"Raoul" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Automatic | ||||
from the album Not Accepted Anywhere | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | 27 March 2006 (original) 8 January 2007(re-release) | |||
Recorded | Elevator Studio, Liverpool | |||
Genre | Post-punk revival Alternative rock | |||
Length | 3:53(original) 3:41(re-release) | |||
Label | B-Unique Records [1] Polydor Records [2] | |||
Songwriter(s) | James Frost Iwan Griffiths Robin Hawkins Alex Pennie | |||
The Automatic singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Re-releasesingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative covers | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"Raoul" is both the second and the fifth single from Not Accepted Anywhere,the first album by the Welsh band The Automatic. The single was released twice,first on 27 March 2006 [3] and again on 8 January 2007 at the decision of the band's record labels Polydor and B-Unique. [4] [5]
The song's lyrics deal with people's day-to-day lives –getting stuck in the same routines and casting aside ambitions. Raoul,a sandwich shop owner in Cardiff,was where the band went during days spent in their studio to get away from this drill. [6] The vocals on Raoul were originally split three ways between Robin Hawkins (lead),Alex Pennie (shouts over the top) and James Frost (joint lead in the second verse and backing in the choruses). After Pennie's departure and the addition of Paul Mullen in 2007 the vocals continued to be split three ways. In 2008,the band re-worked the track,replacing the guitar and bass guitar in the first verse,with both Frost and Mullen playing synthesisers,building into two guitars in the choruses. [7] [8]
"Raoul" was originally released on 27 March 2006 on CD,digital download and limited edition 7" vinyl. Selected Tastemaker Stores stocked limited amounts of signed "Raoul" 7" vinyls. The release was promoted on the band's tour with Goldie Lookin Chain in March 2006,with "Raoul" pre-order passwords handed out on flyers on the tour dates. The release had two new tracks along with "Raoul" –"On The Campaign Trail" on the CD single and "Trophy Wives" on the 7" vinyl. [9] Three in-store signings with performances were used to mark the single's release:Bridgend Jungle on 27 March,Cardiff Spillers on 28 March and Manchester Fopp on 30 March. [10] The release was also celebrated by a sandwich giveaway courtesy of a Cardiff sandwich shop,Obriens,limited to 500 through the band's website. [11]
In 2007,the band's record labels Polydor Records and B-Unique Records decided to re-release "Raoul" against the band's wishes to release another track from Not Accepted Anywhere or their newly recorded tracks "Steve McQueen" and "Revolution". [12] The re-release was accompanied by a cover of Kanye West's "Gold Digger" as a B-side,as well as a new track,"Easy Target".
It's not something us as a band wanted to do,but the radio were begging for us to re-release it again. Basically we had radio stations begging us saying if you release this song we'll play it. It's really frustrating for a band to be releasing the same things when all you want to do is put out new stuff and get people to listening to your other music
–Iwan Griffiths discusses the "Raoul" re-release [12]
The band's first TV appearance was performing "Raoul" on London Live . [13] The song was also performed on Channel 4's Popworld , The Friday Night Project and T4 on the Beach in 2006. The track was played live on Later with Jools Holland ,along with "Thats What She Said" and "Monster". [14]
"Raoul" has been used on Soccer Am's 2006 Soundtrack,as well as being remixed by Culprit 1. However,unlike the "Recover" and "Monster" remixes by Culprit 1,the remix was not released on the single.
All of the release's artwork was created by Dean 'D*Face' Stockton,except for the original artwork which was only used for promotional CDs which was created by Antar. [15] The globe style artwork was recreated by 'Rock Drops' and used in tour and festival appearances by the band as a stage banner. [16]
The video directed by Charlie Paul [17] depicts the band 'taking a break' from studio work. They leave the studio and begin walking through a 1970s style concert where they look at themselves playing. They then walk through a gym and into another room where they are playing in a smaller dark venue. The video ends with them at Raoul's sandwich shop,with an actor who represents 'Raoul' making their sandwiches. The line from the song "Let's go back to work" then links in to the video,as they leave. [18]
The 2007 video directed by Up the Resolution [19] is set in an office,and opens with a man singing "Monster". Another man does not seem to appreciate this and pushes him against a wall,possibly showing how the band are not happy with just being known for that song. The video goes on to show the band members working in the office. Robin Hawkins is delivering mail to the other employees,whilst in clips the whole band is shown at an office party,performing "Raoul",while Alex Pennie makes out with another older employee,whose husband is in a meeting with James Frost's character. The video ends with Iwan Griffiths urinating in a bowl. [20]
The single received fairly mixed reviews on both of its releases,many reviewers believing it did not match up to its predecessors "Recover" and "Monster". Lee Eynon of God is in the TV reviewed the track stating;"it isn’t really the colossal moby dick sized hook they need to follow their summer blockbuster",Donna Dobson of Click Music also listed how the track does not have "the charm or quirkiness of 'Monster'". [21] [22] During its original single run in 2006 Scott Colothan at Gigwise.com stated how the song didn't match up to the standards of the band's first single from 2005 –"Recover". [23] Joanne Nugent of Contactmusic.com praised the track saying "definitely worth a listen and easily likeable" [24] Tim Lee of Music OHM had mixed feeling on the song,ending his review with "as derivative additions to an over-saturated genre go,it's damn fine". [25]
"Raoul" and "Monster" both competed for success in the UK Singles Chart after "Monster" left the top 40,and re-entered when Downloads via iTunes and other online stores were allowed to be included in the singles charts. The single only reached No. 30,with "Monster" re-entering at #33.
Chart | Peak | Date |
---|---|---|
UK Singles Chart | #32 original release | 9 April 2006 |
UK Singles Chart | #30 re-release | 14 January 2007 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Raoul" | 3:29 |
2. | "Trophy Wives" | 1:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Raoul" | 3:29 |
2. | "On The Campaign Trail" | 3:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Raoul" | 3:29 |
2. | "Gold Digger (cover of Kanye West)" | 3:22 |
3. | "Monster (Fatboy Slim Remix)" | 5:59 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Raoul" | 3:28 |
2. | "Easy Target" | 3:52 |
Yourcodenameis:milo are an English alternative rock/experimental/post-hardcore band from Washington, Tyne and Wear. Their mini album, All Roads to Fault, was released in 2004, followed in 2005 by the full-length album Ignoto, both on Fiction/Polydor Records. In 2006, the band left their Polydor contract and within a month signed a new record deal with V2 Records. In November 2006, the band released Print Is Dead Vol 1, a side project album featuring collaborations with other bands. Their second full-length album, They Came from the Sun, was released in 2007.
The Automatic were a Welsh rock band. The band's last-known lineup was composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesisers, James Frost on guitar, synthesisers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesiser. Mullen joined after the departure of Alex Pennie, who provided synthesiser, percussion and vocals.
Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2006 and in the United States on 22 June 2007. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studios around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal between B-Unique Records and Polydor Records.
"Monster" is the third UK single by Cardiff-based Welsh band the Automatic, taken from their debut album, Not Accepted Anywhere. The track was released on 5 June 2006 in the UK and subsequently reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It was released in the United States under the alias of the Automatic Automatic on 14 May 2007. It is the Automatic's highest charting single to date in the United Kingdom.
Robin Hawkins is a vocalist and bassist. He was a member of Welsh band The Automatic.
James Martin Frost is the guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist of Welsh band The Automatic, and guitarist and backing vocalist for Cardiff-based band Effort. As well as his musical duties for The Automatic, Frost has also directed two of the band's music videos and their tour video diaries. He currently resides in Cardiff, Wales.
"Recover" is the debut and fourth single by Welsh rock band The Automatic, taken from their debut album Not Accepted Anywhere. Originally released on 21 November 2005 as a limited 7" vinyl, CD single and digital download, it was re-released on 18 September 2006 as the band's record labels, B-Unique & Polydor, believed it could perform better and reach a larger audience after the band's success with previous single "Monster".
Raoul EP is an 8-track EP by Welsh band The Automatic featuring the original versions of singles "Recover" and "Raoul", plus B-sides from the "Monster", "Raoul" and "Recover" singles. It was originally released for the European market, but has since been made available in the UK, making it more convenient for fans to get hold of the rarer tracks all on CD. Raoul is the owner of a sandwich shop in Cardiff, who would make the band's sandwiches
This is a complete list of releases from Welsh rock band The Automatic, including albums, extended plays, singles and music videos.
Iwan Griffiths is drummer for Welsh rock band The Automatic. Iwan originates from Cowbridge in Wales, and lives in Cardiff. He has a law degree from Cardiff University.
Paul Mullen is an English musician, multi-instrumentalist & singer songwriter who first gained recognition for being vocalist and guitarist of the band Yourcodenameis:milo, who went on hiatus in 2007. Since their hiatus, Mullen has gone on to both join and form a number of bands, which he currently splits his time between – including The Automatic, Young Legionnaire, Losers, and Bleach Blood.
"That's What She Said" is the lead track on Welsh band the Automatic's debut album Not Accepted Anywhere. The track was recorded in Stir Studio in Cardiff.
This Is a Fix is the second album by Wales-based band The Automatic. It was released on 25 August 2008. The band worked with producer Don Gilmore in Los Angeles, but were disappointed with these sessions, and instead worked with Butch Walker at Sage and Sound Recording in Los Angeles then back in Cardiff with Richard Jackson and London with Stephen Harris.
"Steve McQueen" is the first and ultimately only single from Welsh rock band The Automatic's second album This Is A Fix. It is their fifth single overall. The track began radio and video play as of 7 July 2008 and was released on 18 August 2008.
Tear the Signs Down is the third and final album by Wales-based band The Automatic. It was released on 8 March 2010 in the United Kingdom, and then on 12 April 2010 for the rest of the world. Tear the Signs Down was the first album released by the band on their own Armoured Records after splitting with B-Unique. The first single "Interstate" was released on 6 December 2009, with second single "Run & Hide" released a week prior to the album itself on 1 March 2010. Third single "Cannot Be Saved" was released on 20 June 2010.
Interstate is the first single from Tear the Signs Down, the third studio album by Welsh alternative rock band The Automatic. The single was released on 6 December, and marks the first release through the band's own record label, Armored Records.
Run & Hide is the second single taken from Tear the Signs Down, the third studio album by Welsh band The Automatic. The single was announced on BBC Radio Wales. Run & Hide was released on 1 March 2010, 1 week prior to Tear the Signs Down on 8 March 2010.
The Tear the Signs Down album tour was a tour by the Welsh rock band the Automatic, in support of their third album Tear the Signs Down. The band made their live comeback at Cardiff Barfly on 19 September 2009 and soon after announced a string of dates in November where they would preview new material from their then upcoming album. The band undertook a full UK tour, with plans to tour in Europe and America.
The This Is a Fix album tour was the 2008 tour surrounding the release of Welsh band the Automatic's second album This Is a Fix. The first leg of the tour was played at smaller clubs and venues around the United Kingdom, whilst later dates were at some of the countries larger venues.
The Not Accepted Anywhere album tour was the touring period from 2005 through to 2007 when Welsh rock-band the Automatic promoted their debut album Not Accepted Anywhere. Over the three-year period, the band covered the United Kingdom several times, as well as touring in the United States, Japan, France and the Netherlands.