Chewing Gum (song)

"Chewing Gum"
Single by Annie
from the album Anniemal
B-side	"The Greatest Hit" "Kiss Me"
Released	August 30, 2004 (2004-08-30)
Format	CD single, digital download
Genre	Electropop, synthpop
Length	3:56
Label	679
Writer(s)	Richard X, Hannah Robinson
Producer	Richard X
Annie singles chronology
"I Will Get On" (2002) "Chewing Gum" (2004) "Heartbeat" (2005)

"Chewing Gum" is an electropop song written by Richard X and Hannah Robinson for Norwegian singer Annie's debut album Anniemal (2004). The song is based on metaphor which likens men to chewing gum.

The song was released as the album's lead single in August 2004. It received positive reviews from music critics. "Chewing Gum" was the album's most commercially successful single, reaching number eight on the Norwegian Singles Chart and number twenty-five on the UK Singles Chart.^[1]

The song has been featured on the online game Audition Online^[2] as well as in television programmes such as Glee^[3] and Grey's Anatomy. The song was also featured in the film, Big Momma's House 2.^[4]

Background and writing

Producer Richard X was impressed with Annie's debut single "Greatest Hit". He asked Annie to record vocals for his debut album Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1. In exchange, he contributed "Chewing Gum", co-written with Hannah Robinson, to Anniemal.^[5] Richard X's songwriting was inspired by a put-down that his girlfriend devised to describe self-important, vain people.^[6]

The song's lyrics compare being in a relationship with chewing gum, "chewing for fun" and then moving on to the next relationship "when all the flavor has gone." Annie compared the song's sound to the work of New Wave group the Tom Tom Club.^[7] Reviewers compared "Chewing Gum" to the group's 1981 single "Genius of Love".^[8]

Critical reception

"Chewing Gum" received very positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork Media ranked the track at number eleven on its list of the "Top 50 Singles of 2004".^[9] Stylus Magazine listed it tenth on its list of the top 40 singles of 2004.^[10] The song was listed thirty-first on the 2004 Pazz & Jop list, a survey of several hundred music critics conducted by Robert Christgau.^[11]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Barnaby Roper. In it, two versions of Annie sing the lyrics to each other as part of a dialogue. The video includes sequences of Annie and body doubles of her dancing in a sound stage. The video was filmed in less than a day.^[12]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Chewing Gum".

7-inch vinyl single

(679L075X; Promo only; Released September 2004)

1. "Chewing Gum" (vocal mix)
2. "Chewing Gum" (instrumental mix)

12-inch vinyl single

(679L075T; Released September 2004)

1. "Chewing Gum" (Mylo remix)
2. "Chewing Gum" (album version)
3. "Chewing Gum" (Headman dub)

UK CD single (CD1)

(679L075CD1; Released September 2004)

1. "Chewing Gum" (radio edit) – 3:30
2. "Kiss Me"

UK CD single (CD2)

(679L075CD2; Released September 2004)

1. "Chewing Gum" (radio edit) – 3:30
2. "Chewing Gum" (Mylo remix) – 5:54
3. "Chewing Gum" (Headman vocal remix) - 6:29
4. "Chewing Gum" (Headman dub) – 6:31
5. "Chewing Gum" (video)

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart[13]	46
Norwegian Singles Chart[14]	8
Swedish Singles Chart[15]	31
UK Singles Chart[16]	25

Personnel

The following people contributed to "Chewing Gum":

• Annie – lead vocals
• Hannah Robinson – backing vocals
• Richard X – production
• Pete Hofmann – engineering, mixing
• Henrick Bulow – photography
• Mat Maitland, Richard Andrews – art direction and design

References

1. ^ "Annie - Chewing Gum - Music Charts". αCharts. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7x8Pv960hU
3. ^ Pilot. TV.com
4. ^ Soundtracks for Big Momma's House 2 IMDB
5. ^ Draper, Jimmy. "Norwegian would". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
6. ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha. "Singles Going Steady". The New Yorker, volume 81, issue 14, page 18. 23 May 2005.
7. ^ Foley, Jack. "Annie - Chewing over the heartbreak along the way to success". IndieLondon. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
8. ^
   • Rosen, Jody. "Much Ado About Annie". New York Times. 1 May 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
   • Horning, Rob. "Annie: Anniemal". PopMatters. 22 June 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
9. ^ Petrusich, Amanda. "Top 50 Singles of 2004". Pitchfork Media. December 30, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
10. ^ Gottlieb, Akiva. "Top 40 Singles of 2004". Stylus Magazine. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
11. ^ "The 2004 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. 15 February 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
12. ^ Slomowicz, Ron. "Annie Interview". About.com. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
13. ^ "Discography Annie". Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
14. ^ "Discography Annie". NorwegianCharts.com. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
15. ^ "Discography Annie". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
16. ^ "UK Top 40 Hit Database". everyHit.com. Retrieved April 16, 2008.

External links

• Annie's official website