Who'd Have Known, the fourth in the UK/fifth everywhere else single from It's Not Me, It's You, was released in November 2009. It was written by Lily and Greg Kurstin, and features an unwitting sample of Take That's "Shine."
Quote:
Originally posted by Lily Allen
I ripped off the chorus from Take That and can't be bothered with the paperwork...Greg [Kurstin] just played the chords and I sang and we were like, 'That's great, really hooky.' Then when we played it back to someone, they pointed it out that it was, essentially, 'Shine.'
Thankfully, Lily had the sample cleared - or else the track would not have made the final album at all.
The video took aim at her spat with Elton John, and featured Lily as an obsessed Elton John groupie who kidnaps him and forces him to love her. The song gained a second life when T-Pain sampled it for his 2011 hit 5 O'Clock.
Such a great song (and even better video). That first verse is perfection; is it any wonder that T-Pain sampled it? "Who'd Have Known" is probably a little too low-key for ATRL, but I'm glad it made the top twenty.
Hold up. My personal top 20:
I know it doesn't completely match my ratings. Opinions change.
1. Rabbit Heart
2. Rolling In the Deep
3. Rehab
4. Mercy
5. Someone Like You
6. Back To Black
7. Cosmic Love
8. Chasing Pavements
9. Dog Days Are Over
10. Smile
11. Valerie
12. Shake It Out
13. **** Me Pumps
14. You Know I'm No Good
15. You've Got The Love
16. The Fear
17. Set Fire To The Rain
18. Tears Dry On Their Own
19. Love Is A Losing Game
20. Who'd Have Known
Yes! Maybe I'm getting good at this.
I'm surprised it made the top 20, there are much better candidates.
One example is Back To Start, which could have easily replaced this.
Probably the single that put Amy on the map, **** Me Pumps was released - with Help Yourself - as the fourth and final single from Frank. Written by Amy and Salaam Remi, the song features Amy's caustic wit and blunt tongue aimed not internally, but externally - to a group of women she loathed, but couldn't live without.
Could have been bumped up a few more spots, but I'm glad it made the top 20.
I love the melody and her delivery on the song. The lyrics can give you a good kick too.
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up), Florence's big breakthrough single, exits our competition. It remains one of her biggest hits in the UK, having peaked at #12 - only Shake It Out (which also went to #12), You've Got the Love (#5) and You've Got the Dirtee Love (#2) have done better. It was written by Florence and Paul Epworth, but the indie-dance band Gang Gang Dance noticed some striking similarities in the verses between it and their song House Jam.
You be the judge?
Clearly that settles that, and Florence agreed - after being threatened with further legal action, she added the band's name to the writing credits. Florence described what she was feeling when writing and recording this song:
Quote:
Originally posted by Florence Welsh
I'd written all these dark songs, and the label suggested we should have something that was a bit more upbeat. In the process of trying to do that, I realised maybe I was sacrificing something. So I had a really upbeat piano and drums, but the lyrics that came out were 'This is the gift/It comes with a price/ Who is the lamb/And who is the knife?' The rabbit heart is a reference to fear. I'm so afraid of what's about to happen. Of being in the spotlight.
Fun fact: All of the voices in the song are Florence's, here pulling a Beyoncé/Brandy/Mariah in terms of harmonizing with oneself.
Can't say I'm surprised, I knew it wasn't going to win.
Someone needs to explain to me how this is worse than stuff like You've Got the Love, Tears Dry On Their Own, and Love Is A Losing Game.
Wow, 12 tens! Of course some idiot gave it a one.
That Gang Bang Dance can shove it.
Oh well. The winner in my book.
Quote:
Fun fact: All of the voices in the song are Florence's, here pulling a Beyoncé/Brandy/Mariah in terms of harmonizing with oneself.
"**** Me Pumps" is so witty and delightful. I love Amy with that sarcastic, humorous edge to her music; it's part of what made "Rehab" such a refreshing and successful debut to American audiences.
And I didn't realize that Florence was kind of a flop on the UK charts. Anyway, "Rabbit Heart" is absolutely stunning. Both of these songs totally should have lasted longer than some of the more pedestrian hits left in the rate ("Mercy," "Set Fire to the Rain," "Valerie").
I liked "Who'd Have Known" but I think I actually just like the 'It's 5 o'clock in the morning" hook over and over, which is why I kind of prefer the featured credit. Shank me. The video is incredibly clever however, as of course is tradition with Lily Allen.
I really liked Rabbit Heart, ya arseholes--although I'm starting to think that I was generally a little too generous with all of my scores in this rate.
Can't say I'm surprised, I knew it wasn't going to win.
Someone needs to explain to me how this is worse than stuff like You've Got the Love, Tears Dry On Their Own, and Love Is A Losing Game.
Wow, 12 tens! Of course some idiot gave it a one.
That Gang Bang Dance can shove it.
Oh well. The winner in my book.
Well, you'll get your wish now.
17.
Florence and the Machine - You've Got the Love
Previously stated as Florence's most successful single (in the UK), You've Got the Love almost didn't make it onto Lungs. It was the b-side of second single Dog Days Are Over (which we still haven't seen ... hmmm) , then released as a digital download in January 2009. It was tacked onto the album as a bonus track/afterthought, and was later released as a single.
Florence explains why she chose to cover this song:
Quote:
Originally posted by Florence Welch
As a kid, going to clubs and raves, this song made me feel love. At Bestival last year we were top of the bill on that stage, so we were thinking of an amazing cover we could do, and I thought of Candi Staton. Even in rehearsals, playing it was just the most euphoric feeling. Then playing it live and seeing everyone's arms in the air, and the faces – it was the best feeling ever! I was dressed as a genie sea-monster, and I remember looking at my guitarist as we played the first chords, and then there was the reaction and it was like tearing ourselves open and just exploding on the crowd, and then all did it back. It's a feeling you couldn't express. I'm really excited that now in our live shows I'm going to be playing one of my favourite songs ever, loads.
Fun Fact: Florence was not the only one to be inspired by The Source and Candi Staton, as Joss Stone covered this song one year before Florence did.
"**** Me Pumps" is so witty and delightful. I love Amy with that sarcastic, humorous edge to her music; it's part of what made "Rehab" such a refreshing and successful debut to American audiences.
And I didn't realize that Florence was kind of a flop on the UK charts. Anyway, "Rabbit Heart" is absolutely stunning. Both of these songs totally should have lasted longer than some of the more pedestrian hits left in the rate ("Mercy," "Set Fire to the Rain," "Valerie").
Two of those will leave in the next block.
In fact, in the next block - you'll see all five women, some for the last time.
