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1973 (song)

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"1973"
Song

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

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 early 1974, though, but he was therefore conceived in 1973.

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.

Release

First performed by Blunt during his Fall 2006 North American tour, 1973 was released for radio play on 23 July, 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 3 September, 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.

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.

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."[1] The video was shot in the Universal Backlots in Los Angeles.

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" (Original Radio 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 #60 on the Pop 100.

From 86, the song made to jump at number two in Billboard's European Hot 100 Singles.

This song was number 85 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007 and #7 on VH1E's Top 10 Biggest Hits Of 2007.[4]

1973 was featured on the compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 68.

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[5] 11
Ö3 Austria Top 40[5][6] 1
Belgium Singles Chart[5] 1
Canadian Hot 100 Singles Chart[7] 13
Canada Download Chart[8] 11
Canada Airplay Chart[9] 18
Czech Singles Chart[10] 6
Finland Singles Chart[5] 11
German Singles Chart[11] 2
Hong Kong Singles Chart[12] 1
Hungary Singles Chart[13] 11
Ibero América Singles Chart[14] 8
Indonesia Singles Chart[15] 3
Italy Singles Chart[16] 1
Italy Top Digital Download Chart[17] 2
Ireland Singles Chart[18] 5
México Top 100 Singles Chart[19] 14
Netherlands Singles Chart 1[5] 8
Netherlands Singles Chart 2[20] 2
New Zealand Singles Chart[5] 9
Norwegian Singles Chart[5] 10
Romanian Singles Chart[21] 31
Slovak Airplay Chart[22] 1
Sweden Singles Chart[5] 7
Switzerland Singles Chart[5] 1
Tokyo Hot 100[23] 5
Turkey Top 20 Chart[24] 1
UK Singles Chart[25] 4
UK Download Chart[25] 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 60
Global Track Chart[5] 1
Venezuela Singles Chart[26] 1

References

  1. ^ a b James Blunt's ''1973'' video shoot | James Blunt | First Look | Music | Entertainment Weekly
  2. ^ I4U News - Story is Expired
  3. ^ Poletta, Michael (2007-07-21). "Beautiful and the Beat". Billboard (magazine). Billboard.
  4. ^ MTV Asia. "Top 100 Hits List". Retrieved 2007-12-27
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j PeaksWorld
  6. ^ Ö3 Austria Top 40
  7. ^ Canadian Hot 100
  8. ^ CANOE - JAM! Music SoundScan Charts
  9. ^ CANOE - JAM! Music Sound Scan Charts: The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles
  10. ^ Czech Singles Chart
  11. ^ German Singles Chart
  12. ^ Hongkong Singles Chart
  13. ^ Hungary Singles Chart
  14. ^ Ibero América Singles Chart
  15. ^ Indonesia Singles Chart
  16. ^ Italian Singles Chart
  17. ^ Italy Top Digital Download Chart
  18. ^ Ireland Singles Chart
  19. ^ Mexico Singles Chart
  20. ^ dutchcharts.nl - James Blunt - 1973
  21. ^ Romanian Singles Top 50
  22. ^ Sns Ifpi
  23. ^ Tokyo Hot 100
  24. ^ Turkey Top 20 Chart
  25. ^ a b UK Singles+Download Chart
  26. ^ Venezuela Top 20
Preceded by Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart
13 October, 2007 - 20 October, 2007 		Succeeded by
"Garçon" by Koxie
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