I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris Explained

I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Cover:Morrissey-paris-packshot.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Morrissey
Album:Years of Refusal
B-Side:
  • "Because of My Poor Education"
  • "Shame is the Name"
  • "Death of a Disco Dancer"
Released:9 February 2009
Recorded:2007
Genre:Alternative rock, indie pop
Length:2:30
Label:Decca Records
Producer:Jerry Finn
Prev Title:All You Need Is Me
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Something Is Squeezing My Skull
Next Year:2009

"I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" is a song written by Morrissey along with Boz Boorer, the two being responsible for lyrics and music respectively. The song was the first single to be released from Morrissey's 2009 album Years of Refusal.[1] [2] It was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Jerry Finn, the man behind 2004's You Are the Quarry. The single was released on 9 February 2009 and has reached No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart, and is his last single to reach the UK Top 40. In Scotland the song topped the Scottish Singles Chart, becoming Morrissey's second of three number one singles on that chart, although this was because the Scottish chart at that point only counted physical sales at a time when download sales had become dominant.

The song premiered on BBC Radio 2 on 22 December 2008 but made its live debut 17 July 2007 at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium in Jacksonville, Florida on the second leg of Morrissey's 2007/2008 'Greatest Hits Tour'. Morrissey often joked that the song was originally written to be his entry to the 2007 Eurovision song contest.[3]

Reception

Reviewing a pre-release copy of the single, Filter magazine said the song contained "Morrissey’s classic croon" and that they could not get enough of it.[4]

In its first week of release "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart as well as number one on the Scottish Singles Chart, giving Morrissey his second number-one single in that country, after "All You Need Is Me" in 2008.[5] The song also charted in France at number 26 and Sweden at number 58.

In the United States, the song received somewhat limited exposure on alternative rock and triple A stations including WWCD, WEQX, Spectrum, and WXRV.[6]

The single also received some pre-release attention for its artwork; the inside sleeve features an image of Morrissey and his bandmates posing entirely naked except for vinyl records covering their genitals.[7]

Track listing

CD1

  1. "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"
  2. "Because of My Poor Education" (Morrissey/Whyte)

CD2

  1. "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"
  2. "Shame Is the Name" (Morrissey/Whyte)

7"

  1. "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"
  2. "Death of a Disco Dancer" (Live, Waukegan, 17 October 2007) (Morrissey/Marr)

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boz Boorer interview at adam-ant.net; info on new album, Southpaw Grammar re-release . Morrissey-solo . 2008-07-27 . 2012-02-24.
  2. Web site: Boz Boorer interview . Adam-ant.net . 2012-02-24.
  3. Beech, Mark (14 January 2009). "Watch Out U2, Springsteen, Here Comes Lady Gaga: CDs (Update1)". Bloomburg.com. Retrieved on 11 March 2009.
  4. "Morrissey, I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris Audio ". Filter (12 January 2009). Retrieved on 20 January 2009.
  5. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 08 June 2008 - 14 June 2008. Official Charts Company. 27 June 2018.
  6. Web site: Song History . Addboard.mediabase.com . 2012-02-24.
  7. http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/grin-and-bare-it--morrissey-reveals-all-1639912.html "Grin and bare it -- Morrissey reveals all"