Valerie (Zutons song)#Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse version
{{short description|2006 single by the Zutons}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Valerie
| cover = Valerie Cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Zutons
| album = Tired of Hanging Around
| released = {{start date|2006|6|19|df=y}}{{cite magazine |title=New Releases: Singles |magazine=Music Week |date=17 June 2006 |page=33}}
| recorded = * Townhouse Studios, London
- Olympic Studio 2, London
- The Bunker, London
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Indie pop|blues rock}}
| length = 3:56
| label = Deltasonic
| writer = {{hlist|Abi Harding|Boyan Chowdhury|Dave McCabe|Russ Pritchard|Sean Payne}}
| producer = Stephen Street
| prev_title = Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Oh Stacey (Look What You've Done!)
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{external music video|{{YouTube|L3xpmfJp0Xc|"Valerie"}}}}
}}
"Valerie" is a song by English indie rock band the Zutons from their second studio album, Tired of Hanging Around (2006). The song was later covered by Mark Ronson, with lead vocals provided by Amy Winehouse, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart in 2007.
Background
In an interview with The Scotsman in May 2008, lead singer Dave McCabe described the writing process of the song: "I could tell you I was inspired by gazing out across the Mersey or walking past Macca's old house, but the truth is I got the idea in a cab on the way to my mum's. The whole song was written before I got there, so 20 minutes, max[imum]."{{cite news |title=Jukebox heroes – The Zutons interview |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/jukebox-heroes-the-zutons-interview-1-1432936 |work=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=9 May 2008 |access-date=17 March 2016}}
The song's title and theme refer to a then-unnamed American friend of McCabe's who was in trouble for driving under the influence. The band's drummer, Sean Payne, called it a "musical postcard to her, saying he is having a hard time and can she come over and see him".{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/story-of-the-song-valerie-the-zutons-2006-2178613.html|title=Story of the Song: Valerie, The Zutons, 2006|last=Webb|first=Robert|date=7 January 2011|work=The Independent|access-date=25 May 2018|language=en-GB}} In an interview with Vice magazine in June 2019, the subject of the song was revealed to be celebrity makeup artist Valerie Star.{{cite web|date=2019-05-04|title=Valerie Star {{!}} Stylist {{!}} Celebrity Makeup & Hair {{!}} Wardrobe|url=https://valeriestar.com/|access-date=2021-06-20|language=en-US}} She explained that she met McCabe and how she got arrested for driving on a suspended license.{{cite web |title=The real-life Valerie who inspired The Zutons & Amy Winehouse has been discovered |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/news/music/woman-from-zutons-winehouse-valerie-star/ |publisher=Radio X |access-date=23 October 2019}}
Other uses
The song was used by ITV during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, alongside Primal Scream's "Country Girl" and Kasabian's cover of David Bowie's 1977 song "Heroes". The song was also featured as a playable track in Lego Rock Band.
Both the original and the Mark Ronson version featured in British soap opera Emmerdale during the wedding of Eric and Val Pollard in 2008.
Music video
File:The Zutons Valerie guitar.JPG
The music video was directed by Scott Lyon. It is set in a prison and shows the Zutons trying to escape.
Track listings
- CD 1
- "Valerie"
- "April Fool"
- CD 2
- "Valerie"
- "I Will Be Your Pockets"
- "In the City"
- "Valerie" (music video)
- 7-inch single
- "Valerie"
- "Get Up and Dance"
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2006)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=349&cfgn=Singles&cfn=European+Hot+100+Singles&ci=3067698&cdi=8674460&cid=07%2F08%2F0006 |title=European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Billboard |access-date=30 January 2008}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
| 33 |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|32|artist=The Zutons|rowheader=true|access-date=14 February 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|8|date=20060625|access-date=4 September 2018|rowheader=true|refname="SCO-Zutons"}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|9|artist=Zutons|artistid=12716|rowheader=true|access-date=14 February 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2006)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20060108/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 September 2018}}
| align="center"| 68 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Zutons|title=Valerie|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2006|certyear=2020|id=9195-1096-1|access-date=5 June 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse version
{{Infobox song
| name = Valerie
| cover = Mark Ronson - Valerie.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse
| album = Version
| B-side = {{hlist|"California" (live)|"Back to Black"}}
| released = 15 October 2007
| recorded = 2007
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|soul|jazz|northern soul{{cite web |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |title=Mark Ronson, Version |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/apr/13/urban1 |website=The Guardian |access-date=22 November 2024 |date=13 April 2007}}{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Rich |title=Mark Ronson - Version |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/mark-ronson-version-1068 |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=22 November 2024 |date=13 April 2007}}}}
| length = 3:37
| label = {{hlist|Columbia|Island}}
| writer = {{hlist|Dave McCabe|Russell Pritchard|Sean Payne|Abi Harding|Paul Molloy|Boyan Chowdhury}}
| producer = Mark Ronson
| chronology = Mark Ronson
| prev_title = Oh My God
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Just
| next_year = 2008
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Amy Winehouse
| type = single
| prev_title = Tears Dry on Their Own
| prev_year = 2007
| title = Valerie
| year = 2007
| next_title = Love Is a Losing Game
| next_year = 2007
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|bixuI_GV5I0|"Valerie"}}}}
}}
English musicians Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse covered "Valerie" for Ronson's second studio album Version (2007). Released as the album's third single on 15 October 2007, the track was first performed by Winehouse on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge show on BBC Radio 1. Singer and director Jordan Galland plays the electric piano on this single. Rolling Stone called the cover Winehouse's only "notable recording" after Back to Black.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/amy-winehouse/albumguide |title=Amy Winehouse Album Guide |access-date=2 June 2010 |magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705090310/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/amy-winehouse/albumguide |archive-date=5 July 2014}} Winehouse had previously recorded a slower-tempo version of the song, which appeared as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Back to Black. The song has been featured in 27 Dresses and Amy (2015), a documentary film biography of Winehouse, a U.S. advertisement for Amazon Echo,{{cite web |url=https://commercialsociety.wordpress.com/2019/05/19/amazon-echo-this-grandpa-likes-valerie/ |title=Amazon Echo: This Grandpa Likes "Valerie" |access-date=1 October 2019 |work=Commercial Society|date=19 May 2019}} and the demonstration launch video for the Google Nest Audio.{{cite web|title=The New Nest Audio from Google (featuring Mark Spates and Mark Ronson) - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh1o7OG0Vik&feature=youtu.be |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001181511/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh1o7OG0Vik |archive-date=2020-10-01 |url-status=dead|access-date=2020-10-27|website=www.youtube.com}}
=Background=
After "Valerie" became a success in the summer of 2006, it found an unlikely fan in Amy Winehouse, who was invited to contribute to a new project with Mark Ronson. He claimed Winehouse did not listen to anything written after 1967 and that she was struggling to come up with something that would fit the sessions for Ronson's upcoming album Version. After Ronson explained that the album would consist of soul covers of guitar records, Winehouse told him that she might try "Valerie", but Ronson found it very difficult to hear her voice singing that song in his head. "I wasn't sure how it would work, but she went into the studio and tried it. I loved it," he said.
Ronson's production of the cover is based around the beat from the Jam's 1982 song "Town Called Malice". Winehouse also recorded a jazzier, acoustic version for Radio 1's Live Lounge, which was issued at the same time as the Ronson collaboration and a success in its own right, possibly due to download confusion, though it was the Ronson version that got airplay.
=Chart performance=
The single peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, where it spent 19 consecutive weeks inside the top 20. With sales of 329,490, it became the UK's ninth biggest-selling single of 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles2007.shtml |title=Top 40 Singles of the Year 2007 |access-date=27 December 2007 |work=BBC Radio 1}} The single spent 36 consecutive weeks on the UK Singles Chart between September 2007 and May 2008. It re-entered the chart in late June 2008 to take its total to 39 weeks.
The song was released in early 2008 in the Netherlands, quickly gaining airplay and sales. It is Winehouse's most successful song in that country, peaking at Number 1 for four consecutive weeks.{{cite web |title=Amy Winehouse - Top 40 Hitdossier-artiesten |url=https://www.top40.nl/top40-artiesten/amy-winehouse|access-date=18 August 2022|work=Dutch Top 40}}{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/mark-ronson-featuring-amy-winehouse/mark-ronson-featuring-amy-winehouse-valerie-18415|title=Mark Ronson Featuring Amy Winehouse - Valerie - Top 40|access-date=18 August 2022|work=Dutch Top 40}}
As of January 2015, Ronson and Winehouse's version of "Valerie" had sold 658,353 copies in the United Kingdom, according to the Official Charts Company.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-ronson-first-artist-to-top-singles-and-albums-charts-since-2013/060661|title=Official Charts Analysis: Ronson first artist to top singles and albums charts since 2013|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=26 January 2015|work=Music Week|access-date=7 November 2015|url-access=subscription|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924184500/http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-ronson-first-artist-to-top-singles-and-albums-charts-since-2013/060661|url-status=dead}}
The song has become something of a mixed blessing for McCabe. He said, "I certainly have to try hard sometimes to not think about 'Valerie'. The days it's in my head are when I have to put down the guitar and just forget about writing."
=Music video=
The single's music video, directed by Robert Hales, was filmed in London on 28 August 2007.{{cite web |url=http://elbo.ws/video/EBcRnTd-vzU/ |title=Mark Ronson f/ Amy Winehouse - "Valerie" |access-date=28 January 2008 |work=Elbo.ws |date=15 September 2007 |archive-date=10 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210132935/http://elbo.ws/video/EBcRnTd-vzU/ |url-status=dead }} It shows Ronson and a group of jazz musicians playing the intro, halting when they notice that Winehouse is not present, then inviting a woman from the audience{{snd}}an Amy fan sporting her famous beehive hairstyle{{snd}}onto their stage to "sing" the song, soon joined by other similarly coiffed women, in the style of group karaoke, all lip synching to Winehouse's voice.
=Track listings=
- "Valerie" – 3:39
- "Valerie" (Baby J Remix) – 3:36
- "Valerie" (The Count & Sinden Remix) – 5:30
- "California" (Live from Wireless Festival) – 3:43
=Charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| US R&B Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mark-ronson/chart-history/rdt/ |title=Mark Ronson Chart History (R&B Digital Song Sales) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=16 February 2020}}
| 29 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| align="center"| Chart (2024)
! align="center"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|UKdownload|61|date=20240419|rowheader=true|access-date=19 April 2024}} |
Solo Amy Winehouse version
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2011)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|34|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Valerie|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Austria|39|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Valerie|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|48|songid=393240|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Valerie|rowheader=true|access-date=13 February 2019}} |
| scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA)
| 45 |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|8|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Valerie|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|29|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Valerie|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|54|date=20110731|rowheader=true|access-date=14 February 2020|refname="SCO-2011"}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|44|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Valerie|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|41|date=20110731|rowheader=true|access-date=14 February 2020|refname="UK-2011"}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|19|date=20110731|rowheader=true|access-date=14 February 2020|refname="UKR&B-2011"}} |
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2007)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_singles.jsp |title=European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513023130/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_singles.jsp |archive-date=13 May 2009 |access-date=9 January 2022}}
| 79 |
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20070107/37501/ |title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2007 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=14 February 2020}}
| 9 |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2024)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2024&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2024|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=3 January 2025}}
| 70 |
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20240101/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart – 2024|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=1 January 2025}}
| 93 |
Solo Amy Winehouse version
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2008)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100)
| 27 |
==Decade-end charts==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2000–2009)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)BBC Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by DJ Nihal on 29 December 2009
| 74 |
{{col-end}}
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2021|access-date=7 February 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Amy Winehouse |title=Valerie|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|access-date=11 December 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse|title=Valerie|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|access-date=19 February 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|title=Valerie|artist=Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|accessdate=November 12, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse|title=Valerie|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|award=Platinum|number=5|refname=nzcert|source=radioscope|access-date=April 6, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Mark Ronson|title=Valerie|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2025|access-date=11 February 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse|title=Valerie|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2025|date=31 January 2025|id=9195-2613-1|access-date=31 January 2025}}
|-
! colspan="5"| Solo Amy Winehouse version
|-
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Amy Winehouse|title=Valerie|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2017|date=29 April 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Amy Winehouse |title=Valerie|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|access-date=10 July 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Amy Winehouse|title=Valerie|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2022|date=1 July 2022|id=9195-1483-1|access-date=1 July 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Other versions
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2014}}
James Morrison and Panic! at the Disco both covered the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge in 2008.
It was sung by Niamh Perry on the fourth round of BBC's I'd Do Anything in 2008.
It was covered in a parody on Today FM's Gift Grub, prior to Munster's appearance in the 2008 Heineken Cup final, as "Flannery", after Munster hooker, Jerry Flannery.
The Zutons' version of the song is referenced in the 2010 song "She Said" by Plan B.
Glee covered Winehouse's version of the song in the episode "Special Education", as one of the two songs for the season 2 Sectionals, with Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) singing the lead and Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris) and Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.) performing a choreographed dance duet. During the 100th episode of the series they redo the song as a duet with Santana and Brittany singing, backed up by the dancing of Mike and new New Directions member Jake Puckerman (Jacob Artist).
Singer Bruno Mars paid tribute to Winehouse by performing her version of the song at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
Louis Tomlinson of boy band One Direction covered the song during a concert of their 2011 Up All Night Tour.{{cite web|title=One Direction Cover Amy Winehouse And Kings of Leon On 'Up All Night' Tour|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/one-direction/news/amy-winehouse-kings-of-leon-cover/|publisher=Capital FM|access-date=18 November 2012|date=22 December 2011}}
Dionne Bromfield (Winehouse's goddaughter), Aura Dione, Ivy Quainoo, Caro Emerald and Ina Müller performed the song as a tribute to Winehouse at the [http://www.echopop.de/pop-startseite/ 2012 Echo Awards Presentation] in Germany.
Syracuse Indie Rock band Ra Ra Riot covered the song in their 2012 single Valerie.
EastEnders actress Rita Simons sang the song on Children in Need 2013.
American bluegrass band the Brothers Comatose covered the song for their 2016 album City Painted Gold.
Argentine jazz singer Karen Souza covered the song on her 2017 release Velvet Vault.
Covered by Smith & Myers on their EP Volume 1 in 2020.
Japanese R&B singer iri included a cover of the song on her first compilation album 2016-2020, released in 2021.
Filipino group Lola Amour covered the song with Leanne and Naara during their Looking Back online concert in 2022. The band often performs the song live, using a break in the song to introduce the members during their concerts.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Zutons}}
{{Mark Ronson}}
{{Amy Winehouse}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valerie (The Zutons Song)}}
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Ronson
Category:Song recordings produced by Stephen Street
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Island Records singles