Release Me (Agnes song)

"Release Me" is a pop song recorded by Swedish singer Agnes Carlsson taken from her third album, Dance Love Pop. The track was written by Carlsson, Anders Hansson and Sharon Vaughn. It was released as the album's second single in Sweden and as Agnes's debut single internationally. "Release Me" was another top ten hit for Agnes in Sweden and also charted in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Worldwide, the single sold over 900,000 copies,[1] making it Agnes' biggest hit to date.

"Release Me"
Single by Agnes
from the album Dance Love Pop
Released28 November 2008
FormatCD single, digital download, Maxi single, 12" single, EP
Recorded2008
GenreDance-pop, disco
Length4:15
LabelRoxy
Songwriter(s)Anders Hansson, Sharon Vaughn, Agnes Carlsson
Producer(s)Anders Hansson, Felix Persson, Märta Grauers
Agnes singles chronology
"On and On"
(2008)		 "Release Me"
(2008)		 "Love Love Love"
(2009)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

In July 2009, "Release Me" was released outside of Europe for the first time, in Australia, on Warner Music.[2] The song was also released in the United States on August 18, 2009 where it hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Critical reception

The BBC's "Chartblog" said "73% of why this is a great song rests with those amazing swooping harmonies. That's not to take anything away from Agnes's vocal talents, it's just her honeyed-rasp, set to a synth-disco backing, is not THAT startlingly new a sound."[3]

Nick Levine of Digital Spy called "Release Me" "far classier" than other europop that is reaching the UK, like September and Velvet. He also said that " the all-conquering chorus and thumping beats are present and correct, but this has lashings of strings and lavish production flourishes too."[4]

Chart performance

"Release Me" was released to radio stations and as a digital download in Sweden on November 24, 2008.[5] and entered the Swedish Singles Chart at number sixty based solely on digital downloads and slowly climbed the chart and peaked at number nine.[6] The song made its international debut on the Danish Singles Chart on February 27, 2009 at number thirty-nine and has so far peaked at number six and later sold gold with more than 15,000 copies sold.[6] It debuted on the Flanders Ultratop 50 chart on April 11, 2009 at number forty-seven and peaked at number seven,[7] in Wallonia the song debuted in the Ultratop 50 chart at number thirty-three and peaked at number six.[7]

The single was released in the United Kingdom in May 2009 where it became a massive hit for Agnes. It debuted and peaked number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and has so far sold over 350 000 units since its release. It also peaked within the top 10 in Ireland.

During the summer of 2009 "Release me" was able to reach a lot of charts all over Europe; in Norway it entered the chart at thirteen and one week later it peaked at seven.[6] In the Slovakian and Slovenian Singles Chart it peaked at seven and two respectively. After a few weeks on the French download charts and music video charts, "Release Me" finally entered the Official French Singles Chart at seven in late July. It entered a lot of French charts and became the third most played song on French radio during 2009. The song was also ranked high on a number of airplay charts all over Europe. In 2010 the song was translated to Italian and French by the investment banker/art producer Olivier Doria.

On July 27 "Release Me" entered the first chart outside of Europe, the Australian Dance Chart at eleven,[8] however on the overall ARIA Charts it peaked at only No. 26. It has also entered the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart at 38, and peaked at one.[9][10] The song was released in 35 countries all over the world.

After twelve weeks on the Swedish Singles Chart in early 2009, "Release Me" left the chart. But on September 25, 2009, the song re-entered at 44 after its appearance in Swedish Idol. Radio stations started to play the 2009 single again, and after Agnes's live performance at the final of Swedish Idol it climbed even higher on the charts. In January 2010, "Release Me" entered the top five at Swedish iTunes and reached number 11 on the official chart, giving the song a total of 31 weeks over three years (2008–2010) on the Swedish 60 Top Singles Chart.[11]

Music videos

The music video for "Release Me" premiered on November 28, 2008,[5] the very same day that the song was released for sale in Sweden.

The video was directed by the swede Anders Rune, who also made the video for Agnes's single On and On that was made for the Swedish, Polish and Dutch market.[5]

The video begins with Agnes laying in front of an orange wall. Then Agnes walks through the streets of Stockholm at night seeing people dancing and preparing for a night out at a club. In the next scene everyone has arrived at the club and they are dancing while Agnes is standing against a wall with a man holding her. Agnes then leaves the club and walks down the street to another club. The next scene shows a bathroom where Agnes is doing her make-up in front of a mirror while two other girls are dancing in the background. These are the main parts of the video, other sequences are shown of people dancing in various places and Agnes singing in front of the orange wall.

The music video had a massive impact in the UK, where it started to spin on radio stations and TV channels already in February 2009, almost four months before the release of the song. The song was also frequently shown in other parts of Europe, with honors like "song of the week" and "artist of the month" to follow.

US Edition

The music video made for the European market was rejected by the American record company, Geffen/Interscope, and according to director Thomas Kloss she looked far too grown up. Therefore, a new video was shot in Long Beach, Los Angeles in early September.[12] The video was produced by Brett Marx. The new music video premiered one week after the new "On and On" video exclusive on September 30 on Geffen's website and YouTube channel.[13] The U.S video starts off with Agnes standing in the studio recording "Release Me" and for a few seconds you hear the a cappella version of the song, when suddenly she rushes out the door and, together with her friends, walks to a club. The set-up and structure of the video is similar to the original one, and a major part of the video takes place in the club dancing.

Live performances
Agnes performing "Release Me", among others, at Rix FM festival in Sweden

Agnes performed "Release Me" live in the UK on morning TV show GMTV on June 10, 2009.[14] On July 5 Agnes performed "Release Me" at the Dutch musicevent TMF Awards. The day after on July 6 she performed the same song in Sweden in the sing-along show Lotta på Liseberg, broadcast by TV4.[15] One week later she returned to Gothenburg for the Gothia Cup Opening Ceremony, where she performed the song on Ullevi, the largest venue in northern Europe.

Later in July she headed back to the UK for another two performances, the first one was at the "Party in the Park" on July 25 in Leeds, where she performed among other stars such as Alesha Dixon and Pixie Lott. The next day she performed both "Release Me" and "On and On" at Nightingales in Birmingham. On 8 August Agnes performed the song in the Polish music competition "Sopot Hit Festival".

Agnes performed in the U.S for the first time in the morning show Good Day New York. On December 11, 2009, Agnes visited the Swedish Idol 2009-final to perform her single "Release Me", which was released in Sweden almost a year earlier.

During the spring of 2010 Agnes went to the U.S to start promote the single, which led to numerous performances on TV-shows and concerts all over America. Among others she performed at "White Party" in Palm Springs on Sunday April 11, where Britney Spears wrote on her Twitter that she was on her way to check out Agnes.[16]

Agnes performed "Release Me" at the 3rd annual NewNowNext Awards aired on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles on Logo. O, 16 May 2013, Agnes performed the song during the interval of the second semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest 2013.

Track listings

Official versions
  • "Release Me" (Album Version) (Main Edit) - 4:15
  • "Release Me" (Album Edit) - 3:28
  • "Release Me" (Radio Edit) - 3:41
  • "Release Me" (UK Radio Edit) - 3:05
  • "Release Me" (Extended Version) - 6:04
  • "Release Me" (Acoustic Version) - 3:48
  • "Release Me" (Andy F Remix) (Andy F Megamix) - 6:29
  • "Release Me" (Cahill Club Mix) - 8:05
  • "Release Me" (Cahill Club Edit) - 6:51
  • "Release Me" (Cahill Radio Edit) - 3:11
  • "Release Me" (Dirty Disco Remix) / (Dirty Disco Youth Remix) - 4:30
  • "Release Me" (DJ Rebel Extended Mix) / (DJ Rebel Remix) - 7:19
  • "Release Me" (DJ Rebel Radio Mix) - 3:46
  • "Release Me" (Frisco Mix) - 7:37
  • "Release Me" (Frisco Radio Mix) - 3:53
  • "Release Me" (Kill Phil Remix) - 5:15
  • "Release Me" (La Rush Club Mix) / (LA Rush Club Remix) - 6:35
  • "Release Me" (La Rush Radio Mix) / (LA Rush Radio Remix) - 3:50
  • "Release Me" (Marco Demark & Dave Manna Remix) - 7:05
  • "Release Me" (Moguai Remix) - 8:04
  • "Release Me" (Moto Blanco Mix) - 7:59
  • "Release Me" (Moto Blanco Dub Mix) - 7:38
  • "Release Me" (Moto Blanco Radio Edit) - 3:55
  • "Release Me" (Nevins Extended Mix) - 5:49
  • "Release Me" (Nils Van Zandt Remix) - 7:35
  • "Release Me" (Nils Van Zandt Remix Edit) / (Nils Van Zandt Remix) - 4:30
  • "Release Me" (Party Remix feat. LMFAO) - 4:06
  • "Release Me" (PIO Radio Remix) - 3:37
  • "Release Me" (Razor N Guido Remix) - 8:51
  • "Release Me" (Robert Abigail Remix) - 3:38
  • "Release Me" (SoundFactory Big Room Dub) - 9:02
  • "Release Me" (SoundFactory Club RMX) - 10:01
  • "Release Me" (SoundFactory Club RMX Inst) - 10:03
  • "Release Me" (SoundFactory Radio Edit) - 4:00
  • "Release Me" (Stereotypes Mix) - 4:14
  • "Release Me" (Todd Watson Remix) / (Todd Club Edit) - 6:42
  • "Release Me" (Void Remix) - 5:22
  • "Réalise (Release Me)" (Radio Edit) - 3:06
  • "Réalise (Release Me)" (French Radio Mix) - 4:13

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Sweden[23]

[24]

 November 24, 2008 Digital download Roxy
Denmark[23] January 26, 2009 Digital download Copenhagen
Finland[25] July 1, 2009[26][27] Digital download Bonnier Amigo
Norway Digital download
United Kingdom February 20, 2009[28] Airplay 3 Beat, AATW
May 25, 2009[5] Digital download
June 15, 2009[29] CD single
France[30] May 27, 2009[18] Digital download Sony Music
May 2009 Airplay
July 20, 2009 CD/maxi single
Belgium[31] March 9, 2009 Digital download BIP Club
March 14, 2009 CD/maxi single
Netherlands[17] May 15, 2009[17] Digital download White Villa
May 22, 2009[17] CD/maxi single
Italy[11] August 7, 2009 12" Maxi Planet Records
Australia June 2009 Airplay Warner Music
July 10, 2009 Digital download
July 31, 2009 12" maxi single
Germany[32] August 21, 2009 CD single
August 14, 2009 Digital download
Austria[32] August 21, 2009 CD single
August 14, 2009 Digital download
Switzerland[32] August 21, 2009 CD single
August 14, 2009 Digital download
United States[33] August 18, 2009[34] Digital download Geffen/Universal
October 2009[35] Dance radio
December 8, 2009 EP remixes
May 4, 2010 Pop radio
Canada December 8, 2010[36] Remixes Pt.1
March 23, 2010[37] Remixes Pt.2
Spain August 18, 2009 Digital download
Japan[12] 2010 Digital download/CD single
South America[12] Digital download/CD single

Charts and certifications

Sales and certifications

Country Provider Certification Sales
Denmark IFPI Platinum[80] 30,000+[80]
France SNEP Gold 145,000+[81]
Germany BMVI Gold 150,000+[82]
United Kingdom BPI Gold 400,000[83]

Personnel
  • Vocals: Agnes
  • Backing Vocals: Britta Bergström and Agnes
  • Written by: Anders Hansson, Sharon Vaughn and Agnes
  • Produced by: Anders Hansson
  • Strings by: Erik Arvinder
  • Mixed by: Ronny Lahi at Hanssonic studios
  • Mastered by: Erik Broheden at Masters of Audio
  • Photo: Waldemar Hansson

References
  1. "Release Me - UK Tracklist". aatw.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  2. "Warner Music Australia - Agnes". Warnermusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  3. Fraser McAlpine (2009-06-02). "Agnes - 'Release Me'". BBC Radio1 Chart blog. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  4. Nick Levine (2009-06-12). "Single Reviews - Agnes - 'Release Me'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  5. "Agnes Carlsson - Official Homepage". agnescarlsson.se/King Island Roxystars. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  6. "Release Me Chart position". acharts.us. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  7. "Release Me Belgian Chart position". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  8. "Release Me in Australian ARIA Dance Charts". ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  9. ""Release Me" in U.S Billboard charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  10. Dave Wedge (2010). "Swede emotion - 'Idol' winner Agnes dances into U.S. market". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  11. "Release Me in Swedish Singles Charts". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  12. Sundholm, Magnus (September 6, 2009). "Agnes lånar av – Britney". Aftonbladet (in Swedish).
  13. Agnes - Release Me (New Version). November 25, 2009 – via YouTube.
  14. scandipop.co.uk (2009-06-11). "Agnes on GMTV!". Scandipop.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  15. Matthias Bergquist (2009-07-06). "Lotta Engberg: Svänger så det svartnar" (in Swedish). Expressen.se. Archived from the original on 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  16. Britney Spears (2010-04-11). "Britney Spears @ Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  17. "Agnes - Release Me - Dutch Tracklist". whitevilla.nl. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  18. "Release Me - French Tracklist". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  19. "Release Me - Tracklists". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  20. "Release Me". amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  21. "Release Me". itunes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  22. "Release Me Remixes at U.S iTunes". itunes.com. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  23. "Copenhagen Records/Agnes". cphrec.dk. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  24. "Agnes - Release Me". cdon.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-10. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  25. "Agnes - Release Me". netanttila.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  26. "Agnes - Release Me". Finnish iTunes. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  27. "Agnes - Release Me". Norwegian iTunes. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  28. "3Beat Dance Blog". 3beat.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  29. "Agnes Release me". hmv.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  30. "Agnes Release me". virginmedia.fr. Archived from the original on 2009-03-23. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  31. "Biprecords/Agnes". biprecords.com. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  32. "Warnermusic.de - Agnes". warnermusic.de. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  33. "Release Me: New cover". agnesworldwide.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  34. "Agnes Releases". interscope.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  35. Magnus Sundholm (2009-08-29). "Agnes värvades av världens största bolag". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  36. "Release Me Remixes". iTunes Canada. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  37. "Release Me Remixes Pt.2". iTunes Canada. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  38. "Australian-charts.com – Agnes – Release Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  39. "Austriancharts.at – Agnes – Release Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  40. "Ultratop.be – Agnes – Release Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  41. "Ultratop.be – Agnes – Release Me" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  42. Agnes — Release Me. Tophit. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  43. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200942 into search.
  44. "Danishcharts.com – Agnes – Release Me". Tracklisten.
  45. "Lescharts.com – Agnes – Release Me" (in French). Les classement single.
  46. "lescharts.com – Français" (in French). Les classement de telechargement single.
  47. "Offiziellecharts.de – Agnes – Release Me". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  48. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Release Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  49. "Agnes – Release Me Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  50. "Italiancharts.com – Agnes – Release Me". Top Digital Download.
  51. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  52. "Dutchcharts.nl – Agnes – Release Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  53. "Norwegiancharts.com – Agnes – Release Me". VG-lista.
  54. "Russia Airplay Chart for 2009-05-11". Tophit. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  55. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  56. "Slovak Chart". IFPI (in Slovak). Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  57. "Spanishcharts.com – Agnes – Release Me" Canciones Top 50.
  58. "Promusicae (Week: January 1, 2010)" (PDF). Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  59. "Swedishcharts.com – Agnes – Release Me". Singles Top 100.
  60. "Swedish Download Chart". IFPI (in Swedish). Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  61. "Swisscharts.com – Agnes – Release Me". Swiss Singles Chart.
  62. "Digital Singles Charts - Turkey". Number One Top 20. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  63. "Agnes: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  64. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  65. "Agnes Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  66. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  67. "Charts Year End: Austria". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
  68. "Charts Year End: Utratop 50". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
  69. "Charts Year End: Utratop 40". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
  70. "Charts Year End: European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2009-12-19. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  71. "Charts Year End: France" (PDF). SNEP. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  72. "Charts Year End: Germany". MTV.de. Archived from the original on 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  73. "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
  74. "FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Ricerche e dati di mercato". Fimi.it. 2010-01-19. Archived from the original on 2010-01-23. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  75. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  76. "Charts Year End: Netherlands". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  77. "Charts Year End: UK". chartsinfrance.com. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  78. "Charts Year End: US".
  79. "Charts Year End: European Hot 100 Singles 2010". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  80. "Guld og platin 2011" (in Danish). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 2011-01-13. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  81. "Release Me in France". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  82. "Release Me in Germany". musikindustrie.de. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  83. "BRIT Certified". Retrieved 6 July 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.