Set You Free (N-Trance song)

Last updated

"Set You Free"
Ntrance - Set You Free single.jpg
Single by N-Trance
from the album Electronic Pleasure
Released4 October 1993 (1993-10-04)
Recorded1992
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 7:16(original mix)
  • 4:22 (original radio edit)
Label All Around the World
Songwriter(s) N-Trance
Producer(s) N-Trance
N-Trance singles chronology
"Set You Free"
(1993)		"Stayin' Alive '95"
(1995)
Music video
"Set You Free" on YouTube

"Set You Free" is a song written and recorded by English rave band N-Trance, featuring vocals from English singer Kelly Llorenna. It was officially released as a single in October 1993 by label All Around the World but did not chart until a re-release in April the following year, just making the UK top 40 at number 39. Another re-release in January 1995 was much more successful, peaking at number two in the UK. Same year, it was included on the band's debut album, Electronic Pleasure (1995). Later, it was remixed and re-released in 2001, this time reaching number four. [2] Its music video was directed by prolific music video director Steve Price.

Contents

Background

The song was inspired by a night out in the Haçienda in Manchester that N-Trance's Kevin O'Toole had in 1989. "They used to pass round pints of water, and a woman came up to me and I felt her heartbeat through her top," he said. "The songs created a diary of what was happening at the time." [3]

Llorenna was only 16 when she recorded the vocals in 1992. She told Vice : "Kevin [O'Toole] and Dale [Longworth, the other member of N-Trance] came into my college and asked if anyone sung, and everyone replied 'Kelly sings!'" They later headed to O'Toole's bedroom studio to do a vocal demo. For Llorenna, her vocals "captured that childhood moment in time. It was just me and five lads in a transit van going up to Belfast or Glasgow every week, playing the song for petrol money." She claims that when people hear the opening of the song, which features thunder, lightning and rain, "their faces light up, and they're transported back to where they were." [3]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "lively Euro-NRG romp". [4] In December 1994, Music Week wrote, "This record is now on its third release simply because retail and club reaction has demanded it. With 50,000 copies already sold, this very Euro dance-style tune could finally make the big time thanks to a strong chorus and less of the normal quota of Euro cheese." [5] In his UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "I would personally argue that this is a terrible record. It starts promisingly, with a strong melody powerfully sung. Thirty seconds in though this is all but swamped by a frantic rave beat, [...] N-Trance have been making inroads on the chart for over a year now but this is the first major hit for them. It is, as I said, a terrible record, but it has made No.6 first week out so what do I know?" [6] Simon Price from Melody Maker described "Set You Free" as "thunderous, monsoon-drenched". [7]

Chart performance

The 1995 version of "Set You Free" was successful on the charts in Europe, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at that position during its fifth week on the chart. [8] The single entered the top 10 also in Ireland and the Netherlands, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number nine. Additionally, "Set You Free" was a top 20 hit in Sweden and Switzerland, while reaching the top 50 in Germany. Outside Europe, it was a hit in Australia, where it reached number 11. It earned a gold record there, with a sale of 35,000 singles and a double platinum record in the UK, after 1,200,000 units were sold and streamed.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Set You Free" was directed by prolific music video director Steve Price and shot in various locations in County Durham and North Yorkshire. The video comprises scenes of fireworks, the band dancing and singing in a nightclub, in front of Cliffords Tower in York, England and travelling in a stretched limousine. The scene at Cliffords Tower was fortuitously or coincidentally shot on 3 November 1994, [9] which coincided with an annual Guy Fawkes Night Fireworks display organised by York City Council. The nightclub scenes were shot at Bianco's, Stockton-on-Tees. [9] [10] It is claimed that the video cost around £5,000 to make.[ citation needed ]

Track listings

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [33] Gold35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] 2× Platinum1,200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom4 October 199312-inch vinyl All Around the World [40]
25 April 1994
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [41]
2 January 1995 [42]
United States20 June 1995Critique [43]
United Kingdom10 September 2001
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
All Around the World [44]

Cover versions

Scottish band Frightened Rabbit included a cover of the song on their 2008 single "Head Rolls Off". [45]

In September 2021, English singer Kyla La Grange covered the song, saying "I wanted to re-work it in a way that brought out the sadness". [46]

Related Research Articles

Kelly Llorenna is an English dance music singer, who was born in Slough, Berkshire and raised in Oldham, Greater Manchester. She is best known as the former lead vocalist for the dance group N-Trance in the 1990s. Their biggest hit was "Set You Free", which made the UK top five in early 1995. Since then she has had six UK top 10 singles.

Grace was a 1990s British dance music act, consisting of the DJs Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne and the jazz singer Dominique Atkins. The group's first single, "Not Over Yet", had lead and backing vocals by the original frontwoman Patti Low. Atkins recorded her own lead vocals for "Not Over Yet" when it was included as the first track on the group's only album If I Could Fly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stayin' Alive</span> 1977 single by the Bee Gees

"Stayin' Alive" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees from the Saturday Night Fever motion picture soundtrack. The song was released in December 1977 by RSO Records as the second single from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The band wrote the song and co-produced it with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. It is one of the Bee Gees' signature songs. In 2004, "Stayin' Alive" was placed at No. 189 by Rolling Stone on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The 2021 updated Rolling Stone list of 500 Greatest Songs placed "Stayin' Alive" at No. 99. In 2004, it ranked No. 9 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In a UK television poll on ITV in December 2011 it was voted fifth in The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song.

N-Trance are a British electronic music group who were formed by Kevin O'Toole and Dale Longworth in 1991. The group is known for their European hit songs "Set You Free" and "Electronic Pleasure", and their covers of the 1970s disco songs "Stayin' Alive", "D.I.S.C.O.", "Shake Ya Body", and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". They had 14 charting singles in the UK during 1994–2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right in the Night</span> 1993 single by Jam & Spoon

"Right in the Night (Fall in Love with Music)" is a song by German electronic music duo Jam & Spoon, released by JAM! and Dance Pool as the second single from the duo's second album, Tripomatic Fairytales 2001 (1993). It is a Eurodance song with elements from progressive and vocal trance. It is based on "Leyenda" by the classical composer Isaac Albéniz and features vocals by American vocalist Plavka, with lyrics by Nosie Katzmann. The flamenco-styled riff in the song is played by duo member Jam El Mar, who was trained as a classical guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?</span> 1978 single by Rod Stewart

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", also written "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy", is a song by British singer Rod Stewart from his ninth studio album, Blondes Have More Fun (1978). It was written by Stewart, Carmine Appice, and Duane Hitchings, though it incorporates the melody from the song "Taj Mahal" by Jorge Ben Jor and the string arrangement from the song "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It" by Bobby Womack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Over Yet (Grace song)</span> 1993 single by Grace

"Not Over Yet" is a song by British dance act Grace. Originally released in 1993 under the band name State of Grace, it was re-released in March 1995 as the first single from their only album, If I Could Fly (1996). It received critical acclaim from music critics, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Lead vocals and backing vocals were performed by singer Patti Low. In 1995, the lead vocals were replaced by new frontwoman and singer, Dominique Atkins for the album release, although Low's backing vocals remained in place. This Atkins/Low combination appeared on all subsequent re-releases and remixes of the track. The woman who appears in the accompanying music video is Low.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tell It to My Heart (Taylor Dayne song)</span> 1987 single by Taylor Dayne

"Tell It to My Heart" is a song performed by American singer, songwriter and actress Taylor Dayne, originally made by Louisa Florio, released in July 24, 1987 as her first single from her first album, Tell It to My Heart (1988). The single was Dayne's first major exposure, and she soon became known for her up-tempo, dance-oriented music. The song was written by Chappell Music staff songwriter Seth Swirsky and Ernie Gold. Swirsky almost did not deliver the song to his publisher after he and his girlfriend decided it was not good enough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Think of You (Whigfield song)</span> 1995 single by Whigfield

"Think of You" is a song recorded by Italian Eurodance project Whigfield, which was performed by Danish-born Sannie Charlotte Carlson. It was released in May 1995 as the third single from her first album, Whigfield (1995), and scored success on the charts in Europe. The single reached number seven in the UK and was a top 10 hit also in Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain and Zimbabwe. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Think of You" reached number four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart of Gold (Force & Styles song)</span> 1996 song written and recorded by Force & Styles

"Heart of Gold" is a song written and recorded by Force & Styles. It was first recorded and released on Force & Styles album All over the UK (1996) with the vocals by Jenna, and it was released as a single in 1998 with vocals by Kelly Llorenna. It is one of the most well known hardcore songs and was used as the name of Force & Styles's greatest hits album Heart of Gold. In 2002, Llorenna released a new version as her fourth solo single produced by Flip & Fill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't You Want Me (Felix song)</span> 1992 single by Felix

"Don't You Want Me" is a song recorded by British DJ and producer Francis Wright, known under the pseudonym of Felix, released in July 1992 as his debut single from his album, #1 (1993). Musically, it samples Jomanda's "Don't You Want My Love" and credited as Felix featuring Jomanda. Released on 27 July 1992 by various labels, the song reached number six on the UK Singles Chart reached number one in Finland, Spain, and Switzerland. It also went to number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and on the European Hot 100 Singles chart. In 1995 and 1996, the song charted in the UK again, but in remixed form. British magazine Mixmag ranked the song number 98 in its "100 Greatest Dance Singles of All Time" list in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Offshore (song)</span> 1996 single by Chicane

"Offshore" is a song by English electronic music producer Chicane, released on 9 December 1996 as the lead single from his debut album, Far from the Maddening Crowds (1997). The song reached number five in the United States on Billboard's Dance Club Play chart, number 12 in Ireland and number 14 in the United Kingdom. A bootleg by Australian DJ Anthony Pappa was given an official release in 1997 titled "Offshore '97". This version peaked at number 17 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Is a Star</span> 1994 single by Pharao

"There Is a Star" is a song recorded by German Eurodance act Pharao, released in September 1994 by the labels Blow Up and Dance Pool as the second single from the act's debut album, Pharao (1994). Commercially the song was presented with the slogan, "Wise men follow stars...". It scored chart success in Finland, where it peaked at number three, and in Germany, where it peaked at number eight. In Canada, the single reached number seven on the RPM Dance/Urban chart. A music video was also produced to promote the single, directed by Nigel Simpkiss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaway (E'voke song)</span> 1995 single by Evoke

"Runaway" is a song by British female duo E'voke, first released in 1995 as a single. Following the release of their cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Believe" in 1994, the duo recorded the track with producers Barry Leng and Duncan Hannant. The resulting track was signed to Ffreedom and remixes were commissioned. One of the remixes was accredited to TTF and was similar in sound to TTF's remix of N-Trance's "Set You Free" which had been a major hit earlier in 1995. Jon Campbell of TTF denided that the remix was done by them. A black-and-white music video to a slightly edited version of the Biff & Memphis edit was released which was later released on iTunes in 2011. Upon release, the track reached number 30 in the UK Top 40 in November 1995, before falling to 49 the following week, then to 65. On the UK Dance, "Runaway" reached number three. Later same year, a bootleg remix by Jimmy J & Cru-L-T was released. In 2012, the track was re-released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sing It to You</span> 1994 single by Lavinia Jones

"Sing It to You (Dee-Doob-Dee-Doo)" is a song by South-African singer Lavinia Jones, released in September 1994 as her debut-single by Virgin Records, after 5 years searching for the right producer to release it. It enjoyed moderate success in Europe, peaking at number seven in Austria, number 34 in Scotland, number 45 in the UK and number 52 in Germany, with a total of 19 weeks inside the chart. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 57. Outside Europe, the song was a huge hit in Israel, peaking at number six. On Music & Media's list of Top 20 Border Breakers 1995, the single reached number 20 in November 1995. In 1998, Jones released "Sing It to You – Part II" with remixes by German DJ/production team Sash!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The First the Last Eternity (Till the End)</span> 1995 single by Snap!

"The First the Last Eternity (Till the End)" is a song by German Eurodance project Snap!, released in February 1995 as the second single from their third studio album, Welcome to Tomorrow (1994). Like on their previous single, "Welcome to Tomorrow (Are You Ready?)", it features vocals by American singer Summer (a.k.a. Paula Brown). Supported by a partially computer generated music video, the song was a chart success in Europe, peaking at number two in both Belgium and the Netherlands, and number three in Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Love Never Dies (Flip & Fill song)</span> 2001 single by Flip & Fill

"True Love Never Dies" is a song by English electronic music duo Flip & Fill, released as their first single as lead artists. Written by Jim Dyke and Margee Forman, the track is a mashup of "Airwave" (1999) by Dutch trance music group Rank 1 and "True Love Never Dies" (1990) by American singer Donna Williams. Flip & Fill's version features vocals from English singer Kelly Llorenna and was produced by the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold On (If You Believe in Love)</span> 1994 single by CB Milton

"Hold On (If You Believe in Love)" is a song by Dutch dance music vocalist CB Milton, released in 1994 by Byte Records, BMG and Logic Records as the fourth single from Milton's debut album, It's My Loving Thing (1994). Written by Peter Bauwens, Phil WIlde and X. Clayton, and produced by Bauwens and Wilde, the song achieved moderate success in Europe. It was a top 20 hit in both Belgium (15) and Finland (15), and a top 40 hit in Milton's native Netherlands (33). Additionally, "Hold On (If You Believe in Love)" reached number 62 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic Pleasure (song)</span> 1996 single by N-Trance

"Electronic Pleasure" is a song by English dance music group N-Trance, featuring vocals from Gillian Wisdom and rap by Ricardo da Force. Released in February 1996 by All Around the World as the fourth and last single from the group's debut album by the same name (1995), it was the follow-up to their successful cover of "Stayin' Alive". The song is written by Dale Longworth and Kevin O'Toole with da Force, and produced by Longworth and O'Toole. It peaked at number two in Israel, number nine in Scotland and number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, it was a top 20 hit in Italy and a top 30 hit in France, peaking at number 17 and 23, respectively. The accompanying music video was directed by Steve Price.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power of American Natives</span> 1992 single by Dance 2 Trance featuring Linda Rocco

"Power of American Natives" is a song by German techno duo Dance 2 Trance featuring vocals by USA-born, Germany-based singer Linda Rocco. Released in 1992 by Blow Up, Dance Pool and Logic Records as the third single from the duo's first album, Moon Spirits (1992), it is their most commercially successful single, and now widely considered as a classic of its genre. It peaked within the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. In the UK, it was a top-30 hit, peaking at number 25, but fared even better on the UK dance and club charts, peaking at number three. The single sold 250,000 records and was awarded a gold disc. Its accompanying music video reached the mainstream networks such as MTV.

References

  1. ↑ "Push It! Classic Party & Dance Tracks – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Inarguable Pop Classics #33: N-Trance – Set You Free (Original 1992 White Label Mix)". 12 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 MacNeill, Kyle (11 January 2017). "It's a Quarter of a Century since N-Trance's "Set You Free" Put Clubland on the Map". Vice . Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Flick, Larry (20 January 1995). "Singles reviews". Billboard . Vol. 108. Issue 3.
  5. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 24 December 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Masterton, James (8 January 1995). "Week Ending January 14th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  7. ↑ Price, Simon (13 January 1996). "Albums: In Praise Of Handbag". Melody Maker . p. 30. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  9. 1 2 "Set You Free (1995)". YouTube . Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  10. ↑ redbookboro1. "FMTTM Archive".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  12. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  14. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 9 October 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 14 May 1994. p. 28. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 7 May 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "Set You Free", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 10 April 2008)
  18. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 7. 18 February 1995. p. 19. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  19. ↑ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 9. 4 March 1995. p. 25. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  20. ↑ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 10 April 2008)
  21. ↑ "Single top 100 over 1995" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  22. ↑ "N-Trance – Set You Free" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  23. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  24. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  25. ↑ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 18 February 1995. p. 8. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 19, no. 40. 29 September 2001. p. 11. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  27. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Set You Free". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  28. ↑ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 4 October 2001". GfK Chart-Track . Retrieved 2 June 2019.[ dead link ]
  29. ↑ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 50, saptamina 17.12–23.12, 2001" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 13 February 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2020.See LW column.
  30. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  31. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  32. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  33. 1 2 "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1995". ARIA . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  34. ↑ "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.
  35. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1995" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  36. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week . 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  38. ↑ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  39. ↑ "British single certifications – N-Trance – Set You Free". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  40. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week. 2 October 1993. p. 25.Misprinted as the previous week, 27 September, on source.
  41. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 23 April 1994. p. 29. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  42. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 December 1994. p. 31. Retrieved 9 August 2021.Misprinted as 1 January.
  43. ↑ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1099. 16 June 1995. pp. 30, 36. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  44. ↑ "In-Store Next Week (from 10/9/01)". Music Week. 8 September 2001. p. 16.
  45. ↑ "Frightened Rabbit – Set You Free – YouTube". YouTube .
  46. ↑ Kenneally, Cerys (17 September 2021). "Kyla La Grange reworks N-Trance's "Set You Free" on first release in over four years". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 17 September 2021.
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.