I'm Not the Man I Used to Be explained

I'm Not the Man I Used to Be
Cover:Fine Young Cannibals - I'm Not the Man I Used to Be.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Fine Young Cannibals
Album:The Raw & the Cooked
B-Side:Motherless Child
Released:1989
Genre:Pop rock
Length:4:20
Label:I.R.S.
Producer:Fine Young Cannibals
Prev Title:Don't Look Back
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:I'm Not Satisfied
Next Year:1990

"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" is a song by British pop-rock band Fine Young Cannibals. It was released as the fourth single from the band's 1988 album The Raw & the Cooked. The song reached the top 40 charts in the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria, and the Netherlands. It also appeared on the CD version of the compilation album Now 16.

Composition

Written by lead vocalist Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" contains prominent drum beats with keyboards and finger-picked guitar accompaniment. The song utilises, throughout the track, a sample from "Funky Drummer" by James Brown.[1] Allmusic writer Jo-Ann Greene described the song as having "a futuristic jungle beat and an almost housey production".[2]

Release and reception

"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" entered the UK Singles Chart in November 1989 and spent eight weeks on the chart, peaking at number 20.[3] The song also peaked at number 29 in Austria and the Netherlands,[4] number 35 in Canada,[5] and number 54 in the United States.[6] Dave Thompson of Allmusic praised Gift for "[h]is introspective lyrics and almost wistful performance".The song was featured in a 2009 episode of the American television series Nip/Tuck on FX.[7]

Track listing

7" Vinyl
  1. "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" - 4:20
  2. "Motherless Child" - 2:33
12" Vinyl, CD Maxi-Single
  1. "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" (7" Mix) - 4:20
  2. "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" (12" Remix) - 4:42
  3. "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" (Instrumental) - 4:25
  4. "Motherless Child" - 2:37

Chart performance

Chart (1989)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart20
Austrian Singles Chart29
Canadian Singles Chart35
Dutch Top 4029
U.S. Billboard Hot 10054
U.S. Dance Music/Club Play8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thompson. Dave. "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" - Song Review. Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). 2012-12-10.
  2. Web site: Greene. Jo-Ann. The Raw and the Cooked - Review. Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). 2012-12-10.
  3. Book: Warwick. Neil. Kutner. Jon. Brown. Tony. The Complete Book Of The British Charts. 3rd . Omnibus Press. 408. London. 2004 . 978-1-84449-058-5.
  4. Web site: Fine Young Cannibals - 'I'm Not the Man I Used to Be'. Ultratop. 2010-01-18.
  5. 1989-12-16. RPM 100 Singles. RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd.. 51. 7. 2010-01-18. 0315-5994.
  6. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4247|pure_url=yes}} Fine Young Cannibals - Charts & Awards - ''Billboard'' Singles ]. Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). 2010-01-16.
  7. Web site: Soundtracks for Nip/Tuck - Gene Shelly. IMDb.com, Inc.. 2010-01-18.