Be with You (Atomic Kitten song)

"Be with You" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by songwriting trio Bionic, consisting of Greg Wilson, Tracey Carmen and Martin Foster, and recorded for the reissue of the band's second album Feels So Good (2002). Production was helmed by Ash Howes and Martin Harrington, based on Bionic's original track. The disco-fused dance pop song is an adaptation of "Last Train to London" (1979) by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Jeff Lynne is also credited as a songwriter. Its lyrics refer to seducing someone in a nightclub.

"Be with You"
Single by Atomic Kitten
from the album Feels So Good (Special Edition) and Ladies Night
A-side"The Last Goodbye"
Released25 November 2002 (2002-11-25)
StudioMetropolis (London, England)
Genre
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Atomic Kitten singles chronology
"The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)"
(2002)
"The Last Goodbye" / "Be with You"
(2002)
"Love Doesn't Have to Hurt"
(2003)
Music video
"Atomic Kitten - Be With You" on YouTube

In Ireland and the United Kingdom, "Be with You" was released on a double A-side along with "The Last Goodbye", both serving as the album's third single. It peaked at number five and number two on the Irish and UK Singles Charts, respectively. Elsewhere, it was released as the fourth single from Feels So Good in early to mid-2003 and became a top-10 hit in Australia, Hungary, and Poland. An accompanying music video, directed by Jake Nava, is set inside a nightclub. In support of its release, "Be with You" was added to the set list of most of their following concert tours, including The Big Reunion concert series in 2013.

Background

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"Be with You" was written by Liverpool-based trio Bionic, consisting of Greg Wilson, Tracey Carmen, and Martin Foster.[1] In 1999, Foster had the idea and sampled the instrumental strings and chorus segments of "Last Train to London" (1979) by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra, written by Jeff Lynne, to create a sketch of a disco track with the notion of making a club track that could be a hit for seeing in the new millennium. Carmen and Wilson heard the potential and collaborated with Foster to take the idea further. Wilson penned the verse lyrics and, in fact, wrote a third verse that was never used.[1]

With Bionic having signed a production deal with Innocent Records, they began auditioning a number of female singers to front the single. However, it was soon decided that the song would be an ideal disco track for Atomic Kitten, and the label had demos mixed by other production teams, including Ash Howes and Martin Harrington.[1] Mixing on "Be with You" was also helmed by Howes, while engineering was overseen by Richard Wilkinson and assistant Rohan Onract.[1] Along with Howes and Harrington's mix, Innocent Records released two 12" promos featuring remixes of the original Bionic track as well as mixes by Olav Basovski and MaUVe.[1]

Chart performance

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In Ireland and the United Kingdom, Virgin Records released "Be with You" on a double A-single along with album cut "The Last Goodbye".[2] Both songs served as the album's third and fourth single, respectively.[2] In the United Kingdom, it became the band's eighth top-10 hit, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart in its first week of release. It stayed on the chart for 12 weeks, and managed to sell 182,695 copies in the UK alone.[3] In 2012, the Official Charts Company named "The Last Goodbye"/"Be with You" the group's fifth best-selling single after "Whole Again", "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)", "Eternal Flame" and "It's OK!."[3]

The single also became Atomic Kitten's third top-five hit in Ireland, where it peaked at number five on the Irish Singles Chart.[4] Elsewhere released as a standalone single during the first quarter of 2003, "Be with You" reached the top 40 on the majority of the charts it appeared on. In New Zealand, the song went straight in at number 11, just missing the top 10. It also was a top 20 hit in Austria, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Although their lowest charting hit in Denmark, it still managed to peak at number 20. In Germany and Switzerland, the song became a top-30 hit, and in Belgium and Sweden, the single entered the top 40.

Music video

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The music video for "Be with You" was heavily influenced the 1970s disco sound of the song.[5]

The accompanying music video for "Be with You" was directed by British filmmaker Jake Nava. It marked Atomic Kitten's fourth consecutive collaboration with Nava following the production of the Feels So Good visuals for "It's OK!", "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" and "The Last Goodbye". The video was filmed on a sound stage in October 2002 and shot back-to-back with the video for "The Last Goodbye."[5] According to band member Liz McClarnon, the nightclub setting as well as their individual stylings were heavily influenced by the 1970s disco sound of the song.[5] The video makes heavy use of laser-flashing.[5]

In the music video, the band members portray a group of friends celebrating at a nightclub.[5] The video opens with the doors opening in the club. McClarnon, Natasha Hamilton, and Jenny Frost are dancing on the crowded dancefloor, while the video alternates between both the disco floor, laser scenes, and solo shots throughout. Hamilton is seen on the chairs in a pub, McClarnon is near a wall and Frost is lying on the dancefloor. During the bridge section, they turn the volume down.[5]

Track listings

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Double A-side release

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"The Last Goodbye" / "Be with You" – UK CD1[6]
No.TitleLength
1."The Last Goodbye"3:07
2."Be with You" (radio edit)3:38
3."Be with You" (Milky 7-inch edit)3:34
4."The Last Goodbye" (video)3:07
"Be with You" / "The Last Goodbye" – UK CD2[7]
No.TitleLength
1."Be with You" (radio version)3:38
2."The Last Goodbye"3:07
3."For Once in My Life"3:48
4."Be with You" (video)3:38
"The Last Goodbye" / "Be with You" – UK cassette single[8]
No.TitleLength
1."The Last Goodbye"3:07
2."Be with You" (radio version)3:38
3."Be with You" (extended version)4:35

Solo release

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Australian CD single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."Be with You" (radio version)3:38
2."Be with You" (Milky 7-inch edit)3:34
3."Be with You" (Graham Stack/Groove Brother remix)5:36
4."Be with You" (extended mix)4:35
5."Be with You" (Milky remix)6:27

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ladies Night.[1]

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 25 November 2002 (2002-11-25)
  • CD
  • cassette
[35]
Australia 20 January 2003 (2003-01-20) CD [36]

MAX cover version

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"Be with You"
 
Single by MAX
from the album Jewel of Jewels
Released30 June 2004
Genre
Length14:59
LabelAvex Trax
Songwriter(s)Greg Wilson, Tracey Carmen, Martin Foster, Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)Gee & Satoshi Hidaka (GTS)
MAX singles chronology
"Love Screw"
(2003)
"Be with You"
(2004)
"Nirai Kanai"
(2005)

"Be with You" is MAX's 27th single and their last on the main avex trax label before the group was moved to the Vision Factory associated avex subsidiary, Sonic Groove. It is a Japanese cover of Atomic Kitten's "Be with You". The song was used as the image song for FamilyMart Dream Match.

Track listing

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# Title Songwriters Time
1. "Be With You" Keiko Yamamoto, Jeff Lynne 4:10
2. "Don't Lose Yourself" DJ Pine, Yasushi Sasamoto 3:21
3. "Be With You (Instrumental)" Jeff Lynne 4:10
4. "Don't Lose Yourself (Instrumental)" Yasushi Sasamoto 3:20

Personnel and production

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Be with You

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  • Production - Gee & Satoshi Hidaka (GTS)
  • Arrangement - Satoshi Hadaka
  • Programming - Satoshi Hadaka
  • Mixing - Yoshiaki Onishi
  • Recording - Sayuri Taguchi

Don't Lose Yourself

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  • Synthesizer Programming - Yasushi Sasamoto
  • Electric Guitar - Nozomi Furukawa
  • Electric Sitar - Nozomi Furukawa
  • Mixing - Junya Endo
  • Recording - Sayuri Taguchi

Charts

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Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position Sales Total Chart Run
30 June 2004 Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 34[37] 5.104 2 weeks[37]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Ladies Night (liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Virgin Records. 2003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b "Atomic Kitten's perfect year". BBC Music. 30 December 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Atomic Kitten reform! Plus: their biggest selling tracks revealed!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Last Goodbye / Be with You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Atomic Kitten : Behind The Scenes Of Be With You". Top of the Pops. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2019 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ The Last Goodbye / Be with You (UK CD1 liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2002. SINDX 42, 7243 546851 01.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Be with You / The Last Goodbye (UK CD2 liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2002. SINCD 42, 7243 546850 02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ The Last Goodbye / Be with You (UK cassette single sleeve). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2002. SINC42.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Be with You (Australian CD single liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2002. 7243 5 46977 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  12. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  14. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You". Tracklisten. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 51. 14 December 2002. p. 11. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  17. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be With You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  19. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  22. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  24. ^ "Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 13/2003". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on 11 September 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 5. 25 January 2003. p. 17. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 17, saptamina 5.05–11.05, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 18 February 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  28. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  29. ^ "Atomic Kitten – Be with You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  30. ^ TTNET Singles Chart Archived 12 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ "Atomic Kitten: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  32. ^ "Top 100 Songs of 2002". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  33. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  34. ^ "DISCOS DEL 2003 PARA RECORDAR". El Tiempo (Colombia). 26 December 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  35. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 25 November 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 23 November 2002. p. 29. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  36. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 20th January 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 20 January 2003. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2003. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  37. ^ a b "MAX Oricon Music".