"I Know What I'm Here For" is a song by British rock band James. It was the first single released from their eighth studio album, Millionaires,[2] and reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
| "I Know What I'm Here For" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by James | ||||
| from the album Millionaires | ||||
| Released | 19 July 1999[1] | |||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Brian Eno | |||
| James singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "I Know What I'm Here For" on YouTube | ||||
Background, release and reception
edit"It's about the meaning of life. It's also about the nature of being in a band: the fulfilment of adolescent fantasies of endless drugs, drink and sex. But unless there's self-discipline, it can easily become a nightmare… Initially we did it almost as a blues song, but [producer] Brian Eno came up with the wacky, space-funk hookline. It became the album's first single, to make an announcement that we'e gone into a new musical area." – Tim Booth, singer[3]
The single was released on CD and cassette and reached number 22 in the UK Top 40 chart, spending five weeks on the chart.[4]
A live version and a video appeared on the limited edition two-disc edition of Millionaires.
The backing to the song was used by Ford in adverts shown during broadcasts of the UEFA Champions League in the 2007/2008 football season.[citation needed]
Peter Buckley, in The Rough Guide to Rock, described it as an "effortless soaring track".[5] In contrast, Victoria Segal, reviewing the track for the NME, described it as "not interesting ... just silly".[6]
Track listings
edit
UK CD2 (Mercury JIMDD 22)[8]
|
UK cassette single (Mercury JIMMC22)[9]
European maxi-CD single (Mercury 562 261-2)[10]
|
Charts
edit| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] | 69 |
| Scotland (OCC)[12] | 14 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[13] | 22 |
References
edit- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 19 July, 1999: Singles". Music Week. 17 July 1999. p. 23.
- ^ Carlson, Dean. "James – Millionaires". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ "Your guide to the best tracks from the best albums of 1999". Q. No. 160. January 2000. p. 3.
- ^ "James". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 531. ISBN 978-1-8435-3105-0.
- ^ Segal, Victoria (17 July 1999). "James : I know what I'm here for". NME. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ I Know What I'm Here For (UK CD1 liner notes). James. Mercury Records. 1999. JIMCD 22.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ I Know What I'm Here For (UK CD2 liner notes). James. Mercury Records. 1999. JIMDD 22.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ I Know What I'm Here For (UK cassette single sleeve). James. Mercury Records. 1999. JIMMC22.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ I Know What I'm Here For (European maxi-CD single liner notes). James. Mercury Records. 1999. 562 261-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 32. 7 August 1999. p. 8. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 January 2019.