I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Encyclopedia
"I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" is a song written by Morrissey
along with Boz Boorer
, the two being responsible for lyrics and music respectively. The song was the first single to be released from Morrissey's 2009 album Years of Refusal
. It was recorded in Los Angeles
and produced by Jerry Finn
, the man behind 2004's You Are the Quarry
. The single was released on 9 February 2009 and has reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart
.
The song premiered on BBC Radio 2
on 22 December 2008 but made its live debut 17 July 2007 at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium in Jacksonville, Florida
on the second leg of Morrissey's 2007/2008 'Greatest Hits Tour'. Morrissey often joked that the song was originally written to be his entry to the 2007 Eurovision song contest
.
magazine said the song contained "Morrissey’s classic croon" and that they could not get enough of it.
In its first week of release "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart
.
In the United States, the song received somewhat limited exposure on alternative rock and triple A stations including WWCD
, WEQX
, Spectrum, and WXRV
.
The single also received some pre-release attention for its artwork; the inside sleeve features an image of Morrissey and his bandmates posing entirely naked
except for vinyl record
s covering their genitals.
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
along with Boz Boorer
Boz Boorer
Boz Boorer is a British guitarist and producer most known for his work founding the new wave rockabilly group, The Polecats, and later for his work as a co-writer, guitarist and musical director with Morrissey.-The Polecats:The band "Cult Heroes" was formed in 1977 by Tim Worman , Boz...
, the two being responsible for lyrics and music respectively. The song was the first single to be released from Morrissey's 2009 album Years of Refusal
Years of Refusal
Years of Refusal is the ninth solo album by Morrissey. Distributed by Decca in the UK and Lost Highway in the US, it was released on 16 February 2009 in the UK and on 17 February 2009 in the US...
. It was recorded in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and produced by Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
, the man behind 2004's You Are the Quarry
You Are the Quarry
-CD:-DVD:# "Irish Blood, English Heart" # "First of the Gang to Die" # "First of the Gang to Die" # "I Have Forgiven Jesus"...
. The single was released on 9 February 2009 and has reached number 21 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 ...
.
The song premiered on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
on 22 December 2008 but made its live debut 17 July 2007 at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
on the second leg of Morrissey's 2007/2008 'Greatest Hits Tour'. Morrissey often joked that the song was originally written to be his entry to the 2007 Eurovision song contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
.
Reception
Reviewing a pre-release copy of the single, FilterFilter (magazine)
FILTER, the publication that promises us that "Good music will prevail," is a seasonal American music and off-beat entertainment magazine. It features commentary and photos of up-and-coming musicians and filmmakers ranging from actors to writer-directors...
magazine said the song contained "Morrissey’s classic croon" and that they could not get enough of it.
In its first week of release "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" reached number 21 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 ...
.
In the United States, the song received somewhat limited exposure on alternative rock and triple A stations including WWCD
WWCD
WWCD —currently branded CD101 @ 102.5—is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Baltimore, Ohio and serving the Columbus metro area....
, WEQX
WEQX
WEQX is an FM radio station located at 102.7 MHz and broadcasting from Manchester, Vermont, USA at 1250 watts with an effective radiated power output of 50,000 watts . Their tower is located on nearby Equinox Mountain...
, Spectrum, and WXRV
WXRV
WXRG redirects here, for the station in New Hampshire that previously held those calls, see this pageWXRV is an Adult album alternative radio station based in Andover, Massachusetts, with a signal covering most of northeast Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, and audible as far away as...
.
The single also received some pre-release attention for its artwork; the inside sleeve features an image of Morrissey and his bandmates posing entirely naked
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
except for vinyl record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s covering their genitals.
CD1
- "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"
- "Because of My Poor Education" (Morrissey/WhyteAlain WhyteAlain Gordon Whyte is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is most known for being Morrissey's main songwriting partner since 1991 and his lead guitarist from 1991-2004...
)
7"
- "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"
- "Death of a Disco Dancer" (Live, Waukegan, 17 October 2007) (Morrissey/MarrJohnny MarrJohnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
)
Musicians
- MorrisseyMorrisseySteven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
– vocals - Boz BoorerBoz BoorerBoz Boorer is a British guitarist and producer most known for his work founding the new wave rockabilly group, The Polecats, and later for his work as a co-writer, guitarist and musical director with Morrissey.-The Polecats:The band "Cult Heroes" was formed in 1977 by Tim Worman , Boz...
– guitar - Jesse TobiasJesse TobiasJesse Tobias is a Texan guitarist of Mexican origin. He first gained notoriety during a brief tenure with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1993, although he was replaced by Dave Navarro within a month after joining the band. Before he joined the Chili Peppers, he briefly played with the L.A. based...
– guitar - Solomon Walker – bass guitar
- Matt WalkerMatt Walker (drummer)Matt Walker is a musician and former drummer for Filter, The Smashing Pumpkins and current drummer for Morrissey.Matt Walker began his career in Chicago in the mid 80s, when Matt began playing drums for the already well known Scott Bennett of Scott Bennett & The Obvious and did double duty playing...
– drums - Roger ManningRoger Joseph Manning Jr.Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. is an American keyboard player and founding member of bands Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, The Moog Cookbook, and TV Eyes. He has also spent several years as an integral member of Beck's backing band, and made contributions to several recordings by the band Air. He is...
– keyboard - Mark IshamMark IshamMark Isham is an American trumpeter, synthesist, and film composer. He works in a variety of genres, including jazz, electronic, and film.-Life and career:...
– trumpet ("I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris") - Chrissie HyndeChrissie HyndeChristine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
– backing vocals ("Shame Is the Name") - Michael FarrellMichael Farrell (musician)Michael Farrell is a keyboardist, musical director, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work both recording and touring with Morrissey and Macy Gray.-Early life:...
– keyboard ("Death of a Disco Dancer")