I've Got News for You (Feargal Sharkey song)

Last updated
"I've Got News for You"
FeargalSharkeyI'veGotNewsForYouSingle.jpeg
Single by Feargal Sharkey
from the album Songs from the Mardi Gras
B-side "I Can't Begin to Stop"
Released25 February 1991 [1]
Genre Pop
Length4:52
Label Virgin Records
Songwriter(s) Feargal Sharkey, Dennis Morgan
Producer(s) Barry Beckett
Feargal Sharkey singles chronology
"If This is Love"
(1988)
"I've Got News for You"
(1991)
"Women & I"
(1991)

"I've Got News for You" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1991 as the first single from his third studio album Songs from the Mardi Gras . It was written by Sharkey and Dennis Morgan, and produced by Barry Beckett. The song reached No. 12 in the UK and No. 8 in Ireland. [2] [3]

Contents

A music video was filmed to promote the single, while Sharkey also performed the song on the UK TV music show Top of The Pops . The B-side, "I Can't Begin to Stop", was exclusive to the single. It was also written by Sharkey and Morgan, and produced by Beckett. [4]

Background

"I've Got News for You" was inspired by Sharkey's own personal life and the end of his relationship with Rebecca Landemere, a woman for whom he left his wife Ellen for in 1986. He told The Sunday People in 1991, "I'm lucky. I'm a songwriter and writing about Rebecca helped get all those emotions off my chest. I didn't shed a single tear at the end. Instead I off-loaded all my emotions, and all my unhappiness, into 'I've Got News for You'. I will never write a song like that again in my life. It is just too damn personal." [5]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Tim Peacock of Sounds described "I've Got News for You" as "a wishy-washy afterhours ballad of the first water". He added, "Admittedly, Feargal sounds like he's given it all he's got, but despite a gargantuan sax solo, this just drifts around like an ageing lounge lizard. Sad." [6] Julian Cope of New Musical Express considered it "really duff" with a lyric that "doesn't make much sense". [7] John Mangan of The Age commented, "This one is a syrupy ballad with more than a hint of the '50s. It's agonisingly predictable, but your man does have a decent voice." [8] Evening Herald stated, "Despite the obvious pop appeal of his pristine single "I've Got News for You", [Sharkey's] album is shockingly ordinary." [9] Music & Media wrote, "Sharkey comes back stronger than before. A soul-jewel." [10]

Formats

7" single
No.TitleWritten byLength
1."I've Got News for You" Feargal Sharkey, Dennis Morgan 4:18
2."I Can't Begin to Stop"Sharkey, Morgan5:02
12" single
No.TitleWritten byLength
1."I've Got News for You"Sharkey, Morgan4:52
2."Loving You"Sharkey, Jo Callis 4:15
3."A Good Heart" Maria McKee 4:39
4."You Little Thief (Special Remix)" Benmont Tench 6:13
CD single
No.TitleWritten byLength
1."I've Got News for You"Sharkey, Morgan4:52
2."Loving You"Sharkey, Callis4:15
3."After the Mardi Gras"Sharkey, Greg Barnhill4:29
4."Cold Cold Streets" Danny Kortchmar, David Lasley, Sharkey5:20
Cassette single
No.TitleWritten byLength
1."I've Got News for You"Sharkey, Morgan4:52
2."I Can't Begin to Stop"Sharkey, Morgan5:02

Chart performance

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart [11] 193
Irish Singles Chart [3] 8
UK Singles Chart [2] 12

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Undertones</span> Northern Irish punk rock band

The Undertones are a rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey (vocals), John O'Neill, Damian O'Neill, Michael Bradley and Billy Doherty (drums). Much of the earlier Undertones material drew influence from punk rock and new wave; the Undertones also incorporated elements of rock, glam rock and post-punk into material released after 1979, before citing soul and Motown as the influence for the material released upon their final album. The Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums between 1978 and 1983 before Sharkey announced his intention to leave the band in May 1983, citing musical differences as the reason for the break up.

"Without You" is a song written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of British rock group Badfinger, and first released on their 1970 album No Dice. The power ballad has been recorded by over 180 artists, and versions released as singles by Harry Nilsson (1971), T. G. Sheppard (1983) and Mariah Carey (1994) became international best-sellers. The Nilsson version was included in 2021's Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Paul McCartney once described the ballad as "the killer song of all time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feargal Sharkey</span> Northern Ireland singer

Seán Feargal Sharkey is a singer from Northern Ireland most widely known as the lead vocalist of punk band The Undertones in the 1970s and 1980s, and for solo works in the 1980s and 1990s. His 1985 solo single "A Good Heart" was an international success. After becoming less musically active in the early 1990s, he has performed various roles supporting the UK's commercial music industry, winning several awards and honours for his work in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Take My Eyes Off You</span> 1967 song recorded by Frankie Valli

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and first recorded and released as a single by Gaudio's Four Seasons bandmate Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week, making it Valli's biggest solo hit until he hit No. 1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Good Heart</span> 1985 single by Feargal Sharkey

"A Good Heart" is a song by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as the first single from his self-titled debut album. It was released in September 1985 and became a number-one hit in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

<i>Wish</i> (Feargal Sharkey album) 1988 studio album by Feargal Sharkey

Wish is the second solo album of former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey. Released in 1988, three years after his successful self-titled solo debut, the album was considered to be somewhat disappointing and was not as successful as its predecessor.

<i>Songs from the Mardi Gras</i> 1991 studio album by Feargal Sharkey

Songs from the Mardi Gras is the third and last solo album of former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey and was released in early 1991 on Virgin Records. Despite the somewhat non-commercial character of the music, the single "I've Got News for You" did make it into the UK Top 20.

<i>The Sin of Pride</i> 1983 studio album by The Undertones

The Sin of Pride is the fourth and final album to be released by the original line-up of the Undertones. The album, which was produced by Mike Hedges, was recorded between the autumn of 1982 and the spring of 1983. Unlike the three previous albums released by the Undertones, which primarily consisted of guitar-oriented music, The Sin of Pride drew much inspiration from both Soul music and Motown. The band's lead singer, Feargal Sharkey, has opined The Sin of Pride as being "the finest Undertones album."

"Oh Baby Don't You Weep" is a song recorded in 1964 by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Based upon the spiritual "Mary Don't You Weep", it was recorded as an extended-length track and released as the first two-part single of Brown's recording career. It peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #4 on the Cash Box R&B Chart.. It was the last original song featuring the Famous Flames to chart, not counting the 1964 re-release of "Please, Please, Please" and the 1966 B-side release of the Live at the Apollo performance of "I'll Go Crazy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Ever Lose My Faith in You</span> 1993 single by Sting

"If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" is a song by English singer-songwriter Sting, released on 1 February 1993 as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Ten Summoner's Tales (1993). The song reached number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top 40 in several European countries. In Canada, the song reached number one, spending three weeks atop the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and finishing 1993 as Canada's fourth-most-successful single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Little Thief</span> 1985 single by Feargal Sharkey

"You Little Thief" is a song by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in December 1985 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. It was written by Benmont Tench and produced by David A. Stewart. The song reached No. 5 in the United Kingdom and was a hit in several other countries, including Australia, Belgium, and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone to Somebody</span> 1986 single by Feargal Sharkey

"Someone to Somebody" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, which was released in 1985 as the third single from his self-titled debut album. It was written by Geraldine L. Gooden, Michael Torrence, Thomas Gordy and Daniel Kane, and produced by David A. Stewart. The song reached No. 64 in the UK and No. 30 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Love (Feargal Sharkey song)</span> 1988 single by Feargal Sharkey

"More Love" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1988 as the first single from his second studio album Wish. It was written by Benmont Tench and produced by Danny Kortchmar. The song reached No. 44 in the UK. A music video was filmed to promote the single. The B-side, "A Breath of Scandal" was exclusive to the single, and was written and produced by Sharkey. A piano version of "More Love" was included on the 12" and CD formats of the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out of My System</span> 1988 single by Feargal Sharkey

"Out of My System" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1988 as the second single from his second studio album Wish. It was written by Eddie Chacon and Suzanne Valentine, and produced by Danny Kortchmar. The song failed to chart in the UK, but reached No. 45 in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listen to Your Father</span> 1984 single by Feargal Sharkey

"Listen to Your Father" is a song from Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as his non-album debut single in 1984. It was written by Carl Smyth, and produced by Sharkey and Liquidator Productions. The song reached No. 23 in the UK and No. 22 in Ireland. The B-side, "Can I Say I Love You", was written by Smyth and Sharkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loving You (Feargal Sharkey song)</span> 1985 single by Feargal Sharkey

"Loving You" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, which was released in 1985 as a non-album single. It was written by Sharkey and Jo Callis, and produced by Queen drummer Roger Taylor and David Richards. "Loving You" reached No. 26 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the chart for eleven weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Shut Your Mouth (song)</span> 1986 single by Julian Cope

"World Shut Your Mouth" is a song by English singer-songwriter Julian Cope, released as the first single from his third album, Saint Julian (1987), on 15 September 1986. The title of the song is the same as the title of Cope's first solo album, World Shut Your Mouth, but the track does not appear on that album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Miss Someone</span> 1989 song by Maria McKee

"To Miss Someone" is a song by American singer Maria McKee, released in 1989 as the second single from her debut studio album Maria McKee. The song, written by McKee and produced by Mitchell Froom, was covered by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey in 1991.

<i>Every Cloud</i> 2023 studio album by Sigala

Every Cloud is the upcoming second studio album by British producer and DJ Sigala. It will be released on 1 December 2023 through Ministry of Sound. The album features guest appearances from Talia Mar, David Guetta, Sam Ryder, Becky Hill, Gabry Ponte, Alex Gaudino, James Arthur, Rita Ora, Alok, Ellie Goulding, MNEK, Mae Muller, Caity Baser and Stefflon Don.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women & I</span> 1991 song by Feargal Sharkey

"Women & I" is a song by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1991 as the second single from his third studio album Songs from the Mardi Gras. The song was written by Sharkey and Mick Kitson, and produced by Barry Beckett.

References

  1. "Feargal Sharkey - I've Got News For You / I Can't Begin To Stop - Virgin - UK - VS 1294". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  2. 1 2 "FEARGAL SHARKEY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  3. 1 2 "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  4. "Feargal Sharkey - I've Got News For You (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  5. Pringle, Gill (16 June 1991). "A good heart is very hard to find" . The Sunday People . p. 9. Retrieved 6 May 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Peacock, Tim (2 March 1991). "Singles". Sounds . p. 32.
  7. Cope, Julian (2 March 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express . p. 18.
  8. Mangan, John (3 May 1991). "Singles". The Age.
  9. "It's a Sharkey shocker!". Evening Herald. 12 April 1991.
  10. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. 9 March 1991.
  11. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 18 August 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved 2017-08-18.