1995 single by Simply Red
"Fairground" is a song by British soul and pop band Simply Red, released on 18 September 1995 by EastWest as the first single from the band's fifth album, Life (1995). Co-written and co-produced by frontman Mick Hucknall, the song makes extensive use of a sample of Dutch duo the Goodmen's 1993 hit "Give It Up". It became Simply Red's first and only No. 1 single on the UK Singles Chart, staying at the top for four weeks in September and October 1995, and was also a chart hit in mainland Europe and Australia but failed to generate long-term success in North America. The accompanying music video for "Fairground" was directed by Michael Geoghegan and filmed in Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Lancashire.
Background and release
When "Fairground" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, it had already been released to UK radio stations for almost a month, via satellite with the first promotional copies following a few days later. The single was placed in heavy rotation on top-40 radio stations, which resulted in it reaching the top of the airplay charts. When the single was released to the public on 18 September 1995, it had already been the most played record on British radio.[1]
Composition
Producer Andy Wright has said that for "Fairground", Mick Hucknall wanted to do a Brazilian, carnival-style track. Whilst Mick was at the dentist for two hours, Andy had the idea to sample a record that he knew of: "Give It Up" by the Goodmen,[2] which in turn samples "Fanfarra (Cabua-le-le)" by Sérgio Mendes.[3] To round out the track, Fritz McIntyre played the house-style piano element, Ian Kirkham used the EWI (electronic wind instrument) to play the clarinet-style part, and Andy Wright made the wobbly, dreamy sound heard in the verses.[4]
Critical reception
Swedish Aftonbladet noted the "hot rhythms and odd harmonies" of the song, adding that the album "would have needed even more such songs".[5] AllMusic editor William Ruhlmann said that Mick Hucknall "opts for a Latin-tinged sound that ends up evoking Herb Alpert more than Milton Nascimento". Another AllMusic editor, Jon O'Brien, deemed the song "a mesmerizing fusion of tribal rhythms and ambient chillout pop".[6] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as an "expectedly romantic soul tune", adding that "fueled by his now instantly familiar voice, the track combines old-school warmth with street-smart percussion that is largely derived from samples of "Give It Up" by the Goodmen. At the core are wonderfully soothing lyrics and a melody that permanently sticks to the brain upon impact."[7] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger commented that it "surprised people at the time, and on the verses at least it's their strangest-sounding single. Driving down an endless road... it begins, and that's not at all a bad description of the lonesome vibe here – the odd combination of flowing, tumbling Latin percussion and Hucknall's ruminative vocal, working together to create something genuinely arresting, even haunting."[8]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked that it is "totally different from Hucknall's previous singles but still very much him thanks to the one-in-a-million voice and the trademark composition." They added that "the fairground attraction" of the single is its "percussive arrangement and clubiness."[9] Music Week gave it five out of five and named it Single of the Week, writing, "No wonder radio has leapt on this, a charmingly-delivered song which couples instant commerciality in the tune stakes with a hip tribal backing. Headed straight for the summit."[10] Music Week editor Alan Jones said, "Despite its heavily syncopated underpinning, it is a stylish and straightforward pop song with Mick Hucknall's usual high calibre vocal and an instantly commercial chorus."[11] Paul Moody from NME commented, "This time, after five years at the hairdressers, he gives us a Latino-shuffle that's already conquered all known radio stations and is about to invade every Top Five on the planet. Quite dull."[12] People Magazine's reviewer wrote that the "energetic" song "combines soulful abandon with tribal ecstasy."[13] David Gaskey from The Rice Thresher described it as "an innovative, futuristic jazz/pop song inspired by a popular fairground outside of Milan."[14] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update called it "attractive".[15] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits stated that Hucknall "still has a lovely singing voice". However, he felt the song "sort of tinkles along merrily without really going anywhere."[16]
Chart performance
It was the first and only single by the group to reach No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.[17] It spent four weeks at the top and 14 weeks in the top 40.[17] As of October 2018, the single has sold 718,463 copies according to the Official Charts Company.[18] The track also reached No. 1 in Ireland[19] and Italy[20] and peaked within the top 10 in more than 10 countries, including Australia, Germany, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.[21][22] A remix by Soulshock and Karlin was included on the US single release and received moderate success on R&B radio but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[23]
In 2012, "Fairground" was ranked No. 47 in NME's list of the "50 best-selling tracks of the 90s", adding: "Shamelessly lifting the clattering samba percussion from The Goodmen's 'Give It Up' (but giving due credit), Mick Hucknall greeted his post-'Stars' future with a mid-tempo ballad that sounded like an on-the-money dance track. Everyone got on board the rollercoaster and Hucknall had a new diamond for his gnasher."[24]
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Irish filmmaker Michael Geoghegan.[25] The video (which uses the shorter single version) shows Mick Hucknall driving in his Jaguar XK140 to and singing at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, Lancashire, that had been closed for the day and had been invaded by a group of his friends and opened up again. The majority of the video was shot on the Pepsi Max Big One and around the park, and some scenes are shot on the Promenade showing the Illuminations in 1994. Filming credits go to the single cameraman, Steven Young. The video was later made available on Simply Red's official YouTube channel in 2009 and was upgraded to HD in celebration of the album Life's 25th anniversary in October 2020. It had generated more than 20 million views as of early 2024.[26]
