"Paid My Dues"
Single by Anastacia
from the album Freak of Nature
B-side
  • "I Dreamed You"
  • "Funk Medley"
ReleasedNovember 12, 2001 (2001-11-12)
Studio
Length3:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Anastacia singles chronology
"Made for Lovin' You"
(2001) 		"Paid My Dues"
(2001) 		"One Day in Your Life"
(2002)
Audio sample
Paid My Dues
Music video
"Paid My Dues" on YouTube

"Paid My Dues" is a song by American recording artist Anastacia from her second studio album, Freak of Nature (2001). It was released on November 12, 2001, as the album's lead single. The song was written by Anastacia, Greg Lawson, Damon Sharpe, and LaMenga Kafi and was produced by Ric Wake with additional production by Richie Jones.

"Paid My Dues" became a commercial success, reaching number one in Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as peaking within the top 10 in several other mainland European countries.

Composition

"Paid My Dues" was written by Anastacia, LaMenga Kafi, Greg Lawson, and Damon Sharpe, while production was handled by Ric Wake, with additional production by Richie Jones.[1] According to James Salmon from Yahoo! Music, the song is a "typically robust 'go girl' anthem."[2]

Critical reception

Jose F. Promis writing for AllMusic called the song "the soulful, bombastic rocker".[1] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine wrote that "her tenacious attitude on songs like 'Paid My Dues' carve a unique niche for the singer."[3] Aidin Vaziri wrote for Rolling Stone that the song is "grating" and one of Freak of Nature's "moments of sheer overkill".[4]

Music video

Directed by Liz Friedlander, the music video for "Paid My Dues" was shot in Los Angeles, California. In the beginning, Anastacia is speaking while being in a virtual mirror. Then you can see Anastacia in a room where she is packing her suitcases. Following this, you see her while she is trying to make her a way but there are many people she must across. Then she is in some kind of a disco, where she successfully tries again to find her way through people, this time to a stage.

When she finally arrives there, she goes through a mirror and is "teleported" to a stage, where she sings the song. In the end she pulls out the electricity cable.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the European CD1 liner notes.[7]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[50] Gold 20,000*
Belgium (BEA)[51] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[52] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[53] Gold 250,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[54] Gold  
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[55] Gold 20,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Paid My Dues"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
France November 12, 2001
Sony Music
[56][57]
Germany
[19]
Australia November 19, 2001 CD
[58]
United Kingdom
RCA
[59]

References

  1. ^ a b Promis, Jose F. "Freak of Nature – Anastacia – Review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  2. ^ Salmon, James (November 26, 2001). "Anastacia – 'Freak of Nature'". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  3. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (June 24, 2002). "Anastacia: Freak of Nature". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. ^ Vaziri, Aidin (June 18, 2002). "Anastacia: Freak Of Nature". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Paid My Dues (UK CD single liner notes). Anastacia. Epic Records, Daylight Records. 2001. 672125 2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Paid My Dues (UK cassette single sleeve). Anastacia. Epic Records, Daylight Records. 2001. 672125 4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ a b Paid My Dues (European CD1 liner notes). Anastacia. Epic Records, Daylight Records. 2001. EPC 671996 1, 6719961000.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Paid My Dues (European CD2 liner notes). Anastacia. Epic Records, Daylight Records. 2001. EPC 671996 2, 6719962000.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Paid My Dues (Australian CD single liner notes). Anastacia. Epic Records, Daylight Records. 2001. 672082.2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Anastacia – Paid My Dues". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Anastacia – Paid My Dues" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  12. ^ "Anastacia – Paid My Dues" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "Anastacia – Paid My Dues" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  14. ^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on February 9, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Anastacia – Paid My Dues". Tracklisten. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  16. ^ "European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 28th January 2002" (PDF). ARIA. January 28, 2002. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2009 – via Pandora Archive.
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  19. ^ a b "Anastacia – Paid My Dues" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  20. ^ "Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 3, 2002. Retrieved December 23, 2020. See Best column.
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  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
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  28. ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on October 26, 2007.
  29. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 14. March 30, 2002. p. 12. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  30. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 2, saptamina 14.01–20.01, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on May 14, 2005. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. ^ "Anastacia – Paid My Dues" Canciones Top 50.
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  36. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  37. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  38. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  39. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  40. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002" (in German). Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  41. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2002" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  42. ^ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 2–3. January 11, 2003. p. 14. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  43. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2002" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
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  45. ^ "Top of the Music – Mix e Singoli" (PDF) (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2006. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
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  49. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2002" (in German). Retrieved September 4, 2018.
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  51. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  52. ^ "French single certifications – Anastacia – Paid My Dues" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  53. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Anastacia; 'Paid My Dues')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  54. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  55. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Paid My Dues')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  56. ^ "Paid my dues – Anastacia – CD maxi single" (in French). France: Fnac. November 12, 2001. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  57. ^ "Paid my dues – Anastacia – Maxi vinyle" (in French). France: Fnac. November 12, 2001. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  58. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 19 Nov 2001" (PDF). ARIA. November 19, 2002. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  59. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting November 19, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 17, 2001. p. 31. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
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