Help, I'm Alive
Encyclopedia
"Help I'm Alive" is the lead single from Canadian rock group Metric
's fourth studio album Fantasies
. The song was released digitally on December 23, 2008.
, Argentina
, being one of the first songs Haines had written in months.
On November 5, 2008, Metric updated their website with a video on how Haines writes a song. The video follows Haines through Argentina on a soul searching journey to find creativity and herself. "The songs that I wrote here were the simplest and clearest writing that I've done in I think in my whole life", said Haines. "Help I'm Alive" was one of the first songs Haines had written in Buenos Aires.
The song has been very well-received by contemporary rock music critics.
On January 28, 2009, the band made the acoustic version of the single available for download from their website. The acoustic version features Emily Haines on piano and James Shaw on acoustic guitar.
This song is featured in the video game NBA 2K10
and was also featured on an episode of The Vampire Diaries
, on an episode of One Tree Hill
's seventh season and in the second episode of 90210
's third season. The song also played over the closing credits for the 2010 movie Defendor
.
The song reached number 26 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2009
.
The song was remixed by Blaqk Audio
synth player and AFI guitarist Jade Puget
. (http://shyboyswin.blogspot.com/2011/02/lazy-sunday-with-nothing-to-do-resulted.html).
at No. 21. Downloads pushed the song onto the Hot Canadian Digital Singles chart, where it peaked at No. 18.
The song was also their first ever chart appearance in the United States, where it peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and No. 30 on the Rock Songs
chart.
The video features clips from various performances taken from the band's December 2008 "Jingle Bell Rock" tour set to random images, which singer Emily Haines
compared to "Yo Gabba Gabba on acid".
Metric (band)
Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
's fourth studio album Fantasies
Fantasies (album)
- Singles :* "Help, I'm Alive" * "Front Row" * "Gimme Sympathy" * "Sick Muse" * "Gold Guns Girls"...
. The song was released digitally on December 23, 2008.
Song information
The song was written by Emily Haines and produced by John O'Mahony. The song was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, being one of the first songs Haines had written in months.
On November 5, 2008, Metric updated their website with a video on how Haines writes a song. The video follows Haines through Argentina on a soul searching journey to find creativity and herself. "The songs that I wrote here were the simplest and clearest writing that I've done in I think in my whole life", said Haines. "Help I'm Alive" was one of the first songs Haines had written in Buenos Aires.
The song has been very well-received by contemporary rock music critics.
On January 28, 2009, the band made the acoustic version of the single available for download from their website. The acoustic version features Emily Haines on piano and James Shaw on acoustic guitar.
This song is featured in the video game NBA 2K10
NBA 2K10
NBA 2K10 is a basketball video game based on the National Basketball Association developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It was released on October 6, 2009 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PSP and on October 12, 2009 on PC. It was released on Wii on November 9, 2009 in...
and was also featured on an episode of The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries (TV series)
The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the book series of the same name written by L. J. Smith. The series premiered on The CW Television Network on September 10, 2009, and is currently in its third season that...
, on an episode of One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
's seventh season and in the second episode of 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
's third season. The song also played over the closing credits for the 2010 movie Defendor
Defendor
Defendor is a 2009 Canadian superhero comedy-drama film written and directed by Peter Stebbings, and starring Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, Elias Koteas and Sandra Oh. The story tells of a mentally ill man who adopts the persona of a superhero named Defendor on a quest to find his arch enemy,...
.
The song reached number 26 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2009
Triple J Hottest 100, 2009
The 2009 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on Australia Day 26 January 2010. It is the seventeenth countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as chosen by the listeners of Australian radio station Triple J....
.
The song was remixed by Blaqk Audio
Blaqk Audio
Blaqk Audio is an American electronic music duo formed by current AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget under Interscope Records. Their debut album CexCells was released on August 14, 2007 and reached number eighteen on the Billboard 200.-Origins:...
synth player and AFI guitarist Jade Puget
Jade Puget
Jade Errol Puget is the guitarist for the alternative rock band AFI , and the keyboardist/synthesizer operator for the electronic duo Blaqk Audio. Puget is vegetarian and straight edge....
. (http://shyboyswin.blogspot.com/2011/02/lazy-sunday-with-nothing-to-do-resulted.html).
In the UK
- 'Help I'm Alive' (4.47)
- 'Sugar Mountain (James Shaw's Neil Young Cover)' (5.31)
Chart performance
The song peaked on the Canadian Hot 100Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
at No. 21. Downloads pushed the song onto the Hot Canadian Digital Singles chart, where it peaked at No. 18.
The song was also their first ever chart appearance in the United States, where it peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and No. 30 on the Rock Songs
Rock Songs
Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs...
chart.
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
21 |
| U.S. Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Alternative Songs |
17 |
| U.S. Billboard Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
30 |
Short film
On April 21, 2009, Metric released a "short film set in an imaginary landscape" with "Help I'm Alive" as the soundtrack to their official website and YouTube page. The film was directed by Deco Dawson, who also edited the band's live DVD, Live at Metropolis.The video features clips from various performances taken from the band's December 2008 "Jingle Bell Rock" tour set to random images, which singer Emily Haines
Emily Haines
Emily Haines is a Canadian indie rock singer-songwriter. She is the lead singer and keyboardist of the band Metric and a member of Broken Social Scene. As a solo artist, she performed with her own name and under the alias Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton...
compared to "Yo Gabba Gabba on acid".