"Call My Name"
Single by Cheryl
from the album A Million Lights
Released18 May 2012
Recorded
Genre
Length3:28
Label
Songwriter(s)Calvin Harris
Producer(s)
  • Calvin Harris
Cheryl singles chronology
"The Flood"
(2011)		 "Call My Name"
(2012)		 "Under the Sun"
(2012)

"Call My Name" is a song by English singer Cheryl taken from her third studio album, A Million Lights (2012). It was written and produced by Calvin Harris, with Kuk Harrell producing Cole's vocals. It was released as the lead single from the album on 18 May 2012 by Polydor Records' imprint Fascination. "Call My Name" is a dance-pop and EDM song that was compared by critics to songs produced by Harris for other singers.

The track received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Although many thought it was catchy, it was thought to be generic when compared to other songs played on the radio, and is noted for being a departure from Cheryl's previous works. "Call My Name" achieved commercial success on Cheryl's main markets, reaching the top spot of the charts in Ireland, Scotland, the United Kingdom and Poland. The song also became her first and only chart entry in New Zealand, peaking at number 13 and earning a Gold certification in the country.

The accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler, and features Cheryl performing an elaborate dance routine with backup dancers. The release of it was promoted with two teasers, until the full video premiered on 2 May 2012. To promote the song, Cheryl performed the track on The Graham Norton Show, Stand Up to Cancer, Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012, T4, The Voice Denmark, and The Voice UK.

Background

In March 2012, critics speculated that Calvin Harris and Cheryl were collaborating on a track following a Twitter discussion between them both.[1] When asked if he would like to work with Cheryl, Harris said, "I'd love to work with somebody like Cheryl Cole, she would be great."[1] The following month, it was confirmed that the track was titled "Call My Name", and it would be released as the lead single from Cheryl's third studio album, A Million Lights, on 10 June 2012.[2] The song was written and produced by Harris. The track had its radio premiere on Capital FM's breakfast show on 23 April 2012.[3]

Composition

"Call My Name" is a dance-pop and EDM song written in E♭ major with a time signature in common time and a tempo of 125 beats per minute.[5] The vocal range from the singer spans from C4 to C5.[5] "Call My Name" borrows similarities to Rihanna's "We Found Love" (2011) and Scissor Sisters' "Only the Horses" (2012), tracks that were also produced by Harris.[4] Brogan Driscoll of The Huffington Post speculated that the "dance anthem" title, "Call My Name", could be linked Cheryl's recent decision to drop her married name from her professional career.[6] Sarah Deen of Metro stated that the track features a "typical Calvin Harris beat and singalong chorus", the chorus of the song was considered a departure from Cheryl's previous works, namely "Fight for This Love" (2009) and "Promise This" (2010),[7] while Marie Claire columnist Eleanor Young described "Call My Name" as a "fast paced party track".[8] When Peter Robinson of Popjustice compared the song to "We Found Love" during an interview with the singer, she responded, "that's going to be natural because it's Calvin. They're both Calvin-produced songs. So naturally you're going to think that. But if you play them side by side they don't sound the same. Although you might naturally think that, because it's the same producer. It's not a bad thing."[9] She also said that the lyrics of the song don't have a meaning, but they do have a feeling: "I think it's quite a sexy lyric? Um… It's really not that deep. We're not saving the world with lyrics or anything."[9]

Critical response

"Call My Name" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Bill Lamb of About.com explained that, after many believed that rejecting her judge role on the US version of The X Factor in 2011 would be a career setback, the release of the "hot, current dance pop" track proved them wrong.[10] Writing for the same website, DJ Ron Slomowicz stated that, despite being "a little generic" when compared to mainstream tracks, "there's still something undeniably catchy about the track."[11] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy rated "Call My Name" four out of five stars, and added: "unsurprisingly, is a ballsy dance anthem about an elusive lover complete with a foot-stomping trance section that becomes more addictive with each listen."[12] Copsey also added that it isn't the "greatest song of all time, nor the most original you'll hear this year, but the feeling we get from it more than makes up for it."[12] Robbie Daw of Idolator said that, despite not being innovative, the song has catchy hooks and melodies that "manage to grab you from the first listen, no matter how familiar they might sound."[4]

NME reviewer Issy Sampson explained that the track is so addictive after a few listens that "you’ll find yourself driving to Cheryl’s house, at 4.35am on a Tuesday, crying uncontrollably and muttering something about HER calling YOUR name."[13] Entertainment Wise reviewer Wil Jones also thought that "Call My Name" wasn't innovative, and compared it to other productions by David Guetta, saying, "a bit of a drop there, the same old floor-to-the-floor beat here, a big synth-y chorus that’s meant to be anthemic but isn’t really, over-produced, bland vocals. 'Call My Name' is isn’t by no means terrible, it’s just very blah."[14] Similarly, Jenn Selby of Glamour noted that "Call My Name" bears resemblance to other productions by Harris, yet admitted that she was surprised with the result of their collaboration,[15] while Elena Gorgan of Softpedia said that the song has everything to become the summer's hottest anthem.[16] The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis gave the song a mixed review, criticizing it for being generic and adding that it lacks "the spark that powered Rihanna's We Found Love."[17]

Chart performance

Hours after its official release on the iTunes Store in the United Kingdom, "Call My Name" reached the top position of the UK store's chart.[18] With only three days of release, the track sold a total of 97,000 units in the United Kingdom alone.[19] After a full week of sales, "Call My Name" sold a total of 152,001 digital copies in the country, becoming 2012's fastest selling number one single on the UK Singles Chart until December of the same year,[20] when The X Factor winner James Arthur sold 490,560 copies with his cover of Shontelle's "Impossible".[21] "Call My Name" was the 34th best-selling single of 2012 in the UK[22] where it eventually sold 600,000 copies to achieve Platinum status in 2021.[23] "Call My Name" also debuted and peaked at number one in Ireland.[24][25] On its second charting week, the track fell to number two in place of Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa's "Payphone" having sold 70,640 copies.[26] "Call My Name" entered the New Zealand Singles Chart at number 25 on 2 July 2012, climbing into the top twenty four weeks later, peaking at number 13.[27] It earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand for selling over 7,500 units there.[28] "Call My Name" failed to make such impact on the Australian Singles Chart, peaking at number 49.[29]

Music video

The music video for "Call My Name" was directed by Anthony Mandler in Los Angeles, California.[30] A 15-second teaser was unveiled on 25 April 2012, followed by an extended version five days later.[31] The music video officially premiered on 2 May 2012.[32] It starts with a quote from French writer and philosopher the Marquis de Sade that reads, "The only way to a woman's heart is along the path of torment."[33] This is followed by scenes of Cheryl strutting down a graffiti-daubed storm drain before meeting with her dancers and performing an elaborate dance routine in the Los Angeles River while wearing a neon yellow bra. This scene is a reference to the drag race scene in the 1970s musical film Grease. The camera cuts intermittently to footage filmed on the London Eye before the California shoot, which shows Cheryl posing through the reflection on the capsule window.[34] Scenes of the singer driving a car over and posing on a Los Angeles bridge are intercalated later in the video.[35] It received mixed reviews from critics. Jo Usmau of the Daily Mirror said that the video "doesn't disappoint", and, regarding the dance sequences, stated that "she can really really dance", adding: "Check. Out. Her. Stomach. no wonder she's number two on FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World list which was released today."[33] Robbie Daw of Idolator commented that the song itself is better than the video, and added the one thing he learned from it: "when you don’t have a huge budget, spend what you can on clothing, makeup and wigs, and make the most out of the artist’s ample curves."[36]

Live performances

On 26 May 2012, it was reported that Cheryl would perform "Call My Name" with live vocals on The Voice UK, following allegedly pre-recorded performances that occurred the previous year on The X Factor UK. It was also reported that The Voice executives always edit the vocals for every artist on the show, and they would "provide some finishing touches to her singing prior to it being broadcast."[37] As the performance began, Cheryl swan-dived onto her backing dancers before they performed a highly elaborated routine.[38] Following the broadcast, Cheryl received mixed comments from viewers, with a few who accused the singer of lip synching, while others, including pop singers Emma Bunton and will.i.am, praised the performance.[38] In an interview with BBC News, Cheryl addressed the negative comments, and said that "if you think my live vocal sounds so good it must be mimed, I'm happy, I take it as a compliment."[39] She performed the track again on The Graham Norton Show on 8 June 2012, and was also accused of lip synching.[40] Cheryl also performed "Call My Name" at Capital FM Summertime Ball on 9 June 2012 in front of 80,000 fans at the Wembley Stadium, she was a surprise artist.[41] at The Voice Denmark,[42] and at the 2012 Jingle Bell Ball.[43]

Formats and track listings

  1. "Call My Name" – 3:28
  1. "Call My Name" – 3:28
  2. "Make You Go" – 3:29
  3. "Call My Name" (Wideboys Remix) – 3:11
  4. "Telescope" – 2:31

Credits and personnel

Recording
Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of A Million Lights.[47]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Platinum 600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[3] 23 April 2012 Premiere Polydor Records
Australia[44] 18 May 2012 Digital download Universal Music
Brazil[63] Polydor Records
Malaysia[45] Universal Music
Brazil[46] 7 June 2012 Digital EP Polydor Records

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Taylor, Eleanor (4 March 2012). "Cheryl Cole teams up with Calvin Harris, takes tips from her girl crush Rihanna". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Calvin Harris turns hitmaker again for new Cheryl Cole single Call My Name". STV. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 Goodacre, Kate (20 April 2012). "Cheryl Cole new single 'Call My Name' - listen now". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Daw, Robbie (20 April 2012). "Cheryl Cole's Calvin Harris-Produced "Call My Name": Listen". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Cheryl Cole - Call My Name sheet music". Music Notes. Alfred Publishing Company. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  6. ↑ Driscoll, Brogan (20 April 2012). "Cheryl Cole Call My Name Single Review: Twitter Fans Have Mixed Feelings About Latest Release". The Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Deen, Sarah (20 April 2012). "New Cheryl Cole single Call My Name receives mixed reviews on first airplay". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Young, Eleanor (20 April 2012). "First listen: Cheryl Cole Call My Name". Marie Claire. IPC Media. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  9. 1 2 Robinson, Peter (6 June 2012). "Cheryl Cole decided to have a sit down with Popjustice in a posho London hotel to discuss her new album and here are the fairly lengthy results". Popjustice. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "Cheryl Cole Releases "Call My Name" Music Video". About.com. Rovi Corporation. 2 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  11. ↑ Slomowicz, Ron (2 May 2012). "Song of the Day: Cheryl Cole - "Call My Name"". About.com. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  12. 1 2 Copsey, Robert (8 June 2012). "Cheryl: 'Call My Name' - Single review". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  13. ↑ Sampson, Issy (12 June 2012). "Cheryl Cole - 'Call My Name'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  14. ↑ Jones, Wil (20 April 2012). "REVIEW: Cheryl Cole's 'Call My Name'". Entertainment Wise. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  15. ↑ Selby, Jenn (20 April 2012). "MUSIC: This Week We're Loving…". Glamour. Condé Nast Publications. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  16. ↑ Gorgan, Elena (20 April 2012). "Cheryl Cole "Call My Name" – Listen Here". Softpedia. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  17. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (14 June 2012). "Cheryl Cole: A Million Lights – review". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  18. ↑ Eames, Tom (10 June 2012). "Cheryl Cole's 'Call My Name' leaps to iTunes No.1 hours after release". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  19. ↑ Kreisler, Lauren (13 June 2012). "Cheryl smashing her way towards 2012's fastest selling single!". UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  20. ↑ Kreisler, Lauren (17 June 2012). "Cheryl's Call My Name becomes 2012's fastest selling Number 1 single!". UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  21. ↑ "James Arthur scores fastest selling single of the year". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  22. ↑ Lane, Dan (15 December 2012). "Official Charts Advent Calendar 2012: Day 15". UK Singles Chart. Official Chart Company. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  23. 1 2 "British single certifications – Cheryl – Call My Name". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Chart Track: Week 24, 2012". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  25. 1 2 "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ↑ "Official Chart Analysis - June 25, 2012". Music Week. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  27. 1 2 "Cheryl – Call My Name". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  28. 1 2 "New Zealand single certifications – Cheryl – Call My Name". Recorded Music NZ.
  29. 1 2 "Cheryl – Call My Name". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  30. ↑ Corner, Lewis (25 April 2012). "Cheryl Cole teases new 'Call My Name' music video - watch". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  31. ↑ Corner, Lewis (30 April 2012). "Cheryl Cole releases extended 'Call My Name' teaser - video". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  32. ↑ "Cheryl Cole – 'Call My Name' (Official Video)". Capital FM. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  33. 1 2 Usmar, Jo (2 May 2012). "Drop whatever you're doing and watch Cheryl's new music video in full - it's HOT (video)". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  34. ↑ Lee, Ann (2 May 2012). "Cheryl Cole dazzles in sexy neon bra in Call My Name music video". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  35. ↑ Copsey, Robert (2 May 2012). "A guide to Cheryl's 'Call My Name' video". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  36. ↑ Daw, Robbie (2 May 2012). "Cheryl Cole's "Call My Name" Video: Watch Her Bust A Move In A Reservoir". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  37. ↑ "Cheryl Cole 'promises to sing live' for The Voice UK semi-final performance". Metro. Associated Newspapers. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  38. 1 2 Tarley, Rachel (26 May 2012). "Cheryl Cole slammed by The Voice UK viewers after 'miming' Call My Name". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  39. ↑ Savage, Mark (7 June 2012). "Cheryl: 'I'm happy if people think I'm miming'". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  40. ↑ Tarley, Rachel (8 June 2012). "Cheryl Cole mimed on The Graham Norton Show, audience complains". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  41. ↑ "Cheryl Cole - 'Call My Name' (Live Performance)". Capital FM. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  42. ↑ "Cheryl Cole Dances With Boyfriend Tre Holloway As She Performs In Denmark". Capital FM. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  43. ↑ "Cheryl Cole - 'Call My Name' (Live Performance, Jingle Bell Ball 2012)". Capital FM. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  44. 1 2 "Cheryl Store - Call My Name". GetMusic Australia. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  45. 1 2 "Call My Name by Cheryl". WOWLoud Malaysia. Universal Music Group. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  46. 1 2 "Call My Name - EP de Cheryl". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  47. ↑ Cheryl Cole — A Million Lights. [Album Booklet]. Polydor Records.
  48. 1 2 3 "Cheryl – Call My Name" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  49. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201226 into search. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  50. ↑ "Euro Digital Song Sales Chart (The week of June 30, 2012)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  51. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  52. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 31, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  53. ↑ "Cheryl – Call My Name" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  54. ↑ "Top 5 video". Polish Video Chart. ZPAV. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  55. ↑ "Airplay 100 29 iulie 2012" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  56. ↑ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2012-10-08." TopHit. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  57. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  58. ↑ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2012-09-24." TopHit. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  59. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart 2012" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  60. ↑ Lane, Dan (2 January 2013). "The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles Of 2012 Revealed!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  61. ↑ "Ukrainian Top Year-End Radio Hits (2012)". TopHit. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  62. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart 2013" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  63. ↑ "Call My Name - Single de Cheryl". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.

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