Stone Cold Sober (Paloma Faith song) explained

Stone Cold Sober
Cover:Stonecoldsobercover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Paloma Faith
Album:Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?
B-Side:I Just Wait
Released:15 June 2009
Recorded:2009
Length:02:56
Label:Epic Records
Producer:Patrick Byrne and Blair Mackichan
Next Title:New York
Next Year:2009

"Stone Cold Sober" is the debut single by English recording artist Paloma Faith from the album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? (2009). It was released on 15 June 2009 and entered the UK chart at number 17.

Background

The theme of the song is the predicament of appearing to be one thing and actually being quite another. Faith told Q July 2009 about the Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? album: "My vocal style suits the subject matter of my album. It's about the human condition, the constant striving for love and companionship. I've thrown my heart at many a wrong man in my time, I can't tell you. I'm the queen of tragedy. Melancholy informs everything I do."

This song is featured in the commercial for the Max Lashes product manufactured by cosmetics company Rimmel London. The B-side, meanwhile, featured in an 'Alcohol: Know Your Limits' public information film run by the NHS about binge drinking in 2008.

Critical reception

Digital Spy gave the song 4/5 stars and a positive review stating: "'Stone Cold Sober' makes the most of her theatrical background. Sure, it's another slice of post-Winehouse retro-pop, but it's more interesting that most tunes of that ilk, partly because it's a got a chorus you could quite easily do the can-can to, and partly because Faith gives it more sass than a backchatting teenager. Maybe a spell in the circus should be compulsory for all pop wannabes?"[1]

BBC Chart Blog gave the song a mixed review with 3/5 stars: "'Stone Cold Sober' is more of an uptempo rockin' raveup than it is an old school soul resurrection (with desperate lyrics, let us not forget), there are a LOT of little clues scattered through this endeavour which suggest Paloma is being sold as a sequel to a very successful franchise."[2]

Chart performance

"Stone Cold Sober" had moderate success throughout the charts, being most successful in the UK, peaking at number 17 and spending three weeks in the chart. The song peaked at number 70 in Germany, 45 in Australia, 36 in Switzerland and number 30 in New Zealand.

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by the British music video director Sophie Muller.[3]

Track listing

Digital download[4]

Charts

Chart (2009)Peak
position
Australian Physical Singles (ARIA)[5] 45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[6] 3

Release history

RegionDate
United Kingdom15 June 2009
Germany11 September 2009

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paloma Faith: 'Stone Cold Sober'. Digital Spy. 26 April 2015.
  2. Web site: BBC - Chart Blog: Paloma Faith - 'Stone Cold Sober'. bbc.co.uk. 26 April 2015.
  3. Web site: Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober video. NME. IPC Media. 4 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20091215024904/http://www.nme.com/video/id/29zumqpqFLM/search/Paloma%20Faith. 15 December 2009. dead.
  4. Web site: Faith,Paloma - - - musicline.de. musicline.de. 26 April 2015.
  5. Web site: 17 August 2009 . The ARIA Report . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 1016 . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090804140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20090805-0000/issue1016.pdf . dead . 2009-08-04 . 7 . 23 March 2014.
  6. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 49, 2009. Dutch Top 40. nl. 31 March 2023.