"I'm Alive" is the debut single by London-based DJ/producers Stretch Silvester (Stuart Collins) and Jules Vern (Julian Peake) under the name Stretch & Vern. Containing a looped sample from "Boogie Wonderland" by Earth, Wind & Fire, it was well received by music critics, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number-one on the UK Dance Chart. Released by FFRR and London Records, it was also featured on Coca-Cola advert campaigns. In other European countries, the song peaked at number 21 in Ireland, number 23 in the Netherlands and number 29 in Sweden, where it also topped the Swedish Dance chart. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 16 in September 1996. Outside Europe, the single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US and at number 65 in Australia.
| "I'm Alive" | ||||
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| Single by Stretch & Vern present "Maddog" | ||||
| B-side | "Remix" | |||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:07 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Stretch & Vern singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "I'm Alive" on YouTube | ||||
British electronic dance and clubbing magazine Mixmag ranked "I'm Alive" number 28 in its list of the best singles of 1996.
Critical reception edit
Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "quirky dance twirler" and explained further that "this track is rife with the kitschy allure of a novelty hit", and "fashion a jittery disco beat beneath a tongue-twisting female rap."[1] David Bennun from The Guardian complimented it as "gleefully manic" and "brilliant".[2] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times wrote, "With summer coming to an end and autumn looming large, mankind has been preoccupied with one burning question: what are we going to dance to instead of "Macarena"? This latest contender for the Wallypop crown has been packing; dancefloors across the UK, but sorry, it's just not silly enough; to succeed Los Del Rios."[3] A reviewer from Music Week declared it as "alarmingly infectious".[4]
Tim Jeffery from the Record Mirror Dance Update gave it four out of five, adding, "This is so certain to be a huge hit that you probably wouldn't even get odds at Ladbrokes on it. It's a similar idea to the Bucketheads in that it's basically a disco pastiche made up of other people's records, particularly the large chunks of 'Boogie Wonderland', but it's the way this has been put together that's so special. Just try not dancing to this. Already snapped up by a major, copies on this label will be hard to find until it gets a proper release but you're certain to hear this everywhere you go."[5] Another editor, James Hyman, noted its "I'm alive, the man with the second face and I'm ready y'all to rock the space" hook, and concluded that the song "has already caused club carnage and will do the same in the national charts."[6]
Music video edit
A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Katya Nelhams-Wright and featuring an early appearance of actress Jaime Murray.[7]
Track listing edit
- 7", UK (1996)
- A. "I'm Alive" (Eat Me Edit)
- B. "I'm Alive" (Eat Me Edit)
- 12" single, UK (1996)
- A1. "I'm Alive" (12" Original)
- B1. "I'm Alive" (Fat Boy Comes Alive)
- B2. "I'm Alive" (Moonmen Mix)
- CD single, UK & Europe (1996)
- "I'm Alive" (7" Eat Me Edit) – 3:06
- "I'm Alive" (12" Original) – 7:16
- "I'm Alive" (Fat Boy Comes Alive) – 5:05
- "I'm Alive" (Moonmen Mix) – 9:08
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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References edit
- ^ Flick, Larry (1997-02-15). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
- ^ Bennun, David (1999-01-08). "Music: record label of the week". The Guardian.
- ^ Courtney, Kevin (1996-09-06). "Love's slight thing". Irish Times.
- ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1997-07-12. p. 23. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
- ^ Jeffery, Tim (1996-06-22). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 9. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ Hyman, James (1996-08-24). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 9. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
- ^ "stretch'n'vern - i'm alive ( viva tv )". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
- ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 06 July 1997". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2017-05-01. N.B. The HP column displays the single's highest position.
- ^ "Ultratop Dance 05/10/1996". Ultratop. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1996-09-28". Billboard. 1996-09-28. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'I'm Alive'". Fireball Media. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
- ^ "Stretch & Vern present "Maddog" - I'm Alive". Top40.nl. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- ^ a b "Stretch & Vern Pres. Maddog - I'm Alive (song)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
- ^ "Scottish Singles Chart 22 September 1996 - 28 September 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ "Årslistor > Year End Charts > Swedish Dance Chart 1996" (PDF). Music & Media. 1997-03-15. p. 30 (see appendix to the magazine). Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Stretch & Vern Present Maddog". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
- ^ "UK Dance Singles Chart Top 40 08 September 1996 - 14 September 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1996-08-31. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
- ^ "Dance Club Play Songs 1997-03-29". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
- ^ "Årslistor > Year End Charts > Swedish Dance Chart 1996" (PDF). Music & Media. 1997-03-15. p. 30 (see appendix to the magazine). Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996" (PDF). Music Week. 1997-01-18. p. 25. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart of the Year 96" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1997-01-11. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
