"Number 1"
Single by Goldfrapp
from the album Supernature
B-side"Beautiful"
Released31 October 2005 (2005-10-31)
Recorded2004–2005
Genre
Length3:25
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Alison Goldfrapp
  • Will Gregory
Goldfrapp singles chronology
"Ooh La La"
(2005)		 "Number 1"
(2005)		 "Ride a White Horse"
(2006)

"Number 1" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their third studio album, Supernature (2005). Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the song features a synthesiser and bass guitar arrangement and was written about the importance and meaningfulness that somebody shares with another, despite that it might not necessarily last.[1]

The song was released as the album's second single in October 2005 to positive reviews from music critics. It was a commercial success, reaching the top 40 on the majority of the charts it appeared, and topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song has been remixed a number of times and was featured in advertising campaigns for the US retail company Target.

Background and writing

"Number 1" is a mid-tempo electronic love song about the importance and meaningfulness that somebody shares with another, despite that it might not necessarily last. The song was composed as a collaborative effort between Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory in late 2004 in the countryside of Bath, England.[1] The song was written and recorded while Goldfrapp and Gregory were jamming in the recording studio, bouncing song ideas off each other.[2] According to Goldfrapp, the song's lyrics are "a little bit more reflective and sensual" than those she had composed on Felt Mountain (2000) and Black Cherry (2003).[3]

"Number 1" is written in the common verse-chorus form and features instrumentation from synthesisers and a bass guitar. It contains a synth and bass arrangement that the duo would use frequently on the rest of Supernature. Most of the song was composed on an old Roland String synth keyboard because Goldfrapp enjoyed the sounds that it exudes.[2]

Music video

The music video for "Number 1" was directed by Dawn Shadforth and filmed in London, England in 2005.[4] The video is set in a plastic surgery clinic where the staff and the patients, except Alison Goldfrapp, have a dog's head and a human body. The video's theme is a reference to the song's lyrics in which Goldfrapp sings "I'm like a dog to get you". The video depicts the story of a white poodle who is being operated on by Great Dane and Yorkshire Terrier surgeons (the receptionist and attendant nurses are saluki). Scenes of Alison Goldfrapp acting like a dog and dancing with the clinic's staff are intercut throughout the video.

The video premiered in the UK in early October 2005.[4] The complete version of "Number 1" featured in the music video has been released commercially through CD singles and digital downloads, and some include remixes by Alan Braxe and Fred Falke.

Marketing and release

Alison Goldfrapp performing "Number 1" at the Wireless Festival in June 2006

In October 2005, Goldfrapp performed "Number 1" on British television shows and toured Europe, playing the single and other new songs.[5] The duo performed only one concert in North America at the Nokia Theatre in New York City on 5 December 2005. The US concert sold out rapidly, which overwhelmed Goldfrapp who did not expect the large turnout.[6] In late 2006, "Number 1" was featured in Christmas advertising campaigns for the US retail company Target. The song, along with "Fly Me Away", was featured in six winter-themed television commercials.[7]

"Number 1" was released as a various formats throughout the world. In the United Kingdom, a CD single was distributed on 31 October 2005.[8] While most territories received a CD single and digital download release, the single was also issued as a vinyl single in November 2005 in the UK.[9] A DVD single was also issued and included the "Postcards from the Summer" music video and a special performance film for "Satin Chic".[10]

Critical reception

"Number 1" received positive reviews from music critics. MusicOMH.com's Michael Hubbard described it as a "warmer, calmer and cosier" song than previous single "Ooh La La", and wrote that "it maintains those Numanoid synth riffs that Goldfrapp now do so well".[11] AllMusic gave the song a strong review, indicating it as a track pick from the album, commenting that "Number 1" "nails the laid-back sexiness that many of the other slower songs [on Supernature] attempt".[12] Stylus Magazine gave Supernature a C+ rating but called the song "refreshing and effective",[13] while About.com wrote that the track was "a stunning profession of love served up over electronic burbles and bouncy bass."[14]

Commercial performance

"Number 1" entered the UK Singles Chart on 7 November 2005 at number nine, remaining on the chart for four weeks.[15] Elsewhere, the song reached number 29 in Ireland and became Goldfrapp's second top-50 single on the singles chart.[16] The song reached the top 40 in Italy and the top 100 in Germany.[17]

In Canada, the song was released on 1 November 2005, reaching number 10 on the Canadian Singles Chart.[18] Due to favourable reception, "Number 1" was released in the United States. Goldfrapp had previously found success in the dance clubs with "Strict Machine" (2003), and "Number 1" became their second consecutive release to reach the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[19] The song also reached number one on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and number eight on the Hot Singles Sales chart.[20][21]

Alternate versions

Alan Braxe and Fred Falke made the most well-known remix of the song, titled the "Alan Braxe and Fred Falke Main Mix", which was included on the CD single. The track, over seven minutes long, uses Goldfrapp's original vocals and features more prominent beats and synthesizers. The remix received mixed reviews from music critics. Stylus Magazine labeled it one of the "best club mixes",[22] while Pop Journalism Magazine called the remix "dismal" and a poor choice.[23] Braxe and Falk also created two other remixes, "Alan Braxe and Fred Falke Club Remix" and "Alan Braxe and Fred Falke Instrumental Remix", which appeared on the UK vinyl single. Icelandic electronic group Múm created the "Múm Remix", which provided the song with a minimalist ambient sound. The remix was included on Goldfrapp's remix album We Are Glitter in 2006, and the home console version of the dancing video game Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA 2 in 2007. A cover version by Jont appears on the 2007 compilation album, The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

The following people contributed to "Number 1":[29]

Charts

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Goldfrapp Unleash Supernature". Rolling Stone. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
  2. 1 2 Michael Gallant. "Retro Disco Ooh La La" Archived 6 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Keyboard Magazine. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  3. ↑ Kate van den Boogert. "ITV Goldfrapp: Ooh La La". GoGo Paris. July–August 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  4. 1 2 Goldfrapp "Number 1" music video. mvdbase.com. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
  5. ↑ 2005 Gigography. goldfrapp.free.fr. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  6. ↑ Amanda Nanawa. "Review: Goldfrapp, Nokia Theatre Times Square". DMW: Digital Music W. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  7. ↑ Mason, Kerri. "Billboard Exclusive: Goldfrapp Hits The Target". AllBusiness.com. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  8. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 29 October 2005. p. 25.
  9. ↑ "Number 1" Vinyl Single. eil.com. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  10. ↑ "Number 1" DVD Single. eil.com. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  11. ↑ Michael Hubbard. Goldfrapp - Number 1 (Mute). musicOMH.com. October 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2007.
  12. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Supernature – Goldfrapp". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  13. ↑ Edward Oculicz. Goldfrapp; Supernature Archived 5 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2006.
  14. ↑ Wes May. Supernature - Goldfrapp Archived 6 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine. About.com. Retrieved 4 June 2007.
  15. 1 2 "Goldfrapp: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Irish-charts.com – Discography Goldfrapp". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Goldfrapp – Number 1". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Goldfrapp Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  19. 1 2 "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  20. 1 2 "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  21. 1 2 "Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 47. 19 November 2005. p. 54.
  22. ↑ Mike Orme. Goldfrapp "We Are Glitter" Review Archived 28 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Stylus Magazine. 27 October 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  23. ↑ Robert Ballantyne. Goldfrapp "We Are Glitter" Review Archived 6 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Pop Journalism Magazine. 8 October 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  24. ↑ Goldfrapp - Number 1 (2005, CD) (UK CD single 1 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2005. 0094634390521.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ↑ Goldfrapp - Number 1 (2005, CD) (UK CD single 2 inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2005. 0094634575324.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ↑ Goldfrapp - Number 1 (2005, DVD) (UK DVD single inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2005. 0094634390996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ↑ Goldfrapp - Number 1 (2005, Vinyl) (UK 12" single inlay). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2005. 0094634742016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ↑ "Number 1 by Goldfrapp on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  29. ↑ Supernature (CD liner notes). Mute Records. August 2005.
  30. ↑ "Goldfrapp – Number 1" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  31. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  32. ↑ "Goldfrapp – Number 1" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  33. ↑ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  34. ↑ "Year End Charts – Dance Singles Sales". Billboard.biz. 2006. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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