Drummer Boy (Alesha Dixon song)

Last updated

"Drummer Boy"
Alesha Drummer Boy cover.jpg
Single by Alesha Dixon
from the album The Entertainer
Released23 August 2010 (2010-08-23)
Recorded2010
Genre
Length3:12
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Shama "Sak Pase" Joseph
  • Nate Walka
  • Deodrick Jackson
  • James Riles
Producer(s) Sak Pasé
Alesha Dixon singles chronology
"To Love Again"
(2009)		"Drummer Boy"
(2010)		"Take Control"
(2010)

"Drummer Boy" is song by English singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon. It was released on 3 September 2010 as the lead single from her third studio album, The Entertainer . The first teasers for the song surfaced on Dixon's fansite in late July, and Dixon announced, via her various social networking sites, that the song would receive its radio play premiere on 23 July on BBC Radio 1 with Fearne Cotton. [1] "Drummer Boy" debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number twenty-three on 10 September 2010. The single peaked at Number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, making it Dixon's lowest peaking lead single from an album to date.

Contents

Background

Discussing the song's history, Dixon has said: "ShamRock aka Sak Pase – who's one of Akon's proteges – produced the track. And, as soon as I walked into the studio with him and Nate Walker (the track's co-writer) I instantly just felt something special!... You know, I'm always looking for something that's just full of life; that's different, quirky, and that can't be put in a box... Plus I loved the TOUGHNESS of it! I particularly loved the fact that it is female-empowering, but not in a feminist trying-to-wave-the-flag-and-be rude-about-men kind of way." [2]

Critical reception

"Drummer Boy" has garnered a mostly positive reception, with critics such as Fraser McAlpine of the BBC and Popjustice heavily praising it. McAlpine awarded the song 5 stars on his BBC review, saying he was "delighted to report that it is enjoyment all the way". [3] McAlpine praised what he called "her mad brilliance" [3] and concluded with, "best of all, there is no possibility that you could confuse this song with anything else in the charts this year. And for that reason alone it deserves top honours". [3] Popjustice described the song as "a bit of a grower", stating that on their first listen to the song they dubbed it "2010s worst piece of recorded music", and by their seventh listen they simply wrote, in capital letters, "THIS IS AMAZING". [4] Popjustice also named it their 'Song of the Day' for 22 July, stating that "Chartwise this'll be either a massive hit of a fantastic miss", but regardless it is "up there with the best". [5] The site also noted the sexual double entendres throughout the lyrics of the song. [4] 4Music stated "Alesha is back with a track that's about as subtle as a sledgehammer", [6] and also highly praised the video. [6]

Digital Spy criticised the song's 20 second intro, writing: "Irritating? Extremely". [7] Its consensus was, "It'll definitely get Dixon noticed, but for all the right reasons? We're not so sure"; it awarded the single 3 out of 5 stars. [7] Popjustice, who gave a favourable review, also called the intro "terrible", and showed how to start the song from 19.5 seconds on an iTunes format, thus skipping the intro. [8] However, the online website SoFeminine.co.uk disagreed with Digital Spy's view, describing the track as "a fantastically quirky slice of pop which we think is destined to become a dancefloor anthem". [9]

Music video

Alesha sat in her bright red armchair in the video. Dixon enlisted Ray Kay, feeling he was the best director for the shoot, which she wanted to be full of vibrant colours. Alesha Drummer Boy video.jpg
Alesha sat in her bright red armchair in the video. Dixon enlisted Ray Kay, feeling he was the best director for the shoot, which she wanted to be full of vibrant colours.

The music video for "Drummer Boy" was filmed by Norwegian director Ray Kay, with the shoot taking place in Los Angeles. [10] The video shoot consisted of a 21-hour shoot, in which Dixon stated she "had the best time", but that she "couldn't feel [her] feet" after the strenuous shoot. [11] The music video contains seven different costume changes by Dixon, 10 accompanying dancers, as well as 20 drummers. [11] In an interview with 4Music, Dixon explained the concept behind the music video: "The song is so energetic and I wanted to shoot it with Ray Kay because he's great at shooting really colourful videos. I knew that I wanted lots of drummers and dancers and I just wanted it to feel really tough and represent strength through the styling and dancing. It was the best video that I've done in terms of fun". [12]

The Daily Mirror reported that, whilst on the shoot, Alesha accidentally knocked out one of her dancers, saying, "she flung her arm out and clocked one of the girls with a giant ring, leaving her out cold". [13] Dixon later confirmed the Mirror's story, saying "I got her right in the head. She just fell back and didn't move. She was lying there, really trying to fight back the tears. I started crying because I felt so bad! She had a massive bump on her head immediately. But she was back up by the end of the video because she's a professional". [12]

Synopsis

The video begins in black and white, with the words "Alesha" written across the middle of the screen. Dixon is seen stood to the far-left, whilst a man playing the drums is stood opposite. Dixon then announces: "I think I need a better drummer", with the man stood opposite replying, "Say what?" Dixon repeats herself, and by this point the words "Alesha" have vanished, replaced by the words "Drummer Boy". Then the scene changes and it transitions from monochrome to normal colour, with different images of her dancers flashing quickly between monochrome and colour, whilst they get splattered with vibrant coloured paint; this time the words read: "A Ray Kay video", before disappearing altogether. Thereafter, the video contains Dixon in various scenarios, the first being Dixon dressed in black and red, sitting in a red armchair, flanked by two men, both wearing black and red, with a black background wall. The background wall changes intermittently throughout the video, ranging from red, pink, yellow, blue, lilac and peach. Various other similar scenes continue with Dixon dressed in flamboyant costumes, interspersed with shots of her drummers and her dance troupe, which Dixon dances with in some scenes.

Release and reception

The music video's television premiere took place a day later at 11:15am on 4Music and later on 4 Music's sister channel, Channel 4, at 12:50pm on 7 August. [14] 4Music stated that "the video is an ultra slick affair which, as you might expect, boasts a whole troupe of sexy drummer boys". [15]

Track listing

Personnel

Source: [20]

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)48
Ireland (IRMA) [21] 23
Scotland (OCC) [22] 11
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [23] 26
UK Singles (OCC) [24] 15

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
Spain23 August 2010 [25] Digital download Warner Music
Ireland3 September 2010 [26] Atlantic Records
United Kingdom5 September 2010 [5] Asylum Records
6 September 2010 [27] CD single

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mis-Teeq</span> British girl group

Mis-Teeq were a British girl group, consisting of Alesha Dixon, Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington. They had two top-ten albums and seven consecutive top-ten singles, with chart-topping success on the UK Singles Chart as well as across Europe, Asia, Australasia and the US. The group had originally been a quartet with Zena McNally who left in January 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alesha Dixon</span> English singer and dancer

Alesha Anjanette Dixon is an English singer, rapper, dancer, television personality, and author. She gained recognition in the early 2000s as a member of the R&B, garage and hip hop group Mis-Teeq. The group disbanded in 2005 and Dixon then pursued a music career as a solo artist, signing a recording contract with Polydor Records. She recorded her debut solo album, Fired Up in 2006, releasing her debut single "Lipstick", followed by "Knockdown", after which her popularity as a singer had declined and was subsequently dropped from Polydor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If This Is Love</span> 2008 single by The Saturdays

"If This Is Love" is the debut single by English-Irish girl group The Saturdays from their debut album, Chasing Lights (2008). It was co-written by Joe Belmaati, Michaela Breen, Vince Clarke, Mich Hansen, Alison Moyet, John Reid, Remee and Ina Wroldsen. The song was produced by Belmaati in collaboration with Cutfather. The track samples a heavily synthesised backing rhythm from Yazoo's 1982 song "Situation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lipstick (Alesha song)</span> 2006 single by Alesha Dixon

"Lipstick" is the debut solo single by former Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon, from her debut solo album Fired Up (2006). Produced by Anders Bagge and Peer Åström of Murlyn Music, the song peaked at No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexy! No No No...</span> 2007 single by Girls Aloud

"Sexy! No No No..." is a song by British girl group Girls Aloud from their fourth studio album, Tangled Up (2007). In 2007, the group announced that they would release a new album, due in November of that year. In July 2007, it was announced that "Sexy! No No No...", due to be released in September, would be as the first single from Tangled Up, with a radio premiere scheduled for 20 July. The track leaked a few hours prior to the premiere. "Sexy! No No No..." was written by Girls Aloud and Xenomania, and is an electropunk song that incorporates a sample of Nazareth's 1975 song "Hair of the Dog", for which they received a writing credit. Composed of three songs welded together, the song avoids the verse-chorus form present in most contemporary pop music, similar to their previous single "Biology" (2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alesha Dixon discography</span>

Alesha Dixon, a British R&B singer, has released four studio albums, nine lead singles and thirteen music videos. Dixon was also a member of the popular music group Mis-Teeq, together with whom she released four albums and several successful singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boy Does Nothing</span> 2008 single by Alesha Dixon

"The Boy Does Nothing" is a song performed by British singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon. It is the lead single from her second studio album, The Alesha Show (2008). The song was written by Alesha along with the help of Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Carla Marie Williams, and other members of Xenomania. The single was her first since 2006 after "Knockdown" was released in October of that year. It was also her first since signing with her new record label Asylum Records.

<i>The Alesha Show</i> 2008 studio album by Alesha Dixon

The Alesha Show is the second studio album by English singer Alesha Dixon. It was released by Asylum Records on 24 November 2008 in the United Kingdom. Her first album to be released domestically following the cancellation of her debut album Fired Up (2006), Dixon used her full name for the first time while releasing The Alesha Show after previously being credited mononymously. Producers on the album include Brian Higgins and Xenomania as well as Steve Booker, Harvey Mason, Jr., Kuk Harrell, Stephen Lipson, Soulshock & Karlin, Alex da Kid, and Al Shux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breathe Slow</span> 2009 single by Alesha Dixon

"Breathe Slow" is a song performed by British singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon. It is the second single from her second studio album, The Alesha Show, released by Asylum Records, a part of Atlantic Records, on 9 February 2009. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. The song was nominated at the BRIT Awards 2010 in the Best British single category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Get Excited</span> 2009 single by Alesha Dixon

"Let's Get Excited" is a song performed by English singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon. It is the third single from her second studio album, The Alesha Show, released by Asylum Records. The song has been added to BBC Radio 1's A-List. The single was the second single taken from "The Alesha Show" in most countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Love Again (song)</span> 2009 single by Alesha Dixon

"To Love Again" is the first single from a re-release of Alesha Dixon's second album, The Alesha Show, entitled The Alesha Show - Encore released by Asylum Records. The song is produced by John Shanks and written by Gary Barlow, and is one of four new tracks that appears on the re-release. Bimbo Jones has done a club remix for the song. The first week sales raised from the song were donated to Children in Need.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Did It Again (Shakira song)</span> 2009 single by Shakira

"Did It Again" is a song recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira for her eighth studio album, She Wolf (2009). It was released on 16 October 2009, by Epic Records, as the second single from the album. The song was written by Shakira, with production from The Neptunes. There is an alternate version featuring vocals from American rapper Kid Cudi, while its Spanish-language version "Lo Hecho Está Hecho" includes additional lyrical contributions from Uruguayan musician Jorge Drexler. "Did It Again" is an electropop song with elements of samba. Lyrically, it details Shakira's involvement in a man's extramarital affair, which leads to her feeling guilty and hurt about it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broken Heels</span> 2010 single by Alexandra Burke

"Broken Heels" is a song performed by British singer Alexandra Burke, released as the second single from her 2009 debut album, Overcome. It was written by the Moroccan-Swedish producer RedOne, Bilal Hajji, Savan Kotecha and produced by RedOne. The single was released on digital download in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2010 and physically on the following day, on 18 January 2010. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart on 24 January 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Time Low (The Wanted song)</span> 2010 single by The Wanted

"All Time Low" is the debut single of British-Irish boy band the Wanted, written by Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Ed Drewett. It was released on 25 July 2010 as the debut single from their self-titled debut album The Wanted, via Geffen Records. The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and number 19 in Ireland. "All Time Low" is upbeat with prominent dance-pop musical characteristics. It has so far garnered a positive response from contemporary music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better than Today</span> 2010 single by Kylie Minogue

"Better Than Today" is a song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue for her eleventh studio album, Aphrodite (2010). The track was originally written and produced by Nerina Pallot and Andy Chatterley for Pallot's 2009 extended play, Buckminster Fuller EP. It was re-recorded by Minogue in 2009, and received additional production by Stuart Price. Musically, "Better Than Today" is a dance-pop song that emulates other styles using guitars, synthesizers and drum programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Start Without You</span> 2010 single by Alexandra Burke

"Start Without You" is a song by British recording artist Alexandra Burke. Featuring vocals from Jamaican American reggae rapper Laza Morgan, it was written by Kristian Lundin, Ronan Dunne, Eddy Grant, Savan Kotecha, Julian Bunetta, and RedOne. The song is an R&B song, which incorporates reggae fusion and dancehall. According to Burke the song was inspired by her Jamaican heritage and her need for a summer song. The song came about after studio sessions booked with RedOne produced a number of new records that were going to be used for a re-release of Overcome or Burke's second album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Control (Roll Deep song)</span> 2010 single by Roll Deep featuring Alesha Dixon

"Take Control" is the third single from London-based collective Roll Deep's album, Winner Stays On, and preludes the album release by a week. The song, which features vocals from singer Alesha Dixon, released in the UK on 31 October.

<i>The Entertainer</i> (Alesha Dixon album) 2010 studio album by Alesha Dixon

The Entertainer is the third studio album by English singer Alesha Dixon. It was first released by Asylum Records on 29 November 2010 in the United Kingdom. A tougher album with lots of different layers, Dixon worked with a variety of musicians on the album, including a larger number of American producers such as Jim Beanz, Busbee, Toby Gad, Rodney Jerkins and The Stereotypes, as well as British DJ Naughty Boy and frequent collaborators such as the Danish duo Soulshock & Karlin. Originally planned to be named Unleashed, The Entertainer was decided upon instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio (Alesha Dixon song)</span> 2010 single by Alesha Dixon

"Radio" is a song by English recording artist Alesha Dixon from her third album, The Entertainer. The song is The Entertainer's second single, after "Drummer Boy" and was released on 28 November, coinciding with the album's release. One of the remixes features rapper Wiley, a member of grime band Roll Deep, whom Dixon collaborated with previously whilst featuring on their single, "Take Control". Dixon performed "Radio" for the first time on Strictly Come Dancing on 14 November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Little Part of Me</span> 2011 single by Alesha Dixon featuring Jay Sean

"Every Little Part of Me" is a song by English singer Alesha Dixon, released in February 2011 as the third and final single from Dixon's third studio album, The Entertainer. The song features guest vocals from fellow English R&B singer, Jay Sean. It was written by Alan Sampson, Jay Sean, Anthony Hannides and Michael Hannides, and produced by Slick & Magic.

References

  1. ↑ Alesha Dixon Twitter. 2010-07-22. Retrieved 2010-07-22
  2. ↑ Alesha interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' September 2010
  3. 1 2 3 Fraser McAlpine (30 August 2010). "Alesha Dixon – 'Drummer Boy'". BBC . Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  4. 1 2 "The seven stages of Alesha Dixon's 'Drummer Boy'". Popjustice. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Song of the Day: Drummer Boy". Popjustice. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  6. 1 2 "VIP track: Alesha Dixon". 4Music. 9 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  7. 1 2 Robert Copsey (22 August 2010). "Alesha Dixon: "Drummer Boy"". Digital Spy . Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Robert Copsey (23 July 2010). "Futher[sic] points re that Alesha Dixon single". Popjustice . Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  9. ↑ "Alesha Dixon – Drummer Boy video". Sofeminine.co.uk. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "Alesha Dixon to release new Unleashed album". OMG Music. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  11. 1 2 Alesha Dixon (23 July 2010). "Message from Alesha". AleshaDixon.net. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  12. 1 2 "4Music.com meets Alesha Dixon". 4Music. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  13. ↑ Clemmie Moodie and Danielle Lawler (7 August 2010). "Alesha Dixon knocked dancer out on video for new single Drummer Boy". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  14. ↑ "REPORT: Alesha Dixon's 'Drummer Boy' Video to premiere August 7th…". Toyaz World. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  15. ↑ "See Alesha's new video". 4Music. 3 August 2010. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  16. ↑ "Alesha Dixon – Drummer Boy (digital download 1)". 7 Digital (IR). Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  17. ↑ "Alesha Dixon – Drummer Boy (digital download 2)". 7 Digital (IR). Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  18. ↑ "Alesha Dixon – Drummer Boy MP3 music downloads". 7 Digital. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  19. ↑ "Drummer Boy". iTunes Store . Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  20. ↑ Drummer Boy (liner notes). Alesha Dixon. Asylum Records. 2010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Drummer Boy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  22. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  23. ↑ "Alesha Dixon – Drummer Boy" Canciones Top 50.
  24. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  25. ↑ iTunes Spain – Alesha: Drummer Boy
  26. ↑ "Alesha Dixon -Drummer Boy". RTÉ Ireland. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  27. ↑ "Alesha – Drummer Boy". HMV . Retrieved 20 August 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.