Start Without You
Encyclopedia
"Start Without You" is a song by British recording artist Alexandra Burke
. Featuring vocals from Jamaican American
reggae rapper Laza Morgan
, it was written by Kristian Lundin, Savan Kotecha, Julian Bunetta, and RedOne
. The song is a pop song, which incorporates reggae fusion
and dancehall
. According to Burke the song was inspired by her Jamaican heritage and her need for a summer song. The song came about after studio sessions booked with RedOne produced a number of new records that were going to be used for a re-release of Overcome or Burke's second album.
The unfinished version leaked online several days before the song was confirmed to before being revealed in its finished form as Burke's new single. It was officially first released for digital download on 31 August 2010, serving as the first single from the re-release of her debut album, Overcome
. "Start Without You" received favourable reviews from critics complimenting its summer and dance feel. The song debuted at the top of the singles chart in the United Kingdom, as well as peaking at in the top five in Ireland. Its accompanying music video, directed by Max and Dania, features Burke dancing in a lace outfit working out with men in a gym and dancing. Burke performed the song notably a number of times including on Magic Numbers
.
, Burke revealed she recorded new songs with RedOne
for either her second album or a re-release of her first studio album, Overcome
. However she stated she could not reveal anything until that upcoming August. Then the singer gave an interview where she acknowledged that earlier in the year twenty-four of her songs leaked as part of the forty that leaked from Syco Music, which included material from previous The X Factor
winner, Leona Lewis
. It was also revealed that an additional song, "Start Without You" leaked on 8 June 2010, a day before she would confirm that the song was, in fact, the first single from the upcoming re-release of Overcome on her official blog. Burke said that the leak had come from within the label and that the suspects were "two little boys in Germany, on work experience." However, Burke did not lament the leak, stating, "It's a shame when music gets put out there when it's not ready, but at the end of the day, it creates buzz and who doesn't love a bit of buzz?"
and reggae fusion
influences, with a length of three minutes and thirty-three seconds, penned by RedOne
, Bilal Hajji, Savan Kotecha, and Julian Bunetta. It is infused with power pop
melodies in the chorus. Many critics have noted the song's resemblance to a nursery rhyme.
said the song was danceable, commenting it "manages to be chunky and zesty at the same time." He further complimented its dancefloor appeal, saying, "it's enough to have K.Ro
fearing for her 'Commander
' title," while preferring the subsequent release of uptempo songs, stating, "At this rate, Burkey's big mobiles-in-the-air moment will just have to wait." Giving the song a perfect five out of five stars review, a Popjustice
writer called the song "jaunty." Fraser McAlpine of BBC Chart Blog said called the song "deliriously happy, to the point of being simple-minded, and conjures up instant images of warmth and sunshiney freedom in everyone that hears it." McAlpine also pointed out her label's wise decision to release it right at the ending of summer, with fans pining for more of the vacation season and waiting until Christmas. FemaleFirst said "the track is set to cause a long-lasting heat wave when it hits radio in July" and "will also be blazing club floors across the country once again." The review went on to say that the single "has cemented her place as the UK’s prime female recording artist."
at number five on 10 September 2010, marking Burke's fifth consecutive Top five hit in Ireland. In the UK, "Start Without You" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart
on 12 September 2010, knocking fellow X Factor contestant Olly Murs
off the top spot with his debut "Please Don't Let Me Go
." The single became the singer's fifth number one single, and her third solo number one hit. According to Music Week
, in the second week at the top of the charts, the single sold 53,123 copies, the lowest single-week sales for a number-one single in the last fifteen weeks.
' s accompanying music video was shot in July 2010, and directed by Max and Dania. On the video, Burke said, "The video has a brave look. It's my choice. I wanted to come out of my box." In the video she dons a similar racy lace outfit that she wore during her performance on Alan Carr: Chatty Man
. She also said that her aunt thought the outfit was a bit too much, and that her father didn't approve of her going out in it.
The music video of consists of three scenes, in which Burke wearing a black leotard accompanied by male dancers. Another shows Burke and semi-naked male gymnasts exercising, whilst another shows Burke donning the lace outfit singing and dancing in front of a glitter wall, while Laza Morgan does also. The video begins with Burke singing the opening line of the song and performing various dance moves. This scene is intercut by Laza Morgan who begins to perform his lines and introducing himself and Burke. The next scene shows Burke and the male gymnasts exercising/dancing in a gym then beginning a dance routine. Subsequently, in the chorus is Burke and her male dancers performing the main dance routine which is occasionally interrupted to show shots of Burke in the gym and singing in front of the glitter wall.
Popjustice
said that the video "somehow manages to go beyond traditional ideas of good and bad and exists instead on a different plane where concepts of positive and negative no longer exist." Preferring "Bad Boys
" to the clip, saying that the demin and motorbike were gone, Ryan Love of Digital Spy
said the video must have had a tighter budget, and that the half-naked men doing gymnastics brought a whole new meaning to the word "camptastic."
, 95.8 Capital FM's Summertime Ball, and the Midlands Music Festival
, which all took place during the summer of 2010. She appeared and performed the song on televised appearances during Alan Carr: Chatty Man
, on 15 August 2010, and on Magic Numbers
. Burke also appeared at the Help for Heroes concert in the UK and performed the song.
On 19 November 2010, Burke appeared and performed the song as part of the line up for Children In Need
2010.
!scope="col"| Chart (2010)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
|UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|82
|-
|-
!Region
!Date
!Format
!Label
|-
|Ireland
|3 September 2010
|Digital download
, CD single
|Sony Music Entertainment
|-
|rowspan="2"|United Kingdom
|5 September 2010
|Digital download
|rowspan="2"|Syco Music
|-
|6 September 2010
|CD single
|-
|Australia
|3 September 2010
|Digital download
|Sony Music Entertainment
|}
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
. Featuring vocals from Jamaican American
Jamaican American
Jamaican Americans are Americans of Jamaican heritage or Jamaican-born people who live in the United States of America. American citizenship is not a prerequisite of being a Jamaican American as permanent residents are also given this title....
reggae rapper Laza Morgan
Laza Morgan
Laza Morgan is a Jamaican American reggae singer and rapper. He is best known for his single "This Girl" which was featured on Disney's Step Up 3D. Laza was also a featured artist on Alexandra Burke's hit single "Start Without You" in 2010 and appeared in the music video...
, it was written by Kristian Lundin, Savan Kotecha, Julian Bunetta, and RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
. The song is a pop song, which incorporates reggae fusion
Reggae fusion
Reggae fusion is a fusion genre of reggae that mixes reggae or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, house, jazz & drum and bass....
and dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
. According to Burke the song was inspired by her Jamaican heritage and her need for a summer song. The song came about after studio sessions booked with RedOne produced a number of new records that were going to be used for a re-release of Overcome or Burke's second album.
The unfinished version leaked online several days before the song was confirmed to before being revealed in its finished form as Burke's new single. It was officially first released for digital download on 31 August 2010, serving as the first single from the re-release of her debut album, Overcome
Overcome (Alexandra Burke album)
Overcome is the debut studio album by British pop/R&B singer Alexandra Burke, released October 19, 2009 on Syco Music. The release of the album came a year after Burke won the British talent show, The X Factor, with the recording process taking place between 2008 and 2009...
. "Start Without You" received favourable reviews from critics complimenting its summer and dance feel. The song debuted at the top of the singles chart in the United Kingdom, as well as peaking at in the top five in Ireland. Its accompanying music video, directed by Max and Dania, features Burke dancing in a lace outfit working out with men in a gym and dancing. Burke performed the song notably a number of times including on Magic Numbers
Magic Numbers (TV series)
Magic Numbers was a British television show in which celebrity contestants answer questions to generate a sequence of 6 numbers. The show was created by CPL Productions and Paul Brassey and commissioned by John Kaye Cooper at ITV. Members of the public then call a Premium-rate telephone number if...
.
Background
In a May 2010 interview with 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....
, Burke revealed she recorded new songs with RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
for either her second album or a re-release of her first studio album, Overcome
Overcome (Alexandra Burke album)
Overcome is the debut studio album by British pop/R&B singer Alexandra Burke, released October 19, 2009 on Syco Music. The release of the album came a year after Burke won the British talent show, The X Factor, with the recording process taking place between 2008 and 2009...
. However she stated she could not reveal anything until that upcoming August. Then the singer gave an interview where she acknowledged that earlier in the year twenty-four of her songs leaked as part of the forty that leaked from Syco Music, which included material from previous The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
winner, 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....
. It was also revealed that an additional song, "Start Without You" leaked on 8 June 2010, a day before she would confirm that the song was, in fact, the first single from the upcoming re-release of Overcome on her official blog. Burke said that the leak had come from within the label and that the suspects were "two little boys in Germany, on work experience." However, Burke did not lament the leak, stating, "It's a shame when music gets put out there when it's not ready, but at the end of the day, it creates buzz and who doesn't love a bit of buzz?"
Writing and composition
Burke herself described the song as "reggae meets pop." According to the singer, the song was inspired by her British Jamaican background and new convertible. Burke told The Sun, "I really wanted to have a tune I could take down my roof to, drive along and be proud of. I didn't really want to do a ballad. I love the summer and this is the perfect track to dance to." "Start Without You" is an uptempo pop song which draws from dancehallDancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
and reggae fusion
Reggae fusion
Reggae fusion is a fusion genre of reggae that mixes reggae or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, house, jazz & drum and bass....
influences, with a length of three minutes and thirty-three seconds, penned by RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
, Bilal Hajji, Savan Kotecha, and Julian Bunetta. It is infused with power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
melodies in the chorus. Many critics have noted the song's resemblance to a nursery rhyme.
Critical reception
While he stated the song wasn't "full throttle" as her past singles, Nick Levine 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....
said the song was danceable, commenting it "manages to be chunky and zesty at the same time." He further complimented its dancefloor appeal, saying, "it's enough to have K.Ro
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
fearing for her 'Commander
Commander (song)
"Commander" is a song performed by American recording artist Kelly Rowland from her third studio album, Here I Am . It serves as the project's international lead single and her debut release with Universal Motown...
' title," while preferring the subsequent release of uptempo songs, stating, "At this rate, Burkey's big mobiles-in-the-air moment will just have to wait." Giving the song a perfect five out of five stars review, a Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
writer called the song "jaunty." Fraser McAlpine of BBC Chart Blog said called the song "deliriously happy, to the point of being simple-minded, and conjures up instant images of warmth and sunshiney freedom in everyone that hears it." McAlpine also pointed out her label's wise decision to release it right at the ending of summer, with fans pining for more of the vacation season and waiting until Christmas. FemaleFirst said "the track is set to cause a long-lasting heat wave when it hits radio in July" and "will also be blazing club floors across the country once again." The review went on to say that the single "has cemented her place as the UK’s prime female recording artist."
Chart performance
"Start Without You" entered 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...
at number five on 10 September 2010, marking Burke's fifth consecutive Top five hit in Ireland. In the UK, "Start Without You" debuted at number one 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 ...
on 12 September 2010, knocking fellow X Factor contestant Olly Murs
Olly Murs
Oliver Stanley "Olly" Murs is an English singer-songwriter and TV presenter. Murs rose to fame after being the runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor...
off the top spot with his debut "Please Don't Let Me Go
Please Don't Let Me Go
"Please Don't Let Me Go" is a song by British singer Olly Murs. Written by Murs, Claude Kelly and Steve Robson, the song served as the lead single from the X Factor runner-up's eponymous debut album...
." The single became the singer's fifth number one single, and her third solo number one hit. According to Music Week
Music Week
Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
, in the second week at the top of the charts, the single sold 53,123 copies, the lowest single-week sales for a number-one single in the last fifteen weeks.
Music video
Booked for shooting in June 2010, "Start Without You"Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man is a British comedy chat show presented by comedian Alan Carr. The award-winning show is on Channel 4. The show features interviews with celebrity guests, sketches, topical chat and music....
. She also said that her aunt thought the outfit was a bit too much, and that her father didn't approve of her going out in it.
The music video of consists of three scenes, in which Burke wearing a black leotard accompanied by male dancers. Another shows Burke and semi-naked male gymnasts exercising, whilst another shows Burke donning the lace outfit singing and dancing in front of a glitter wall, while Laza Morgan does also. The video begins with Burke singing the opening line of the song and performing various dance moves. This scene is intercut by Laza Morgan who begins to perform his lines and introducing himself and Burke. The next scene shows Burke and the male gymnasts exercising/dancing in a gym then beginning a dance routine. Subsequently, in the chorus is Burke and her male dancers performing the main dance routine which is occasionally interrupted to show shots of Burke in the gym and singing in front of the glitter wall.
Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
said that the video "somehow manages to go beyond traditional ideas of good and bad and exists instead on a different plane where concepts of positive and negative no longer exist." Preferring "Bad Boys
Bad Boys
Bad Boys may refer to:In film:*Bad Boys , a 1961 film by Susumu Hani*Bad Boys , a 1983 film starring Sean Penn*Bad Boys , a 1995 film starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence...
" to the clip, saying that the demin and motorbike were gone, Ryan Love of 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 the video must have had a tighter budget, and that the half-naked men doing gymnastics brought a whole new meaning to the word "camptastic."
Live performances and promotion
Burke has performed the song notably many times, including at outdoor venues at T4 on the BeachT4 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....
, 95.8 Capital FM's Summertime Ball, and the Midlands Music Festival
Midlands Music Festival
The Midlands Music Festival is an annual festival held in the Castle Grounds, in Tamworth organised by charity Just1Life. The first show took place on 8 August 2009 and featured top acts including Lemar, Sugababes, Blue and JLS...
, which all took place during the summer of 2010. She appeared and performed the song on televised appearances during Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man is a British comedy chat show presented by comedian Alan Carr. The award-winning show is on Channel 4. The show features interviews with celebrity guests, sketches, topical chat and music....
, on 15 August 2010, and on Magic Numbers
Magic Numbers (TV series)
Magic Numbers was a British television show in which celebrity contestants answer questions to generate a sequence of 6 numbers. The show was created by CPL Productions and Paul Brassey and commissioned by John Kaye Cooper at ITV. Members of the public then call a Premium-rate telephone number if...
. Burke also appeared at the Help for Heroes concert in the UK and performed the song.
On 19 November 2010, Burke appeared and performed the song as part of the line up for Children In Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
2010.
Track listing
- UK CD single
- "Start Without You" – 3:33
- "Start Without You" (StonebridgeStonebridge (DJ)StoneBridge is the pseudonym for the Swedish DJ and record producer, Sten Hallström.-History:StoneBridge won international renown with the remix of the 1993 hit "Show Me Love" with Robin S. Until then, he had been running the Swedish DJ/remix outfit Swemix, formed at the end of the 1980s...
Club Mix) – 7:04
- UK & AUS Digital EP
- "Start Without You" – 3:33
- "Start Without You" (Stonebridge Club Mix) – 7:04
- "Start Without You" (Stonebridge Smokin Dub') – 6:11
Credits
- Songwriters - Julian Bunetta, Kristian LundinKristian LundinKristian Carl Marcus Lundin is a Swedish composer, music producer and songwriter.-Biography:Beginning his career as a member of the Swedish duo Amadin , Kristian's writing and production talents were quickly recognized by music industry icon Denniz PoP, who invited him to join the Cheiron Studios...
, Nadir "RedOne" KhayatRedOneNadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
, Savan KotechaSavan KotechaSavan Kotecha is an American songwriter and vocal producer from Austin, Texas of Indian descent. Kotecha has sold over 60 million records with artists such as Usher, Enrique Iglesias, Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, One Direction and Celine Dion... - Producer, programming, instruments, vocal editing, recording, engineer - RedOne
- Audio 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...
- Phil Tan - Vocal editing, recording, engineer - Trevor Muzzy
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Hot 100 Singles | 7 |
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable" border="1"!scope="col"| Chart (2010)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
|UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|82
|-
Chart procession and succession
Release history
{|class=wikitable|-
!Region
!Date
!Format
!Label
|-
|Ireland
|3 September 2010
|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...
, CD single
|Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
|-
|rowspan="2"|United Kingdom
|5 September 2010
|Digital download
|rowspan="2"|Syco Music
|-
|6 September 2010
|CD single
|-
|Australia
|3 September 2010
|Digital download
|Sony Music Entertainment
|}
See also
- List of number-one singles and albums (Scotland)
- List of number-one singles from the 2010s (UK)