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

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.