Stay Awake (Example song)
{{Short description|2011 single by Example}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Stay Awake
| cover = Stay Awake.svg
| alt =
| type = single
| album = Playing in the Shadows
| released = 28 August 2011
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dubstep{{cite web|url=http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/166716/9|title=Example Unveils 'Stay Awake' Video – Watch Now|work= Stereoboard|author=James Conlon|date=19 July 2011}}|
| length = 3:24
| label = Ministry of Sound
| writer = Example
| producer = Nero
| chronology = Example
| prev_title = Changed the Way You Kiss Me
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = Natural Disaster
| next_year = 2011
}}
"Stay Awake" is a song by British musician Example from his third studio album, Playing in the Shadows. The song was written by Example and produced by British electronic music trio Nero. It was released on 28 August 2011 as the album's second single and was added to the BBC Radio 1 playlist.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist/|title=BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist|publisher=BBC Radio 1}} The song premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's 'Hottest Record in the World' on 4 July 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/zanelowe/2011/07/hottest_record_example_-_stay.html|title=BBC – Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record: Example – Stay Awake|publisher=BBC}} On 4 September 2011, the single debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number one.
Background and release
Example told British online newspaper The Independent that his inspiration for the song was how kids at the time seemed to be engaging in drug use, alcohol consumption, and sex more often and at younger ages. Noticing other people did not discuss this subject in music, Example decided to do so himself. He then met up with Nero, who played several of their compositions for him, but they decided that the recording would not appeal to the public, so they wrote a new song with that quality. Nero commented that the final result was something that they would not do themselves, but it worked well for Example. "Stay Awake" was released in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2011.{{cite web|url=https://storyofsong.com/story/stay-awake/|title=Example – Stay Awake|publisher=Story of Song|access-date=16 April 2021}}
Critical reception
Stay Awake generally received a positive response upon its release. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a 4/5 star rating and stated it is "the perfect pick-me-up for those on a post-festival comedown... and a harsh lesson for those who aren't.[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a336876/example-stay-awake-single-review.html Music – Singles Review – Example: 'Stay Awake']. Digital Spy
Chart performance
The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, marking his second number one and sixth top 40 hit. It sold 73,402 copies, beating "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera to the top spot by just 266 copies, the smallest gap between the top two in the UK since March 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/index.php/news/read/two-in-a-row-for-example-on-singles/046586|title=Two in a row for Example on singles|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=5 September 2011|work=Music Week|publisher=Intent Media|accessdate=18 October 2015}}
Music video
A music video to accompany the release of the single "Stay Awake" was first released on YouTube on 18 July 2011. The video lasts 3 minutes and 30 seconds.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5CcOq8UzkI|title=Example - 'Stay Awake' (Official Video)|date=18 July 2011|publisher=YouTube}}
Live performances
Example performed the song live at V Festival 2011 on the 4Music stage.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXZOLptFcJc|title=YouTube|publisher=YouTube}}
Track listing
{{tracklist
| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/stay-awake-remixes/1216959674|title=Stay Awake (Remixes)|date=26 August 2011|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=16 April 2021}}
| title1 = Stay Awake
| note1 = radio edit
| length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Stay Awake
| note2 = extended mix
| length2 = 5:06
| title3 = Stay Awake
| note3 = Alvin Risk remix
| length3 = 5:29
| title4 = Stay Awake
| note4 = Delta Heavy remix
| length4 = 4:36
| title5 = Stay Awake
| note5 = Steve Pitron & Max Sanna club mix
| length5 = 6:02
| title6 = Stay Awake
| note6 = Micky Slim remix
| length6 = 5:39
| title7 = Stay Awake
| note7 = Moám remix
| length7 = 6:09
}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" | Chart (2011)
! scope="col" | Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|29|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|9|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders Dance|38|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|access-date=16 April 2021|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Dance|16|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|access-date=16 April 2021|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|18|song=Stay Awake|access-date=16 April 2021|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|2|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|date=20110910|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Slovakia|96|year=2011|week=50|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|1|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|date=20110910|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UKdance|1|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|date=20110910|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UKindie|1|artist=Example|song=Stay Awake|date=20110910|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" | Chart (2011)
! scope="col" | position |
|---|
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20110109/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=25 November 2019}}
| 96 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Example|title=Stay Awake|award=Silver|relyear=2011|certyear=2013|id=10717-3242-1|access-date=16 April 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
Release history
| class=wikitable |
| Region
!Date !Label !Format |
|---|
| United Kingdom
|28 August 2011 |rowspan="2"|Ministry of Sound |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Digital download|CD single|vinyl}} |
| Australia{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/stay-awake-remixes/id462113628|title=Stay Awake (Remixes)|publisher=iTunes|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307065358/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/stay-awake-remixes/id462113628|archive-date=7 March 2016|access-date=16 April 2021}}
|9 September 2011 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|id=f5CcOq8UzkI|title=Official music video}}
{{Example singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Example (musician) songs
Category:Ministry of Sound singles
Category:Music videos directed by Adam Powell