Don't Give Me Your Life

"Don't Give Me Your Life"
Artwork for Italian and Dutch releases
Single by Alex Party
from the album Alex Party
Released6 February 1995 (1995-02-06)[1]
Genre
Length5:33 (album version/classic Alex Party mix)
3:16 (classic edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Robin 'Shanie' Campbell
Producer(s)
  • Paolo Visnadi
  • Gianni Visnadi
  • DJ Alex Natale
Alex Party singles chronology
""Alex Party/Read My Lips/Saturday Night Party"
(1993) 		"Don't Give Me Your Life"
(1995) 		"Wrap Me Up"
(1995)
Music video
"Don't Give Me Your Life" on YouTube

"Don't Give Me Your Life" is a song by Italian dance music group Alex Party. It is produced by Italian producer brothers Paolo and Gianni Visnadi with DJ Alex Natale, and was released in February 1995 by UMM and Systematic as the first single from the group's first and only album, Alex Party (1996). The vocals are performed by British singer Robin 'Shanie' Campbell, who also wrote the lyrics and melody. The song peaked at number two in the UK and number five on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US. It also topped the Club Record category at Music Week's 1995 Awards. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the biggest dance anthems of the 1990s. Idolator ranked it number 21 in their list of "The 50 Best Pop Singles of 1995" in 2015.[2]

In 1999, "Don't Give Me Your Life" was re-released, with new mixes included and a full length bonus track, "Megamix" from 1994. A music video was produced twice for the song; in 1995 and 1999.

Background

After the success with their first single, "Read My Lips/Saturday Night Party" which peaked at number 29 in the UK and became an Ibiza anthem during the summer of 1993, producers and brothers Paolo and Gianni Visnadi, with DJ Alex Natale, wanted to create something more oriented to the underground scene. But they then decided to add a voice to it. Through their label they were introduced to British singer Robin 'Shanie' Campbell, who wrote the lyrics for "Don't Give Me Your Life". The lyrics tells the story of a woman that tells her man that she doesn't need him anymore. He has been treating her badly, cheating on her and she has had enough, telling him that she don't need his love/life.

The quartet's varied experiences gave the song a unique sound and a sophisticated flare compared to the other stomping grooves at the time. The means of productions back then were not like today, and the production phase was actually more challenging. The hardest part was the huge amount of work during the assembly, once the vocals were recorded on tape. After that, every single phrase from the vocals was sampled individually and controlled via midi with an Atari computer.[3]

Chart performance

"Don't Give Me Your Life" reached number two in Ireland, Scotland and the UK, becoming their highest-charting hit in those countries. In the latter, it peaked at number two on 5 March 1995, in its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart.[4] The single spent two weeks at that position and was held off reaching number-one by Celine Dion's "Think Twice". It also peaked at number six in Iceland, number 16 in Denmark and the Netherlands, and number 18 in the group's native Italy. In addition, it topped both Music Week's On a Pop Tip Club Chart and the Club Record category at Music Week's 1995 Awards. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number nine on 11 March. Outside Europe, "Don't Give Me Your Life" was successful in Israel, peaking at number two and on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it hit number five. In Australia, it reached a respectable number 13. The song was included on numerous compilation albums all over the world, and remains to date the most successful release by Alex Party.

"Don't Give Me Your Life" was awarded with a gold record in the UK, with a sale of 400,000 singles.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from American magazine Billboard wrote, "This popular U.K. import, is showing early signs of widespread approval from a variety of dance programmers. Producer Visnadi and Alex Natale offer a jumpy bassline and carnival-like keyboards, while resident singer Shanie bumps and grinds with giddy abandon. The chorus will have you reaching for your tambourine and platform boots."[5] Another Billboard editor, Mark Dezzani, said, "The single, like the tracks from the pioneering Italian dance act Black Box, epitomizes Italy's knack for producing perfect pop tunes using the latest in musical technology."[6] Robbie Daw from Idolator declared it as a "kiss-off anthem" and "one big F U to a no-good ex". He complimented Campbell as "the epitome of powerhouse dance diva."[7] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton viewed it as "a brilliantly commercial piece of dance".[8] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Vocals by Shanie, rap by Danny Johnston; assemble these two elements and you get one of the catchiest Euro tracks currently available."[9] Alan Jones from Music Week said, "A startlingly simple but hugely effective Italo-NRG bouncer with an impossibly catchy chorus, it could go all the way."[10] Iestyn George from NME wrote, "Perky handbag ditty with neat vocal snatches, a snappy piano break and the requisite number of peaks and drops that hit all the right places."[11] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update described it as a "girl sung sometimes somewhat Whigfield-ishly tinged (but no ducks!) jaunty Euro romp".[12]

"Don't Give Me Your Life" was ranked number 21 in Idolator's list of "The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1995" in 2015. It was also ranked number nine in Attitude's list of "The Top 10 Dance Tunes Of The '90s" in 2016.[13]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by La La Land,[14] who had previously directed videos for acts like 2 Unlimited ("No One") and Whigfield ("Saturday Night"). "Don't Give Me Your Life" features singer Robin 'Shanie' Campbell and dancers. She wears a white high neck sweater and performs toward a dark background. The male dancer in the video is actor and dancer Jake Canuso, known for his role in the British TV series Benidorm, in which he plays barman Mateo Castellanos.[15]

Live performances

Alex Party performed "Don't Give Me Your Life" in the British music chart television programme Top of the Pops three times in 1995. The first performance was on 16 February, after reaching number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] Then on 2 March, after reaching number three with 150 000 copies sold,[17] and again on 16 March, after reaching number two with 350 000 copies sold.[18]

Track listing

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 4 February 1995. p. 35.
  2. ^ "The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1995 (Featuring New Interviews With Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Kylie Minogue, Monica, Ace Of Base & More!)". idolator.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. ^ "The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1995 (21. Alex Party, "Don't Give Me Your Life" (Interview))". idolator.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (8 July 1995). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  6. ^ Dezzani, Mark (1 July 1995). "Italian acts to follow". Billboard. Vol. 107. Issue 26.
  7. ^ Daw, Robbie (9 December 2015). "The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1995 (Featuring New Interviews With Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Kylie Minogue, Monica, Ace Of Base & More!)". Idolator. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  8. ^ Masterton, James (12 February 1995). "Week Ending February 18th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  9. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 March 1995. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  10. ^ Jones, Alan (4 February 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 30. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  11. ^ George, Iestyn (25 February 1995). "Groove Check". NME. p. 19. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  12. ^ Hamilton, James (21 January 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  13. ^ Fussell, Glyn (9 June 2016). "The Top 10 Dance Tunes Of The '90s". Attitude. Retrieved 18 November 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ "alex party - don't give me your life ( viva tv )". YouTube. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Jake Canuso Interview ~ Mateo Benidorm ITV". celebrityradio.biz. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  16. ^ Top of the Pops. BBC. 16 February 1995.
  17. ^ Top of the Pops. BBC. 2 March 1995.
  18. ^ Top of the Pops. BBC. 16 March 1995.
  19. ^ "Alex Party – Don't Give Me Your Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  20. ^ Danish Singles Chart. 14 April 1995.
  21. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 10. 11 March 1995. p. 18. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  22. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. 13 May 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Alex Party – Don't Give Me Your Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (06.05.1995 – 12.05.1995)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 6 May 1995. p. 42. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  25. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Give Me Your Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Alex Party".
  27. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Alex Party – Don't Give Me Your Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Alex Party – Don't Give Me Your Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  32. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 14 January 1995. p. 6. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  33. ^ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 4 March 1995. p. 8. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Alex Party Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  35. ^ "Billboard Hot Dance Breakouts" (PDF). Billboard. 8 July 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Billboard Hot Dance Breakouts" (PDF). Billboard. 26 August 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  37. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 11.
  38. ^ "1995 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. 23 December 1995. p. 14. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  40. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1995" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  41. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  42. ^ "British single certifications – Alex Party – Don't Give Me Your Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 August 2021.