I'm Not Alone

"I'm Not Alone" is a song by Scottish recording artist Calvin Harris, released as the lead single from his second studio album, Ready for the Weekend (2009). The track was first played by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1 as his "essential new tune" on 23 January 2009 and has been described as a slice of euphoric dance.

"I'm Not Alone"
Single by Calvin Harris
from the album Ready for the Weekend
Released6 April 2009 (2009-04-06)
RecordedDecember 2008
StudioEarth's Core (Glasgow, Scotland)
Length3:31
Label
Songwriter(s)Calvin Harris
Producer(s)Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris singles chronology
"Dance wiv Me"
(2008)
"I'm Not Alone"
(2009)
"Ready for the Weekend"
(2009)
Music video
"I'm Not Alone" on YouTube

On 12 April 2009, the song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, earning Harris his first solo number-one single on the chart and second overall following his 2008 collaboration with Dizzee Rascal and Chrome, "Dance wiv Me".[1][2]

In 2010, Harris received a writing credit on Chris Brown's hit single "Yeah 3x", due to the perceived similarities between the two songs.[3]

Background and writing

Harris called the song "a big stadium dance tune, somewhere between Snow Patrol, Faithless and Grandaddy".[4] He said in a publicity release: "The whole track's a light and shade thing, two styles put together. I find it quite hard to write a happy-happy lyric now, for some reason. I don't know why that is, to be honest with you. Maybe it's staying in a room for a huge amount of time on your own, and that's reflected in the lyrics!"[5] The song is written in the key of E minor, and follows a chord progression of Em/D/Am/C.[citation needed]

Chart performance

"I'm Not Alone" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 12 April 2009 ― for the week ending 18 April 2009 ― knocking Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" off the top of the chart. It remained at the top position for two weeks, until it was dethroned by Tinchy Stryder's "Number 1" featuring N-Dubz. On 3 January 2010, "I'm Not Alone" re-entered the chart at number ninety-nine.

In the Republic of Ireland, the single debuted at number fourteen on the Irish Singles Chart on 9 April 2009, peaking at number four by its third week.

Controversy

When Chris Brown's 2010 single "Yeah 3x" was released, Harris claimed that "Yeah 3x" plagiarised "I'm Not Alone". He tweeted, "Choked on my cornflakes when I heard [the] new Chris Brown single this morning. Do you know what I mean?"[6] After receiving many abusive messages from Brown's fans after posting the comment,[7] he later tweeted, "I don't care that you call me a nobody. Stealing is still stealing, doesn't matter who you are! ... Because Chris Brown is an international celebrity doesn't make it OK to rip off a guy from [the] UK not many people have heard of."[6]

When asked in an interview with Australia's Herald Sun if Brown knew him, Harris replied, "Well, he's never heard of me, that's the funniest thing. But the producer he's worked with, DJ Frank E, has definitely heard of me. He's a respected producer, he's worked with Tiësto on a few tracks, perhaps that's where the link is. It's all a bit of fun."[8] Brown later spoke with Harris and upon hearing the similarities between the two songs, had Harris' name added to the songwriting credits, with no legal action taken.[6][9] The two artists reportedly have no hard feelings toward each other since the controversy; Harris even called Brown his "best mate" and said that he enjoys listening to his work.[9]

Music video

Calvin, portrayed as the Frankenstein-like character in the video for "I'm Not Alone"

The music video for "I'm Not Alone" was filmed in Oslo, Norway, on 6 February 2009. It was directed by Christian Holm-Glad.[10] The clip begins with a small boy (potentially meant to represent a young Harris) found in thick snow wandering the woods dragging a sledge with a toy bear on top. He then sets up camp and lights a fire to keep warm whilst cuddling his toy bear. The bear is then found on the sledge again and is then dropped. The scene closes and cuts to a dungeon styled setting that showcases Harris portrayed as a Frankenstein-type character who is seen to perform experiments on numerous female captives, combining their essences to reanimate his "lost" teddy bear.[citation needed]

"I'm Not Alone 2019"

"I'm Not Alone 2019"
Single by Calvin Harris
from the EP I'm Not Alone
Released5 April 2019 (2019-04-05)
Length3:21
Label
Songwriter(s)Calvin Harris
Producer(s)Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris singles chronology
"Giant"
(2019)
"I'm Not Alone 2019"
(2019)
"Live Without Your Love"
(2020)

Harris re-released the single on 5 April 2019, alongside the I'm Not Alone 2019 EP, featuring the re-released 2019 edit, several new remixes and a remastered version.[11]

Track listings

2019 release

Digital download[15]

  1. "I'm Not Alone" (CamelPhat Remix I) – 4:04
  2. "I'm Not Alone" (CamelPhat Remix II) – 6:03
  3. "I'm Not Alone" (2019 Edit) – 3:21
  4. "I'm Not Alone" (Thomas Schumacher Remix) – 3:41
  5. "I'm Not Alone" (2009 Remaster) – 3:36

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Weekly chart performance for "I'm Not Alone 2019"
Chart (2019)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[33]69
Scotland (OCC)[34]30
UK Singles (OCC)[35]66
UK Dance (OCC)[36]12
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[37]5
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[38]17

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "I'm Not Alone"
Chart (2009)Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[39]58
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[40]47
UK Singles (OCC)[41]23
Year-end chart performance for "I'm Not Alone 2019"
Chart (2019)Position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[42]93

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "I'm Not Alone"
RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43]2× Platinum140,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[44]Gold15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[45]Platinum600,000

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

Release history

Release date for "I'm Not Alone"
CountryDateLabelFormat
United Kingdom6 April 2009Digital download
13 April 2009CD single
22 April 200912" single
United Kingdom5 April 2019Columbia

References