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Lola's Theme

{{Short description|2004 single by Shapeshifters}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Lola's Theme

| cover = 1 Lola's Theme.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Shapeshifters

| album = Sound Advice

| released = {{start date|2004|7|12|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{unbulleted list|5:37 (album version)|3:27 (radio edit)}}

| label = {{hlist|Positiva|Nocturnal Groove}}

| writer = {{hlist|Fulvio Perniola|Gianni Bini| [Sylvia Macura] [Karen Poole] |Max Reich|Patrick Moten|Simon Marlin{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/now-dance-2007-mw0001031369|title=Now Dance 2007 – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=31 March 2019}}}}

| producer = The Shapeshifters

| next_title = Back to Basics

| next_year = 2005

}}

"Lola's Theme" is the debut single of British house duo the Shapeshifters, featuring soul singer Cookie on vocals. It was released on 12 July 2004 as the lead single from the Shapeshifters' debut album, Sound Advice (2004). The song became the duo's biggest hit, peaking at the top of the UK Singles Chart and charting highly in Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. In Australia, it was the most successful club hit of 2004.

Background

The name "Lola's Theme" was originally a working title for this record; Lola was Simon Marlin's wife, and it was while listening to her record collection that the initial idea for the track was conceived.{{cite news |date=25 April 2023 |last=Loben |first=Carl |title=How Shapeshifters' 'Lola's Theme' became an enduring house anthem |url=https://djmag.com/features/how-shapeshifters-lolas-theme-became-enduring-house-anthem |access-date=12 June 2023 |website=DJ Mag |language=en}} She appears handing out candy floss in the music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/ibiza2004/video_shapeshifters.shtml|title=BBC – Radio 1 – Ibiza 2004, Tunes|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 January 2018}}

"Lola's Theme" features a sample from the introduction of Johnnie Taylor's R&B hit of 1982, "What About My Love", and it was originally released at the end of 2003 on their own Nocturnal Groove label as a mostly instrumental track featuring a vocal sample taken from Anthony White's 1994 song "Love Me Tonight".{{cite web |url=https://glitterboxibiza.com/news/post/the-shapeshifters-let-loose%20%7C-finally-ready |title=The Shapeshifters Let Loose |last=Gordon-Brown |first=Nick |website=glitterboxibiza.com |date=10 July 2020 |access-date=29 July 2020}} "I basically took one phrase from Anthony White's ‘Love Me Tonight’ track from 1994 on Stress Records, twisted that phrase, cut it up, and made a completely new phrase out of it," Marlin told DJ Mag in 2023. "This was the bit that goes, 'I'm a different person / Turn my world around'. If you listen to the original Anthony White, you'll hear exactly the same words in a completely different way."

Due to its immense popularity, "Lola's Theme" was licensed from Nocturnal Groove to Positiva Records. At the same time, the sample of "What About My Love" was then completely replayed by Mark Summers at Scorccio Sample Replays, recreating all elements of the sample (strings, brass sections, piano, etc.). The duo then set about finding a vocalist. After a long search they met Cookie, a gospel singer from the London Community Gospel Choir,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/jul/06/1 |title=Shapeshifters |last=Simpson |first=Dave |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 July 2004 |access-date=21 October 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.tourdates.co.uk/news/4266-Lolas-Theme |title=Lola's Theme |website=tourdates.co.uk |access-date=21 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807060857/http://www.tourdates.co.uk/news/4266-lolas-theme |archive-date=7 August 2011 |url-status=dead}} who recorded the vocals for the full release, as well as adding verses.

Composition

The song is a house and dance-pop song, utilising elements of "What About My Love" by Johnnie Taylor and lyrics from "Love Me Tonight" by Anthony White. Lyrically, the song is written from the perspective of someone who for most of their life felt disillusioned and alienated. It is addressed to an unnamed other, presumably a love interest, who helped the singer to develop a more positive outlook on life.

Release and chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Lola's Theme" was released on 12 July 2004, and upon its release, it topped the UK Singles Chart.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=10 July 2004}} "Lola's Theme" also topped the American Dance Charts, peaking at number one on the Hot Dance Airplay chart in October 2004. The duo went on to have a further two Top 20 hits in the United Kingdom ("Back to Basics" and "Incredible") and now have a recording contract with Defected Records. "Lola's Theme" was nominated for "Best British Single" at the 2005 Brit Awards.{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=Caroline|title=Franz Ferdinand head list as credibility comes to the fore in Brits nominations|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jan/11/arts.artsnews|access-date=1 March 2017|work=The Guardian|date=11 January 2005}}

Music video

The music video for "Lola's Theme" was filmed at George Irvin's Funfair in Kingsbury, London; some of the video was filmed at the Irvin's Hellraiser (or Waltzer), the Top Buzz and other rides. The Shapeshifters and Cookie appear in the video, as does remixer Norman Jay.

Samples

In July 2024, British rapper ArrDee collaborated with the Shapeshifters, sampling "Lola's Theme" for his single "Different".{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/arrdee-on-new-single-different-and-upcoming-big-project-theres-all-kinds-of-flavours-interview-3775509|title=ArrDee talks new single ‘Different’ and a new “big project”: “There are all kinds of flavours”|website=NME|last=Williams|first=Kyann-Sian|date=29 July 2024|access-date=6 August 2024}}

Track listings

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UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=CDTIVS207, 7243 8 61267 0 2}}

  1. "Lola's Theme" (radio edit) – 3:25
  2. "Lola's Theme" (main mix) – 8:11
  3. "Lola's Theme" (extended vocal mix) – 6:54
  4. "Lola's Theme" (Eric Prydz mix) – 8:02
  5. "Lola's Theme" (Calderone vocal mix) – 10:26
  6. "Lola's Theme" (enhanced video)

UK 12-inch single (blue cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=12TIV-207, 7243 8 61267 6 4}}

:A1. "Lola's Theme" (extended vocal mix) – 6:54

:A2. "Lola's Theme" (Eric Prydz mix) – 8:02

:AA1. "Lola's Theme" (main mix) – 8:11

:AA2. "Lola's Theme" (alternative mix) – 6:48

UK 12-inch single (green cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=12TIVY-207}}

:A1. "Lola's Theme" (ATFC's Jive for Jezebel) – 9:48

:AA1. "Lola's Theme" (Lola Does High Society vocal) – 6:58

:AA2. "Lola's Theme" (Norman Jay's Good Times vocal mix) – 7:18

UK 12-inch single (clear vinyl){{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=12TIVS-207, 7243 5 48721 6 7}}

:A. "Lola's Theme" (main mix) – 8:11

:AA. "Lola's Theme" (alternative mix) – 6:48

UK 12-inch single (Victor Calderone remixes){{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=12TIVX-207}}

:A. "Lola's Theme" (Calderone vocal mix) – 10:26

:B. "Lola's Theme" (Calderone dub mix) – 10:26

{{col-2}}

UK DVD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=UK DVD single liner notes|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=DVDTIV207}}

  1. "Lola's Theme" (radio edit audio) – 3:25
  2. "Route One" (audio) – 6:42
  3. "Lola's Theme" (alternative mix audio) – 6:54
  4. DVD video and gallery

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=7243 8 61437 2 3}}

  1. "Lola's Theme" (radio edit) – 3:25
  2. "Lola's Theme" (main mix) – 8:11

US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=You Records|id=YOU 022-6}}

:A1. "Lola's Theme" (Calderone vocal mix) – 10:26

:B1. "Lola's Theme" (extended vocal mix) – 6:54

:B2. "Lola's Theme" (Eric Prydz mix) – 8:02

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Lola's Theme|others=The Shapeshifters|year=2004|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove|id=7243 8 61469 2 2}}

  1. "Lola's Theme" (radio edit) – 3:25
  2. "Lola's Theme" (main mix) – 8:11
  3. "Lola's Theme" (extended vocal mix) – 6:54
  4. "Lola's Theme" (Eric Prydz mix) – 8:02
  5. "Lola's Theme" (Calderone vocal mix) – 10:26

{{col-end}}

Charts

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{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2004)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|35|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Australian Club Chart (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/ISSUE751.pdf|title=The ARIA Report – ARIA Club Tracks – Week Commencing 19th July 2004|publisher=ARIA|page=16|date=19 July 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20040807-0000/ISSUE751.pdf|archive-date=6 August 2004|access-date=27 November 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|1

{{single chart|Austria|47|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Flanders|19|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|2|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Denmark|17|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2004/BB-2004-07-31.pdf|title=Hits of the World – Eurocharts|magazine=Billboard|volume=116|issue=31|page=51|date=31 July 2004|access-date=22 March 2020}}

|5

{{single chart|Finland|9|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Germany|23|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|songid=6242|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Greece (IFPI){{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|title=Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 29-8–4/9|publisher=IFPI|language=el|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040908045813/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|archive-date=8 September 2004|access-date=1 July 2020}} See Best Position column.

|33

{{single chart|Hungarydance|4|year=2004|week=42|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2025}}
scope="row"| Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40){{cite web |title=2004/40. heti Editors' Choice Top 40 slágerlista |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/editors-choice-radios-jatszasi-lista/2004/40 |publisher=MAHASZ|language=hu|access-date=30 April 2025}}

| 5

{{single chart|Ireland2|7|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=23 January 2020}}
scope="row"|Ireland Dance (IRMA){{cite web|url=https://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240004&arch=t&lyr=2004&year=2004&week=29|title=Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 15 July 2004|publisher=GfK Chart-Track|access-date=18 June 2019}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

|1

{{single chart|Italy|18|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|13|year=2004|week=34|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|18|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|11|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10135.html|title=Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 36, saptamina 6.09 – 12.09, 2004|publisher=Romanian Top 100|language=ro|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050118013357/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10135.html|archive-date=18 January 2005|access-date=17 May 2020}}

|39

{{single chart|Scotland|2|date=20040724|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Sweden|41|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|31|artist=The Shapeshifters|song=Lola's Theme|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018}}
{{single chart|UK|1|date=20040724|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2018|refname="uk"}}
{{single chart|UKdance|1|date=20040724|rowheader=true|access-date=10 October 2018}}
scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/2004-10-02/|title=Dance Club Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=2 October 2004|url-access=subscription|access-date=9 August 2023}}

|5

scope="row"|US Dance Radio Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-dance-airplay/2004-10-23/|title=Dance/Mix Show Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=23 October 2004|access-date=9 August 2023}}

|1

scope="row"|US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-dance-singles-sales/2004-10-02/|title=Dance Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|date=2 October 2004|url-access=subscription|access-date=9 August 2023}}

|26

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2004)

!Position

scope="row"|Australian Club Chart (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-club-chart-2004.htm|title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Club Chart 2004|publisher=ARIA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415012006/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-club-chart-2004.htm|archive-date=15 April 2020|access-date=17 September 2020}}

|1

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2004|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2004|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=3 April 2020}}

|60

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2004.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2004|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=10 October 2018}}

|21

scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bb/biz/yearendcharts/2004/dsititl.jsp|title=2004 Year End Charts: Hot Dance Music/Club Play Titles|magazine=Billboard|date=25 December 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206214354/http://www.billboard.com/bb/biz/yearendcharts/2004/dsititl.jsp|archive-date=6 February 2005|access-date=3 March 2025}}

|42

scope="row"|US Dance Radio Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=2004 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Airplay|magazine=Billboard|volume=116|issue=52|page=YE-61|date=25 December 2004}}

|6

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Shapeshifters|title=Lola's Theme|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2020|id=3957-1947-1|salesamount=686,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-charts-flashback-2004-rachel-stevens-some-girls-vs-lolas-theme__19694/|title=Official Charts Flashback 2004: Rachel Stevens' Some Girls vs. Lola's Theme|last=Copsey|first=Rob|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=22 July 2021|access-date=30 September 2021}}}}

|}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|12 July 2004

|rowspan="2"|CD

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Positiva|Nocturnal Groove}}

|

scope="row"|Australia

|9 August 2004

|{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/ISSUE754.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 9th August 2004|publisher=ARIA|page=28|date=9 August 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20040807-0000/ISSUE754.pdf|archive-date=6 August 2004|access-date=2 July 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2004 debut singles

Category:2004 songs

Category:English house music songs

Category:Positiva Records singles

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Ultra Music singles