Me Plus One (Annie song)
Encyclopedia
"Me Plus One" is a pop
song written by producer Richard X
and songwriter Hannah Robinson
for Norwegian
singer Annie's 2004 debut album Anniemal
. The song was written about former Spice Girls
member Geri Halliwell
. The lyrics refer to a "wannabe senorita" who needs to realise she's "got to let it go". The song received acclaim from music critics.
The song appears on Popjustice: 100% Solid Pop Music.
member Geri Halliwell
. Richard X and Robinson had written another song called "Some Girls
", later a hit single for Rachel Stevens
. Warp Records
and Simon Fuller
contacted Richard X by email to ask that he give the song to Halliwell or Stevens, respectively, to record. He agreed to have Stevens record the song after Richard Curtis
asked about using the song for Sport Relief 2004. When Halliwell found out that the writers were having Stevens record the song, she locked herself in her car in an attempt to change their minds, and she later wrote Richard X a love song. The aftermath of the decision for Stevens to record the song became the subject of "Me Plus One" from Annie's 2004 album Anniemal
. The song samples the barks of Halliwell's dog Harry.
The lyrics of "Me Plus One" detail a girl who dreams of fame but can't achieve it. She fails to be accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. The verse two says the "wannabe señorita met a group of likely girls [...] but it didn't make her happy", referencing Halliwell's rise to stardom with the Spice Girls
and her subsequent unhappiness with the group. The song's middle-eight references the "Some Girls" situation — "take a look at yourself, get out of the car, it's time to let go - it's gone."
named it "winking" and "seductive". The Stranger
compared the track to Human League, while Tiny Mix Tapes
referred to the song as "a gorgeous day-glo dance party." Stylus Magazine
described the song as "a tale of sulky pop princesses trying to be like the Chewing Gum
queen and getting smashed on the rocks".
U.S. promo single
(PR 302084; Released 2005)
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...
song written by producer Richard X
Richard X
Richard Philips, best known by his stage name Richard X, is a British songwriter and music producer. Gaining attention as a pioneer of the bootleg craze, Richard X has earned success as a producer and remixer. He has helmed hit singles for artists including Annie, Kelis, Liberty X, Rachel Stevens...
and songwriter Hannah Robinson
Hannah Robinson
Hannah Robinson is a British songwriter. Her best known compositions include the "Some Girls", a UK #2 for British pop star Rachel Stevens and Ladyhawke's "My Delirium". She also a vocalist and in 2006 achieved a #1 on the U.S...
for Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
singer Annie's 2004 debut album Anniemal
Anniemal
Anniemal is the debut album of Norwegian electropop singer Annie. It was first released by 679 Recordings in September 2004. Annie began recording music in 1999 with her boyfriend, Tore Kroknes, who died in 2001...
. The song was written about former Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
member Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
. The lyrics refer to a "wannabe senorita" who needs to realise she's "got to let it go". The song received acclaim from music critics.
The song appears on Popjustice: 100% Solid Pop Music.
Background and writing
"Me Plus One" was written by Richard X and Hannah Robinson in response to former Spice GirlsSpice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
member Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
. Richard X and Robinson had written another song called "Some Girls
Some Girls (Rachel Stevens song)
"Some Girls" is a synthpop song written by Richard X and Hannah Robinson for British singer Rachel Stevens. It is included in the 2004 re-release of Stevens' debut album Funky Dory and her second studio album Come and Get It...
", later a hit single for Rachel Stevens
Rachel Stevens
Rachel Lauren Stevens is an English singer-songwriter, actress, presenter, dancer, television personality and model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club, and launched a solo recording career in 2003, releasing seven singles and two albums in the UK between 2003 and 2005...
. Warp Records
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
and Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller is a British artist manager, television producer and creator of the Idol franchise, first seen as Pop Idol in the UK. Fuller is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance and other U.S...
contacted Richard X by email to ask that he give the song to Halliwell or Stevens, respectively, to record. He agreed to have Stevens record the song after Richard Curtis
Richard Curtis
Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis, CBE is a New Zealand-born British screenwriter, music producer, actor and film director, known primarily for romantic comedy films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill, Love Actually and The Girl in the Café, as well as the hit...
asked about using the song for Sport Relief 2004. When Halliwell found out that the writers were having Stevens record the song, she locked herself in her car in an attempt to change their minds, and she later wrote Richard X a love song. The aftermath of the decision for Stevens to record the song became the subject of "Me Plus One" from Annie's 2004 album Anniemal
Anniemal
Anniemal is the debut album of Norwegian electropop singer Annie. It was first released by 679 Recordings in September 2004. Annie began recording music in 1999 with her boyfriend, Tore Kroknes, who died in 2001...
. The song samples the barks of Halliwell's dog Harry.
The lyrics of "Me Plus One" detail a girl who dreams of fame but can't achieve it. She fails to be accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. The verse two says the "wannabe señorita met a group of likely girls [...] but it didn't make her happy", referencing Halliwell's rise to stardom with the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
and her subsequent unhappiness with the group. The song's middle-eight references the "Some Girls" situation — "take a look at yourself, get out of the car, it's time to let go - it's gone."
Critical reception
"Me Plus One" received acclaim from music critics. Scott Plagenhoef's review for Pitchfork MediaPitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
named it "winking" and "seductive". The Stranger
The Stranger (newspaper)
The Stranger is an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington, USA. It runs a blog known as Slog.-History:The Stranger was founded by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper The Onion, and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue came out on September 23, 1991...
compared the track to Human League, while Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
referred to the song as "a gorgeous day-glo dance party." Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
described the song as "a tale of sulky pop princesses trying to be like the Chewing Gum
Chewing Gum (Annie song)
"Chewing Gum" is an electropop song written by Richard X and Hannah Robinson for Norwegian singer Annie's debut album Anniemal . The song is based on metaphor which likens men to chewing gum....
queen and getting smashed on the rocks".
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Me Plus One".U.S. promo single
(PR 302084; Released 2005)
- "Me Plus One" (The RaptureThe RaptureThe Rapture is an Indie rock band based in New York City. The band mixes influences from many genres including post-punk, acid house, disco, electronica and rock, pioneering the post-punk revival genre...
/ Hush Hush Remix) – 5:40 - "Me Plus One" (James IhaJames IhaJames Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent...
Remix) – 3:27 - "HeartbeatHeartbeat (Annie song)"Heartbeat" is a pop song written by Röyksopp and Norwegian singer Annie for Annie's 2004 debut album Anniemal. It was released with the title "My Heart Beat" as the album's second single in November 2004 . The lyrics of "Heartbeat" describe finding new love at a nightclub, surrounded by close...
" (MSTRKRFTMSTRKRFTMSTRKRFT is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto, Ontario. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P formerly of the Mississauga, Ontario electropop group Girlsareshort...
Edition)) – 6:31 - "Happy Without You" (Riton Vocal Mix) – 5:48
Personnel
The following people contributed to "Me Plus One":- Annie – lead vocals
- Hannah Robinson – backing vocals, lyrics
- Richard X – productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, lyrics - Pete Hofmann – guitarGuitarThe 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...
, engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, 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...