"I'm Not Alone" is a song by Scottish recording artist Calvin Harris, released as the lead single from his second studio album, Ready for the Weekend (2009). The track was first played by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1 as his "essential new tune" on 23 January 2009 and has been described as a slice of euphoric dance.

"I'm Not Alone"
Single by Calvin Harris
from the album Ready for the Weekend
Released6 April 2009 (2009-04-06)
RecordedDecember 2008
StudioEarth's Core (Glasgow, Scotland)
Length3:31
Label
Songwriter(s)Calvin Harris
Producer(s)Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris singles chronology
"Dance wiv Me"
(2008)
"I'm Not Alone"
(2009)
"Ready for the Weekend"
(2009)
Music video
"I'm Not Alone" on YouTube

On 12 April 2009, the song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, earning Harris his first solo number-one single on the chart and second overall following his 2008 collaboration with Dizzee Rascal and Chrome, "Dance wiv Me".[1][2]

In 2010, Harris received a writing credit on Chris Brown's hit single "Yeah 3x", due to the perceived similarities between the two songs.[3]

Background and writing

Harris called the song "a big stadium dance tune, somewhere between Snow Patrol, Faithless and Grandaddy".[4] He said in a publicity release: "The whole track's a light and shade thing, two styles put together. I find it quite hard to write a happy-happy lyric now, for some reason. I don't know why that is, to be honest with you. Maybe it's staying in a room for a huge amount of time on your own, and that's reflected in the lyrics!"[5] The song is written in the key of E minor, and follows a chord progression of Em/D/Am/C.[citation needed]

Chart performance

"I'm Not Alone" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 12 April 2009 ― for the week ending 18 April 2009 ― knocking Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" off the top of the chart. It remained at the top position for two weeks, until it was dethroned by Tinchy Stryder's "Number 1" featuring N-Dubz. On 3 January 2010, "I'm Not Alone" re-entered the chart at number ninety-nine.

In the Republic of Ireland, the single debuted at number fourteen on the Irish Singles Chart on 9 April 2009, peaking at number four by its third week.

Controversy

When Chris Brown's 2010 single "Yeah 3x" was released, Harris claimed that "Yeah 3x" plagiarised "I'm Not Alone". He tweeted, "Choked on my cornflakes when I heard [the] new Chris Brown single this morning. Do you know what I mean?"[6] After receiving many abusive messages from Brown's fans after posting the comment,[7] he later tweeted, "I don't care that you call me a nobody. Stealing is still stealing, doesn't matter who you are! ... Because Chris Brown is an international celebrity doesn't make it OK to rip off a guy from [the] UK not many people have heard of."[6]

When asked in an interview with Australia's Herald Sun if Brown knew him, Harris replied, "Well, he's never heard of me, that's the funniest thing. But the producer he's worked with, DJ Frank E, has definitely heard of me. He's a respected producer, he's worked with Tiësto on a few tracks, perhaps that's where the link is. It's all a bit of fun."[8] Brown later spoke with Harris and upon hearing the similarities between the two songs, had Harris' name added to the songwriting credits, with no legal action taken.[6][9] The two artists reportedly have no hard feelings toward each other since the controversy; Harris even called Brown his "best mate" and said that he enjoys listening to his work.[9]

Music video

 
Calvin, portrayed as the Frankenstein-like character in the video for "I'm Not Alone"

The music video for "I'm Not Alone" was filmed in Oslo, Norway, on 6 February 2009. It was directed by Christian Holm-Glad.[10] The clip begins with a small boy (potentially meant to represent a young Harris) found in thick snow wandering the woods dragging a sledge with a toy bear on top. He then sets up camp and lights a fire to keep warm whilst cuddling his toy bear. The bear is then found on the sledge again and is then dropped. The scene closes and cuts to a dungeon styled setting that showcases Harris portrayed as a Frankenstein-type character who is seen to perform experiments on numerous female captives, combining their essences to reanimate his "lost" teddy bear.[citation needed]

"I'm Not Alone 2019"

"I'm Not Alone 2019"
 
Single by Calvin Harris
from the EP I'm Not Alone 2019
Released5 April 2019 (2019-04-05)
Length3:21
Label
Songwriter(s)Calvin Harris
Producer(s)Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris singles chronology
"Giant"
(2019)
"I'm Not Alone 2019"
(2019)
"Live Without Your Love"
(2020)

Harris re-released the single on 5 April 2019, alongside the I'm Not Alone 2019 EP, featuring the re-released 2019 edit, several new remixes and a remastered version.[11] It was included on his seventh studio album, 96 Months (2024).

Certifications

Certifications for "I'm not Alone 2019"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Track listings

2019 release

Digital download[16]

  1. "I'm Not Alone" (CamelPhat Remix I) – 4:04
  2. "I'm Not Alone" (CamelPhat Remix II) – 6:03
  3. "I'm Not Alone" (2019 Edit) – 3:21
  4. "I'm Not Alone" (Thomas Schumacher Remix) – 3:41
  5. "I'm Not Alone" (2009 Remaster) – 3:36

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Release history

Release date for "I'm Not Alone"
Country Date Label Format
United Kingdom 6 April 2009 Digital download
13 April 2009 CD single
22 April 2009 12" single
United Kingdom 5 April 2019 Columbia

References

  1. ^ "Calvin Harris goes straight to Number One with new single, Lady Gaga back on top of album charts". Daily Mirror. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  2. ^ Reporter, News (26 April 2009). "Tinchy Stryder knocks Calvin Harris off Number One". NME. Retrieved 10 September 2019. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ Gregory, Jason (25 August 2011). "Calvin Harris: I'm Best Mates With Chris Brown After 'Yeah 3x' Row". Gigwise. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  4. ^ Liew, Ben (2 October 2009). "Calvin Harris On That Difficult 2nd Album". JUICEOnline. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  5. ^ "I'm Not Alone by Calvin Harris". Songfacts. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  6. ^ a b c Izundu, Chi Chi (4 October 2010). "Calvin Harris says Chris Brown 'stole' his song". BBC Radio 1 (BBC). Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Chris Brown rips off Calvin Harris? Twitter hosts the controversy". Dancing Astronaut. 4 October 2010.
  8. ^ Adams, Cameron (25 November 2010). "Q&A: singer Calvin Harris". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Calvin Harris and Chris Brown make up after song row". BBC Radio 1. BBC. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ karsoowuttt (5 April 2019). "Calvin Harris Remixes & Remasters A Decade-Old Classic [LISTEN]". Your EDM. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  12. ^ "British single certifications – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone 2019". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  13. ^ "I'm Not Alone – EP by Calvin Harris". iTunes Store. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  14. ^ "I'm Not Alone – EP by Calvin Harris". iTunes Store. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  15. ^ "I'm Not Alone – EP by Calvin Harris". iTunes Store. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  16. ^ "iTunes - Music - I'm Not Alone 2019 - EP by Calvin Harris". iTunes Store.
  17. ^ "Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  18. ^ "Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ^ "Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ^ Calvin Harris — I'm Not Alone. TopHit. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2009 in the date selector.
  22. ^ "Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". Tracklisten.
  23. ^ "European Hot 100 – Week of April 25, 2009". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm Not Alone". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Calvin Harris".
  26. ^ "Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  28. ^ "Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". Top 40 Singles.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  30. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200928 into search.
  31. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  33. ^ "Hot Dance Airplay – Week Ending 05 September 2009". Dance/Mix Show Airplay. Billboard. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  34. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Calvin Harris". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  37. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  38. ^ "Calvin Harris Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  39. ^ "Calvin Harris Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  40. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2009" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  41. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2009" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  42. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  43. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Danish single certifications – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". IFPI Danmark. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2011 to obtain certification.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 April 2021.