"Tetris" | |
---|---|
Single by Doctor Spin | |
B-side | "Play Game Boy" |
Released | 21 September 1992 |
Studio | Skratch (Surrey, England) ("Play Game Boy") |
Genre | Eurodance |
Length | 3:40 (7-inch mix) |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | Nigel Wright |
Audio | |
"Tetris" on YouTube |
"Tetris" is a song arranged by English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and English record producer Nigel Wright, collaborating under the pseudonym Doctor Spin. The composition is based on the theme to the 1989 Game Boy game Tetris , which itself is based on the Russian folk song "Korobeiniki". Doctor Spin released their version of "Tetris" on 21 September 1992 through Polydor and Carpet Records; it reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and also charted in Austria, Finland, and Ireland. This song, along with "Supermarioland" by Ambassadors of Funk, commenced a brief trend of recreated video game music entering mainstream popularity.
The original composition that the main theme of Tetris is based on is the Russian folk song "Korobeiniki", which is a musical recreation of a poem by Russian poet Nikolay Nekrasov. [1] The song used in the Game Boy version of Tetris was composed by Hirokazu Tanaka. [2] In 1992, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Nigel Wright collaborated under the name Doctor Spin to record and release a Eurodance version of Tanka's arrangement. [3] [4] [5] The track was officially licensed by Nintendo. [6]
Doctor Spin released "Tetris" through Polydor Records and Lloyd Webber's sublabel of Polydor, Carpet Records, on 21 September 1992 in four formats: CD, cassette, 7-inch vinyl, and 12-inch vinyl. [6] [7] The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 22 on 27 September 1992 and ascended to its peak of number six three weeks later; it spent a total of eight weeks in the top 50 and was the 75th-best-selling hit of 1992 in the UK. [8] [9] In Ireland, "Tetris" debuted on the chart dated 8 October 1992 and peaked at number seven for two weeks. [10] [11] [12] In mainland Europe, the song charted in Austria and Finland. In the latter country, "Tetris" peaked at number four on the Finnish Singles Chart in November 1992, [13] while in Austria, the single peaked at number 23 and spent three weeks on the chart, in December 1992 and January 1993. [14] On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song achieved a peak of number 26 on 7 November 1992. [15]
On British music television programme Top of the Pops , the song was played as several dancers dressed in outfits resembling the blocks from Tetris danced along. [16] Along with "Supermarioland" by Ambassadors of Funk, which charted simultaneously with "Tetris", [16] [17] the success of the composition began a brief period of popularity for novelty rave music, which also included the charity single "Supersonic" by H.W.A. (based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise). [18] [19]
Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes. [6]
Studio
Personnel
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
"I Predict a Riot" is a song by English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs, appearing on their debut album, Employment (2005). It was originally released as their second single on 1 November 2004 and was the band's first release on the B-Unique label. It entered at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. When re-released in 2005 as a double A-side with "Sink that Ship", it peaked at number nine on the UK chart. It was used in the 2005 racing video game Gran Turismo 4 as a song that would play during races and race replays, and was also used in Guitar Hero 3.
"Walk Idiot Walk" is the first single released from Swedish band the Hives' third album, Tyrannosaurus Hives (2004). It was written by Randy Fitzsimmons and produced by the Hives with Pelle Gunnerfeldt. Upon its release in June 2004, the song reached number 13 in the United Kingdom, number 15 in Sweden, and number 18 in Norway. It also reached number 19 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. In Australia, the song was ranked number 55 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.
"Alone" is a song by musical group the Bee Gees. The ballad, written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, is the opening track on their 21st studio album, Still Waters (1997), and was the first single released from the album on 17 February 1997. In the United Kingdom, the song was backed with two B-sides: "Closer Than Close" and "Rings Around the Moon", while in the United States, a live version of "Stayin' Alive" was included on the single releases.
"Don't Stop Movin'" is a song by British pop group S Club 7, released as a single on 23 April 2001. The song was written by the group, along with their regular songwriter Simon Ellis, together with Sheppard Solomon. Solomon had worked on hits in the 1990s by Eternal and Michelle Gayle. The song features lead vocals by Bradley McIntosh and has a disco style with violins and other stringed instruments. It was the lead single from S Club 7's third studio album, Sunshine (2001).
"Laura" is a song by American pop rock band Scissor Sisters, included as the lead track on their self-titled debut album (2004). The song was released as the band's first single on October 27, 2003, in the United Kingdom, placing at number 54 on the UK Singles Chart. It was later re-issued in June 2004, charting at number 12 on the same chart. In Australia, the song was ranked number 58 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.
"Filthy/Gorgeous" is a song by American pop-rock band Scissor Sisters. It is the seventh track on their self-titled debut album. Released as the album's fifth and final single in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2005, the song peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's first British top-five single. It also reached number one on the UK Dance Chart and on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. In Australia, it peaked at number 29 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and in Ireland, it reached number 13.
"Have You Ever" is a song by British pop group S Club 7, released as a single on 19 November 2001. Following the success of the group's 2000 Children in Need track, "Never Had a Dream Come True", the BBC asked S Club 7 to perform the 2001 track for the charity as well. "Have You Ever" was co-written by Cathy Dennis, Andrew Frampton, and Chris Braide. "Have You Ever" acted as an introduction to S Club 7's third album, Sunshine (2001).
"Lovin' Each Day" is the fourth and final single released from Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating's debut solo album, Ronan (2000). The song was written by Gregg Alexander and Rick Nowels and was included only on the re-release of the album before appearing on Keating's second album, Destination (2002). The single was released on 9 April 2001 in Australia and on 16 April in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind that was popularised by Irish boyband Boyzone in 1998 when they recorded it to tie in with the show's first UK production. The song was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman, while Lloyd Webber, Steinman and Nigel Wright produced the track, with additional production by Franglen & Lupino. The song was also featured on the US edition of the soundtrack to the 1999 film Notting Hill, and was released to American radio on 10 May 1999.
Doctor Spin was a pseudonym used by Andrew Lloyd Webber and record producer Nigel Wright for their 1992 hit single "Tetris".
"Lifted" is a song written by British musical duo Lighthouse Family for their 1995 debut album, Ocean Drive. The track was produced by Mike Peden and was released as the album's lead single on 8 May 1995, reaching the top 75 in the UK. In January 1996, "Lifted" was re-released, reaching a new peak of number four in the UK and entering the top 40 in Austria, Iceland, and Ireland, as well as on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart. In the UK, it was the most-played single on radio during the first quarter of the year.
"Ocean Drive" is a song written by British musical duo Lighthouse Family for their debut album of the same name (1995). Produced by Mike Peden, the song was released as the second single from the album on 2 October 1995 and reached the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was re-released, slightly remixed and with new vocals, on 20 May 1996 and reached the top 20 on the UK chart. This version also appeared on the duo's 2002 Greatest Hits album.
"Paying the Price of Love" is the first single from the Bee Gees' 20th studio album, Size Isn't Everything (1993). The song reached the top 10 in Belgium and Portugal and the top 40 in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 74, and peaked within the top 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The promotional video for the song shows the brothers performing the song as holograms on a futuristic version of MTV.
"Freeek!" is a song written and performed by English singer George Michael. The song contains samples from "Try Again" by Aaliyah, "Breathe and Stop" by Q-Tip, and "N.T." by Kool & the Gang. A remastered version called "Freeek! '04" was later included on Michael's fifth and final studio album, Patience (2004).
"All I Ask of You" is a song from the 1986 English musical The Phantom of the Opera, between characters Christine Daaé and Raoul, originally played on stage by Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton, respectively. It was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and solely produced by Lloyd Webber. An operatic pop piece, its lyrics serve as dialogue between the two characters and discuss themes such as commitment and romance. Like Lloyd Webber's song "The Music of the Night", "All I Ask of You" was compared to the music found in Giacomo Puccini's 1910 opera La fanciulla del West.
"I Love the Way You Love Me" is a song recorded by American country music singer John Michael Montgomery from his debut album, Life's a Dance (1992). It was written by Victoria Shaw and Chuck Cannon, and released in March 1993 as the album's second single. The song reached the top of the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It became Montgomery's first number-one single and was named Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
"Automatic High" is a song by British pop group S Club Juniors, released as the second single from their debut album, Together (2002). Released on 22 July 2002, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their second single to reach the position.
"Supermarioland" is a song by Ambassadors of Funk, a musical project managed by British musician Simon Harris. Vocals on the song are provided by British rapper Einstein, who performed under the name MC Mario for the track. The song is heavily based on the music and sound effects from the 1989 platform video game Super Mario Land, developed by Nintendo and composed by Hirokazu Tanaka. Nintendo game director Shigeru Miyamoto gave permission for Harris to release the song and record an album featuring similar material.
"Downtown" is a song by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1990 as the third and final single from his self-titled studio album. The song was written by Cole and Blair Cowan, and produced by Cole, Fred Maher and Paul Hardiman. It failed to enter the UK Singles Chart but reached number 5 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was included in the soundtrack of the 1990 American psychological thriller film Bad Influence.
"Don't Look Back" is a song by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1990 as the second single from his self-titled studio album. The song was written by Cole and produced by Cole, Fred Maher and Paul Hardiman. It peaked at number 59 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)