I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in My Hair)
Encyclopedia
"I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" is the debut single by Sandi Thom
. The song was written by Tom Gilbert and Thom herself. The song was originally released in October 2005 by Viking Legacy Records, reaching number fifty-five in the UK Singles Chart
. It was re-released in May 2006 on Sony
's RCA Records
label, and went on to be the UK's fifth best selling single of the year. Also successful in Australia
, it was on the ARIA Charts
for ten weeks at number-one, and finished the year as the country's highest selling single and accrediting double platinum
. The music video was shot in Bethnal Green
in London.
Although only released physically on 22 May 2006 in the UK, download sales the week before are counted for the purpose of charts, and it achieved number fifteen on this basis in the general charts (and number seven in the download-only chart). The physical release had three formats: two CD versions (one featuring the radio mix and "A Light as Bright as Ours", another featuring the radio mix, the album mix, a further remix, "May You Never" and the music video), and also as a 7" vinyl record backed with Stranglers
cover "No More Heroes
".
The single sold 39,797 copies in the week ending 4 June 2006, enough to reach number one, knocking Gnarls Barkley
's "Crazy
" off the top spot after it was withdrawn following a nine week run. The song was nominated for "Record of the Year
", but lost to "Patience
" by Take That
.
Thom has been the subject of criticism by many artists within the recording world, most notably from Lily Allen
, The Fratellis
and The Automatic
. James Frost
and Robin Hawkins
from The Automatic
stated that "If she was a punk rocker with flowers in her hair she'd get the shit kicked out of her by other punk rockers, for having flowers in her hair. [...] I haven't found anyone who's told me they like that song and bought it."Charlie Brooker
also heavily criticised the intense public relations efforts to make the single popular.
However, there have been much discussion on various websites about the inspiration for the song. There were rumors that she was an anarchist, or that she wrote it out of her love for Woodstock.
Original release, CD 2
Re-release, CD 1
Re-release, CD 2
Re-release, 7"
Sandi Thom
Alexandria "Sandi" Thom is a Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She became widely known in 2006 after a series of webcasts and the success of the single "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker ".-1984–2004: Early life:Thom was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire...
. The song was written by Tom Gilbert and Thom herself. The song was originally released in October 2005 by Viking Legacy Records, reaching number fifty-five in 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 ...
. It was re-released in May 2006 on Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
label, and went on to be the UK's fifth best selling single of the year. Also successful in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, it was on the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
for ten weeks at number-one, and finished the year as the country's highest selling single and accrediting double platinum
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,...
. The music video was shot in Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
in London.
Although only released physically on 22 May 2006 in the UK, download sales the week before are counted for the purpose of charts, and it achieved number fifteen on this basis in the general charts (and number seven in the download-only chart). The physical release had three formats: two CD versions (one featuring the radio mix and "A Light as Bright as Ours", another featuring the radio mix, the album mix, a further remix, "May You Never" and the music video), and also as a 7" vinyl record backed with Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
cover "No More Heroes
No More Heroes (The Stranglers song)
No More Heroes is a single by The Stranglers from the same-named album No More Heroes. It is one of the Stranglers' most successful singles , peaking at #8 in the Official UK Top 40 charts...
".
The single sold 39,797 copies in the week ending 4 June 2006, enough to reach number one, knocking Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download...
's "Crazy
Crazy (Gnarls Barkley song)
"Crazy" is the debut single from Gnarls Barkley, a musical collaboration between Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green, and is taken from their 2006 debut album St. Elsewhere...
" off the top spot after it was withdrawn following a nine week run. The song was nominated for "Record of the Year
The Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is an award voted by the UK public. For many years it was given in conjunction with television programmes of the same name...
", but lost to "Patience
Patience (Take That song)
"Patience" is a song by British boy band Take That. It was released on 13 November 2006 as the first single from their comeback album Beautiful World...
" by Take That
Take 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...
.
Thom has been the subject of criticism by many artists within the recording world, most notably from Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
, The Fratellis
The Fratellis
The Fratellis were an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli , bass guitarist Barry Fratelli , and drummer and backing vocalist Mince Fratelli .The band released 2 albums during their career, Costello Music in 2006 and Here We Stand in...
and The Automatic
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
. James Frost
James Frost
James Martin Frost is the guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist of Welsh band The Automatic, and guitarist and backing vocalist for Cardiff based band Effort. As well as his musical duties for The Automatic, Frost has also directed two of the bands music videos and their tour video daries...
and Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins, commonly known as Rob is the primary vocalist and bassist for Welsh band The Automatic.-Personal life:Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year...
from The Automatic
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
stated that "If she was a punk rocker with flowers in her hair she'd get the shit kicked out of her by other punk rockers, for having flowers in her hair. [...] I haven't found anyone who's told me they like that song and bought it."Charlie Brooker
Charlie Brooker
Charlton "Charlie" Brooker is a British journalist, comic writer and broadcaster. His style of humour is savage and profane, with surreal elements and a consistent satirical pessimism...
also heavily criticised the intense public relations efforts to make the single popular.
Inspiration
Thom has said on her website that, she wrote the song after being robbed of her cell phone and other belongings one evening, leaving her completely lost and without any way of contacting her family, friends, or the bank. She says, "I wondered if that had happened to me back in the days of the hippies what would I have done and would I have freaked out so much?" [sic] "However, there have been much discussion on various websites about the inspiration for the song. There were rumors that she was an anarchist, or that she wrote it out of her love for Woodstock.
Track listings
Original release, CD 1- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)"
- "Little Remedy"
(Also included on Smile... It Confuses PeopleSmile... It Confuses PeopleSmile... It Confuses People is the first studio album by Scottish singer Sandi Thom, released in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland on 5 June 2006 by RCA Records...
.)
Original release, CD 2
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)"
- "Something in the Air"
- "No More Heroes"
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (Video)
Re-release, CD 1
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (Radio Mix)
- "A Light as Bright as Ours"
Re-release, CD 2
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (Radio Mix)
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (Album Version)
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (Mutiny's Rockers & Lovers Mix)
- "May You Never"
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (Video)
Re-release, 7"
- "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (Radio Mix)
- "No More Heroes"
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|