1973 (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“1973”
“1973” cover
Single by James Blunt
from the album All the Lost Souls
Released July 23, 2007 (Digital download)
Format Digital download, CD Single, 45 rpm
Genre Folk rock, pop rock
Length 4:42
Label Atlantic/Warner Music Group
Writer(s) Mark Batson and James Blunt
Producer Tom Rothrock
James Blunt singles chronology
"Wisemen"
(2006)		 "1973"
(2007)		 "Same Mistake"
(2007)
Alternative cover
Maxi cover
Maxi cover
Vinyl cover
Vinyl cover
Alternative cover
Alternative cover
Promo cover
Promo cover

"1973" is the first single released from James Blunt's second studio album All the Lost Souls.

Contents

[edit] Background

"1973" is written by Mark Batson and James Blunt. "He was trying to write an English singer-songwriter song, and I was trying the Dr. Dre end of the scale," says Blunt.[1] The song was inspired by the club scene in Ibiza, where Blunt maintains a residence and enjoys the social scene.[2] The song has been remixed by Pete Tong and Dave Spoon as part of their Ibiza 2007 Remix Project, and Tong started playing the remix in July 2007 when acting as DJ at Pacha, the Ibiza club that inspired the song and opened in 1973. Blunt was not born until 1974.

Blunt has stated in a radio interview with KISFM on 8 September 2007 that the girl from his lyrics "Simona" was indeed based on a real woman he had met at the club.

[edit] Release

First performed by Blunt during his Fall 2006 North American tour, 1973 was released for radio play on July 23, 2007 to selected radio stations around the world. It was made available for download exclusively from the Verizon Wireless network in the United States on that date as well. [3] Starting on August 7, 2007, the song was made widely available for digital download. CD and vinyl recordings were released on September 3, 2007.

There are four covers for the single. The CD and 7-inch have James Blunt's name spelled out using photographs of various neon signs. Below his name is the title of the song overlaid on an adaptation of the cover for the All the Lost Souls album, using multiple photographs of Blunt as a background, this time through an amber filter; the photographs beneath the song title are highlighted. The CD+DVD cover is similar, but uses a different typeface for the title and is seen through a ruby-coloured filter. The promo version has Blunt's name spelled out with neon letters, and the title is on what appears to be a theatre marquee. The covers were designed by Bose Collins. It reached Number 1 in the UK and German airplay charts on 21 August 2007.

[edit] B-Sides

"Dear Katie" was written by Blunt's long-time keyboardist Paul Beard. It features vocals by Blunt and backing vocals and keyboards by Beard. Beard also mixed the song.

"So Happy" was written by Felix Howard and James Blunt. Howard has also collaborated on songs for other performers, including Sugababes.

"Annie" is written by Blunt and Jimmy Hogarth. It is also a track on the album All the Lost Souls, and has been performed at concerts since October 2006. Blunt and Hogarth have collaborated on several songs in the past, including "So Long Jimmy" from the Back to Bedlam album. The B-side is an acoustic version of the song, performed by Blunt and Paul Beard.

[edit] Music video

The video, in which a modern-day Blunt strolls among '70s street scenes, reflects the song's nostalgic tone. "The '70s sound like they were a time of excess and great flamboyance," he says, "but a sense of fun as well."[4] The video was shot in the Universal Backlots in Los Angeles.

[edit] CD Singles

CD1:
1. "1973"
2. "Dear Katie"

CD2:
1. "1973"
2. "Annie" [Live from The Garden Shed]
3. "So Happy" [Single Version]
4. "1973" [CD-Rom Video]

7’’:
A. "1973"
B. "So Happy"

Promo
1. "1973" (Radio Edit)

Ashley Beadle Remixes Promo
1. "1973" (Ashley Beadle Vocal)
2. "1973" (Ashley Beadle Instrumental)
3. "1973" (Ashley Beadle Dub)

The Remixes Promo
1. "1973" (Pete Tong & Spoon Mix)
2. "1973" (Ashley Beedle Mix)
3. "1973" (Orginal Radio Edit)

[edit] Reception

The song debuted at #10 on the UK Singles Chart, then peaked at #4, making it his third top 10 single and the fifth released single debuting in the UK Singles Chart. In Switzerland the song debuted at #1 making it his second top 10 hit. It also peaked at #1 in Venezuela.

In the U.S. the song made its first appearance on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles where it peaked at #2. It later debuted at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the release of the corresponding album. The song peaked at #77 on the Pop 100.

From 86, the song made to jump at number 2 in Billboard's European Hot 100 Singles. It has become Blunt's first #1 on the United World Chart.

This song was #85 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007 and #7 on VH1E's Top 10 Biggest Hits Of 2007.[5]

[edit] Charts

Chart Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[6] 11
Ö3 Austria Top 40[6][7] 1
Belgium Singles Chart[6] 1
Brazil Singles Chart[8] 4
Canadian Hot 100 Singles Chart[9] 13
Canada Download Chart[10] 11
Canada Airplay Chart[11] 18
Czech Singles Chart[12] 6
Denmark Singles Chart[13] 3
Estonia Singles Chart[13] 1
Euro 200[13] 1
Euro Air Play Top 100[14] 1
Finland Singles Chart[6] 11
German Singles Chart[15] 2
Greel Singles Chart[13] 4
Hong Kong Singles Chart[16] 1
Hungary Singles Chart[17] 11
Ibero América Singles Chart[18] 8
Indonesia Singles Chart[19] 3
Italy Singles Chart[20] 1
Italy Top Digital Download Chart[21] 2
Ireland Singles Chart[22] 5
México Top 100 Singles Chart[23] 14
Netherlands Singles Chart 1[6] 8
Netherlands Singles Chart 2[24] 2
Netherlands Antilles Singles Chart[25] 3
New Zealand Singles Chart[6] 9
Norwegian Singles Chart[6] 10
Polish National Top 50[13] 3
Romanian Singles Chart[26] 31
Spain Singles Chart[13] 8
Sweden Singles Chart[6] 7
Switzerland Singles Chart[6] 1
Tokyo Hot 100[27] 5
Turkish Top 20 Chart[28] 1
UK Singles Chart[29] 4
UK Download Chart[29] 4
U.S. Billboard European Hot 100 Singles 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 73
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 59
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 77
Global Track Chart[6] 1 (3 weeks)
Venezuela Singles Chart[30] 1

[edit] References

  1. ^ James Blunt's ''1973'' video shoot | James Blunt | First Look | Music | Entertainment Weekly
  2. ^ I4U News - Story is Expired
  3. ^ Poletta, Michael. "Beautiful and the Beat", Billboard, 2007-07-21. 
  4. ^ James Blunt's ''1973'' video shoot | James Blunt | First Look | Music | Entertainment Weekly
  5. ^ MTV Asia. "Top 100 Hits List". Retrieved 2007-12-27
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j PeaksWorld
  7. ^ Ö3 Austria Top 40
  8. ^ Brazilian Hot 100
  9. ^ Canadian Hot 100
  10. ^ CANOE - JAM! Music SoundScan Charts
  11. ^ CANOE - JAM! Music Sound Scan Charts: The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles
  12. ^ Czech Singles Chart
  13. ^ a b c d e f Euro peaks
  14. ^ Euro Airplay HOT 100 - 28 Countries From Europe in One Chart - This Week's European TOP 100
  15. ^ German Singles Chart
  16. ^ Hongkong Singles Chart
  17. ^ Hungary Singles Chart
  18. ^ Ibero América Singles Chart
  19. ^ Indonesia Singles Chart
  20. ^ Italian Singles Chart
  21. ^ Italy Top Digital Download Chart
  22. ^ Ireland Singles Chart
  23. ^ Mexico Singles Chart
  24. ^ dutchcharts.nl - James Blunt - 1973
  25. ^ Netherlands Antilles Singles Top 40
  26. ^ Romanian Singles Top 50
  27. ^ Tokyo Hot 100
  28. ^ Turkish Airplay Chart
  29. ^ a b UK Singles+Download Chart
  30. ^ Venezuela Top 20

[edit] External links

Preceded by
"Moi...lolita" by Julien Doré		 Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart
October 13, 2007 - October 20, 2007		 Succeeded by
"Garçon" by Koxie
Preceded by
"Stronger" by Kanye West		 United World Chart number one single
October 20, 2007 - November 3, 2007		 Succeeded by
"Apologize (Timbaland Remix)" by OneRepublic
v • d • e
James Blunt
Albums
Singles
Related