Some People (Belouis Some song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Some People
| cover = some people 2.jpeg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Belouis Some
| album = Some People
| released = 8 July 1985{{cite magazine|last=Smith|first=Robin|date=6 July 1985|title=News|magazine=Record Mirror|page=6}}
| recorded = 1984
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|New wave{{AllMusic |class=album|id=mw0000173417|title= Various Artists - Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the 80's, Vol. 15 (1995) Review|last= Erlewine|first= Stephen Thomas|access-date= March 12, 2025}}|synth-pop}}
| length = 4:00
| label = Parlophone
| writer = Belouis Some
| producer = Steve Thompson, Michael Barbiero
| prev_title = Imagination
| prev_year = 1985
| next_title = "Target Practice" (re-release)
| next_year = 1986
}}
"Some People" is a song by British musician Belouis Some, released on 8 July 1985 as the third single from his 1985 debut album of the same name. A reissue of the song in 1986 reached the top 40 in the UK, peaking at No. 33 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1986.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/belouis%20some/ |title=Belouis Some | Artist |publisher=Official Charts |access-date=2013-06-18}} In the U.S., the song reached No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Writing
Belouis Some wrote "Some People" while "very drunk in a studio with one finger on the piano".{{cite news |last=Wigg |first=David |title=What's in a name? Success if you are called Belouis |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19860505/263/0023 |newspaper=Daily Express |date=11 April 1986 |page=23 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 October 2024}}
Music video
The music video was directed by Storm Thorgerson, who also directed the controversial video to Belouis Some's earlier hit, "Imagination". The video features scenes from seaside towns on the east coast of England, including Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
After the music video was filmed, watchmaker Swatch paid for a second take which included extras dressed in Swatch clothing. The company hoped that Swatch would become so associated with the song that when the music video aired, people thought of Swatch even though the product was not present. "It becomes a Swatch video," said Nancy Kadner, director of advertising for the Swiss-based company.{{cite news|title=Advertising; Swatch's Total Look Campaign|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/13/business/advertising-swatch-s-total-look-campaign.html|date=2020-07-14|last1=Hollie|first1=Pamela G.}}
Critical reception
Upon its reissue in 1986, Tamsin Fontes of the Mid Sussex Times noted that, although the song "lack[s] the punch" of "Imagination", it should "do equally well" and "possess[es] a good, catchy melody and infectiously singalong lyrics".{{cite news |last=Fontes |first=Tamsin |title=Sounds Around: Singles |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001598/19860411/099/0006 |newspaper=Mid Sussex Times |date=11 April 1986 |page=6 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 May 2024}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1985)
!Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|South African Singles Chart{{cite web|author=Brian Currin |url=http://rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html |title=South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts (S) |publisher=Rock.co.za |access-date=2017-02-03}}
| style="text-align:center;"|9 |
| align="left"|UK Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22422/belouis%20some/ |title=BELOUIS SOME | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company |publisher=Officialcharts.com |access-date=2018-01-17}}
| style="text-align:center;"|83 |
| align="left"|US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/belouis-some |title=Belouis Some |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2018-01-17}}
| style="text-align:center;"|8 |
| align="left"|US Billboard Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"|67 |
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1986)
!Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|Irish Singles Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |website=The Irish Charts |access-date=2017-02-03|title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know }}
| style="text-align:center;"|21 |
| align="left"|UK Singles Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|33 |
Cover versions
In 1986, Murray Head released his version of the song as a single through Virgin.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Murray-Head-Some-People/release/3604772 |title=Murray Head - Some People (Vinyl) at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2013-07-16}} The single was unintentionally released around the same time as the 1986 reissue of Some's version. Head told the Sunday Mirror in April 1986: "By the time we discovered Belouis Some was releasing his version it was too late. You don't set out to have a chart battle because inevitably both sides lose. There's nothing I can do about the clash. It's justifiably his song."{{cite news|date=13 April 1986|title=Murray heads for Some bad luck|newspaper=Sunday Mirror|page=17}} Head's version did not enter the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22097/murray-head/ |title=MURRAY HEAD | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company |publisher=Officialcharts.com |access-date=28 January 2021}}