Number One Enemy

Album: Totally Pop (2010)
Charted: 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the first release from the Essex born and raised Bubblegum Punk singer Daisy Coburn, who records under the name Daisy Dares You. Coburn hails from a musical family; her mother once worked as a backing singer for bands such as Duran Duran and The The, while her father plays in a Pub Rock band. Daisy started playing guitar and piano at the age of six and in her early teens when she was introduced to producer Matt Marston, the pair began writing and recording songs together. Her mum passed on her daughter's early demos to a music-business contact and a record label bidding war for her signature ensued. She eventually signed to the Sony-affiliated Jive and released this debut single at the age of 16.
  • Daisy told Digital Spy about the meaning behind this Pop and Punk concoction with lyrics inspired by sibling rivalry: "It's about rowing (note to Americans - "rowing" is British for "fighting") with my sister. She's really neurotic and she's always got some really mad boyfriend on the go. I was actually talking to her when I wrote the song. I was sitting on the floor in my room playing the guitar and I started kidding about with some lyrics. She was like, 'Shut up you tw-t', but I was like, 'Matt, we could use this!' Me and my sister joke about it now. Luckily she doesn't take the song personally."
  • The song features Coburn's label mate, London rapper Chipmunk, in a middle eight in which he refers to Daisy's sister Scarlet by name. She told BBC's Newsbeat: "It's good for the song because it's given it an instant. People know who Chipmunk is." She added concerning the unlikely hook up: "We're completely different people but it works. I wouldn't do it every single. It's [grime-pop], not my bag really. That's not my kind of music but it worked and it's helped me getting played. He talks to me quite brotherly, it's cool."
  • Daisy explained to CMU her songwriting process: "I don't stick to any certain way of writing. Writing isn't something I just do, it happens if I feel something. If I'm playing guitar or piano and something comes up, I'll write a melody and lyrics after the chord progression; or just write lyrics and put them to something. I guess where I am determines the way I would write a song."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.