Ambitions

Album: Wide Awake (2010)
Charted: 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the second single by British singer and 2009 X-Factor champion Joe McElderry from his debut album, Wide Awake.
  • The song is a cover of Norwegian pop band Donkeyboy's hit single. Their original version stayed at #1 on the Norwegian Singles Chart for a total of 13 weeks in 2009 and it also topped the charts in Sweden.
  • McElderry's record label considered changing the title to "Somebody" before settling on retaining Donkeyboy's original song name.
  • The song's music video was shot at Bulgaria's Nu Boyana Film Studios. Joe told 4music that he came up with his own dance routine for the clip. He explained: "The choreographer came up with the routine that the dancers were doing and I thought that this routine was too good to let pass. I wanted to be in on this one! I said to her, 'if I don't look good you can take it out but at least let us try!' And it's quite heavily featured in the video! I'm hoping it becomes one of those routines that everyone picks up and dances."
  • McElderry explained to The Mail On Sunday, "the song is about somebody doing something they've always dreamed of – which fits my whole journey."
  • Joe told Digital Spy why he chose a cover as the lead single from his debut album: "It obviously wasn't an intentional thing for the first single to be a cover, but I don't think it's a particularly bad thing. They're not known here and it's such a feel-good track - it was the first one throughout the whole recording process that made me sit up in my chair and think 'Wow'. Someone from the label played it for me to see if I'd be interested in that style of music, and as soon as I heard it I wanted to record it immediately!"
  • This peaked at #3 on the UK album chart, making McElderry the second X Factor champ to miss out on reaching #1 following Leon Jackson, whose Right Now set could only manage #4.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.