Wikipedia

A Guy Like You (Alison Moyet song)

"A Guy Like You" is a song by English singer Alison Moyet, released in 2007 as the second and final single from her seventh studio album The Turn. It was written by Moyet and Pete Glenister, and produced by Glenister. Remixes were produced by Jeremy Wheatley, Soul Avengerz and Almighty Associates.

"A Guy Like You"
Single by Alison Moyet
from the album The Turn
Released26 November 2007[1]
Length4:19
LabelW14 Music
Songwriter(s)Alison Moyet
Pete Glenister
Producer(s)Pete Glenister
Alison Moyet singles chronology
"One More Time"
(2007) 		"A Guy Like You"
(2007) 		"When I Was Your Girl"
(2013)

Background

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"A Guy Like You" was one of a number of songs recorded during sessions for The Turn but not intended for the album as Moyet did not feel it fit with the overall theme. Speaking of the song, Moyet told PopMatters in 2008: "I wanted to write a song like "A Guy Like You" because I wanted to illustrate that I don't do pop at the moment, not because I can't or because I haven't got an ear for it. It's just not particularly what I was doing."[2] She told Len Righi of The Morning Call: "Over the years people have tried to push me in certain directions, to be poptastic, which I have resisted. So "A Guy Like You" is a bit of self-indulgence, to show people that yes, I can write pop."[3]

Owing to W14 Music's fondness of the track, "A Guy Like You" was ultimately included as a bonus track on The Turn. Moyet told PopMatters: "In an ideal world, it wouldn't really have been on the album. As much as I like it, it's an oddity compared with the other songs."[2]

Promotion

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A music video was filmed to promote the single.[4] Moyet also appeared on both The Graham Norton Show and The One Show to promote its release.[5] She performed the song live on Norton's show.[6]

Critical reception

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In a review of The Turn, Billboard felt the album "proffers all sides of the singer/songwriter's persona", including "dance siren" on "A Guy Like You".[7] Dan MacIntosh of PopMatters described the song as one which "sounds more like spicy '70s soul" in comparison to much of The Turn."[2] Jack Foley of IndieLondon noted the song "embraces some brighter, livelier, soulful qualities".[8] A.D. Amorosi of The Philadelphia Inquirer described the song as "zippy pop".[9]

Cheryl Arrighie of 33rpm.com described the song as "trademark Alison Moyet" and "delivered with the passion that you would expect from one of the best female artists that England has ever produced".[10] Female First considered the song "joyous and uplifting" with a "big ballsy arrangement", "unforgettable violin hook" and "playful lyrics".[11] Len Righi of The Morning Call felt the song as a "full, orchestrated Nona Hendryx-style soul-pop hit in waiting."[3] Aidin Vaziri of the SFGate was critical of the song, commenting: "It's only a dismal, by-the-numbers attempt at modern disco on "A Guy Like You" that genuinely makes one long for the plink-plonk simplicity of [Yazoo's] classic "Nobody's Diary."[12]

Formats

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CD single
  1. "A Guy Like You" (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit) – 3:30
  2. "A Guy Like You" (Soul Avengerz Main Mix) – 6:56
  3. "A Guy Like You" (Almighty Anthem Club Mix) – 6:53
CD single (promo)
  1. "A Guy Like You" (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit) – 3:30
CD single (Almighty Mixes promo)
  1. "A Guy Like You" (Almighty Anthem Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "A Guy Like You" (Almighty 12" Anthem Mix) – 6:54
  3. "A Guy Like You" (Almighty 12" Anthem Dub) – 6:35
  4. "A Guy Like You" (Almighty 12" Anthem Instrumental) – 6:51
CD single (Soul Avengerz Mixes promo)
  1. "A Guy Like You" (Soul Avengerz Main Mix) – 6:58
  2. "A Guy Like You" (Soul Avengerz Long Instrumental) – 7:01

Personnel

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Production

  • Pete Glenister – producer, programming, mixing, engineer
  • Phil Da Costa – mixing, engineer
  • Dick Beetham – mastering
  • Jeremy Wheatley – remix, mixing
  • Richard Edgeler – assistant mixing on "Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit"
  • Paul Gardiner, Wayne O'Connell, James Reynolds (Soul Avengerz) – remixes and additional production
  • Almighty Associates – remixes and additional production

Charts

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Chart (2007) Peak
position
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[13] 40

References

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  1. ^ "You can take the girl out of Basildon... | Echo". Echo-news.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  2. ^ a b c "The Liberated Chameleon: An Interview With Alison Moyet". PopMatters. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  3. ^ a b Righi, Len (11 October 2008). "Brit pop singer Alison Moyet taking a U.S. solo turn". The Morning Call.
  4. ^ "Watch Alison Moyet's A Guy Like You". Manchester Evening News. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  5. ^ "Alison Moyet 'A Guy Like You'". www.femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  6. ^ "Press Office - Trinny & Susannah take on Jo Brand again". BBC. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  7. ^ "Billboard - Google Books". 2008-07-12. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  8. ^ "Alison Moyet - Turn - Your London Reviews". IndieLondon. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  9. ^ "New Recordings". inquirer.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  10. ^ "Alison Moyet The Turn CD Review (W14)". 33rpm.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  11. ^ "Alison Moyet - A Guy Like You". Female First. November 2007. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  12. ^ Vaziri, Aidin (2008-07-13). "CD reviews: Alison Moyet and Yazoo". SFGate. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  13. ^ "ALISON MOYET; full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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