Young (Tulisa song)

"Young" is the debut solo single by British singer Tulisa from her debut solo album, The Female Boss. It was released as the album's lead single on 29 April 2012. "Young" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, as well as number five in the Republic of Ireland.

"Young"
Single by Tulisa
from the album The Female Boss
Released29 April 2012
Recorded2011
Length3:35
LabelAll Around the World
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)STL
Tulisa singles chronology
"Teardrop"
(2011)		 "Young"
(2012)		 "Live It Up"
(2012)

Background

Ali Tennant wrote the lyrics for "Young" with STL, a production duo comprising Pete Ibsen and Fazer.[1] While in studio with Fazer, Tulisa overheard the song being developed for another singer and was determined to record it herself. In an interview for BBC Radio 2 she recalled, "They didn't even get a chance to pitch it to the [other singer], they were preparing it, it wasn't even finished and I was like, 'I'm having that song, give it to me'."[2] When Tulisa first recorded the track in 2011, she envisioned it in Ibiza and at summer festivals with young people jumping and singing along to its hook.[1][3]

In February 2012, Tulisa revealed that she recorded various potential singles and found it difficult choosing which she should release first.[4] She initially had doubts about releasing "Young" and wanted to write her debut single herself, but conceded, believing it represented her well. In an interview for Capital, Tulisa said "it was written in such a way that I could have wrote it anyway – I could relate to it that much".[5] Speaking to The Guardian, she explained, "lyrically, musically, it had to be like – boom – here I am [...] And the music had to represent me. So even though it's got that urban edge, it's got an Ibiza edge too, because I'm an Ibiza baby."[6] Originally "We Are Young", the song's title was promptly shortened ahead of its release to prevent confusion with Fun's "We Are Young" which charted at the time.[7]

Critical reception

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song four out of five stars, writing "[...] Musically she couldn't have picked a more certain path. "I make mistakes that I learn from/ 'Cause I'm young," she calls over a well-trodden mix of pulsing beats helmed by her former beau and bandmate, before a chorus of glorious strobing trance ensues. Its timing might initially seem suspicious, but by the song's final chorus, we honestly couldn't care less."[8]

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Young" entered at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 6 May 2012 ― for the week ending dated 12 May 2012 ― with first-week sales of 122,000 copies, becoming the fastest selling single of 2012.[9] The song has sold 385,000 copies in Britain as of December 2012.[10] Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland, the song peaked at number five on the Irish Singles Chart.

Live performances

Tulisa performed the song for the first time on the first semi-final of Britain's Got Talent on the 6 May 2012. She also performed the song on 5 July at T4 On The Beach.

Music video

The music video premiered on 23 March 2012 and lasts 3 minutes and 40 seconds. The video has received over 20 million views.[11] The video features Tulisa hanging out with friends, dancing and partying in different places, singing about always being young. It was filmed in Miami, and rapper Chipmunk makes a cameo appearance in the video.

Track listing
  • European Digital EP[12]
  1. "Young" – 3:35
  2. "Young" (Preditah Mix) – 3:20
  3. "Young" (Breeze & Modulate Mix) – 3:38
  4. "Young" (Expanda Mix) – 4:35
  5. "Young" (Agent X Mix) – 3:22
  • North American/Mexican Digital Remixes[13]
  1. "Young" (Gregor Salto Edit) - 3:16
  2. "Young" (Gregor Salto Extended) - 5:34
  3. "Young" (Gregor Salto Extended) - 5:16
  4. "Young" (Gregor Salto Dub) - 3:36
  5. "Young" (Vice Edit) - 3:29
  6. "Young" (Vice Extended) - 6:00
  7. "Young" (Vice Instrumental) - 6:00
  8. "Young" (Expanda Remix Edit) - 3:29
  9. "Young" (Expanda Remix) - 4:33
  10. "Young" (Expanda Remix Instrumental) - 4:33
  11. "Young" (Hector Fonseca Edit) - 4:03
  12. "Young" (Hector Fonseca Club) - 6:02
  13. "Young" (Hector Fonseca Dub) - 5:32

Charts

Certification
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Gold 400,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Ireland[21] 29 April 2012 (2012-04-29) Digital download All Around the World
United Kingdom[12]
United States 29 July 2012 Island Records

References
  1. Contostavlos, Tulisa (10 April 2012). "Tulisa talks X Factor and her new album at KISS" (Interview). Interviewed by Clara Amfo. London: Kiss.
  2. "Tulisa soars toward debut solo Number 1". Official Charts Company. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  3. "Tulisa's spokesman denies sex tape was a publicity stunt" (Press release). London. Pressparty. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  4. Corner, Lewis (20 February 2012). "Tulisa struggling to decide debut single". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. "Tulisa: "I Had Doubts About Releasing 'Young' As Debut Solo Single" - Audio". Capital. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  6. Cochrane, Kira (19 April 2012). "Tulisa: "I don't like getting emotional"". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  7. Masterson, James (21 August 2013). The Top 40 Annual 2012. p. 275. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  8. Copsey, Robert (30 April 2012). "Tulisa: 'Young' - Single review". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  9. "Tulisa scores fastest selling debut smash hit of 2012 with Young". Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  10. Dan Lane (2012-12-10). "Official Charts Advent Calendar 2012: Day 10". The Official Chart Company. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  11. "Tulisa - 'Young (Official Video)'". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  12. "iTunes - Music - Young (Remixes) - EP by Tulisa". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  13. iTunes - Música - Young (Remixes) de Tulisa
  14. "Ultratop.be – Tulisa – Young" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tulisa". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201223 into search.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. "Top 100 Singles of 2012". BBC Radio 1. BBC Online. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  20. "British single certifications – Tulisa – Young". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Young in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  21. "iTunes - Music - Young (Remixes) - EP by Tulisa". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
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