I Promised Myself Explained

I Promised Myself
Cover:I promised myself (Nick Kamen song) coverart.jpg
Caption:1990 CD maxi single
Type:single
Artist:Nick Kamen
Album:Move Until We Fly
Released:1990
Recorded:1990
Length:3:55
Label:Atlantic
Producer:
Prev Title:Don't Hold Out
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Oh How Happy
Next Year:1990

"I Promised Myself" is a song written and originally performed by English singer Nick Kamen. Originally released on his album Move Until We Fly (1990), it was released as a single in the same year and, as a remix in 2004. The original version achieved success in Europe, including Austria and Sweden where it topped the charts. It has been covered multiple times by artists such as Dead or Alive, A-Teens and Basshunter.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990–1991)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Denmark (Hitlisten)[1] 7
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[2] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[3] 9
Italy (Musica e dischi)[4] 8
Spain (AFYVE)[5] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)! scope="col"
Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[8] 15
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 20
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 3
Chart (2004)! scope="col"
Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 34

A-Teens version

I Promised Myself
Cover:I Promised Myself (Ateens) coverart.jpg
Type:single
Artist:A-Teens
Album:Greatest Hits
Released:4 April 2004
Recorded:2004
Length:3:32
Label:Universal Music Group
Producer:
  • Grizzly
  • Tysper
Prev Title:A Perfect Match
Prev Year:2003

"I Promised Myself" was covered by Swedish pop group A-Teens and released on 28 April 2004 as the group's final single. It was one of three new songs to be included on their 2004 compilation album, Greatest Hits. It was produced by Grizzly and Tysper.

Music video

The video was directed by Gustav Johnson and was filmed in Sweden and shows the band's members images inserted in scenes from past videos, so that they appear to be interacting with the teenagers they were before.

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)! scope="col"
Position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 40

Basshunter version

I Promised Myself
Cover:Basshunter – I Promised Myself.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Basshunter
Album:Bass Generation
Released:30 November 2009
Recorded:2009
Genre:Eurodance
Length:2:38 (Radio Edit)
Producer:Basshunter, Scott Simons
Prev Title:Every Morning
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:Saturday
Next Year:2010

Swedish musician Basshunter covered the song on his fifth studio album, Bass Generation. The single was released on 30 November 2009. It was produced by Basshunter.[15] "I Promised Myself" is two minutes and 38 seconds long and has a tempo of 150 beats per minute.[16] Basshunter describing his cover of "I Promised Myself" said that it has similar setup to "Now You're Gone" with improved bass drums and bassline and it is more rhythmic.[17] Grant Black from BBC describing the song said that it has no sign of a verse, and it sounds like previous Basshunter songs. In his opinion song with this sentiment should not have a sniff of a dance backing but he also understood that Basshunter can't make songs without bass. He appreciated that Basshunter really does try to sing, and he kind of pulls it off.

Music video

Music video for "I Promised Myself" was directed in Málaga by Alex Herron.[18] Music video was released by Hard2Beat Records on 15 October 2009.[19] Anders Anderson was assistant director and Maz Makhani was camera operator.[20] On 19 November, the Pete Hammond Remix was released.[21]

In the music video, Basshunter goes through all the trouble of finding Aylar Lie after receiving an unseen call from a friend telling him that they have found her and that he needs to get to the hospital. Whilst in the taxi to the hospital he looks out the window and then down at his phone in his hands that shows pictures of Aylar Lie and then recalls memories of them together, including those from "Angel in the Night" and "I Miss You"; Even playing the Wii game Wii Sports. The taxi then gets stuck in traffic so Basshunter starts walking to the hospital. He then arrives at the hospital and asks where he can find Aylar and goes in search for her whilst remembering the last night he saw her in the "Every Morning" music video. He finds the room, opens the door but then finds her with her ex-boyfriend, Lucas, from the music videos "All I Ever Wanted" and "Now You're Gone". This video has left yet another cliffhanger in the story of Basshunter and his quest of getting the girl he wants forever.

Charts

Chart (2009–2010)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Germany (Deutsche-DJ-Playlist)[22] 89

Other versions

Notes and References

  1. Danish Charts Archive. 3 August 1990.
  2. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 7. 50. 30 June 1990. IV. 29800226. World Radio History.
  3. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. fi. 1st. Helsinki. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. 2006. 978-951-1-21053-5.
  4. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. 29 May 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "I Promised Myself" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  5. Top 3 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 7. 50. 15 December 1990. VII. 29800226. World Radio History.
  6. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1990 . austriancharts.at . de . 20 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1990 – Singles . . 7 May 2021 . nl.
  8. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1990. Music & Media. 7. 51. 22 December 1990. 36. 29800226. World Radio History.
  9. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1990 . Offizielle Deutsche Charts . 7 May 2021 . de.
  10. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990 . Dutch Top 40 . nl . 7 May 2021.
  11. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990 . . 7 May 2021 . nl.
  12. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990 . hitparade.ch . 20 July 2022 . de.
  13. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2004 – Singles . Ultratop . 7 May 2021 . nl.
  14. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2004 . Sverigetopplistan. 7 May 2021. sv.
  15. Web site: I Promised Myself (Remixes) . . 8 May 2021.
  16. Web site: I Promised Myself . . 6 May 2021.
  17. Web site: Basshunter – I Promised Myself (Bass Generation Out Now) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mh6LmUzblZo . 2021-12-21 . live. . 11 September 2009 . 8 May 2021.
  18. Web site: Basshunter – I Promised Myself (Behind the Scenes) (Out Now!) . YouTube . 6 May 2021.
  19. Web site: Basshunter – I Promised Myself (Official Video) (Out Now) . YouTube . 15 October 2009 . 6 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091210111548/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEyj-CkcvPM . 10 December 2009.
  20. Web site: Basshunter – I Promised Myself (Behind the Scenes) (Out Now!) . YouTube . 1 December 2009 . 8 May 2021 . 3:31–3:33.
  21. Web site: Basshunter – I Promised Myself (Pete Hammond Remix) (Out Now) . YouTube . 19 November 2009 . 6 May 2021.
  22. Web site: Deutsche-DJ-Playlist. Deutsche-DJ-Playlist. 6 May 2021. 2. de.
  23. Web site: Lars A. Fredriksen – I Promised Myself . norwegiancharts.com . 7 May 2021.
  24. Web site: John Davies – I Promised Myself . hitparade.com . 7 May 2021 . de.
  25. Web site: Jose Galisteo – I Promised Myself . spanishcharts.com . 7 May 2021.
  26. Web site: DJ Antoine – I Promised Myself . hitparade.com . 7 May 2021 . de.
  27. Web site: Robert Haag & Markus Becker – Pommes mit Senf . germancharts.de . 7 May 2021 . de.
  28. Web site: I Promised Myself – Single . . 7 May 2021 . it.