Something Got Me Started

Simply Red had achieved considerable commercial and critical success from the mid-1980s onwards with their own blue-eyed soul style that saw them repeatedly reach the top 10 around the world. Despite the 1989 album A New Flame selling over two million copies in the UK alone, frontman Mick Hucknall was keen to develop the sound of the band further. The same year A New Flame was released, a number of dance-orientated records had started to infiltrate the UK singles chart, most notably the songs from the group Soul II Soul.

In 2005, when interviewed for the Classic Albums episode on the making of the Stars album, Hucknall commented that he wanted a programmed drum sound that didn't sound synthetic. This led him to working with new musicians, including musician Gota Yashiki whose expertise with drum programming effectively replaced founder drummer Chris Joyce. Producer Stewart Levine also introduced Hucknall to Heitor Pereira which changed the guitar sound on the record, putting more emphasis on rhythm than melody. An early version of the song "Something Got Me Started" was premiered in a March 1990 concert in Didsbury, Manchester, whilst the group were promoting A New Flame (later released on the VHS/Laserdisc Let Me Take You Home).{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL-FwqzUIKA|title=Simply Red - Something Got Me Started (Live in Manchester, 1990)|via=www.youtube.com}}

Released in the United Kingdom on 9 September 1991,{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-09-07.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=21|date=7 September 1991|access-date=19 June 2021}} "Something Got Me Started" reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, and a number of remixes by artists such as Steve 'Silk' Hurley and Paul Oakenfold helped it to achieve success on both the UK and European dance charts. In Japan, a mini-CD single was issued on 25 October 1991.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/79977/products/302683/1/|title=サムシング・ガット・ミー・スターテッド {{!}} シンプリー・レッド|trans-title=Something Got Me Started {{!}} Simply Red|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=27 January 2024}} "Something Got Me Started" was later re-recorded for the 2005 album Simplified, and re-released as a single in January 2006. The song has remained in Simply Red's live set lists since it was first premiered in 1990 and is often played as a final encore.

AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien opined that the "funky piano-led" song and "Stars" justify the Stars album's multi-platinum success.O'Brien, Jon. AllMusic. Larry Flick from Billboard felt the track "maintains the Brit-eyed soul of previous hits", noting that Mick Hucknall "turns in an unusually restrained vocal, which adds depth and maturity to an already potent track."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-09-21.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=21 September 1991|page=77|access-date=25 January 2018|author-link=Larry Flick}} Swedish Expressen described it as "bouncy".Expressen. 27 September 1991. Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Red hot from the moment they reached America's shores, the Mick Hucknall-led Simply Red outfit forged an intensely loyal following." He added that reminiscent of their 1986 hit, "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)", "this uptempo groove is too strong to ignore."{{cite magazine|first= Dave |last= Sholin |title= Gavin Picks > Singles |magazine= Gavin Report |issue= 1872 |date= 6 September 1991 |page= 76 |access-date= 17 April 2018 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/91/Gavin-1991-09-06.pdf}} Adam Sweeting from The Guardian remarked that "without batting an eyelid, they swiftly get a bit of heat going under" "Something Got Me Started".Sweeting, Adam (10 October 1991). "Music: The Red Flag Keeps Flying". The Guardian. Caroline Sullivan from Melody Maker felt it's "epitomising the uppish, zesty ambience" of the Stars album.{{cite magazine|first=Caroline|last=Sullivan|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52465729995/|title=Albums|magazine=Melody Maker|date=12 October 1991|page=38|access-date=2 May 2023}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media complimented it as "state of the art Simply Red. Mick Hucknall's star is still shining bright on this "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)" type of song."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-09-21.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=21 September 1991|page=18|access-date=22 February 2018}} A reviewer from People Magazine noted its "peppy lite funk".{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-stars-vol-36-no-14/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Stars|magazine=People|date=14 October 1991|access-date=9 March 2020}} Al Walentis from Reading Eagle called it "brassy".{{cite magazine|first=Al|last=Walentis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ILoxAAAAIBAJ|title="Stars" Simply Red|magazine=Reading Eagle|date=11 October 1991|page=25|access-date=11 March 2020}} Richard Paton from Toledo Blade viewed it as a "soulful groove".{{cite magazine|first=Richard|last=Paton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ellPAAAAIBAJ|title=Sounds: "Stars" Simply Red|magazine=Toledo Blade|date=10 November 1991|page=13|access-date=11 March 2020}} Johnny Dee from Smash Hits complimented it as "superb".{{cite magazine|first= Johnny |last= Dee |url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/49357846707/in/album-72157712591994456/ |title= Singles |magazine= Smash Hits |date= 15 April 1992 |page= 52 |access-date= 6 October 2020}}

Ellen Fagan for CultureSonar ranked "Something Got Me Started" number one in their list of "Simply Red's Top 10 Songs" in 2018. She wrote that here, Simply Red "charges out of the proverbial gate with great impact. The dizzyingly beautiful video entices the eye with lithe, dancing silhouettes, a European backdrop, and delicious '80s overdrive. Another "love gone wrong" song with some lyrics but counters that with an upbeat tempo, powerful harmonies and a "call and answer" format of "I'd give it all up for you/(yes I would)" that builds in an irresistible crescendo."{{cite web|first=Ellen|last=Fagan|url=https://www.culturesonar.com/holding-back-nothing-simply-reds-top-10-songs/|title=Holding Back Nothing: Simply Red's Top 10 Songs|publisher=CultureSonar|date=20 December 2018|access-date=1 March 2020}} In a 2015 retrospective review, Pop Rescue stated that the vocal melody here, sat alongside the funky bass and piano, "really gives this a light, upbeat feeling."{{cite web|url=https://poprescue.com/2015/10/16/pop-rescue-stars-by-simply-red-cd-1991/|title=Review: "Stars" by Simply Red (CD, 1991)|publisher=Pop Rescue|date=16 October 2015|access-date=9 March 2020}}

The official music video for the song was directed by British film and music video director Andy Morahan who later directed videos for the Simply Red songs "Fake" and "Home" in Sicily. It was partly shot in Seville, Spain.{{cite web|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=9361|title=mvdbase.com - Simply Red - "Something got me started"|publisher=Music Video DataBase|last=Garcia|first=Alex S|access-date=2 November 2015}}{{YouTube|DMgVS2j05HA|"Something Got Me Started"}} The video features Hucknall dancing indoors and in the street, silhouettes of the band playing and a central female character who is seen in a number of city locations and riding on the back of a scooter.

"Something Got Me Started" was one of the eight previously released Simply Red songs re-recorded for the 2005 album Simplified. It also became the second single release from the album, as a double A-side with a new cover of the Leon Russell song "A Song for You".

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• 7-inch, cassette, and mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Something Got Me Started|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=EastWest Records|id=YZ 614, 9031-75435-7}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Something Got Me Started|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=EastWest Records|id=YZ 614C, 9031-75435-4}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Something Got Me Started|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=EastWest Records|id=wmd5-4079}}

1. "Something Got Me Started"
2. "A New Flame"

• UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Something Got Me Started|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=EastWest Records|id=YZ614T, 9031-75437-0}}

:A1. "Something Got Me Started" (Perfecto mix)

:B1. "Something Got Me Started" (instrumental)

:B2. "A New Flame"

• UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Something Got Me Started|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=EastWest Records|id=YZ614CD}}

1. "Something Got Me Started"
2. "Come on in My Kitchen"
3. "A New Flame"
4. "Something Got Me Started" (Perfecto mix)

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• US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Something Got Me Started|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=EastWest Records America|id=0-96290}}

:A1. "Something Got Me Started" (Hurley's house remix) – 5:56

:A2. "Something Got Me Started" (Hurley's dub) – 5:44

:B1. "Something Got Me Started" (E-Smoove's Late Night mix) – 5:00

:B2. "Something Got Me Started" (Smoove dub mix) – 5:44

• US CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Something Got Me Started|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=EastWest Records America|id=7 96290-2}}

1. "Something Got Me Started" – 4:00
2. "Come on in My Kitchen" – 1:30
3. "If You Don't Know Me by Now" – 3:24
4. "Something Got Me Started" (Perfecto mix) – 5:13

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Credits are lifted from the Stars album booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Stars|title-link=Stars (Simply Red album)|others=Simply Red|year=1991|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=EastWest Records|id=9031-75284-2}}

Studios

• Recorded at Condulmer Recording Studio (Venice, Italy)
• Mixed at Conway Studios (Los Angeles)
• Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Los Angeles)

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Simply Red

• Mick Hucknall – words, music, vocals, backing vocals, co-production
• Fritz McIntyre – music, additional vocals, keyboards
• Tim Kellett – keyboards
• Heitor Pereira – guitars
• Ian Kirkham – saxophone
• Gota Yashiki – drums, percussion, programs
• Shaun Ward – bass guitar

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Other personnel

• Stewart Levine – production
• Daren Klein – mixing, engineering
• Sandro Franchin – assistant engineering
• Marnie Riley – assistant mix engineering
• Bernie Grundman – mastering

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Simply Red|title=Something Got Me Started/A Song for You|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=19294-666-1|access-date=24 September 2023|note=with "A Song for You"}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{Simply Red singles}}

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Category:1991 singles

Category:1991 songs

Category:East West Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Andy Morahan

Category:Music videos shot in Spain

Category:Simply Red songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Stewart Levine

Category:Songs written by Fritz McIntyre

Category:Songs written by Mick Hucknall