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Lola's Theme

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"Lola's Theme"
Single by the Shapeshifters
from the album Sound Advice
Released12 July 2004 (2004-07-12)
Length
  • 5:37 (album version)
  • 3:27 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Fulvio Perniola
  • Gianni Bini
  • [Sylvia Macura] [Karen Poole]
  • Max Reich
  • Patrick Moten
  • Simon Marlin[1]
Producer(s)The Shapeshifters
The Shapeshifters singles chronology
"Lola's Theme"
(2004) 		"Back to Basics"
(2005)

"Lola's Theme" is the debut single of British house duo the Shapeshifters, featuring soul singer Cookie on vocals. It was released on 12 July 2004 as the lead single from the Shapeshifters' debut album, Sound Advice (2004). The song became the duo's biggest hit, peaking atop the UK Singles Chart and charting highly in Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. In Australia, it was the most successful club hit of 2004.

Background

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The name "Lola's Theme" was originally a working title for this record; Lola was Simon Marlin's wife, and it was while listening to her record collection that the initial idea for the track was conceived.[2] She appears handing out candy floss in the music video.[3]

"Lola's Theme" features a sample from the introduction of Johnnie Taylor's R&B hit of 1982, "What About My Love", and it was originally released at the end of 2003 on their own Nocturnal Groove label as a mostly instrumental track featuring a vocal sample taken from Anthony White's 1994 song "Love Me Tonight".[4] "I basically took one phrase from Anthony White's ‘Love Me Tonight’ track from 1994 on Stress Records, twisted that phrase, cut it up, and made a completely new phrase out of it," Marlin told DJ Mag in 2023. "This was the bit that goes, 'I'm a different person / Turn my world around'. If you listen to the original Anthony White, you'll hear exactly the same words in a completely different way."[2]

Due to its immense popularity, "Lola's Theme" was licensed from Nocturnal Groove to Positiva Records. At the same time, the sample of "What About My Love" was then completely replayed by Mark Summers at Scorccio Sample Replays, recreating all elements of the sample (strings, brass sections, piano, etc.). The duo then set about finding a vocalist. After a long search they met Cookie, a gospel singer from the London Community Gospel Choir,[5][6] who recorded the vocals for the full release, as well as adding verses.[2]

Composition

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The song is a dance-pop song, utilising elements of "What About My Love" by Johnnie Taylor and lyrics from "Love Me Tonight" by Anthony White. Lyrically, the song is written from the perspective of someone who for most of their life felt disillusioned and alienated. It is addressed to an unnamed other, presumably a love interest, who helped the singer to develop a more positive outlook on life.

Release and chart performance

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In the United Kingdom, "Lola's Theme" was released on 12 July 2004, and upon its release, it topped the UK Singles Chart.[7][8] "Lola's Theme" also topped the American Dance Charts, peaking at number one on the Hot Dance Airplay chart in October 2004. The duo went on to have a further two Top 20 hits in the United Kingdom ("Back to Basics" and "Incredible") and now have a recording contract with Defected Records. "Lola's Theme" was nominated for "Best British Single" at the 2005 Brit Awards.[9]

Music video

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The music video for "Lola's Theme" was filmed at George Irvin's Funfair in Kingsbury, London; some of the video was filmed at the Irvin's Hellraiser (or Waltzer), the Top Buzz and other rides. The Shapeshifters and Cookie appear in the video, as does remixer Norman Jay.

Samples

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In July 2024, British rapper ArrDee collaborated with The Shapeshifters, sampling "Lola's Theme" for his single "Different".[10]

Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Platinum 686,000[48]

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 12 July 2004 CD
[7]
Australia 9 August 2004 [50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Now Dance 2007 – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Loben, Carl (25 April 2023). "How Shapeshifters' 'Lola's Theme' became an enduring house anthem". DJ Mag. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. ^ "BBC – Radio 1 – Ibiza 2004, Tunes". BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  4. ^ Gordon-Brown, Nick (10 July 2020). "The Shapeshifters Let Loose". glitterboxibiza.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. ^ Simpson, Dave (6 July 2004). "Shapeshifters". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  6. ^ "Lola's Theme". tourdates.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  7. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 10 July 2004. p. 27.
  8. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  9. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (11 January 2005). "Franz Ferdinand head list as credibility comes to the fore in Brits nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  10. ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (29 July 2024). "ArrDee talks new single 'Different' and a new "big project": "There are all kinds of flavours"". NME. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  11. ^ Lola's Theme (UK CD single liner notes). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. CDTIVS207, 7243 8 61267 0 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Lola's Theme (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. 12TIV-207, 7243 8 61267 6 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Lola's Theme (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. 12TIVY-207.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Lola's Theme (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. 12TIVS-207, 7243 5 48721 6 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Lola's Theme (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. 12TIVX-207.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Lola's Theme (UK DVD single liner notes). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. DVDTIV207.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Lola's Theme (European CD single liner notes). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. 7243 8 61437 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Lola's Theme (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). The Shapeshifters. You Records. 2004. YOU 022-6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Lola's Theme (Australian CD single liner notes). The Shapeshifters. Positiva Records, Nocturnal Groove. 2004. 7243 8 61469 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  21. ^ "The ARIA Report – ARIA Club Tracks – Week Commencing 19th July 2004" (PDF). ARIA. 19 July 2004. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2004. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  22. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  23. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  24. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  25. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme". Tracklisten. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  26. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 31. 31 July 2004. p. 51. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  27. ^ "The Shapeshifters: Lola's Theme" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  28. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 29-8–4/9" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 8 September 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2020. See Best Position column.
  30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lola's Theme". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 15 July 2004". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 18 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  33. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  34. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  35. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  36. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 36, saptamina 6.09 – 12.09, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 18 January 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  38. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  39. ^ "The Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  40. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  41. ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 2 October 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  42. ^ "Dance/Mix Show Airplay". Billboard. 23 October 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  43. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 2 October 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Club Chart 2004". ARIA. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  45. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2004". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  46. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  47. ^ "2004 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. 25 December 2004. p. YE-61.
  48. ^ Copsey, Rob (22 July 2021). "Official Charts Flashback 2004: Rachel Stevens' Some Girls vs. Lola's Theme". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  49. ^ "British single certifications – Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme". British Phonographic Industry.
  50. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 9th August 2004" (PDF). ARIA. 9 August 2004. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2004. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
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