Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 2001
Paid My Dues
Buy Paid My Dues now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Paid My Dues'" is a song by American recording artist Anastacia from her second studio album 'Freak of Nature' (2001). It was released on November 12, 2001, as the album's lead single. The song was written by Anastacia, Greg Lawson, Damon Sharpe, and LaMenga Kafi and was produced by Ric Wake with additional production by Richie Jones.
"Paid My Dues" became a commercial success, reaching number one in Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as peaking within the top 10 in several other mainland European countries.
Composition
"Paid My Dues" was written by Anastacia, LaMenga Kafi, Greg Lawson, and Damon Sharpe, while production was handled by Ric Wake, with additional production by Richie Jones. According to James Salmon from Yahoo! Music, the song is a "typically robust 'go girl' anthem."
Critical reception
Jose F. Promis writing for AllMusic called the song "the soulful, bombastic rocker". Sal Cinquemani from 'Slant Magazine' wrote that "her tenacious attitude on songs like 'Paid My Dues' carve a unique niche for the singer." Aidin Vaziri wrote for 'Rolling Stone' that the song is "grating" and one of 'Freak of Nature's "moments of sheer overkill".
Music video
Directed by Liz Friedlander, the music video for "Paid My Dues" was shot in Los Angeles, California. In the beginning, Anastacia is speaking while being in a virtual mirror. Then you can see Anastacia in a room where she is packing her suitcases. Following this, you see her while she is trying to make her a way but there are many people she must across. Then she is in some kind of a disco, where she successfully tries again to find her way through people, this time to a stage.
When she finally arrives there, she goes through a mirror and is "teleported" to a stage, where she lip-synchs the song. In the end she pulls out the electricity cable.
Track listings
'UK CD single'
# "Paid My Dues" 3:20
# "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar mix) 5:25
# "I Dreamed You" 5:08
'UK cassette single'
# "Paid My Dues" 3:20
# "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar radio edit) 3:29
# "I Dreamed You" 5:08
'European CD1'
# "Paid My Dues" 3:20
# "Funk Medley" (live from Amsterdam) 7:30
'European CD2'
# "Paid My Dues" 3:20
# "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar mix) 5:25
# "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar dub mix) 5:23
# "Funk Medley" (live from Amsterdam) 7:30
'Australian CD single'
# "Paid My Dues"
# "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar radio edit)
# "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar mix)
# "I Dreamed You" (album version)
# "Funk Medley" (live from Amsterdam)
Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from the European CD1 liner notes.
'Studios'
* Recorded at Cove City Sound Studios (Glen Cove, New York, US) and Sony Music Studios (New York City)
* Mixed at Cove City Sound Studios (Glen Cove, New York, US)
'Personnel'
* Anastacia writing, vocals, backing vocals
* Greg Lawson, Damon Sharpe writing
* LaMenga Kafi writing, backing vocals
* Nicki Richards, Danny Madden backing vocals
* Eric Kupper keyboards, guitars
* Marc Russell bass guitar, production coordination
* Ric Wake production, arrangement
* Richie Jones additional production, arrangement, mixing, drum programming
* Dan Hetzel mixing, engineering
* Jim Annunziato engineering assistant
* "Young" Dave Scheuer recording
* Thomas R. Yezzi recording (lead vocals)
* David Massey A&R
* Lisa Braud executive producer, management
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2002)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (3 Austria Top 40)
|14
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
|75
|-
!scope="row"|European Hot 100 Singles ('Music & Media')
|15
|-
!scope="row"|France (SNEP)
|78
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts)
|26
|-
!scope="row"|Italy (FIMI)
|26
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
|38
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)
|68
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
|36
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
|11
|}
Certifications
Release history
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Paid My Dues"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|
|-
! scope="row"| France
| rowspan="2"| November 12, 2001
|
| rowspan="3"| Sony Music
|
|-
! scope="row"| Germany
|
|
|-
! scope="row"| Australia
| rowspan="2"| November 19, 2001
| CD
|
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom
|
| RCA
|
|}
References
Category:2001 singles
Category:2001 songs
Category:Anastacia songs
Category:Daylight Records singles
Category:Epic Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Liz Friedlander
Category:Number-one singles in Denmark
Category:Number-one singles in Hungary
Category:Number-one singles in Italy
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland
Category:Song recordings produced by Ric Wake
Category:Songs written by Anastacia
Category:Songs written by Damon Sharpe
Category:Songs written by Greg Lawson
Buy Paid My Dues now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 2001