'Cause I'm a Man

"'Cause I'm a Man" is a song by Australian musical project Tame Impala, released on 7 April 2015 as the second single from their third studio album Currents. The song peaked at number 80 on the ARIA Singles Chart. A music video for the song was uploaded on 21 May 2015 on the group's Vevo channel on YouTube.

"'Cause I'm a Man"
Single by Tame Impala
from the album Currents
Released7 April 2015 (2015-04-07)
Recorded
Genre
Length4:02
Label
Songwriter(s)Kevin Parker
Producer(s)Kevin Parker
Tame Impala singles chronology
"Let It Happen"
(2015)		 "'Cause I'm a Man"
(2015)		 "Eventually"
(2015)
Music video
"'Cause I'm a Man" on YouTube

Background

Kevin Parker described the song as being "about how weak men are basically, and how we make all these excuses."[5] In the song, Parker's vocals are clearer in the mix than in previous Tame Impala songs, an extension of his love of "that dreamy, silvery vocal sound." It was difficult for him, as he was uncomfortable with his vocal performance.[6] According to Parker, recording the song became obsessive. He recalled performing over 1,057 partial vocal takes for either "'Cause I'm a Man" or the album's fourth single, "The Less I Know the Better", though he could not recall which.[7]

The song courted controversy over its lyrics, which could be considered sexist. Parker addressed this in an interview with Stereogum:

It's really meant to be interpreted more like 'I'm a man' as in 'I'm a human. I'm merely a man.'" I understand how it can be perceived as sexist, almost misogynistic, but put it this way: I know deep in my heart, I am not in any way sexist. And I knew there would be people who would think that. There was a small part of me that was excited about ruffling some feathers 'cause I never do that, you know? I'm not that kind of person.[8]

Parker intended the song as tongue-in-cheek, and noted that interpreting the song in such a way disappointed him.[6]

Release and remixes

The song debuted on Australia's Triple J on 5 April 2015,[9] and was released for digital download on 7 April 2015.[10]

A remix of the song by pop rock band Haim premiered on 6 August 2015.[11] According to Billboard, Tame Impala asked Haim to remix the song, and subsequently promoted the song via their social media accounts.[12] The song has been noted as more of a cover version than a remix, and Danielle Haim acknowledged this: "We've never really done a "remix" before so we decided to put out our own spin on the song."[13]

Critical reception

Evan Minsker of Pitchfork gave it the site's "Best New Track" designation, praising the song's universal theme and R&B balladry: "It's a vulnerable song—one with regret, sure, but also affection."[14] Ryan Reed at Billboard gave it four stars out of five, praising the song as a "soulful single" spread over "four gorgeous minutes."[15]

Accolades

The Arizona Republic ranked the song number seven on its list of the top 30 songs of 2015.[16]

Music video

The song received two music videos. The first "official" music video for the song, lasting four minutes and four seconds, was uploaded on 21 May 2015 to the group's Vevo channel on YouTube.[17] The video is a 3D animation centered on a man with no face and his events in life involving work, women, and "the ultimate pitfalls of life", as stated by AXS TV. It was directed by Nicky Smith.[18] The second, directed by Dan Dipaola and Megan McShane, features puppet versions of Tame Impala performing the song, and was released on 28 May.[19] In June, Feltworth, a puppet band connected with the Canadian group Sloan, released a clip wherein its members debate the merits of the second clip.[20]

Track listing
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."'Cause I'm a Man"4:02

Charts
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 80

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] Gold 35,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Label Format
Various 7 April 2015 Modular Digital download

References
  1. Morris, Jessie (17 July 2015). "Stream Tame Impala Incredible New Album 'Currents'". Complex. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  2. DeVille, Chris (6 August 2015). "Tame Impala – "'Cause I'm A Man (HAIM Remix)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. "The Hot Take #3: Rihanna, Florence, Tame Impala, St. Vincent, and more". Pretty Much Amazing. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  4. Calvert, John (23 June 2015). "Tame Impala's Danceable New Album 'Currents': Track By Track First Listen Review". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. Matt Fink (April 2015). "Tame Impala: Perfect Sounds Forever". Under the Radar (53). pp. 68–75.
  6. Matt Fink (April 2015). "Tame Impala: The Ocean Inside". Under the Radar (Digital Edition) (53). pp. 103–105.
  7. "Kevin Parker tells us 11 amazing insights about Tame Impala's Currents". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. Chris DeVille (July 1, 2015). "Yes I'm Changing: The Bold Metamorphosis Of Tame Impala's Currents". Stereogum. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  9. Alex Young (5 April 2015). "Tame Impala premieres new song "Cause I'm A Man" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. Lars Brandle (6 April 2015). "Tame Impala Shares Album Art, Gets Soulful on New Single Cause I'm a Man': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  11. Camp, Zoe (6 August 2015). "Haim Remix Tame Impala's "'Cause I'm a Man"". Pitchfork Media. Condé Nast. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  12. Lars Brandle (7 August 2015). "Haim Has Made An Ice-Cool Remix of Tame Impala's Cause I'm a Man'". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  13. Chris DeVille (6 August 2015). "Tame Impala – "'Cause I'm A Man (HAIM Remix)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  14. Minsker, Evan (6 April 2015). "Tame Impala: "'Cause I'm a Man"". Pitchfork Media. Condé Nast. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  15. Ryan Reed (10 April 2015). "Best and Worst Singles of the Week: From Joy Williams to Tame Impala". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  16. Masley, Ed (1 December 2015). "Year in Review 2015: 30 best songs of 2015". AZCentral. Gannett Company. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  17. "Tame Impala - 'Cause I'm A Man". YouTube. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  18. Turner, Marlena (22 May 2015). "Tame Impala share new video for 'Cause I'm a Man' off their new LP Currents". AXS TV. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  19. Beauchemin, Molly (28 May 2015). "Tame Impala Share New Puppet-Filled Video for "'Cause I'm A Man"". Pitchfork Media. Condé Nast. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  20. Lars Brandle (2 June 2015). "Puppet Band Feltworth Ask If They've been 'Scooped' by Tame Impala: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  21. Ryan, Gavin (18 April 2015). "ARIA Singles: Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth Remain On Top". Noise11. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  22. "ARIA Accreditations 2020". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
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