Playing in the Shadows
A photo of Example, with a shadow covering the right side of him. The artist's name is seen in black underneath.
Studio album by
Example
Released4 September 2011
Genre
Length48:59
Label
Producer
Example chronology
Won't Go Quietly
(2010)		 Playing in the Shadows
(2011)		 The Evolution of Man
(2012)
Singles from Playing in the Shadows
  1. "Changed the Way You Kiss Me"
    Released: 5 June 2011
  2. "Stay Awake"
    Released: 28 August 2011
  3. "Natural Disaster"
    Released: 16 October 2011
  4. "Midnight Run"
    Released: 4 December 2011
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]
NME7/10[6]
Q[7]
BBCpositive[8]
The Observer[4]
The Guardian[2]
RapReviews[1]
Virgin Media[3]
Drowned in Sound[9]

Playing in the Shadows is the third studio album by British recording artist Example, released on 4 September 2011 through Ministry of Sound.[10] Example confirmed that much like the previous album, there would be no collaborations, besides that of producers (including frequent collaborator Skream). During an interview, Example said the album remains dance oriented, although he would make a gradual move into electronic and dubstep genres.

The album's release was preceded by two singles, "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" and "Stay Awake", which both peaked atop of the UK Singles Chart. A third single, Laidback Luke collaboration "Natural Disaster", has been released on 16 October. A fourth single, "Midnight Run" was released on 4 December.

Background and development

In an interview with Lowe he revealed that his third album would be released in September 2011 entitled Playing in the Shadows. Example described the album as a darker record than previous album Won't Go Quietly ("dark, epic beast"). He also said production on the record will come from Michael Woods, Skream, Nero, Faithless, Brookes Brothers, Dirty South and hopefully Chase & Status, as well as writing with English songwriter and producer Guy Chambers. Funkagenda will be producing the intro track also (as per their respective Twitter feeds). In a discussion on Twitter, Example also revealed the final track to be completed on his album would be produced by Feed Me.

Singles

  • "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" was the album's lead single. It is produced by Michael Woods and was released on 5 June 2011.[11] On 24 March 2011 "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" debuted on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World. The video was released on Example's website on 24 April 2011.[12] The single debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" is featured in Adidas' launch event for new Predator Football boots.[13]
  • "Stay Awake" was the second single from the album and was produced by Nero. The single debuted on 1 July 2011 on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show[14] and was released on 28 August 2011. The video premiered on 18 July 2011.[15] The single debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.
  • "Natural Disaster" was released on 16 October. It debuted at number 37 on the UK charts. The song is a collaboration with Dutch DJ Laidback Luke. The single is billed to Laidback Luke vs. Example.
  • "Midnight Run" was the fourth single from the album, which was released on 4 December 2011 and was produced by Feed Me. The song debuted at number 30 on the UK official charts. However the single topped the UK Indie chart with 1 and achieved 5 on the UK dance chart.[16]

Other singles

  • "Shot Yourself in the Foot Again" was released as a free download in January 2011. The track is produced by Skream and has gained over 13 million views on YouTube. It features on Example's album as an iTunes bonus track. Although it was a free download, it managed to chart at 82 in the UK.
  • The iTunes bonus track "Plastic Smile" (with Felguk) is featured as the B-side track of Felguk's "Jack It" EP[17] and on the 2012 video game SSX. The track has not made any major chart appearances, although it has charted at No. 39 in the UK Indie Chart.[18]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)[10]Length
1."Skies Don't Lie"
Funkagenda4:24
2."Stay Awake"
Nero3:24
3."Changed the Way You Kiss Me"
Woods3:15
4."The Way"
Faithless4:28
5."Natural Disaster" (Laidback Luke vs. Example) (Extended Album Version)
Laidback Luke5:05
6."Never Had a Day"
  • Gleave
  • Andy Sheldrake
3:53
7."Microphone"
Brookes Brothers4:16
8."Playing in the Shadows"
Chase & Status4:39
9."Midnight Run"
Feed Me3:58
10."Under the Influence"
Skream4:55
11."Wrong in the Head"
  • Gleave
  • Tom Neville
  • Neville
  • Brookes Brothers
3:11
12."Anything"
Dirty South3:31
Total length:48:59
CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Lying to Yourself"
  • Gleave
  • Eddie Jenkins
  • Jenkins
  • Wez Clarke
3:34
Total length:52:33
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
13."Plastic Smile" (Example vs. Felguk)Felguk4:42
14."Shot Yourself in the Foot Again" (Skream & Example)Skream3:42
15."Changed the Way You Kiss Me" (Friction Remix)Michael Woods4:46
Total length:62:09

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Ireland[29] 4 September 2011 Digital download, CD Ministry of Sound
United Kingdom[30]
Australia[31] 9 September 2011

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Matt Jost (2 October 2012). "Example :: Playing in the Shadows :: Ministry of Sound". RapReviews.
  2. 1 2 "Example: Playing in the Shadows – review". The Guardian.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ian Gittins (5 September 2011). "Example: Playing In The Shadows Album Review – Reviews – Music". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. 1 2 Kitty Empire (4 September 2011). "Example: Playing in the Shadows — review | Music | The Observer". London: The Observer. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. ↑ O'Brien, Jon. "Playing in the Shadows - Example". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "NME Album Reviews – Album review: Example – 'Playing In The Shadows'". Nme.Com. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Playing in the Shadows by Example reviews". Any Decent Music.
  8. ↑ John Aizlewood. "BBC - Music - Review of Example - Playing in the Shadows". BBC.
  9. ↑ Robert Leedham (2 September 2011). "Album Review: Example - Playing in the Shadows". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. 1 2 Rimmington, Stephen (29 June 2011). "Example's 'Playing in the Shadows' album cover and tracklisting | Nothin' Gonna Change". Nothingonnachange.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  11. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Changed the Way You Kiss Me (Remixes) – EP by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  12. ↑ Example. "Me New Video". Try This For Example. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  13. ↑ "Kaka, Van Persie and Nani launch the new adidas Predator". Cushionrunningshoes.org. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  14. ↑ "Example: 'Number one single is mind-blowing' – Music News". Digital Spy. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  15. ↑ "Example – 'Stay Awake' OFFICIAL VIDEO (Out NOW)". YouTube. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  16. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Midnight Run – EP by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "Jack It EP". Beatport. Dongle Records.
  18. ↑ "Archive Chart" UK Indie Chart. 2011-09-17.
  19. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Example – Playing in the Shadows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  20. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Example – Playing in the Shadows" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  21. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Example". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  22. ↑ "Charts.nz – Example – Playing in the Shadows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  23. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Example – Playing in the Shadows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  25. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  26. ↑ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  27. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  28. ↑ "End of Year 2012" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  29. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Playing in the Shadows (Bonus Track Version) by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  30. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Playing in the Shadows (Bonus Track Version) by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  31. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Playing in the Shadows by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
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