Call On Me

Album: Ministry Of Sound (2004)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Call On Me" by the Swedish DJ Eric Prydz is a techno reworking of the 1982 song "Valerie" by Steve Winwood. The first version of Prydz' track sampled the original recording, but when he was asked to approve the sample, Winwood offered to re-sing the vocals to fit the track better.
  • "Call On Me" was a huge hit across Europe, topping the charts in Germany, Ireland, France, the UK, Austria and Sweden. Winwood's contribution made him the only person to sing lead vocals on a UK #1 single in both the 1960s ("Keep On Running" by the Spencer Davis Group) and the 2000s.
  • Eric Prydz began to make music at the age of 9 in Stockholm, Sweden. After developing a nasty habit of breaking and entering in order to "borrow" his school's keyboards, he soon landed himself in a Swedish reform school. Nevertheless, this setback merely strengthened his resolve and, buoyed by encouragement from influential friends in the music business, Prydz was soon producing tracks that found their way into the record boxes of some of the world's most high profile DJs. This was his first hit single in the UK.
  • The video shows semi-clothed women doing raunchy aerobics. It was in heavy rotation on the music channels in the UK.
  • "Call On Me" was #1 in the UK for three weeks before it was knocked off by Robbie Williams' "Radio." A week later, Williams was knocked off the top spot when "Call On Me" climbed back on top.
  • After about a year, Eric Prydz stop playing "Call On Me" at his shows. He didn't revisit the song until March 15, 2025, when he stunned fans in Austin, Texas, by dropping it mid-set during his "20 Years of Pryda" anniversary show. The moment unfolded as he first teased Steve Winwood's "Valerie" before launching into "Call On Me," prompting an eruption from the crowd. Clips of the unexpected moment quickly spread across social media and music press.

    In an interview with Billboard, Prydz explained that he'd deliberately kept the track out of his sets for years, distancing himself from its pop-chart legacy. "I was just flicking through my SD card looking for music and I saw a special edit of the track I have," he said. "I turned around to my tour manager like, 'Stefan, should I play 'Call on Me'?' It was almost like a joke… I was as shocked as everyone else."

    He played it again four months later during his "On The Beach 2025" event in Brighton, England.

Comments: 11

  • James from Pyongyangeric pryds's "call on me" is not techno, it's house
  • Theo from Johannesburg, South AfricaPete: you should reeally lay off the sheep mate
  • Tony from Topeka, KsPete: Nope. For one thing, her face doesn't have that ugly masculinity to it.
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiawow got that one wrong big time and an aussie to boot....still , she could pass for a drag queen , ya reckon
  • Kira from Edmonton, CanadaThis is one of the best electronica genre songs in the last couple of years. Great re-mix, great club song. Makes me wanna dance :)
  • Terry from Northampton, EnglandThis video shouldnt be allowed.It can make a man go blind!
  • Nathan from L-burg, Kypete,the aerobics instructor is not a man it is a woman namesd Deanne Berry

    Wikipedia:
    Deanne Berry is an Australian dancer and choreographer best known for her appearance in the music video for the single Call On Me by Eric Prydz.

    The video features an aerobics class of leotard-clad women, led by Berry as aerobics instructor, performing a series of sexually suggestive gym
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiaheard the raunchy aerobics instructor in the video is actually a GUY!
  • Tony from Topeka, Kscatchy version of "valerie", and a nice video too. i'll never be able to listen to this or the original without thinking of hot '80s babes doing aerobics. :)
  • Matthew from East Brunswick, NjAwesome video, ahhh... lovin' it!
  • Nathan from L-burg, Kythe video is awsome i love the music my favorite ver. is the eric prydz vs. retarded funk mix
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.