Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)
Encyclopedia
"Shame on You" is a pop
song written and performed by Andrea Corr
for her debut solo album Ten Feet High
(2007). It is an anti-war
protest song
written from the viewpoint of a female whose partner has gone off to war. The song was released as the album's first single
in June 2007 to positive reviews from music critics.
and war
. "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)" began as a love song
, but later progressed into a anti-war
song after Corr had read the novel Birdsong
by Sebastian Faulks
, which describes a man's life during World War I
. The novel influenced her to evaluate how the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have impacted society. Corr has called these wars an "immense waste" because they destroy the "beautiful things in life". Corr was also deeply moved by photographs of young soldiers that had been killed. She has said that these photographs made her think of the "children [the deceased] won't have and the husband or wife they've left behind or won't marry."
"Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)" is an up-tempo pop
song about how men and women go off to war leaving behind partners that they will never see again. The song was composed by Corr and produced by Nellee Hooper
, who had produced hits for artists such as Gwen Stefani
and Madonna
. The song is written in the common verse-chorus form
and features instrumentation from keyboard
s and guitar
s.
's Daily Post gave the song a three star rating, commenting that it was "deceptively upbeat" which masked its "heavier message about conscription and war".
who worked with Andrea on four of the previous Corrs videos. The ideas in the lyrics about war were expanded for the video. The additional imagery features real documentary pictures of children who have been conscripted as child soldiers in various recent conflicts.
CD Single
(Released June 18, 2007)
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...
song written and performed by Andrea Corr
Andrea Corr
Andrea Jane Corr is an Irish musician, songwriter and actress. Corr debuted in 1990 as the lead singer of the Celtic folk rock and pop rock group The Corrs along with her three elder siblings Caroline, Sharon, and Jim...
for her debut solo album Ten Feet High
Ten Feet High
-Release history:* Japan: 21 June 2007* Ireland: 22 June 2007* UK/Europe: 25 June 2007* Canada: 26 June 2007* Finland: 27 June 2007* Germany: 29 June 2007* Australia 23 July 2007* New Zealand 7 August 2007* Spain: 21 August 2007* Portugal: 27 August 2007...
(2007). It is an anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
written from the viewpoint of a female whose partner has gone off to war. The song was released as the album's first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in June 2007 to positive reviews from music critics.
Background and writing
Andrea Corr never intended to compose a song about conscriptionConscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
and war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
. "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)" began as a love song
Love song
A love song is about falling in love and the feelings it brings. Anthologies of love songs often contain a mixture of both of these types of song. A bawdy song is both humorous and saucy, emphasizing the physical pleasure of love rather than the emotional joy...
, but later progressed into a anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
song after Corr had read the novel Birdsong
Birdsong (novel)
Birdsong is a 1993 war novel by the English author Sebastian Faulks. Faulks' fourth novel, it tells of a man called Stephen Wraysford at different stages of his life both before and during World War I...
by Sebastian Faulks
Sebastian Faulks
-Early life:Faulks was born on 20 April 1953 in Donnington, Berkshire to Peter Faulks and Pamela . Edward Faulks, Baron Faulks, is his older brother. He was educated at Elstree School, Reading and went on to Wellington College, Berkshire...
, which describes a man's life during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The novel influenced her to evaluate how the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have impacted society. Corr has called these wars an "immense waste" because they destroy the "beautiful things in life". Corr was also deeply moved by photographs of young soldiers that had been killed. She has said that these photographs made her think of the "children [the deceased] won't have and the husband or wife they've left behind or won't marry."
"Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)" is an up-tempo 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...
song about how men and women go off to war leaving behind partners that they will never see again. The song was composed by Corr and produced by Nellee Hooper
Nellee Hooper
Nellee Hooper is a British producer/remixer/composer best known for his work with Björk, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Sinéad O'Connor, Garbage, Andrea Corr, U2, Sneaker Pimps, Soul II Soul and Massive Attack...
, who had produced hits for artists such as Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. The song is written in the common verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse , in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted...
and features instrumentation from keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
s and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s.
Critical reception
"Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)" received positive reviews from music critics. IndieLondon described the song as a "slick package" that was "polished, well produced and with a message that's difficult to ignore". Losing Todays David Adair gave the song a strong review, writing that Corr's vocals were "crisp and uplifting". LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
's Daily Post gave the song a three star rating, commenting that it was "deceptively upbeat" which masked its "heavier message about conscription and war".
Music video
The video was directed by Dani JacobsDani Jacobs
-Background:Jacobs was born in London. He went to University of Manchester to study Physics but left to pursue his interests in Film.He worked at the The Haçienda nightclub as a resident filmmaker and VJ, creating visuals and lighting effects to project in the club space...
who worked with Andrea on four of the previous Corrs videos. The ideas in the lyrics about war were expanded for the video. The additional imagery features real documentary pictures of children who have been conscripted as child soldiers in various recent conflicts.
Charts
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Spain Los 40 principales | 20 |
| Irish singles chart | 43 |
| UK singles chart | 108 |
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)".CD Single
(Released June 18, 2007)
- "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)" (Radio edit)
- "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)" (Album version)
External links
- andreacorr.co.uk — official website