Unorthodox (song)
Encyclopedia
"Unorthodox" is a single from Tottenham
-born rapper Wretch 32
that appears on his début album and features vocals from British recording artist
Example. The single was released in the United Kingdom
as a digital download
on 17 April 2011 with a 12" vinyl
released the following day. The song samples Manchester
-born band The Stone Roses
' 1989 hit "Fools Gold
" which appears on the US version of The Stone Roses
and later on Turns Into Stone
. The track was produced and co-written by British production team Future Cut
(Lily Allen, Professor Green, Devlin). The song also features on the album Now 79.
"Unorthodox" was selected as the Weekend Anthem of BBC Radio 1
by Jo Whiley
for 26–27 March 2011.
Blog gave the song a positive review stating:
at number 37 and then peaking 32, beating the peak of previous single "Traktor
", which reached number 45 in January 2011. On 24 April, the single debuted at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart
, marking Wretch 32's highest charting single to date and Example's second highest charting single to date; with the latter's "Changed the Way You Kiss Me
" peaking at number 1. The following week the single fell five places to number 7; spending but another week in the top 10 before falling to number 16. "Unorthodox" then gradually fell down the chart, spending a total of six weeks in the top 40 before dropping down to number 43. The single also debuted at number-one on both the R&B releases chart
and the independent releases chart
, knocking off Jennifer Lopez
's "On the Floor
" and Adele
's "Someone Like You
" respectively.
on 1 March 2011, directed by Ben Newman
. The video lasts 3 minutes and 23 seconds long. The video begins with faded dictionary definition of the words 'Orthodox' and 'Unorthodox', the latter of which is defined as "breaking the convention or tradition". The song then begins to play with Wretch 32 and Example rapping besides one another when walking around the notorious Broadwater Farm
estate. The lyrics talk of people not adhering to the norm and as such the video features a range of unorthodox characters; including a young child with speakers in a shopping trolley, women with piercings, a woman shaving her head and a tattoo artist. The video features cameos from rappers Chipmunk
, Scorcher
& singer Yasmin
.
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
-born rapper Wretch 32
Wretch 32
Jermaine Scott , better known by his stage name Wretch 32 , is a Black British rapper and former Grime MC from Tottenham, London where he grew up the son of a local reggae DJ in the Tiverton Estate. He was a member of the grime collective "Combination Chain Gang", before forming The Movement with...
that appears on his début album and features vocals from British recording artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Example. The single was released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on 17 April 2011 with a 12" vinyl
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...
released the following day. The song samples Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
-born band The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
' 1989 hit "Fools Gold
Fools Gold/What The World Is Waiting For
"Fools Gold"/"What the World Is Waiting For" is a non-album double A-side by The Stone Roses. It was released in the UK, U.S., Mexico, Australia, Germany, Japan, and Spain. "Fools Gold" and "What the World Is Waiting For" are also available on the compilation Turns Into Stone...
" which appears on the US version of The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and later on Turns Into Stone
Turns into Stone
Turns Into Stone is a compilation album by The Stone Roses released in 1992. It consists of early singles and B-sides that did not feature on their self-titled debut album. The compilation reached number 32 on the UK album chart....
. The track was produced and co-written by British production team Future Cut
Future Cut
Future Cut is the stage name of drum and bass producers Darren Lewis and Tunde Babalola. They share production duties.The duo first met whilst promoting rival Drum 'n' Bass nights in Manchester...
(Lily Allen, Professor Green, Devlin). The song also features on the album Now 79.
"Unorthodox" was selected as the Weekend Anthem of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
by Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
for 26–27 March 2011.
Track listing
Critical reception
Lewis Corner of Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
Blog gave the song a positive review stating:
"I got a good vibe/ I ain't trying to be bait with my hook lines," Wretch swaggers with rapper-turned-singer Example over thrumming beats and funk-infused guitars that sample the Stone Roses' 1989 hit 'Fools Gold' - proving there is still a place for a bit string plucking while maintaining a musical relevance in today's chart. "We don't follow no crowd, they follow us," they claim on the bouncy, summery and catchy-as-cholera chorus. Like with any new and exciting fad, let's hope it's in their droves..
Chart performance
"Unorthodox" first charted on 22 April 2011 on the Irish Singles ChartIrish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
at number 37 and then peaking 32, beating the peak of previous single "Traktor
Traktor (song)
"Traktor" is a single from Tottenham-born rapper Wretch 32 that feqtured on his first album and features uncredited vocals from British singer L. The single was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 16 January 2011 with a 12" vinyl released the following day...
", which reached number 45 in January 2011. On 24 April, the single debuted at number 2 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 ...
, marking Wretch 32's highest charting single to date and Example's second highest charting single to date; with the latter's "Changed the Way You Kiss Me
Changed the Way You Kiss Me
"Changed the Way You Kiss Me" is a song by British recording artist Example from his third studio album, Playing in the Shadows. It was released on 5 June 2011 as the album's lead single, after it had premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's 'Hottest Record In The World' on 24 March 2011. The trance...
" peaking at number 1. The following week the single fell five places to number 7; spending but another week in the top 10 before falling to number 16. "Unorthodox" then gradually fell down the chart, spending a total of six weeks in the top 40 before dropping down to number 43. The single also debuted at number-one on both the R&B releases chart
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
and the independent releases chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
, knocking off Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
's "On the Floor
On the Floor
"On the Floor" is a song by American recording artist and actress Jennifer Lopez, featuring Latin American rapper Pitbull. It was released by Island Records on February 11, 2011, as the lead single from Lopez's seventh studio album, Love?...
" and Adele
Adele (singer)
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins , known professionally as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008...
's "Someone Like You
Someone Like You (Adele song)
"Someone Like You" is a song by English singer-songwriter Adele. Written by Adele and Dan Wilson for her second studio album 21, the song was inspired by a broken relationship of hers, and lyrically it speaks of Adele coming to terms with it...
" respectively.
Music video
A music video to accompany the release of the single "Unorthodox" was first released on YoutubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on 1 March 2011, directed by Ben Newman
Ben Newman
Ben Newman is an award winning music video, short film and television commercial director based in London, England.Having worked on numerous music shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and MTV in the early 2000's, Newman made a number of budget videos for artists he'd had contact with during this time...
. The video lasts 3 minutes and 23 seconds long. The video begins with faded dictionary definition of the words 'Orthodox' and 'Unorthodox', the latter of which is defined as "breaking the convention or tradition". The song then begins to play with Wretch 32 and Example rapping besides one another when walking around the notorious Broadwater Farm
Broadwater Farm
Broadwater Farm, often referred to simply as "The Farm", is an area in Tottenham, North London, straddling the River Moselle. The eastern half of the area is dominated by the Broadwater Farm Estate , an experiment in high-density social housing built in the late 1960s...
estate. The lyrics talk of people not adhering to the norm and as such the video features a range of unorthodox characters; including a young child with speakers in a shopping trolley, women with piercings, a woman shaving her head and a tattoo artist. The video features cameos from rappers Chipmunk
Chipmunk (rapper)
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
, Scorcher
Scorcher (rapper)
Scorcher is a rapper and producer from North London.-Biography:Scorcher is a grime MC and producer from Enfield, North London. He began his career in Cold Blooded where he became known for his 'shank' bars, and would regularly attend pirate radio and work his way up through the North London grime...
& singer Yasmin
Yasmin (musician)
Yasmin Zarine Shahmir , who performs under the mononym Yasmin, is a British DJ and singer-songwriter. She is signed to record label Levels Entertainment, an imprint of Ministry of Sound and began her singing career in October 2010 when she appeared on rapper Devlin's single "Runaway"...
.
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 17 April 2011 | Digital Download |
| 18 April 2011 | Vinyl |