Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime
Encyclopedia
"Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" is a hit single written by James Warren and first performed by the pop band The Korgis
, of which Warren was lead singer.
The song was released in 1980 from the group's second album Dumb Waiters
. The single reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart
and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
chart. The song topped the singles charts at #1 in France, #1 in Spain, #3 in Netherlands, #3 in Germany, and #18 in Australia. This represented the peak of The Korgis' music chart success.
The song is strongly influenced by the early 1970s work of John Lennon , capturing the ambience of songs such as "Dream No.9". This "tribute" was to be paid ironically shortly before Lennon's murder.
The original 1980 version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" was re-released on the following compilation albums and CDs:
In 1990, Warren and Davis reformed The Korgis to re-record "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" for a charity album in support of the International Hostage Release Foundation. This version of the song was re-released on the compilation CD and DVD Kollection (2005).
The Korgis recorded a live, acoustic version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" in the summer of 2005, that was intended for release on Kollection
, but first released in 2006 on Unplugged (The Korgis) CD.
An alternate version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" (with a different second verse) was recorded for the 1999 CD re-issue of 1980 album Dumb Waiters
. This alternate version was re-released on the compilations Klassics - The Best Of The Korgis
(2001) and Don't Look Back - The Very Best Of The Korgis
(2 CD) (2003).
(1987), Yazz
(1991), Baby D
(1995), Army of Lovers
(2001) and German techno
duo
Marc et Claude (2000). NRG covered the song in their 1993 hit "The Real Hardcore". In 1997, a cappella
group The King's Singers recorded the track with lead vocals by James Warren. In 2003, Erasure
recorded the song on their cover album Other People's Songs
.
In September 2004, Zucchero
and Vanessa Carlton
entered the French
charts
with their version of the song. That same year, Beck
also covered the song for the Michel Gondry
film
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
. This cover was also used at the end of episode 12 of the TV series Dollhouse
and in episode 4 of Luther
. In May 2005, Zucchero
and Lara Fabian
performed and recorded a live version of the song with full orchestra for the Symphonic Show on French television. In December of the same year, the Cantamus Girls Choir
entered the UK Singles Chart with their cover of the song. In 2006, the French singer Laurent Voulzy
also covered the song on his cover album La Septième Vague.
Another version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" has been recorded by the Dutch band
Krezip
and an additional version translated into the Dutch dialect Drents and entitled "Iederiene moet 't ooit leern" was recorded by Dutch singer-songwriter Daniël Lohues. In 2008, Dutch electro house producer
Laidback Luke
released a bootleg
remix
of the song. Also in 2008, the Glasgow
based band Glasvegas
covered the song; it was as the b-side
to their single, "Geraldine
". A cover appears on the 2009 album Yesterday and Today
by Swedish electro act The Field
. Real Life
covered "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" in their 2009 album Send Me an Angel: '80s Synth Essentials. In 2010, Irish singer–songwriter
Sharon Corr
covered the song for her debut solo album Dream of You.
In 2008, Australian pop
singer Robyn Loau
recorded a version of the track with producer Robert Conley (Darren Hayes
, Bryan McFadden) that was showcased within the award winning radio, TV and cinema ad campaign for the 2008 Australian series of The Biggest Loser
. The track also appears on Loau's 2010/2011 album Only Human.
Richard Thompson
covered the song as part of his 1000 Years of Popular Music
tour in 2009, describing it on stage as the only good song to have been released in the 1980s
.
The Russian poem "The Leaves have Flown from Poplars" (Улетели листья с тополей) written by Nikolay Rubtsov
has been adapted into several different songs. One of these versions, attributed to Alexander Morozov, has a similar instrumentation to Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime. This version has been recorded by singers including the Russian band Forum, Sofia Rotaru
, and Vitas
.
A remixed version of the song by Shave, retitled "Change Your Heart", has featured heavily on TV commercials for Fox8
's Australian teen drama, SLiDE
. The show is due to air in August 2011.
In the same year, singer Nicola Roberts
covered it for her solo album "Cinderella's Eyes
".
Dubstep artist Cookie Monsta sampled the song in his song "Change Your Heart".
The Korgis
The Korgis are a British pop band, originally composed of singer / bassist James Warren and singer / drummer Andy Davis , both former members of 1970s band Stackridge, along with unofficial members violinist Stuart Gordon and keyboardist Phil Harrison.-Career:The Korgis released their first single...
, of which Warren was lead singer.
The song was released in 1980 from the group's second album Dumb Waiters
Dumb Waiters
Dumb Waiters is the second studio album by English pop band The Korgis. It was released on Rialto Records in the UK in 1980.The album includes the singles "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime", UK #5, U.S...
. The single reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. The song topped the singles charts at #1 in France, #1 in Spain, #3 in Netherlands, #3 in Germany, and #18 in Australia. This represented the peak of The Korgis' music chart success.
The song is strongly influenced by the early 1970s work of John Lennon , capturing the ambience of songs such as "Dream No.9". This "tribute" was to be paid ironically shortly before Lennon's murder.
The original 1980 version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" was re-released on the following compilation albums and CDs:
- The Best of The KorgisThe Best of The KorgisThe Best of The Korgis is a compilation album of recordings by English pop band The Korgis. It was released on Rialto Records in the UK in 1983.-Track listing:Side A - Slow Side#"Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" - 4:13...
(1983) - Archive Series (1997)
- Greatest Hits (2001)
- Don't Look Back - The Very Best Of The KorgisDon't Look Back - The Very Best of The KorgisDon't Look Back - The Very Best Of The Korgis is a two disc compilation album by English pop band The Korgis. It was released by Sanctuary Records/Castle Communications in the UK in 2003....
(2 CD) (2003)
In 1990, Warren and Davis reformed The Korgis to re-record "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" for a charity album in support of the International Hostage Release Foundation. This version of the song was re-released on the compilation CD and DVD Kollection (2005).
The Korgis recorded a live, acoustic version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" in the summer of 2005, that was intended for release on Kollection
Kollection
Kollection is a compilation/studio album by English pop band The Korgis. It was released in 2005.The album contains some of the band's best known songs such as "If I Had You", "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime", "All The Love In The World", material from album This World's For Everyone, four new...
, but first released in 2006 on Unplugged (The Korgis) CD.
An alternate version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" (with a different second verse) was recorded for the 1999 CD re-issue of 1980 album Dumb Waiters
Dumb Waiters
Dumb Waiters is the second studio album by English pop band The Korgis. It was released on Rialto Records in the UK in 1980.The album includes the singles "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime", UK #5, U.S...
. This alternate version was re-released on the compilations Klassics - The Best Of The Korgis
Klassics - The Best of The Korgis
Klassic The Best Of The Korgis is a compilation album by English pop band The Korgis. It was released by Music Club International UK in 2001....
(2001) and Don't Look Back - The Very Best Of The Korgis
Don't Look Back - The Very Best of The Korgis
Don't Look Back - The Very Best Of The Korgis is a two disc compilation album by English pop band The Korgis. It was released by Sanctuary Records/Castle Communications in the UK in 2003....
(2 CD) (2003).
Cover versions
"Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" has been covered many times over the years, including several versions that reached the UK Singles Chart, most notably those by The Dream AcademyThe Dream Academy
The Dream Academy was a folk rock band from England, comprising singer/guitarist Nick Laird-Clowes; multi-instrumentalist Kate St John; plus keyboardist Gilbert Gabriel. They are most noted for their hit single, "Life in a Northern Town".-History:Laird-Clowes and Gabriel met each other in the late...
(1987), Yazz
Yazz
Yazz is a British pop singer, who remains best known for her successful 1988 dance track, "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records were credited to Yazz & The Plastic Population...
(1991), Baby D
Baby D (dance group)
Baby D is the name of a UK breakbeat hardcore and house music band, best known for their single "Let Me Be Your Fantasy", #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1994.-Career:...
(1995), Army of Lovers
Army Of Lovers
Army of Lovers are a Swedish dance music group formed in 1987.The name of the band alludes to a documentary Armee der Liebenden oder Revolte der Perversen about the German gay rights activist Rosa von Praunheim, the title of which in turn alludes to the Theban Band.-History:The founding members,...
(2001) and German techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
Marc et Claude (2000). NRG covered the song in their 1993 hit "The Real Hardcore". In 1997, a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group The King's Singers recorded the track with lead vocals by James Warren. In 2003, Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
recorded the song on their cover album Other People's Songs
Other People's Songs
Other People's Songs is a cover album by Erasure.The album was originally conceived as a solo project for singer Andy Bell. Once Vince Clarke, the other member of Erasure, became involved, it was released as Erasure's tenth studio album. The tracks were handpicked by Clarke and Bell as ones that...
.
In September 2004, Zucchero
Zucchero
Adelmo Fornaciari, Commander , more commonly known by his stage name Zucchero Fornaciari or simply Zucchero /ˈtsukkero/, is an Italian rock singer. His music is largely inspired by gospel, blues and rock music, and alternates between ballads and more rhythmic boogie-like pieces.Zucchero is the...
and Vanessa Carlton
Vanessa Carlton
Vanessa Lee Carlton is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Upon completion of her education at the School of American Ballet, Carlton chose to pursue singing instead, performing in New York bars and clubs while attending university. Three months after recording a demo with producer Peter...
entered the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
with their version of the song. That same year, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
also covered the song for the Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry is an Academy Award winning filmmaker, whose works include being a commercial director, music video director, and a screenwriter. He is noted for his inventive visual style and manipulation of mise en scène. - Life and career :...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American romantic science fiction film about an estranged couple who have each other erased from their memories, scripted by Charlie Kaufman and directed by the French director, Michel Gondry. The film uses elements of science fiction, psychological...
. This cover was also used at the end of episode 12 of the TV series Dollhouse
Dollhouse (TV series)
Dollhouse is an American science fiction television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon under Mutant Enemy Productions. It premiered on February 13, 2009, on the Fox network and was officially cancelled on November 11, 2009. The final episode aired on January 29, 2010...
and in episode 4 of Luther
Luther (TV series)
Luther is a British psychological crime drama television series starring Idris Elba as the title character Detective Chief Inspector John Luther. A first series of six episodes was broadcast on BBC One from 4 May to 8 June 2010. The second series of four episodes was shown on BBC One in summer 2011...
. In May 2005, Zucchero
Zucchero
Adelmo Fornaciari, Commander , more commonly known by his stage name Zucchero Fornaciari or simply Zucchero /ˈtsukkero/, is an Italian rock singer. His music is largely inspired by gospel, blues and rock music, and alternates between ballads and more rhythmic boogie-like pieces.Zucchero is the...
and Lara Fabian
Lara Fabian
Lara Fabian is a Belgian-Italian international singer who also holds Canadian citizenship. Multilingual, she sings in French, Italian and English....
performed and recorded a live version of the song with full orchestra for the Symphonic Show on French television. In December of the same year, the Cantamus Girls Choir
Cantamus Girls Choir
The Cantamus Girls Choir is a choir based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and consists of approximately forty girls aged between thirteen and nineteen. The choir was founded in 1968 by Pamela Cook , Geoffrey Thompson , Sheila Haslam and Ivan Haslam .Michael Neaum became the accompanist in 1976...
entered the UK Singles Chart with their cover of the song. In 2006, the French singer Laurent Voulzy
Laurent Voulzy
Laurent Voulzy is a French singer and composer.-Biography:Voulzy originally led the English-pop-influenced Le Temple de Vénus before joining Pascal Danel as guitarist from 1969 to 1974...
also covered the song on his cover album La Septième Vague.
Another version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" has been recorded by the Dutch band
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Krezip
Krezip
Krezip was a Dutch band from Tilburg, formed in 1997. It is notable for the band member's young ages during their original breakthrough. Since then, the band has had several successful albums and singles in the Benelux countries...
and an additional version translated into the Dutch dialect Drents and entitled "Iederiene moet 't ooit leern" was recorded by Dutch singer-songwriter Daniël Lohues. In 2008, Dutch electro house producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Laidback Luke
Laidback Luke
Laidback Luke is a Dutch DJ, producer. He was voted #46 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJ list in 2008, before jumping to #27 in 2009 and jumping up 10 places in 2010....
released a bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of the song. Also in 2008, the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
based band Glasvegas
Glasvegas
Glasvegas are a Scottish indie rock band from Glasgow. The band consists of James Allan , Rab Allan , Paul Donoghue and Jonna Löfgren . The band received critical acclaim for their debut album Glasvegas which was released in September 2008, reaching No...
covered the song; it was as the b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to their single, "Geraldine
Geraldine (song)
"Geraldine" is a 2008 single by Scottish Indie rock band Glasvegas. It was released on 23 June 2008 and reached #11 on the UK singles chart, and #1 on the NME chart two weeks later...
". A cover appears on the 2009 album Yesterday and Today
Yesterday and Today (The Field album)
Yesterday and Today is the second album by The Field following his critically acclaimed debut From Here We Go Sublime. It was released on 26 May, 2009 in Europe and 26 May, 2009 in the USA....
by Swedish electro act The Field
The Field (musician)
Axel Willner, better known by the stage name The Field, is a techno artist based in Stockholm, Sweden.-Background:In 2005, Willner submitted a demo tape the German indie label Kompakt and was subsequently signed. He released his first 12", a demo mixtape of Annie's "Heartbeat" in 2005 as well as a...
. Real Life
Real Life (band)
Real Life are a Melbourne-based Australian New Wave/Synthpop band that had hits with their debut single, "Send Me an Angel" and with "Catch Me I'm Falling" , both of which were featured on the band's debut album Heartland .-Biography:...
covered "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" in their 2009 album Send Me an Angel: '80s Synth Essentials. In 2010, Irish singer–songwriter
Singer–songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Sharon Corr
Sharon Corr
Sharon Helga Corr is a musician and member of the Irish pop-rock band The Corrs along with elder brother Jim and younger sisters Caroline and Andrea. She plays the violin, piano, and guitar, and sings backing vocals. She began learning the violin when she was six years old...
covered the song for her debut solo album Dream of You.
In 2008, Australian pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer Robyn Loau
Robyn Loau
Robyn Loau is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. During 1991–1994 she was lead singer of pop group, Girlfriend.- Girlfriend :...
recorded a version of the track with producer Robert Conley (Darren Hayes
Darren Hayes
Darren Stanley Hayes is a UK-based Australian singer-songwriter. Hayes was the front man and singer of the pop duo Savage Garden, whose 1997 album Savage Garden peaked at No. 1 in Australia, No. 2 in United Kingdom and No. 3 in United States...
, Bryan McFadden) that was showcased within the award winning radio, TV and cinema ad campaign for the 2008 Australian series of The Biggest Loser
The Biggest Loser
The Biggest Loser is an American reality game show that debuted on NBC October 19, 2004. The show features obese people competing to win a cash prize by losing the highest percentage of weight relative to their initial weight....
. The track also appears on Loau's 2010/2011 album Only Human.
Richard Thompson
Richard Thompson
Richard John Thompson OBE is a British songwriter, guitarist and recording and performing musician. Highly regarded for his guitar techniques, Thompson was awarded the Orville H. Gibson award for best acoustic guitar player in 1991...
covered the song as part of his 1000 Years of Popular Music
1000 Years of Popular Music
1000 Years of Popular Music is a live album by Richard Thompson.The album was originally conceived after Thompson was ignored by Playboy magazine; initially meant simply as a list to be printed by the magazine, it was subsequently published into CD format. The songs comprising the tracklist cover a...
tour in 2009, describing it on stage as the only good song to have been released in the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
.
The Russian poem "The Leaves have Flown from Poplars" (Улетели листья с тополей) written by Nikolay Rubtsov
Nikolay Rubtsov
Nikolay Mikhaylovich Rubtsov was a Russian poet.He was killed by the woman with whom he spent the last one and a half years of his life.Asteroid 4286 Rubtsov was named after him.-External links:* *...
has been adapted into several different songs. One of these versions, attributed to Alexander Morozov, has a similar instrumentation to Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime. This version has been recorded by singers including the Russian band Forum, Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru known as Sofia Rotaru is a Soviet and Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian/Moldavian heritage....
, and Vitas
Vitas
Vitaliy "Vitalik" Vladasovich Grachyov , better known by his stage name Vitas , is a Russian singer-songwriter.Known for his high falsetto voice, he has been given the nickname "Prince of the Dolphin Voice" in China...
.
A remixed version of the song by Shave, retitled "Change Your Heart", has featured heavily on TV commercials for Fox8
FOX8
Fox8 is an Australian cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television's subscription platforms...
's Australian teen drama, SLiDE
Slide (TV series)
Slide is an Australian teen drama series which premiered on the 16 August 2011 on the Fox8 subscription television channel...
. The show is due to air in August 2011.
In the same year, singer Nicola Roberts
Nicola Roberts
Nicola Maria Roberts is a British recording artist and entrepreneur. In 2002 Roberts auditioned for the reality televisions series and competition Popstars The Rivals which saw her finish in the final line-up of a girl group named Girls Aloud...
covered it for her solo album "Cinderella's Eyes
Cinderella's Eyes
Cinderella's Eyes is the debut studio album by English recording artist Nicola Roberts. A member of the British five-piece girl-band Girls Aloud, Roberts drew inspiration from her time with the band...
".
Dubstep artist Cookie Monsta sampled the song in his song "Change Your Heart".
External links
- Official Korgis Website (recently offline)
- The Korgis, James Warren and Stackridge discography
- Songfacts