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I Won't Let You Down (Ph.D. song)
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Wikipedia article
"'I Won't Let You Down'" is a song by British band Ph.D., released as the second single from their eponymous debut studio album (1981). It entered the UK Singles Chart in April 1982 at number 34, peaked at number three the following month. The band consisted of Jim Diamond who was the lead vocalist, Tony Hymas on keyboards and Simon Phillips on drums. It went on to become the 23rd best-selling single of 1982 in the UK.
The song preceded its UK chart success in Australia, where it reached number five in October 1981.
Versions
The album and seven-inch single versions (which is usually the version played on radio) of the song are subtly different the single version begins with a synth-based introduction based on the song's main hook, whilst the album version goes straight into the first verse. The album version also has one additional repeat of the "I won't let you down" line in the second rendition of the chorus, and has an additional drum fill in during the repeat of the chorus on the second verse. The music video of the song uses the album cut, whilst many 1980s compilation albums use the single cut instead, as do later pressings of the band's second album 'Is It Safe?' which features the song at the end of Side 1 as a bonus track.
Diamond re-recorded the song on his eponymous 1993 album 'Jim Diamond' with a slightly different arrangement, and it remained a staple of his live shows up until his death in 2015.
Australian singer Kate Ceberano also released the song in 1999, and an Italian version of the song by Zucchero, titled "" ("All the Colours of My Life"), was released in 2008.
Music video and TV performances
The original music video for the song was set in and around the Queensway area of West London. As with the band's previous single "Little Suzi's on the Up", the video is shot in a slapstick comedy style and features Jim Diamond as a well-dressed man trying to win back the affections of his lover (thus mirroring the theme of the song) using presents and taking her to upmarket bars and restaurants. Tony Hymas appears as the video's antagonist; in various scenes dressed in various disguises he makes unsuccessful attempts to assassinate, or maim Diamond's character in order to win the affections of the woman. He is finally successful when, posing as a car dealer, he lures Diamond into a second hand car (a white Fiat 128), which is revealed to be on the end of a crane in a scrapyard being lifted up, whilst Hymas walks away with the girl as the camera zooms out and fades to black.
The performance for the German television show 'Bananas' was set in a dressing room at a club with Diamond performing the song as he professes his love to a woman sitting next to him. He also looks at the mirror and after he turns around his image also sings. In the end, Diamond does win over the woman, but after he leaves the room as his mirror image walks up to her (who was in actuality looking in the mirror at Diamond).
The 'TopPop' performance of the song is set in a studio with a large statue in the background. Diamond sings to twin sisters seated next to him with Hymas in the foreground on the synthesisers.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Kate Ceberano version
{{Infobox song
| name = I Won't Let You Down
| cover = I_Won't_Let_You_Down_by_Kate_Ceberano.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kate Ceberano
| album = True Romantic
| A-side = I Won't Let You Down
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 4:31
| label = Festival
| writer = * Jim Diamond
* Tony Hymas
| producer = Mark Goldenberg
| prev_title = Time to Think
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = True Romantic
| next_year = 1999
| misc =
}}
In 1999, Australian singer Kate Ceberano recorded a cover version of "I Won't Let You Down", which was released in July 1999 as the first single for her first compilation album, 'True Romantic'. She performed the song on 'Hey Hey It's Saturday'.
Track listing
*'CD single'# "I Won't Let You Down"
# "Trying Too Hard"
# "Feeling Alright" (live version)
Charts
References
Category:1982 singles
Category:1982 songs
Category:1999 singles
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:Kate Ceberano songs
Category:Ph.D. (band) songs
Category:Songs written by Jim Diamond (singer)
Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles
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