now That's What I Call Music! compilation after "Strong Again
" featured on Now That's What I Call Music! 72. The single featured as track number seven on disc number one of the Now That's What I Call Music! 74" compilation. It also features on R&B The Collection 2010.
gave the song a positive review: "Unafraid to drop a line like "My name's Shaniqua and what?", it was only a matter of time before N-Dubz
turned their large underground following into mainstream success. Now, having shifted over 500,000 copies of debut disc Uncle B
and reached No.1 alongside Tinchy Stryder
, the Camden
trio are aiming to become leaders of the Brrap pack with second album Against All Odds
. Reflecting their move up pop
's pecking order, this trailer single is their biggest, most bombastic moment yet. It's got hawk
ish siren
s and loads of clubby synths - evidently inspired by Fraser T. Smith
's production on the Tinchy album - but N-Dubz haven't lost their usual quirky charm, dropping in oh-so-relevant references to Facebook
and LBDs (that's "little black dress", fellas). With an appeal that extends far beyond the back of the bus, 'I Need You' is – to borrow a word from the inimitable Dappy - probably best described as a "smasher"." Sarah-Louise James of the Daily Star reviewed the single as: "British hip-house at its fizziest." Alt-Uk.net reviewed the track: "I Need You is an absolute fun-packed single from N-Dubz, and whilst listening to this one it really is difficult not to start singing along. N-Dubz once again demonstrates here a great knack for penning a perfect pop song, and this group certainly seems to know what it’s doing when it comes to making the music as infectious as possible." Fraser McAlpine of the BBC
Chart Blog also positively reviewed the song, mentioning: "It's this kind of bonkers happenstance which I love. I basically do internal bogglejumps whenever they do something like that. Pop songs are so safe, and N-Dubz seem to wander over the lines of acceptable behaviour almost as if they don't realise they are there." The Chemistry Is Dead described the single as being "much more mainstream" as well as something that would "appeal to their old fans and new fans alike." Inside Gossip labelled "I Need You" as a "club banger that has set the standards and told the world that they are here and that they are not one hit wonders."
issued for November 12, 2009. It dropped five places to #27 the following week and on November 26, 2009 it dropped eight places to #35. The single dropped four places to #39 in its final week of charting on December 3, 2009. It spent a total of four weeks in the chart and is the group's most successful single on this chart as solo artists.
On November 15, 2009, "I Need You" debuted and peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart
with sales of 49,615, it is the highest entry for N-Dubz
on the UK Singles Chart
. The single was released in the UK in a week which saw various other big name artists competing for a position in the top ten, including Leona Lewis
who debuted at #2 with her single "Happy
". N-Dubz
managed to outsell Britney Spears
who debuted at #7 with her single "3
" as well as Sugababes
who debuted at #8 with their single "About a Girl
." The following week on November 22, "I Need You" dropped four places to #9, selling 31,349 copies for that week, and in its third week on the chart, the single dropped four places to #13. On December 6, 2009 the song dropped fourteen spots to #27 before falling a further seven spots the week after to #34. For the chart issued for the week ending December 26, the single fell ten places to #44 on its sixth week of charting. After the Christmas
period of 2009 and upon the new year into 2010, the single started rebounding on the chart - climbing a place to #43 in week seven and then climbing a further seven places to re-enter the top forty at #36 in week eight. Its ninth week on the chart saw it drop out of the top forty for the second time to #47. "I Need You" has spent a total of nine weeks within the chart and has sold an estimate of over 145,000 copies. "I Need You" is N-Dubz's highest charting single as a solo artist outpeaking previous record holder, "Papa Can You Hear Me?
"'s peak of #19.
In an interview with RWD Mag, Tulisa
explained how she felt about the single reaching #5 on the charts:
for "I Need You" was filmed on September 13, 2009. It was produced by Luti Fagbenle
who has produced music videos for the likes of Craig David
and Mr Hudson. The video was directed by American
director Dale "Rage" Resteghini
and edited by John Holloway. The official music video premiered on 4music
on September 20, 2009. Rage also directed the group's music video for previous single "Wouldn't You
". The music video begins with the "N-Dubz" logo appearing onscreen. The group is then shown arriving at the (Battersea) London Heliport
in an atmosphere of stormy weather. Dappy arrives in a personalized helicopter
also with the N-Dubz logo on, Fazer
arrives on a 2004 Yamaha R1 with race fairings, and Tulisa
arrives in a white Lamborghini Gallardo SE. The three members then come together as a group and start performing the song at the Heliport in front of the modes of the transport they came in. This scene is continuously in a call-and-response with the scene in the nightclub. In this Dappy wears a black hoodie
underneath a white Adidas
pullover and black sunglasses. Tulisa sports a new hairstyle from previous music videos, with straight hair and a fringe which is tied up in this scene. She is wearing tight black pants and a blue sweater over a white shirt. Fazer is seen wearing a black leather jacket lined in white on the bottom ends, black sunglasses and a black beanie. The group are then arrive together at the Vendrome nightclub in Mayfair London
and cuts back to the roof throughout the video. In this scene Dappy is seen wearing his characteristic headpiece, coloured in red for the video to contrast with its black-red colour theme, he wears a red hoodie that is striped with black lines. Tulisa is seen wearing a 'LBD' and 'bang bang shoes,' with her hair untied and made-up with red lipstick. Fazer has a red hoodie on with a matching red cap. Each member is seen singing to a partner in the club, where when they leave to go somewhere and come back their partner disappears. Dappy's scene takes place on a red sofa, Tulisa's in a secluded white room and Fazer's on the dancefloor. After the group members' partners left them, they can all be seen sitting on a sofa in the dancefloor area of the nightclub singing. In one scene Dappy can be seen accessing Facebook
to find his missing partner - contrasting with the song's lyric 'I've been searching all over Facebook but I can't seem to find you'. Tulisa in another scene can be seen taking a picture of herself and her partner with a mobile phone. Prominent flashing lights and neons are visible throughout the video, of which take on a red colour in the nightclub and a white colour on the rooftop and at the Heliport. The music video ends with the members walking away from the camera which then cuts to a view of city lights.
Digital Spy
said of the video: "They have really upped their game and splashed the cash. One scene sees Dappy flying a personalised helicopter. He had to fly it himself with an instructor by his side and he was very nervous". The music video has received over 10,000,000 views on YouTube
. In an interview with Digital Spy, Dappy described the music video as being "Big and phat" and despite the director, Rage, being American, "It still feels very British
".
. November 4, 2009 saw the trio do a mini interview and performance of the single on GMTV
.
The threesome also performed the track at a Shaw and Crampton school where they took part in an anti-bullying campaign. On November 12, N-Dubz
performed "I Need You" on BBC Radio 1
show, Live Lounge
which also saw the group cover "The Man Who Can't Be Moved
", the signature song and hit single by Irish
band The Script. On November 29, "I Need You" was performed on T4's Stars of 2009
at Earl's Court in London
, also at the event were Kasabian, La Roux
, Calvin Harris
and Tinchy Stryder
.
On December 5, N-Dubz performed the track in a set-list which included the group's other singles: "Number 1," "Papa Can You Hear Me?
," "Playing With Fire
" and "Strong Again
" as part of Clubland 3 promotion at the HMV Apollo alongside the likes of Cascada
, Agnes
and Mini Viva
. On December 5, N-Dubz performed the single alongside the likes of Lady Gaga
, JLS
and The Saturdays
at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball
.
Airplaywise, "I Need You" was strongly promoted and a great success. On September 30, 2009, it was playlisted onto BBC Radio 1
C-list. On October 7, it moved up to B-list rotation after just one week of airplay. The single remained on B-list rotation for another week on October 14. "I Need You" was then moved up to A-list rotation on October 21, giving N-Dubz their second A-list single after "Strong Again
" was A-listed on the station in early 2009. The song spent a total of five weeks on the A-list, its last week on the playlist being the one of November 18.
Mobo
Mobo can refer to:*Shorthand for the motherboard in computers and other electronic equipment*Shorthand for a mobile [network] operator or MNO *Shorthand for a mobile bohemian, a person who embraces mobile technology...
Award-winning English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
. The song was written by all the group members: Dappy, Fazer
Richard Rawson
Richard Rawson , better known by his stage name Fazer, is a British rapper, producer, DJ and actor. He is popularly known as a member of hip hop trio N-Dubz.-Early life:...
and Tulisa
Tulisa Contostavlos
Tula Paulinea "Tulisa" Contostavlos is an English singer-songwriter and actress of Greek and Irish descent. She is best known for being a member of the Camden-based hip hop group N-Dubz, with her cousin Dappy and their friend Fazer...
. Dappy and Fazer have been noted as the track's producers. Released through All Around The World
All Around The World (record label)
All Around the World Productions Limited is a record label from Blackburn, England. The label specialises in Dance Music and most recently R&B.-History:AATW was founded by directors Matt Cadman & Cris Nutall in 1991....
on November 9, 2009, "I Need You" acted as the group's eighth official single as well as the lead single from their Platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
-certified second album, Against All Odds
Against All Odds (N-Dubz album)
Against All Odds is the second platinum selling studio album by N-Dubz. The album was released in Ireland on 13 November 2009 and was released on 16 November 2009 in the UK.-Background: given by tulisa conastovlos...
.
Background
The song was written by all the members of the group, and produced by members Dappy and FazerRichard Rawson
Richard Rawson , better known by his stage name Fazer, is a British rapper, producer, DJ and actor. He is popularly known as a member of hip hop trio N-Dubz.-Early life:...
. "I Need You" is a hip-house song that uses club synthesisers and siren
Siren
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous mermaid like creatures, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli...
s that were described by 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....
as "Hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
ish." Among the influences in the song include: R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
and British hip hop
British hip hop
British hip hop is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of urban music...
. The track is composed in the key of A-minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute. The track has a vocal structure of intro - verse - chorus - verse - chorus - bridge - chorus - outro. The intro and outro use lines from the chorus where Dappy sings and ad-libs, the outro however combines ad-libs of both Dappy and Tulisa
Tulisa Contostavlos
Tula Paulinea "Tulisa" Contostavlos is an English singer-songwriter and actress of Greek and Irish descent. She is best known for being a member of the Camden-based hip hop group N-Dubz, with her cousin Dappy and their friend Fazer...
. The first verse and chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
is sung and rap
Rap
Rap may refer to:*Rapping, performance in which rhyming lyrics are used, with or without musical accompaniment ; while an MC performs spoken verses in time to a beat/ melody**Hip hop subculture**Hip hop music...
ped in call-response by Dappy. The second verse is sung in call-response by Tulisa, who then joins in on call-response with Dappy in the second and final choruses. Fazer raps the song's bridge. Ad-libs are sung throughout the song by Dappy with Tulisa contributing to the ad-libs in the final chorus.
In an interview, Dappy described the song as being "up-tempo, fast, party music" as well as being "Up-to-date and about Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and stuff." The song lyrics follow a theme of infatuation and disappointment with each member describing their own personal experience of how they met someone they thought was 'The one' and how the person left before they were able to get the phone number. References by Dappy include how he searched on Facebook for the woman he never got a phone number from. Tulisa's story includes how she wore a "LBD" and "Bang bang shoes" when leaving her date for a moment to go to the ladies bathroom at a club and on return discovering he left her without his phone number. Despite the lyric in the song referring to searching for someone you are in love with on Facebook, in an interview with Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
, Dappy said that that is not something he does:
If I want to get in touch with someone, I'll just ring them, man. A lot of girls might be trying to find me on Facebook, but they won't. They'll find a fake one.
The single made A-list rotation on 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...
on October 21 - making it the trio's second single to be A-listed on the station after "Strong Again
Strong Again
"Strong Again" is a song by English hip hop trio, N-Dubz. It is the sixth single from their debut album Uncle B and was produced by Kano and Fraser T Smith. The song was featured on the album advert before it was confirmed to be a single. This song features on the UK compilation album Now That's...
" which was A-listed in early 2009. The song garnered commercial success for the group in both the 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...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where it reached peaks of #5 and #22. The song became the group's most successful single and first top ten hit as solo artists. A modern, club-scene inspired music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
directed by Rage, to "I Need You" was released on September 21, 2009. N-Dubz promoted the single by performing it on various television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
shows. Of which included: GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
, 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...
and T4's Stars of 2009
T4 on the Beach
T4 On The Beach is a British one day music event which is held on the beach at Weston-super-Mare and televised for Channel 4. The event began in 2003 as Pop Beach in Great Yarmouth, changing to the current title and venue in 2005....
. "I Need You" became the group's second single to feature on a Now That's What I Call Music! compilation after "Strong Again
Strong Again
"Strong Again" is a song by English hip hop trio, N-Dubz. It is the sixth single from their debut album Uncle B and was produced by Kano and Fraser T Smith. The song was featured on the album advert before it was confirmed to be a single. This song features on the UK compilation album Now That's...
" featured on Now That's What I Call Music! 72. The single featured as track number seven on disc number one of the Now That's What I Call Music! 74" compilation. It also features on R&B The Collection 2010.
Critical
David Balls of Digital SpyDigital 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....
gave the song a positive review: "Unafraid to drop a line like "My name's Shaniqua and what?", it was only a matter of time before N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
turned their large underground following into mainstream success. Now, having shifted over 500,000 copies of debut disc Uncle B
Uncle B
Uncle B is the debut album released by N-Dubz. It was released on 17 November 2008. The album is dedicated to former N-Dubz manager and father of Dappy, Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to their second record label All Around the World. It entered the official UK...
and reached No.1 alongside Tinchy Stryder
Tinchy Stryder
Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
, the Camden
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
trio are aiming to become leaders of the Brrap pack with second album Against All Odds
Against All Odds (N-Dubz album)
Against All Odds is the second platinum selling studio album by N-Dubz. The album was released in Ireland on 13 November 2009 and was released on 16 November 2009 in the UK.-Background: given by tulisa conastovlos...
. Reflecting their move up pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
's pecking order, this trailer single is their biggest, most bombastic moment yet. It's got hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
ish siren
Siren
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous mermaid like creatures, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli...
s and loads of clubby synths - evidently inspired by Fraser T. Smith
Fraser T. Smith
Fraser T. Smith is an English record producer, songwriter, mix engineer and guitarist....
's production on the Tinchy album - but N-Dubz haven't lost their usual quirky charm, dropping in oh-so-relevant references to Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and LBDs (that's "little black dress", fellas). With an appeal that extends far beyond the back of the bus, 'I Need You' is – to borrow a word from the inimitable Dappy - probably best described as a "smasher"." Sarah-Louise James of the Daily Star reviewed the single as: "British hip-house at its fizziest." Alt-Uk.net reviewed the track: "I Need You is an absolute fun-packed single from N-Dubz, and whilst listening to this one it really is difficult not to start singing along. N-Dubz once again demonstrates here a great knack for penning a perfect pop song, and this group certainly seems to know what it’s doing when it comes to making the music as infectious as possible." Fraser McAlpine of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Chart Blog also positively reviewed the song, mentioning: "It's this kind of bonkers happenstance which I love. I basically do internal bogglejumps whenever they do something like that. Pop songs are so safe, and N-Dubz seem to wander over the lines of acceptable behaviour almost as if they don't realise they are there." The Chemistry Is Dead described the single as being "much more mainstream" as well as something that would "appeal to their old fans and new fans alike." Inside Gossip labelled "I Need You" as a "club banger that has set the standards and told the world that they are here and that they are not one hit wonders."
Commercial
"I Need You" debuted and peaked at #22 on the Irish Singles ChartIrish 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...
issued for November 12, 2009. It dropped five places to #27 the following week and on November 26, 2009 it dropped eight places to #35. The single dropped four places to #39 in its final week of charting on December 3, 2009. It spent a total of four weeks in the chart and is the group's most successful single on this chart as solo artists.
On November 15, 2009, "I Need You" debuted and peaked at #5 on 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 ...
with sales of 49,615, it is the highest entry for N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
on 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 ...
. The single was released in the UK in a week which saw various other big name artists competing for a position in the top ten, including Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
who debuted at #2 with her single "Happy
Happy (Leona Lewis song)
"Happy" is a song performed by British singer Leona Lewis for her second studio album Echo . It was written by Lewis, Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and produced by Tedder, and it was premiered in the United Kingdom radio on 6 September 2009, and officially released on 15 September 2009, by digital...
". N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
managed to outsell Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
who debuted at #7 with her single "3
3 (song)
"3" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, from her second greatest hits compilation The Singles Collection. It was released on September 29, 2009, as the only single of the album by Jive Records. The song was produced by long-time collaborator Max Martin and Shellback, and recorded...
" as well as Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
who debuted at #8 with their single "About a Girl
About a Girl (Sugababes song)
"About a Girl" is an electropop song performed by English girl group Sugababes from their seventh studio album, Sweet 7. Written by Makeba Riddick and co-written/produced by RedOne, it was selected as the album's second single and was released on November 8, 2009...
." The following week on November 22, "I Need You" dropped four places to #9, selling 31,349 copies for that week, and in its third week on the chart, the single dropped four places to #13. On December 6, 2009 the song dropped fourteen spots to #27 before falling a further seven spots the week after to #34. For the chart issued for the week ending December 26, the single fell ten places to #44 on its sixth week of charting. After the Christmas
Christmas
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...
period of 2009 and upon the new year into 2010, the single started rebounding on the chart - climbing a place to #43 in week seven and then climbing a further seven places to re-enter the top forty at #36 in week eight. Its ninth week on the chart saw it drop out of the top forty for the second time to #47. "I Need You" has spent a total of nine weeks within the chart and has sold an estimate of over 145,000 copies. "I Need You" is N-Dubz's highest charting single as a solo artist outpeaking previous record holder, "Papa Can You Hear Me?
Papa Can You Hear Me?
"Papa Can You Hear Me?" is the sixth single by British Hip hop trio, N-Dubz. The song is dedicated to the group's former manager Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to new label All Around the World...
"'s peak of #19.
In an interview with RWD Mag, Tulisa
Tulisa Contostavlos
Tula Paulinea "Tulisa" Contostavlos is an English singer-songwriter and actress of Greek and Irish descent. She is best known for being a member of the Camden-based hip hop group N-Dubz, with her cousin Dappy and their friend Fazer...
explained how she felt about the single reaching #5 on the charts:
Yeah, it was wicked but we might have gone to No.1 if it wasn't for [...] 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...
. You work so long and then someone comes up after five minutes and you feel like 'You don't deserve it like we do.' That sounds bad but that's how I feel...
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "I Need You" was filmed on September 13, 2009. It was produced by Luti Fagbenle
Luti Fagbenle
Luti Fagbenle is a BAFTA nominated film producer and entrepreneur. He is best known for producing music videos for high profile recording artists such as Snoop Dogg, Flo Rida, Nicole Scherzinger, Akon, Pitbull, N-Dubz, Alexandra Burke, Mr Hudson, Wretch 32, Gary Barlow, Labrinth, Dizzee Rascal,...
who has produced music videos for the likes of Craig David
Craig David
Craig Ashley David is an English singer and songwriter. He has released five studio albums: Born to Do It, Slicker Than Your Average, The Story Goes..., Trust Me, Signed Sealed Delivered and a Greatest Hits album...
and Mr Hudson. The video was directed by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
director Dale "Rage" Resteghini
Dale Resteghini
Dale Anthony Resteghini better known as Rage is a renowned music video director. He is also a film director and music producer...
and edited by John Holloway. The official music video premiered on 4music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
on September 20, 2009. Rage also directed the group's music video for previous single "Wouldn't You
Wouldn't You
"Wouldn't You" is a single by English hip hop trio, N-Dubz. The song was released as the seventh and final single from their platinum debut album Uncle B.-Track listing:* Digital Download # "Wouldn't You"...
". The music video begins with the "N-Dubz" logo appearing onscreen. The group is then shown arriving at the (Battersea) London Heliport
London Heliport
London Heliport at Battersea, London is the capital's main and busiest heliport. The facility is located on the south bank of the River Thames, southwest of Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster, between Wandsworth Bridge and Battersea Railway Bridge.The nearest railway station is...
in an atmosphere of stormy weather. Dappy arrives in a personalized helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
also with the N-Dubz logo on, Fazer
Richard Rawson
Richard Rawson , better known by his stage name Fazer, is a British rapper, producer, DJ and actor. He is popularly known as a member of hip hop trio N-Dubz.-Early life:...
arrives on a 2004 Yamaha R1 with race fairings, and Tulisa
Tulisa Contostavlos
Tula Paulinea "Tulisa" Contostavlos is an English singer-songwriter and actress of Greek and Irish descent. She is best known for being a member of the Camden-based hip hop group N-Dubz, with her cousin Dappy and their friend Fazer...
arrives in a white Lamborghini Gallardo SE. The three members then come together as a group and start performing the song at the Heliport in front of the modes of the transport they came in. This scene is continuously in a call-and-response with the scene in the nightclub. In this Dappy wears a black hoodie
Hoodie
A hoodie is a sweatshirt with a hood. The characteristic design includes large frontal pockets, a hood, and a drawstring to adjust the hood opening. They are sometimes worn with sweatpants. Some hoodies have zippers on them to allow easy removal much like a jacket...
underneath a white Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
pullover and black sunglasses. Tulisa sports a new hairstyle from previous music videos, with straight hair and a fringe which is tied up in this scene. She is wearing tight black pants and a blue sweater over a white shirt. Fazer is seen wearing a black leather jacket lined in white on the bottom ends, black sunglasses and a black beanie. The group are then arrive together at the Vendrome nightclub in Mayfair London
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
and cuts back to the roof throughout the video. In this scene Dappy is seen wearing his characteristic headpiece, coloured in red for the video to contrast with its black-red colour theme, he wears a red hoodie that is striped with black lines. Tulisa is seen wearing a 'LBD' and 'bang bang shoes,' with her hair untied and made-up with red lipstick. Fazer has a red hoodie on with a matching red cap. Each member is seen singing to a partner in the club, where when they leave to go somewhere and come back their partner disappears. Dappy's scene takes place on a red sofa, Tulisa's in a secluded white room and Fazer's on the dancefloor. After the group members' partners left them, they can all be seen sitting on a sofa in the dancefloor area of the nightclub singing. In one scene Dappy can be seen accessing Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
to find his missing partner - contrasting with the song's lyric 'I've been searching all over Facebook but I can't seem to find you'. Tulisa in another scene can be seen taking a picture of herself and her partner with a mobile phone. Prominent flashing lights and neons are visible throughout the video, of which take on a red colour in the nightclub and a white colour on the rooftop and at the Heliport. The music video ends with the members walking away from the camera which then cuts to a view of city lights.
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....
said of the video: "They have really upped their game and splashed the cash. One scene sees Dappy flying a personalised helicopter. He had to fly it himself with an instructor by his side and he was very nervous". The music video has received over 10,000,000 views on 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....
. In an interview with Digital Spy, Dappy described the music video as being "Big and phat" and despite the director, Rage, being American, "It still feels very British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
".
Promotion
"I Need You" was performed by the group on October 24 on TMiTMi
Sam & Mark's TMi Friday was a British children's television show that was presented by Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes . It originally aired on Saturday mornings on BBC Two from its launch on 16 September 2006, until the end of its fourth series on 19 December 2009. Sam & Mark were joined by Caroline...
. November 4, 2009 saw the trio do a mini interview and performance of the single on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
.
The threesome also performed the track at a Shaw and Crampton school where they took part in an anti-bullying campaign. On November 12, N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
performed "I Need You" on 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...
show, 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...
which also saw the group cover "The Man Who Can't Be Moved
The Man Who Can't Be Moved
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" is the second single from Irish band The Script from their album The Script. The song was released on July 25, 2008. The song has been used heavily for the CBS show Ghost Whisperer during its fourth season. This song served as their radio promotional single in the...
", the signature song and hit single by Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
band The Script. On November 29, "I Need You" was performed on T4's Stars of 2009
T4 on the Beach
T4 On The Beach is a British one day music event which is held on the beach at Weston-super-Mare and televised for Channel 4. The event began in 2003 as Pop Beach in Great Yarmouth, changing to the current title and venue in 2005....
at Earl's Court in 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...
, also at the event were Kasabian, La Roux
La Roux
La Roux are an English electropop duo made up of singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Jackson describes their relationship as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also...
, Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
and Tinchy Stryder
Tinchy Stryder
Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
.
On December 5, N-Dubz performed the track in a set-list which included the group's other singles: "Number 1," "Papa Can You Hear Me?
Papa Can You Hear Me?
"Papa Can You Hear Me?" is the sixth single by British Hip hop trio, N-Dubz. The song is dedicated to the group's former manager Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to new label All Around the World...
," "Playing With Fire
Playing with Fire (N-Dubz song)
"Playing with Fire" is a song by English hip-hop trio, N-Dubz featuring Mr Hudson. The song is the second single taken from N-Dubz' second album, Against All Odds. The meaning of the song is a girl realizing that her boyfriend is cheating on her and trying to get him to confess. It shows both the...
" and "Strong Again
Strong Again
"Strong Again" is a song by English hip hop trio, N-Dubz. It is the sixth single from their debut album Uncle B and was produced by Kano and Fraser T Smith. The song was featured on the album advert before it was confirmed to be a single. This song features on the UK compilation album Now That's...
" as part of Clubland 3 promotion at the HMV Apollo alongside the likes of Cascada
Cascada
Cascada is a German Eurodance act most famous for their hit singles "Everytime We Touch", "What Hurts the Most", and "Evacuate the Dancefloor"...
, Agnes
Agnes Carlsson
Agnes Emilia Carlsson, also known mononymously as Agnes , is a Swedish recording artist. She rose to fame as the winner of Idol 2005, the second season of the Swedish Idol series...
and Mini Viva
Mini Viva
Mini Viva were an English pop duo formed in 2008 by British songwriting and production team Xenomania. They were managed by 19 Entertainment and signed to Geffen and Polydor Records. Consisting of Frankee Connolly and Britt Love, the duo were due to release their debut album in 2010...
. On December 5, N-Dubz performed the single alongside the likes of Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
and The Saturdays
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball
Jingle Bell Ball
The Jingle Bell Ball is a concert held every year in December, by Global Radio at O2 Arena. Headline acts have included superstars like Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas and Kylie Minogue...
.
Airplaywise, "I Need You" was strongly promoted and a great success. On September 30, 2009, it was playlisted onto 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...
C-list. On October 7, it moved up to B-list rotation after just one week of airplay. The single remained on B-list rotation for another week on October 14. "I Need You" was then moved up to A-list rotation on October 21, giving N-Dubz their second A-list single after "Strong Again
Strong Again
"Strong Again" is a song by English hip hop trio, N-Dubz. It is the sixth single from their debut album Uncle B and was produced by Kano and Fraser T Smith. The song was featured on the album advert before it was confirmed to be a single. This song features on the UK compilation album Now That's...
" was A-listed on the station in early 2009. The song spent a total of five weeks on the A-list, its last week on the playlist being the one of November 18.
Tracklisting
- Digital Download
- "I Need You" - 3:22
- "I Need You" (Red Top Mix) - 3:32
- "I Need You" (Extended Mix) - 6:22
- "I Need You" (DJs At War Remix) - 5:39
- CD Single
- "I Need You" - 3:22
- "I Need You" (Red Top Mix) - 3:32
Chart positions
| Chart (2009) | Peak Position |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| 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 ... |
116 |