Start Without You

Album: How To Overcome (Deluxe Edition) (2010)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Calypso-influenced summery song was produced by RedOne. The frequent Lady Gaga collaborator previously helmed Burke's Top 10 hit "Broken Heels." Burke, who is of Jamaican ancestry, blogged about the song when it was released to radio: "It's my Summer tune!! LOL! It's a new sound for me and I love it because I'm taking it back to my roots."
  • The song samples the much-covered New Orleans tune, "Iko Iko."
  • Burke was inspired to record this reggae-flavored track after buying a new open-top car. She told The Sun August 20, 2010: "It's kind of reggae meets pop. It was inspired by my Jamaican background and my new convertible. I really wanted to have a tune I could take down my roof to, drive along and be proud of."
  • RedOne originally agreed to work with Burke before she won the X-Factor show in 2008. She revealed to The Sun: "He wanted to work with me before I even won the show. He saw videos and liked me. At the time, he was in the process of working with GaGa but it was before she became public. I can't believe he had faith in me."
  • The song features Jamaican-American dancehall/urban singer Laza Morgan, whose debut single "This Girl" featured on the Step Up 3D movie soundtrack.
  • The song debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart on September 12, 2010, becoming Burke's third solo chart-topping hit.
  • This shares a chord sequence and melody with "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday," a 1979 single by German disco band Boney M.
  • Burke told The Sun that her family did not approve of the lace outfit that she wore in the song's music video. Said the singer: "The video has a brave look. It's my choice. I wanted to come out of my box."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.