Call on Me (Eric Prydz song)

Infobox Single
Name = Call on Me


Artist = Eric Prydz
Released = September 13 2004
Format = CD single, DVD single, 12" single, digital download
Recorded = 2004
Genre = Dance, house
Length = 2:52
Label = Ministry of Sound
Data
Ultra (U.S.)
Writer = Eric Prydz, Steve Winwood, Will Jennings
Producer = Eric Prydz
Last single = -
This single = "Call on Me"
(2004)
Next single = "Woz Not Woz"
(2005)
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = Eric Prydz - Call on Me (2004)
Audio file= Eric_prydz_-_call_on_me.oggExtra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = single


Lower caption = DVD single cover

"Call on Me" is a song performed by Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz. The single received moderate sales success and topped several record charts. "Call on Me" is known for its music video, which features women performing aerobics in a sexually suggestive manner.

Background

"Call on Me" is a house music track based on a re-recorded sample of Steve Winwood's song "Valerie". Winwood collaborated with Prydz on the song by re-recording his vocals. The original version of "Call on Me" was initially mistaken as a release by Together (a collaboration between Thomas Bangalter and DJ Falcon), due to Falcon's use of the song in DJ sets and an advance pressing credited to Falcon and Bangalter. [ [http://www.thedjlist.com/djs/ERIC_PRYDZ/ Eric Prydz] at thedjlist.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.]

The song reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart at a time when the chart was experiencing low sales, due to the CD single facing increasing popularity from the digital download which at the time was not an eligible format in the chart. Until January 2005, Eric Prydz held the record for selling the lowest number of singles for a number-one chart position in the UK in any particular week: "Call on Me" sold 23,519 copies when it returned to the top of the charts on October 17, 2004. This record was broken once again by himself only a week later on October 24, 2004, with the single selling 21,749 copies that week. Nevertheless, it was the fourth biggest selling single of 2004 in the UK, selling 335,000 copies that year - including a DVD single with the uncut video - and staying five weeks at number-one on the UK Singles Chart, the longest run of any single that year.

The song entered the German singles chart at number one in early November 2004, and also repeated this feat in the Republic of Ireland. In Australia, "Call on Me" debuted and peaked at #2.

Music video

The music video for "Call on Me" is directed by Huse Monfaradi and features an aerobics class of women wearing 1980s styled aerobics outfits performing sexually suggestive gym routines led by Australian dancer and choreographer Deanne Berry, much to the enjoyment of the sole man in the group, played by Juan Pablo Di Pace. The video was filmed in the Laban centre in Deptford, and spoofs a scene in the 1985 film "Perfect" starring John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis. [cite web |url=http://www.ilovecallonme.com/aboutthevideo.html |title=I LOVE ERIC PRYDZ - CALL ON ME |accessdate=2008-08-10]

While being interviewed by Chris Evans for UK Radio Aid, a 12-hour fundraising broadcast for tsunami victims, ex-UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "The first time it came on, I nearly fell off my rowing machine." [cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/health/1462004.htm|title=Femalefirst.co.uk] Many politicians and family groups have pushed for the video to be banned,Fact|date=February 2008 but there are actually two videos — an edited one shown in daylight hours and a late night version which is uncut and features the dancers rubbing their breasts and one dancer slapping her buttocks.

The video was the highest-downloaded music video of all time in Australia, downloaded over 35,000 times through "3 Mobile mobile phones with 3G technology in association with the Rage music television show. Ministry of Sound presented the '3 Mobile' phone provider with the mobile equivalent of a gold record in April 2005.

Due to the popularity and high demand for the video, a feature length aerobics DVD was later released, titled "Pump It Up - The Ultimate Dance Workout", which featured the dancers from the "Call on Me" video performing aerobics routines to various popular dance music songs.

In 2006, as tribute to the "Call on Me" video, a sequel was created with the same principal dancers in "The Hughes Corporation" techno remix of Irene Cara's 1983 "Flashdance... What a Feeling". [http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/hughescorporationx13x07x06] "What a feeling" article tribute] [http://www.vkmag.com/media/whatafeeling vkmag.com] Video to The Hughes Corporation - "What a Feeling"] This video references the films "Flashdance", "Dirty Dancing", "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" as evidenced by the featured dance, costumes and film posters in the video.

The first video features dancers Deanne Berry, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Laura More (Muncey), Franky Wedge, Laura Jayne Smith, Rosy Hawkins and Laura Bowley. [cite web|url=http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Music/Question188282.html|title=Theanswerbank.co.uk] The second video features only Deanne Berry and Juan Pablo Di Pace from the first.

The video spun off a parody version called "(Don't) Call on Me" [cite web|url=http://www.ifilm.com/video/2681864|title=ifilm.com] where four young men dance in a very feminine way. This parody has had some success: since October 2005, it has been viewed close to 90,000 times on the iFilm website.

In April 2008, inspired by the video, several artists in Houston, Texas began a series of guerrilla art performances which they call sexyATTACK. [cite web|url=http://sexyattack.blogspot.com|title=sexyATTACK ] The artists perform a modified version of the dance sequence for unsuspecting audiences in various public spaces including libraries, parks, museums, and grocery stores.

Track listings and formats

;CD single
# "Call on Me" (Radio Edit)–2:51
# "Call on Me" (Eric Prydz vs. Retarded Funk Mix)–7:34

;CD maxi single
# "Call on Me" (Radio Edit)–2:51
# "Call on Me" (Eric Prydz vs. Retarded Funk Mix)–7:34
# "Call on Me" (JJ Stockholm Club Mix)–7:51
# "Call on Me" (Filterheadz Remix)–7:07
# "Call on Me" (Red Kult Dub Pass 2 Mix)–7:53
# "Call on Me" (Video) (Dirty Version)

;DVD single
# "Call on Me" (Video - Daytime Version)
# "Call on Me" (Video - Late Night Version)
# "Call on Me" (Radio Edit)–2:51
# "Call on Me" (Eric Prydz vs. Retarded Funk Mix)–7:34
# Photo Gallery

;Digital download
# "Call on Me" (Radio Edit)–2:51
# "Call on Me" (Eric Prydz vs. Retarded Funk Mix)–7:34

Certifications

End of the year charts

References

succession box
before = "Real to Me" by Brian McFadden
title = UK number-one single (first run)
years = September 25 2004 – October 9 2004
after = "Radio" by Robbie Williamssuccession box
before = "Real to Me" by Brian McFadden
title = Irish Singles Chart number-one single
years = October 7 2004 – October 28 2004
after = "My Prerogative" by Britney Spearssuccession box
before = "Radio" by Robbie Williams
title = UK number-one single (second run)
years = October 23 2004 – November 6 2004
after = "Wonderful" by Ja Rule featuring R. Kelly and Ashantisuccession box
before = "Obsesión" by Aventura
title = German number-one single
years = October 30 2004 – December 4 2004
after = "Living to Love You" by Sarah Connorsuccession box
before = "I Won't Cry" by Elin Lanto
title = Swedish number-one single (first run)
years = November 11 2004
after = "I Won't Cry" by Elin Lantosuccession box
before = "Obsesión" by Aventura
title = Ö3 Austria Top 40 number-one single
years = November 14 2004 – December 19 2004
after = "Sweetest Poison" by Nu Pagadisuccession box
before = "My Prerogative" by Britney Spears
title = Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (first run)
years = November 17 2004 – December 8 2004
after = "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid 20succession box
before = "Touch Me" by Günther featuring Samantha Fox
title = Swedish number-one single (second run)
years = December 2 2004
after = "Coming True" by Daniel Lindströmsuccession box
before = "Adieu Monsieur le Professeur" by Star Academy 4
title = French SNEP number-one single
years = January 2 2005 – January 16 2005
after = "Ma Philosophie" by Amel Bentsuccession box
before = "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid 20
title = Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (second run)
years = January 5 2005 – January 19 2005
after = "Unloved" by Espen Lind