Wake Me Up (Girls Aloud song)

{{Quote box|width=30%|align=left|quote="We've been interested in Brian for years. His production of Girls Aloud's Wake Me Up first caught my attention. I remember thinking: 'What the hell is that? It's amazing'. There was something about their sound which was immediate but dangerous - rare in a girl group. It was really edgy." |source=—Alex Kapranos, the lead singer of indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, says the song inspired the band to work with "Wake Me Up" producer Brian Higgins.{{cite web | url=https://www.popjustice.com/briefing/are-xenomania-putting-together-the-greatest-girlgroup-of-all-time/47557/ | title=Are Xenomania putting together the greatest girlgroup of all time? | publisher=Popjustice |last=Robinson |first=Peter | date=17 September 2007 | access-date=7 January 2013}}}}

Following a brief hiatus, Polydor Records enlisted Brian Higgins and Xenomania to produce Girls Aloud's second album in its entirety, following the success of their debut album.{{ cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4562375.stm | title=The Hitmakers: Xenomania | first=Mark |last=Savage| publisher=BBC News. BBC| date=24 May 2005 | access-date=30 September 2009 }} Higgins explained that Polydor were not going to continue with the group's contract unless he produced songs for the album.{{ cite web | url=http://www.ponystep.com/music/article/BrianHigginsThePopDontStop_437.aspx | title=Brian Higgins: The Pop Don't Stop. | first=Andreas | last=Soteriou | work=Ponystep | date=13 April 2010 | access-date=13 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211151029/http://www.ponystep.com/music/article/BrianHigginsThePopDontStop_437.aspx | archive-date=11 February 2016 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }} He continued, saying that his initial reaction was that he thought he would only be required to produce a couple of songs, however Polydor insisted that he produce the album in its entirety and that they thought only he understood what they wanted. The album was recorded from April to September 2004, with the lead single being released in June 2004.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Singles Boxset |others=Girls Aloud |year=2009 |chapter=Love Machine |first=Peter |last=Robinson |author-link=Peter Robinson (journalist) |pages=20–21 |type=Booklet |publisher=Fascination Records |location=London, England }}

For the lead single from What Will the Neighbours Say?, Polydor presented the band four singles choices, including "The Show", "Wake Me Up", "Graffiti My Soul", and "Androgynous Girls". Although "Wake Me Up" was the preferred choice, and also Sarah Harding's favorite from the album, it was deemed to sound too harsh and the record company did not want to take the risk. They also added "Androgynous Girls" as a b-side to the album's second single three months later. "The pressure to come up with singles was, as always, immense. But [...] we were able to have a lot of fun working on ideas that were maybe a little too odd to be on the radio," Higgins said. They decided to release "The Show", which was debuted on 28 June 2004, less than six months after the release of "Jump".

"Wake Me Up" was eventually released as the fourth and final single from the album on 21 February 2005. The first verse was recorded on the last day of sessions for What Will the Neighbours Say?. Kimberley Walsh's "dressed up and put on my make up" line was considered a "pivotal" point in the recording process. "Wake Me Up" was released on two CD single formats, as well as an additional 7" picture disc. The first disc included a remix of Girls Aloud's previous single, a cover version of The Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You".{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-Wake-Me-Up/release/1410119 | title=Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up (CD, Single) | publisher=Discogs. Zink Media Inc | access-date=22 August 2010}} The second CD format included the Tony Lamezma's Love Affair remix of "Wake Me Up", as well as an exclusive b-side:{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-Wake-Me-Up/release/1410122 | title=Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up (CD, Maxi, Enh) | publisher=Discogs. Zink Media Inc | access-date=22 August 2010 }} the previously unreleased ballad, entitled "History", which was co-written by the band.{{cite web | url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=8320485&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713170428/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=8320485&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 July 2012 | title=History (Legal Title) | publisher=Broadcast Music Incorporated | access-date=22 August 2010 }} The 7" picture disc includes the Gravitas Club Mix of "Wake Me Up" and another new b-side:{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-Wake-Me-Up/release/514266 | title=Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up (7", Pic, Ltd) | publisher=Discogs. Zink Media Inc | access-date=22 August 2010}} another ballad, "Loving Is Easy", which was also co-written by Girls Aloud.{{cite web | url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=8320484&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713003316/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=8320484&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 July 2012 | title=Loving Is Easy (Legal Title) | publisher=Broadcast Music Incorporated | access-date=22 August 2010 }} It only appeared on vinyl until its inclusion on the special edition rarities disc of Girls Aloud's first greatest hits album, The Sound of Girls Aloud, along with a demo version of "Wake Me Up", which features an alternate first verse.{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-The-Sound-Of-Girls-Aloud-The-Greatest-Hits-Special-Edition/release/1417821 | title=The Sound Of Girls Aloud - The Greatest Hits (Special Edition)| publisher=Discogs. Zink Media Inc | access-date=12 February 2009 }}

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|description=A 21 second sample of "Wake Me Up", a fast-paced pop rock song. MusicOMH reviewer John Murphy said that the song "marries a garage rock guitar sound to strange, almost Aphex Twin-like sound effects."

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Described as having a garage rock inspired guitar riff,{{ cite web | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,11712,1359307,00.html | title=Girls Aloud, What Will The Neighbours Say? | first=Alexis |last=Petridis | work=The Guardian | date=26 November 2004 | access-date=7 May 2006 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/girls-aloud.htm | title=Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (Polydor) | first=John | last=Murphy | publisher=MusicOMH | date=November 2004 | access-date=14 April 2010 | archive-date=30 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130214731/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/girls-aloud.htm | url-status=dead }} "Wake Me Up" is a fast-paced pop rock song that "marries a garage rock guitar sound to strange, almost Aphex Twin-like sound effects." It was reported that Girls Aloud were going to re-record the song because "ducers are wary of playing the song on children's TV in its unaltered form."{{ cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a18237/girls-aloud-to-alter-offensive-line.html | title=Girls Aloud to alter offensive line | author=Daniel Saney | publisher=Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation | date=10 January 2005 | access-date=28 February 2009 }} Alexis Petridis of The Guardian said that the song sounds like what would happen if "you married an alarmingly fast techno thud to an implausibly dumb three-chord garage rock riff." A BBC Music critic, however, deemed the track, along with "Deadlines & Diets" and "I Say a Prayer for You", a "fairly predictable mix of well-produced tunes covering the various pop styles and themes."{{ cite web | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/bwqv/ | title=Girls Aloud, What Will The Neighbours Say? | first=David |last=Hooper | publisher=BBC Music. BBC | date=29 November 2004 | access-date=28 February 2009 }} Reviewing Girls Aloud's first greatest hits album, Paul Scott of Stylus Magazine said that "Wake Me Up", "Long Hot Summer" (2005) and "Something Kinda Ooooh" (2006), "all feel, to varying degrees, like attempts to recapture [the] seductive bludgeoning" of "The Show".{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Scott |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/girls-aloud/the-sound-of-girls-aloud.htm |title=Girls Aloud The Sound of Girls Aloud Fascination/Polydor 2006 |publisher=Stylus Magazine |date=8 January 2007 |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=1 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201142002/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/girls-aloud/the-sound-of-girls-aloud.htm |url-status=dead }} In 2005, "Wake Me Up" won the award for the Popjustice £20 Music Prize, an annual prize awarded by a panel of judges organised by music website Popjustice to the singer(s) of the best British pop single of the past year.{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/twentyquidmusicprize/|title=The Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize|last=Robinson|first=Peter|publisher=Popjustice|access-date=16 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022154723/http://www.popjustice.com/twentyquidmusicprize/|archive-date=22 October 2012|url-status=dead}}

The music video for "Wake Me Up" was directed by Harvey & Carolyn.{{cite AV media notes |title=Wake Me Up |others=Girls Aloud |year=2005 |type=CD liner |publisher=Polydor Records }} It opens with Harding pulling down her bike helmet, followed by the helmeted faces of all five band members being shown with a title screen. The girls' helmets fly off their heads as they get on their motorcycles. At the front, the girls' names are on them. In subsequent scenes, the band members are shown racing on motorcycles along a desert road. Following the topic of the song, the members are seen applying fake tattoos, painting their nails, and blow-drying their hair, all still while riding on their motorcycles. At one point, the girls dismount from their bikes to dance, but eventually they return to the motorcycles and ride off into the distance.

Girls Aloud performed "Wake Me Up" on Top of the Pops on 28 January 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-127843792.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124140/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-127843792.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Girl's loud arrival|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=28 January 2005|access-date=16 December 2012}} Harley Davidson lent motorbikes for the members to use for the performance. The band performed the track on the programme again on 4 March 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-129675930.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124306/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-129675930.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Cheryl's not Aloud in bed|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=4 March 2005|access-date=16 December 2012}} It was also performed on Today with Des and Mel,{{Cite episode |title=Episode 5 |series=Today with Des and Mel |network=Granada Productions |station=ITV1 |location=London |date=24 February 2005 |number=5 |minutes=50 |language=en}} and at V Festival 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/girls-aloud/38960|title=Girls Aloud cover Robyn at V Festival|date=16 August 2008|access-date=15 December 2012|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media}} Girls Aloud have included "Wake Me Up" in all of their tours. For their debut tour, 2005's What Will the Neighbours Say...? Tour, the group performed the song in schoolgirl uniforms.{{cite web | url=http://voices.yahoo.com/a-review-girls-alouds-will-neighbours-411821.html?cat=33 | title=A review of Girls Aloud's What Will the Neighbours Say? Tour | first=Kelly | last=Karrington | publisher=Yahoo! Voices. Yahoo! | date=11 July 2007 | access-date=2 December 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022145014/http://voices.yahoo.com/a-review-girls-alouds-will-neighbours-411821.html?cat=33 | archive-date=22 October 2013 | df=dmy-all }} For 2006's Chemistry Tour, it was performed as part of a medley alongside Chemistry album track "Wild Horses".{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3652617/Loveable-Girls-just-want-to-have-fun.html | title=Loveable Girls just want to have fun | first=Michael |last=Deacon | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=24 May 2006 | access-date=24 April 2010 }} It was also performed during 2007's The Greatest Hits Tour.{{ cite web | url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23398364-right-flappers-girls-aloud-step-out-as-showgirls.do | title=Right flappers: Girls Aloud step out as showgirls | work=Evening Standard | publisher=Daily Mail and General Trust | date=28 May 2007 | access-date=24 April 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605180342/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23398364-right-flappers-girls-aloud-step-out-as-showgirls.do | archive-date=5 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }} On 2008's Tangled Up Tour, "Wake Me Up" was performed in a medley with "Walk This Way",{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a96352/girls-aloud-the-good-the-bad-and-the-bawdy.html | title=Girls Aloud: The good, the bad and the bawdy | first=Nick|last=Levine | publisher=Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation | date=20 May 2008 | access-date=2 December 2012}} and on 2009's Out of Control Tour, the song was included in a greatest hits medley which closed the concerts.{{cite web | url=http://danielrosney.com/2012/02/19/an-indepth-feature-review-on-the-opening-of-the-girls-aloud-tour-of-2008/ | title=An indepth feature review on the opening of the Girls Aloud tour of 2008 | first=Daniel | last=Rosney | work=DanielRosney.com | access-date=2 December 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020023953/http://danielrosney.com/2012/02/19/an-indepth-feature-review-on-the-opening-of-the-girls-aloud-tour-of-2008/ | archive-date=20 October 2013 | df=dmy-all }} In 2013, the song was performed during the Ten: The Hits Tour.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a460856/girls-aloud-begin-ten-uk-tour-in-newcastle-pictures.html|title=Girls Aloud begin 'Ten' UK tour in Newcastle - pictures|date=22 February 2013|access-date=22 February 2013|last=Corner|first=Lewis|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|work=Digital Spy}}

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Wake Me Up".

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• CD single – CD 1

1. "Wake Me Up" – 3:27
2. "I'll Stand by You" (Gravitas Vocal Dub Mix Edit) – 6:26

• CD single – CD 2

1. "Wake Me Up" – 3:27
2. "Wake Me Up" (Tony Lamezma's Love Affair) – 7:01
3. "History" (Girls Aloud, Cooper, Higgins, Cowling, Jon Shave, Tim "Rolf" Larcombe, Lee) – 4:37
4. "Wake Me Up" (video) – 3:27
5. "Wake Me Up" (karaoke video) – 3:27
6. "Wake Me Up" (game)

• 7" vinyl

1. "Wake Me Up" – 3:27
2. "Loving Is Easy" (Girls Aloud, Cooper, Higgins, Cowling, Lee) – 3:01
3. "Wake Me Up" (Gravitas Club Mix) – 5:29

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• The Singles Boxset

1. "Wake Me Up" – 3:27
2. "I'll Stand by You" (Gravitas Vocal Dub Mix Edit) – 6:26
3. "Wake Me Up" (Tony Lamezma's Love Affair) – 7:01
4. "History" – 4:37
5. "Loving Is Easy" – 3:01
6. "Wake Me Up" (Gravitas Club Mix) – 5:29
7. "Wake Me Up" (alternative version) – 3:27
8. "Wake Me Up" (video) – 3:27
9. "Wake Me Up" (karaoke video) – 3:27
10. "Wake Me Up" (game)

• Digital EP{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4K8myPCYiTn5bS8KyIfn2T?si=MYSVggSvSaWWj6o1B4AoCQ|title=Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up EP|website=Spotify|date=1 January 2024}}

1. "Wake Me Up" – 3:27
2. "I'll Stand By You" (Gravitas Vocal Dub Mix Edit) – 6:26
3. "Wake Me Up" (Tony Lamezma's "Love Affair") – 7:00
4. "History" – 4:36
5. "Loving Is Easy" – 3:01
6. "Wake Me Up" (Gravitas Club Mix) – 5:29
7. "Wake Me Up" (Alternative Lyrics Version) – 3:25

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• Nadine Coyle – co-lead vocals
• Cheryl Tweedy – co-lead vocals
• Sarah Harding – co-lead vocals
• Nicola Roberts – co-lead vocals
• Kimberley Walsh – co-lead vocals

On the week ending on 27 February 2005, "Wake Me Up" debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 16,351 copies, becoming Girls Aloud's eighth top five single but their first single to miss the top three.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sBQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA46|date=12 March 2005|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=15 December 2012}} It fell to number ten the following week.{{ cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20050306/7501/ | title=Archive Chart - 12th March 2005 | publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=28 February 2009}} "Wake Me Up" is Girls Aloud 18th best-selling single in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/girls-aloud-crowned-the-biggest-selling-girl-group-of-the-21st-century-1652/|title=Girls Aloud crowned the biggest selling girl group of the 21st Century|date=18 October 2012|last=Kreisler|first=Lauren|access-date=15 December 2012|publisher=Official Charts Company}} In Ireland, the single debuted and peaked at number six,{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2005&year=2005&week=8 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 24 February 2005 | publisher=Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association | access-date=23 August 2010 | date=24 February 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516115331/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2005&year=2005&week=8 | archive-date=16 May 2012 | url-status=dead }} falling to number 11 the following week.{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2005&year=2005&week=9 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 3 March 2005 | publisher=Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association | access-date=23 August 2010 | date=3 March 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215233024/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2005&year=2005&week=9 | archive-date=15 December 2013 | url-status=dead }} "Wake Me Up" failed to debut at the top ten in Europe, peaking at number 13 on the European Hot 100 Singles.

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Category:2004 songs

Category:2005 singles

Category:Girls Aloud songs

Category:Polydor Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Xenomania

Category:Songs written by Brian Higgins (producer)

Category:Songs written by Miranda Cooper

Category:Songs written by Tim Powell (producer)

Category:Songs written by Lisa Cowling

Category:Songs written by Shawn Lee (musician)

Category:British pop rock songs