Something Got Me Started

"Something Got Me Started" is the first single released from British band Simply Red's 1991 album, Stars. It was released in several forms — a 7-inch single, a 12-inch single and a CD version, which included a remix by Perfecto (Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne).

"Something Got Me Started"
Single by Simply Red
from the album Stars
B-side
Released9 September 1991 (1991-09-09)
Recorded1991
StudioCondulmer Recording, Venice, Italy
Genre
Length4:01
LabelEastWest
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Mick Hucknall
Producer(s)
Simply Red singles chronology
"If You Don't Know Me by Now"
(1989)		 "Something Got Me Started"
(1991)		 "Stars"
(1991)
Music video
"Something Got Me Started" on YouTube

The song became successful around the world, peaking at number 11 in the United Kingdom and charting within the top 10 in New Zealand and several European countries; on the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number 9 in November 1991. It was less successful than the band's previous hits in North America, peaking at number 11 in Canada and number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Something Got Me Started" was included on the band's compilation albums, Greatest Hits in 1996, Simply Red 25: The Greatest Hits in 2008 and Song Book 1985–2010 in 2013. The song also appeared in the enhanced version of Grand Theft Auto V released in 2014.

Development & Composition

Simply Red had achieved considerable commercial and critical success from the mid-1980s onwards with their own blue-eyed soul style that saw them repeatedly reach the Top 10 around the world. Despite the 1989 album A New Flame selling over 2 million copies in the UK alone, frontman and de facto leader of the group Mick Hucknall was keen to develop the sound of the band further. The same year A New Flame was released, a number of dance-orientated records had started to infiltrate the UK singles chart, most notably the songs from the group Soul II Soul. In 2005, when interviewed for the Classic Albums episode on the making of the Stars album, Hucknall commented that he wanted a programmed drum sound that didn't sound synthetic. This led him to working with new musicians, including musician Gota Yashiki whose expertise with drum programming effectively replaced founder drummer Chris Joyce. Producer Stewart Levine also introduced Hucknall to Heitor Pereira which changed the guitar sound on the record, putting more emphasis on rhythm than melody. An early version of the song Something Got Me Started was premiered in a March 1990 concert from Manchester, whilst the group were promoting A New Flame (later released on the VHS/Laserdisc Let Me Take You Home).

Released in September 1991, nearly a month before the album itself, Something Got Me Started reached number 11 in the UK charts and a number of remixes by artists like Steve 'Silk' Hurley and Paul Oakenfold helped it to achieve success in both the UK and European dance charts.

Something Got Me Started was later re-recorded for the 2005 album Simplified and re-released as a single in January 2006. The song has remained in Simply Red's live set lists since it was first premiered in 1990 and is often played as a final encore.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien said that the "funky piano-led" song and "Stars" justify the Stars album's multi-platinum success. Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the track "maintains the Brit-eyed soul of previous hits" and noted that Mick Hucknall "turns in an unusually restrained vocal, which adds depth and maturity to an already potent track."[1] Writing for CultureSonar, Ellen Fagan wrote that Simply Red "charges out of the proverbial gate with great impact. The dizzyingly beautiful video entices the eye with lithe, dancing silhouettes, a European backdrop, and delicious '80s overdrive. Another "love gone wrong" song with some lyrics but counters that with an upbeat tempo, powerful harmonies and a "call and answer" format of "I'd give it all up for you/(yes I would)" that builds in an irresistible crescendo."[2]

Swedish newspaper Expressen described the song as "bouncy".[3] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Red hot from the moment they reached America's shores, the Mick Hucknall-led Simply Red outfit forged an intensely loyal following." He added that reminiscent of their 1986 hit, "Money's (Too Tight Too Mention)", "this uptempo groove is too strong to ignore."[4] Music & Media said the song is "state of the art Simply Red. Mick Hucknall's star is still shining bright on this Money's Too Tight Too Mention type of song."[5] People noted the "peppy lite funk" of the track.[6] Pop Rescue added that "the vocal melody here, sat alongside the funky bass and piano, really gives this a light, upbeat feeling."[7] Al Walentis from Reading Eagle called it "brassy".[8] Richard Paton from Toledo Blade labeled it as a "soulful groove".[9] Johnny Dee from Smash Hits said the tune is "superb".[10]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan in Seville, Spain.[11]

Simplified version

In 2005, "Something Got Me Started" was one of the eight previously released Simply Red songs re-recorded for the album Simplified. It also became the second single release from the album, as a double A-side with a new cover of the Leon Russell song "A Song for You". This made it the only Simply Red song to date to be released as a single twice.

Track listing

7"-Single

  1. "Something Got Me Started" (4:00)
  2. "A New Flame" (3:57)

12"-Maxi

  1. "Something Got Me Started" (Perfecto Mix) (Gary Barnacle - Alto Sax) (5:13)
  2. "Something Got Me Started" (Instrumental Mix) (Gary Barnacle - Alto Sax)
  3. "A New Flame" (3:57)

CD-Maxi

  1. "Something Got Me Started" (4:00)
  2. "Come on in My Kitchen" (1:30)
  3. "A New Flame" (3:24)
  4. "Something Got Me Started" (Perfecto Mix) (Gary Barnacle - Alto Sax) (5:13)

12"-Maxi - Promo

  1. "Something Got Me Started" (Hurley's House Mix) (5:56)
  2. "Something Got Me Started" (Hurley's Dub) (5:44)
  3. "Something Got Me Started" (E Smoove's Late Night Mix) (8:05)
  4. "Something Got Me Started" (Hurley's 7") (3:59)

12"-Maxi - Remixes

  1. "Something Got Me Started" (Hurley's House Remix) (5:56)
  2. "Something Got Me Started" (Hurley's Dub) (5:44)
  3. "Something Got Me Started" (E-Smoove's Late Night Mix) (5:00)
  4. "Something Got Me Started" (E-Smoove's Dub Mix) (5:44)

Personnel

Charts

References
  1. "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 21 September 1991. p. 77. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. "Holding Back Nothing: Simply Red's Top 10 Songs". CultureSonar. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  3. Expressen. 27 September 1991.
  4. Sholin, Dave (6 September 1991). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1872. p. 76. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  5. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 21 September 1991. p. 18. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  6. "Picks and Pans Review: Stars". People. 14 October 1991. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  7. "REVIEW: "STARS" BY SIMPLY RED (CD, 1991)". Pop Rescue. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ""Stars" Simply Red". Reading Eagle. 11 October 1991. p. 25. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  9. "SOUNDS: "STARS" Simply Red". Toledo Blade. 10 November 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  10. "Singles". Smash Hits. 15 April 1992. p. 52. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  11. Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Simply Red - "Something got me started"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  12. "Australian-charts.com – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  13. "Austriancharts.at – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  14. "Ultratop.be – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  15. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7767." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  16. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1685." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  17. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 43. 26 October 1991. p. 31. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 47. 23 November 1991. p. 27. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  19. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  20. "Lescharts.com – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  22. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 44. 2 November 1991. p. 31. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  23. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Something Got Me Started". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  24. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 45. 9 November 1991. p. 36. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  25. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  26. "Dutchcharts.nl – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  27. "Charts.nz – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  28. "Swedishcharts.com – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  29. "Swisscharts.com – Simply Red – Something Got Me Started". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  31. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 21 September 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  32. "Simply Red Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  33. "Simply Red Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  34. "Simply Red Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  35. "Simply Red Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  36. "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  37. "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via World Radio History.
  38. "Single top 100 over 1991" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  39. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  40. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
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