Jump to content

Release Me (Agnes song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Release Me"
Single by Agnes
from the album Dance Love Pop
Released28 November 2008
Recorded2008
Genre
Length4:15
LabelRoxy
Songwriter(s)Anders Hansson, Sharon Vaughn, Agnes Carlsson
Producer(s)Anders Hansson, Felix Persson, Märta Grauers
Agnes singles chronology
"On and On"
(2008) 		"Release Me"
(2008) 		"Love Love Love"
(2009)
Music videos
"Release Me" on YouTube
"Release Me" (US Edition) on YouTube
Audio sample

"Release Me" is a pop song recorded by Swedish singer Agnes Carlsson taken from her third studio album, Dance Love Pop (2008). The track was written by Carlsson, Anders Hansson and Sharon Vaughn. It was released as the album's second single in Sweden and as Agnes's debut single internationally. "Release Me" was another top ten hit for Agnes in Sweden and also charted in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Worldwide, the single sold over 900,000 copies,[1] making it Agnes' biggest hit to date.

In July 2010, "Release Me" was released outside of Europe for the first time, in Australia, on Warner Music.[2] The song was also released in the United States on 18 August 2009 where it hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Critical reception

[edit]

Fraser McAlpine of the BBC's Chart Blog said: "73% of why this is a great song rests with those amazing swooping harmonies. That's not to take anything away from Agnes's vocal talents, it's just her honeyed-rasp, set to a synth-disco backing, is not THAT startlingly new a sound."[3]

Nick Levine of Digital Spy described "Release Me" as "far classier" than other Europop songs performed by contemporaries such as September and Velvet. Levine compared Agnes's vocals to that of Leona Lewis and also praised the production, writing: "the all-conquering chorus and thumping beats are present and correct, but this has lashings of strings and lavish production flourishes too."[4]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Release Me" was released to radio stations and as a digital download in Sweden on 24 November 2008.[5] and entered the Swedish Singles Chart at number sixty based solely on digital downloads and slowly climbed the chart and peaked at number nine.[6] The song made its international debut on the Danish Singles Chart on 27 February 2009 at number thirty-nine and has so far peaked at number six and later sold gold with more than 15,000 copies sold.[6] It debuted on the Flanders Ultratop 50 chart on 11 April 2009 at number forty-seven and peaked at number seven,[7] in Wallonia the song debuted in the Ultratop 50 chart at number thirty-three and peaked at number six.[7]

The single was released in the United Kingdom in May 2009 where it became a massive hit for Agnes. It debuted and peaked number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and has so far sold over 350 000 units since its release. It also peaked within the top 10 in Ireland.

During the summer of 2009 "Release me" was able to reach a lot of charts all over Europe; in Norway it entered the chart at thirteen and one week later it peaked at seven.[6] In the Slovakian and Slovenian Singles Chart it peaked at seven and two respectively. After a few weeks on the French download charts and music video charts, "Release Me" finally entered the Official French Singles Chart at seven in late July. It entered a lot of French charts and became the third most played song on French radio during 2009. The song was also ranked high on a number of airplay charts all over Europe. In 2010 the song was translated to Italian and French by the investment banker/art producer Olivier Doria.

On 27 July "Release Me" entered the first chart outside of Europe, the Australian Dance Chart at eleven,[8] on the overall ARIA Charts it peaked at No. 26. It has also entered the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart at 38, and peaked at one.[9][10] The song was released in 35 countries all over the world.[citation needed]

After twelve weeks on the Swedish Singles Chart in early 2009, "Release Me" left the chart. But on 25 September 2009, the song re-entered at 44 after its appearance in Swedish Idol. Radio stations started to play the 2009 single again, and after Agnes's live performance at the final of Swedish Idol it climbed even higher on the charts. In January 2010, "Release Me" entered the top five at Swedish iTunes and reached number 11 on the official chart, giving the song a total of 31 weeks over three years (2008–2010) on the Swedish 60 Top Singles Chart.[11]

Music videos

[edit]

The music video for "Release Me" premiered on 28 November 2008,[5] the very same day that the song was released for sale in Sweden.

The video was directed by the swede Anders Rune, who also made the video for Agnes's single On and On that was made for the Swedish, Polish and Dutch market.[5]

The video begins with Agnes laying in front of an orange wall. Then Agnes walks through the streets of Stockholm at night seeing people dancing and preparing for a night out at a club. In the next scene everyone has arrived at the club and they are dancing while Agnes is standing against a wall with a man holding her. Agnes then leaves the club and walks down the street to another club. The next scene shows a bathroom where Agnes is doing her make-up in front of a mirror while two other girls are dancing in the background. These are the main parts of the video, other sequences are shown of people dancing in various places and Agnes singing in front of the orange wall.

The music video had a massive impact in the UK, where it started to spin on radio stations and TV channels already in February 2009, almost four months before the release of the song. The song was also frequently shown in other parts of Europe, with honors like "song of the week" and "artist of the month" to follow.

US Edition

[edit]

The music video made for the European market was rejected by the American record company, Geffen/Interscope, and according to director Thomas Kloss she looked far too grown up. Therefore, a new video was shot in Long Beach, Los Angeles in early September.[12] The video was produced by Brett Marx. The new music video premiered one week after the new "On and On" video exclusive on 30 September on Geffen's website and YouTube channel.[13] The U.S video starts off with Agnes standing in the studio recording "Release Me" and for a few seconds you hear the a cappella version of the song, when suddenly she rushes out the door and, together with her friends, walks to a club. The set-up and structure of the video is similar to the original one, and a major part of the video takes place in the club dancing.

Live performances

[edit]
Agnes performing "Release Me", among others, at Rix FM festival in Sweden

Agnes performed "Release Me" live in the UK on morning TV show GMTV on 10 June 2009.[14] On 5 July Agnes performed "Release Me" at the Dutch musicevent TMF Awards. The day after on 6 July she performed the same song in Sweden in the sing-along show Lotta på Liseberg, broadcast by TV4.[15] One week later she returned to Gothenburg for the Gothia Cup Opening Ceremony, where she performed the song on Ullevi, the largest venue in northern Europe.

Later in July she headed back to the UK for another two performances, the first one was at the "Party in the Park" on 25 July in Leeds, where she performed among other stars such as Alesha Dixon and Pixie Lott. The next day she performed both "Release Me" and "On and On" at Nightingales in Birmingham. On 8 August Agnes performed the song in the Polish music competition "Sopot Hit Festival".

Agnes performed in the U.S for the first time in the morning show Good Day New York. On 11 December 2009, Agnes visited the Swedish Idol 2009-final to perform her single "Release Me", which was released in Sweden almost a year earlier.

During the spring of 2010 Agnes went to the U.S to start promote the single, which led to numerous performances on TV-shows and concerts all over America. Among others she performed at "White Party" in Palm Springs on Sunday 11 April, where Britney Spears wrote on her Twitter that she was on her way to check out Agnes.[16]

Agnes performed "Release Me" at the 3rd annual NewNowNext Awards aired on 17 June 2010 in Los Angeles on Logo. On 16 May 2013, Agnes performed the song during the interval of the second semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest 2013.

Track listings

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]
  • Vocals: Agnes
  • Backing vocals: Britta Bergström and Agnes
  • Written by: Anders Hansson, Sharon Vaughn and Agnes
  • Produced by: Anders Hansson
  • Strings by: Erik Arvinder
  • Mixed by: Ronny Lahi at Hanssonic studios
  • Mastered by: Erik Broheden at Masters of Audio
  • Photo: Waldemar Hansson

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[69] Platinum 30,000^
Germany (BVMI)[70] Gold 150,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[71] Platinum 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[72] Platinum 600,000‡

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

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label
Sweden[73][74] 24 November 2008 Digital download Roxy
Denmark[73] 26 January 2009 Digital download Copenhagen
Finland[75] 1 July 2009[76][77] Digital download Bonnier Amigo
Norway
United Kingdom 20 February 2009[78] Airplay 3 Beat, AATW
25 May 2009[5] Digital download
15 June 2009[79] CD single
France[80] 27 May 2009[18] Digital download Sony Music
May 2009 Airplay
20 July 2009 CD/maxi single
Belgium[81] 9 March 2009 Digital download BIP Club
14 March 2009 CD/maxi single
Netherlands[17] 15 May 2009[17] Digital download White Villa
22 May 2009[17] CD/maxi single
Italy[11] 7 August 2009 12" Maxi Planet Records
Australia June 2009 Airplay Warner Music
10 July 2009 Digital download
31 July 2009 12" maxi single
Germany[82] 21 August 2009 CD single
14 August 2009 Digital download
Austria[82] 21 August 2009 CD single
14 August 2009 Digital download
Switzerland[82] 21 August 2009 CD single
14 August 2009 Digital download
United States[83] 18 August 2009[84] Digital download Geffen/Universal
October 2009[85] Dance radio
8 December 2009 EP remixes
4 May 2010 Pop radio
Canada 8 December 2010[86] Remixes Pt.1
23 March 2010[87] Remixes Pt.2
Spain 18 August 2009 Digital download
Japan[12] 2010 Digital download/CD single
South America[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Release Me - UK Tracklist". aatw.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Warner Music Australia - Agnes". Warnermusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  3. ^ Fraser McAlpine (2 June 2009). "Agnes - 'Release Me'". BBC Radio1 Chart blog. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  4. ^ Nick Levine (12 June 2009). "Single Reviews - Agnes - 'Release Me'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d "Agnes Carlsson - Official Homepage". agnescarlsson.se/King Island Roxystars. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d "Release Me Chart position". acharts.us. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  7. ^ a b c "Release Me Belgian Chart position". ultratop.be. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Release Me in Australian ARIA Dance Charts". ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  9. ^ ""Release Me" in U.S Billboard charts". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  10. ^ Dave Wedge (2010). "Swede emotion - 'Idol' winner Agnes dances into U.S. market". Boston Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Release Me in Swedish Singles Charts". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  12. ^ a b c Sundholm, Magnus (6 September 2009). "Agnes lånar av – Britney". Aftonbladet (in Swedish).
  13. ^ Agnes - Release Me (New Version). 25 November 2009 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ scandipop.co.uk (11 June 2009). "Agnes on GMTV!". Scandipop.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  15. ^ Matthias Bergquist (6 July 2009). "Lotta Engberg: Svänger så det svartnar" (in Swedish). Expressen.se. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  16. ^ Britney Spears (11 April 2010). "Britney Spears @ Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  17. ^ a b c d "Agnes - Release Me - Dutch Tracklist". whitevilla.nl. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  18. ^ a b "Release Me - French Tracklist". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  19. ^ a b c "Release Me - Tracklists". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  20. ^ "Release Me". Amazon. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  21. ^ "Release Me". itunes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  22. ^ "Release Me Remixes at U.S iTunes". itunes.com. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  23. ^ "Agnes – Release Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ^ "Agnes – Release Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  25. ^ "Agnes – Release Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  26. ^ "Agnes – Release Me" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  27. ^ Agnes — Release Me. TopHit. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  28. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 42. týden 2009 in the date selector.
  29. ^ "Agnes – Release Me". Tracklisten.
  30. ^ "Hits of the World – European Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 25. 27 June 2009. p. 75. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Agnes – Release Me" (in French). Les classement single.
  32. ^ "lescharts.com – Français" (in French). Les classement de telechargement single.
  33. ^ "Agnes – Release Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  34. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  35. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Release Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Media Forest Week 26, 2009". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  37. ^ "Agnes – Release Me". Top Digital Download.
  38. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  39. ^ "Agnes – Release Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  40. ^ "Agnes – Release Me". VG-lista.
  41. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200938 into search. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  43. ^ "Agnes – Release Me" Canciones Top 50.
  44. ^ "Promusicae (Week: January 1, 2010)" (PDF). Retrieved 13 July 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  45. ^ "Agnes – Release Me". Singles Top 100.
  46. ^ "Swedish Download Chart". IFPI (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 July 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  47. ^ "Agnes – Release Me". Swiss Singles Chart.
  48. ^ a b "Digital Singles Charts - Turkey". Number One Top 20. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  49. ^ "Agnes: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  50. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  51. ^ "Agnes Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  52. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  53. ^ "Charts Year End: Austria". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  54. ^ "Charts Year End: Utratop 50". ultratop.be. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  55. ^ "Charts Year End: Utratop 40". ultratop.be. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  56. ^ "Charts Year End: European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 19 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  57. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2009" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  58. ^ "Charts Year End: France" (PDF). SNEP. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  59. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2009" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  60. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2009" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  61. ^ "FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Ricerche e dati di mercato". Fimi.it. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  62. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  63. ^ "Charts Year End: Netherlands". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  64. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  65. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2009" (in German). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  66. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  67. ^ "Charts Year End: US".
  68. ^ "Charts Year End: European Hot 100 Singles 2010". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  69. ^ "Danish single certifications – Agnes – Release Me". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  70. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Agnes; 'Release Me')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  71. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Agnes – Release Me" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  72. ^ "British single certifications – Agnes – Release Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  73. ^ a b "Copenhagen Records/Agnes". cphrec.dk. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  74. ^ "Agnes - Release Me". cdon.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  75. ^ "Agnes - Release Me". netanttila.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  76. ^ "Agnes - Release Me". Finnish iTunes. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  77. ^ "Agnes - Release Me". Norwegian iTunes. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  78. ^ "3Beat Dance Blog". 3beat.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  79. ^ "Agnes Release me". hmv.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  80. ^ "Agnes Release me". virginmedia.fr. Archived from the original on 23 March 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  81. ^ "Biprecords/Agnes". biprecords.com. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  82. ^ a b c "Warnermusic.de - Agnes". warnermusic.de. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  83. ^ "Release Me: New cover". agnesworldwide.blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  84. ^ "Agnes Releases". interscope.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  85. ^ Magnus Sundholm (29 August 2009). "Agnes värvades av världens största bolag". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  86. ^ "Release Me Remixes". iTunes Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  87. ^ "Release Me Remixes Pt.2". iTunes Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Release_Me_(Agnes_song)&oldid=1229671653"