What You're On
Encyclopedia
"What You're On" is a dance-pop
song written by James Ash
, Natalie Bassingthwaighte
and Steve Davis, and produced by Ash for the Rogue Traders
's third studio album Better in the Dark
(2007). Co-writer, Ash, states the song deals with addiction. It was as released as the album's third single
in Australia
as a digital download
on 15 March 2008 and as a CD single
on 19 April 2008.
Band member and one of the song's writers, Ash, states that the song is very special to the band and "it seems to connect with people quite deeply." He also states that the song is a highlight from the album and it allowed him to be "indulgent" which is how he imagined it. The band's lead singer, Bassingthwaighte, states "this [song] seems to me to be saying 'You have issues but you can get over it', so I prefer to be realistic than stylistic. I think about someone I know when I sing it." This is the last single with Natalie Bassingthwaighte
.
On the eve of its debut, and one week after its release, the Rogue Traders performed their new single on popular comedy program, Rove. Prior to this, band members James Ash
and Natalie Bassingthwaighte
attended many interviews on radio and television to promote the song, and the upcoming "Better in the Dark Tour", as well as presenting an award at the 2008 MTV Australia Awards
. James Ash
also co-hosted an episode of The Music Jungle
on 26 April.
for the song was filmed from 23 February 2008 to 24 February 2008 and premiered through ninemsn on 13 March 2008, two days before its digital and radio release. Filmed in black and white, the video sees Bassingthwaighte working in a top-end New York
Burlesque Club. Unhappy and determined to leave, she tries to escape but is followed by a controlling owner and security. Then Ash comes to rescue her and they drive off. The other band members do not appear in the music video. The video is said to be one of their most successful clips to date and a crowd favourie performance on the Better In The Dark Tour
Digital download
(Released 15 March 2008)
Australian CD single
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
song written by James Ash
James Ash
James Ash , is an English-born Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. He is the co-founder and keyboardist of Australian electro-rock group, the Rogue Traders...
, Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte is an Australian actress, singer-songwriter and television personality. She began her career as an actress on the television series All Saints. She then starred in the American television movie Counterstrike...
and Steve Davis, and produced by Ash for the Rogue Traders
Rogue Traders
Rogue Traders are an Australian electronic pop rock band fronted by Melinda "Mindi" Jackson with James Ash on keyboards, Tim Henwood on guitars and Peter Marin on drums. The group's original members met in London in 1989. Before forming Rogue Traders, Ash and Davis worked together on many...
's third studio album Better in the Dark
Better in the Dark
Better in the Dark is the third studio album by Australian dance group Rogue Traders. It was released in Australia by Columbia Records on 13 October 2007...
(2007). Co-writer, Ash, states the song deals with addiction. It was as released as the album's third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 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...
as a 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...
on 15 March 2008 and as a CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
on 19 April 2008.
Band member and one of the song's writers, Ash, states that the song is very special to the band and "it seems to connect with people quite deeply." He also states that the song is a highlight from the album and it allowed him to be "indulgent" which is how he imagined it. The band's lead singer, Bassingthwaighte, states "this [song] seems to me to be saying 'You have issues but you can get over it', so I prefer to be realistic than stylistic. I think about someone I know when I sing it." This is the last single with Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte is an Australian actress, singer-songwriter and television personality. She began her career as an actress on the television series All Saints. She then starred in the American television movie Counterstrike...
.
Promotion and chart performance
"What You're On" made its debut into the Australian ARIA Singles Chart on 28 April 2008, at a poor position of number thirty. It continued to slide down the charts until it dropped of the ARIA Top 50 at number 48 after only its 7th week. It reached number eighteen on the Physical Singles Chart, and debuted at number nine on the Australian Chart.On the eve of its debut, and one week after its release, the Rogue Traders performed their new single on popular comedy program, Rove. Prior to this, band members James Ash
James Ash
James Ash , is an English-born Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. He is the co-founder and keyboardist of Australian electro-rock group, the Rogue Traders...
and Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte is an Australian actress, singer-songwriter and television personality. She began her career as an actress on the television series All Saints. She then starred in the American television movie Counterstrike...
attended many interviews on radio and television to promote the song, and the upcoming "Better in the Dark Tour", as well as presenting an award at the 2008 MTV Australia Awards
MTV Australia Awards
The MTV Australia Awards started in 2005 and is Australia's first awards show to celebrate both local and international acts.-History:...
. James Ash
James Ash
James Ash , is an English-born Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. He is the co-founder and keyboardist of Australian electro-rock group, the Rogue Traders...
also co-hosted an episode of The Music Jungle
The Music Jungle
The Music Jungle was an Australian music television show that was broadcast on the Nine Network on Saturday mornings between 11am and 12pm.The 2007 season began on 31 March and ended on 8 December. The 2008 season began on 22 March...
on 26 April.
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 the song was filmed from 23 February 2008 to 24 February 2008 and premiered through ninemsn on 13 March 2008, two days before its digital and radio release. Filmed in black and white, the video sees Bassingthwaighte working in a top-end New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Burlesque Club. Unhappy and determined to leave, she tries to escape but is followed by a controlling owner and security. Then Ash comes to rescue her and they drive off. The other band members do not appear in the music video. The video is said to be one of their most successful clips to date and a crowd favourie performance on the Better In The Dark Tour
Formats and track listings
Formats and track listings of the major single releases of "What You're on" include:Digital download
(Released 15 March 2008)
- "What You're On" (single edit) — 3:38
Australian CD single
- "What You’re On"
- "What You’re On" (James Ash remix)
- "What You’re On" (Cedric Gervais vocal remix)
- "Don't You Wanna FeelDon't You Wanna Feel"Don't You Wanna Feel" is a dance-pop-rock song written by James Ash and Natalie Bassingthwaighte for the Rogue Traders' third studio album Better in the Dark. It was released on schedule as the album's first single on 29 September 2007...
" (Deadmau5 remix)
Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart 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... |
30 |
End of year charts
| Year | Chart | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ARIA End Of Year Australian Singles | 42 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
15 March 2008 | Columbia Records Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
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... |
88697304122 |
| 19 April 2008 | CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |