Loser like Me (song)
"Loser like Me" | ||||
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Single by Glee cast | ||||
from the album Glee: The Music, Volume 5 | ||||
Released | March 1, 2011 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Glee cast singles chronology | ||||
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"Loser like Me" is an original song performed by the cast of American television series
Critics generally praised the song in Glee's first step at original music, including its production, lyrics, and Michele's vocals. However, common criticisms were that the song sounded like a cover of another song, and that it would have been better suited for other artists Martin usually works with, such as Pink or
Background
"He owns radio right now. He's had, like, seven No. 1s in the last year, and so if we wanna go to radio with anybody tagging along, I think he's the guy you want. We've done like 30 of his songs on Glee".
Adam Anders on recruiting Max Martin to produce "Loser like Me"[2]
On February 23, 2011, it was announced that Glee, for the first time, would feature two original songs, entitled "Loser like Me" and "
According to Anders, the Swedish-based Martin was in the United States at the time working on Spears' then-
Radio impact
"Loser like Me" became the first radio single for Glee, and was sent to radio on March 1, 2011 for
We've promoted Glee music to radio for the past couple of years and week-by-week, programmers have embraced the show and its music more and more. (Adult radio) has created weekly, and, in some cases, daily, features, and played snippets of songs. Now, more have put "Loser like Me" into regular rotation. Glee is one of the biggest shows on television and it's a music show. What a win for us and radio.[7]
Barb Richards, director of music for WAJI said that the cast's introduction of new music prompted the station to finally add music from the cast.[7] Richards referenced the 21.9 million downloads and 5.2 million albums sold since the series since its May 2009 premiere, but commented, "Still, I believe that people want to hear originals over remakes, so up until the 'Glee' cast's original music it didn't make sense for us to play each latest cover, other than to spotlight it the day of the show."[7] However, Richards complimented the original "Loser like Me" saying its lyrics would "resonate with kids and parents" and said that she liked it when she first heard it and when she saw it on the show.[7] She also commented that it "is good on its own, and having the Glee name on it gives it a leg up".[7] Dave McKay, program director at WPST also echoed Richards' sentiments that the Glee sales were reason to add them to airplay, adding "Not many artists or songs enjoy the type of exposure that 'Glee' provides. Plus, the audience that watches the show is the audience we target, so the fit seems perfect [...] since 'Glee' music sells, there is definitely an appetite for it."[7]
Responding to the song being an original as opposed to their traditional covers, McKay said, "If 'Loser Like Me' were a bad song, then it wouldn't matter whether it was original or a cover: we wouldn't be playing it. That the song is good, and that it has the 'Glee' reach, makes it an easy song to play."[7] Keith Kennedy, program director at WKDD said the single made him ponder why they haven't played Glee songs prior to "Loser Like Me".[7] Kennedy said, "How many times have you heard radio programmers claim that they use sales numbers to shape their stations' playlists? Look at iTunes every Wednesday: Glee often dominates the top 10."[7] Kennedy's station, WKDD, holds a "Glee O'clock" segment daily and he said "While some of the remakes have leaned toward show tunes, several probably should have received more airplay."[7]
Composition
"Loser like Me" is a song that features "pop-funk chicken-scratch guitars," and according to Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone, a hopped-up beat. The song is fronted by Lea Michele singing lead on the chorus and a verse, with Cory Monteith providing an additional verse.[8] Other Glee cast members back the two up the chorus and a rap breakdown.[8] It bears resemblance to then-recent Max Martin-produced singles, particularly "Raise Your Glass", which contains a similar guitar-intro.[9] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy even called "Loser Like Me" a sequel to "Raise Your Glass".[9]
After the guitar riffs, Michele sings about becoming a future superstar, "Yeah, you may think that I'm a zero/ But hey, everyone you wanna be/ Probably started off like me".[10] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard said "Loser Like Me" is "a sunny pop track that finds Lea Michele and Cory Monteith railing against conformity and celebrating their individuality in their verses".[11] Other cast member lyrics include the lyric "You may think I'm a freak show", responded to by Naya Rivera with the spoken "I don't care".[8] The song features self-empowerment lyrics which revolve around revenge fantasies, such as in Monteith's lines - "I could be a superstar / I'll see you when you wash my car".[12] According to Melinda Newman of HitFix the song is about "being a loser now, but turning in to a winner now who never, ever looks back".[13] Aly Semigran of MTV News said the lyrics of the "peppy pop ditty" keep "in tune with the themes of the show".[10]
Critical reception
Jody Rosen of
Upon first listen, Kirsten Coachman of the
Chart performance
On the week ending March 26, 2011, "Loser like Me" debuted at number six on the US
Glee performance
"
Bobby Hankinson of Houston Chronicle said "It's fun and summery and it's all capped off with a confetti slushee attack to the crowd. Loved it."[24] Erica Futterman of Rolling Stone wrote, "It's a true anthem, and it ends triumphantly, with the New Directions tossing confetti-filled Slushie cups into the crowd—and then going on to win regionals."[25] Brett Berk of Vanity Fair noted that "the lovable dorks sing about being the lovable dorks we fell in love with (even if we often no longer recognize them as such)".[17]
Charts
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[21] | 15 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] | 9 |
Ireland (IRMA)[22] | 23 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] | 28 |
21 | |
27 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 6 |
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[7] | 36 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[28] | Gold | 617,000[19] |
See also
- List of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles in 2011
References
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 24, 2014). "Glee's 100th Episode Song List Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g Stack, Tim (2011-02-23). "'Glee': Music producer Adam Anders spills details on the show's upcoming original music -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ "ASCAP ACE Search". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 2011-04-18.[permanent dead link]
- Time Inc. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ "Loser Like Me (Glee Cast Version)". iTunes Store. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- ^ Trust, Gary (2011-02-24). "Weekly Chart Notes: Cee Lo Green, 'Glee,' Justin Bieber". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trust, Gary (2011-04-05). "'Glee' Cast, Matthew Morrison Score First Airplay Hits". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- ^ Idolator. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ a b c Copsey, Robert (2011-04-11). "'Glee' cast: 'Loser Like Me'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ a b Semigran, Aly (2011-02-25). "'Glee' Original Songs Slated For March Episode Hit The Net". MTV News. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (2011-02-25). "Listen: 'Glee' Original Songs, 'Loser Like Me' and 'Get It Right,' Debut". Billboard. New York City. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- ^ a b c Rosen, Jody (2011-02-25). "'Glee' Cast "Loser Like Me"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ Hitfix. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- ^ a b Rosen, Christopher (2011-02-25). "Original Glee Songs 'Loser Like Me' and 'Get It Right' Leak Online, Sound Like Smashes". Movieline. Archived from the original on 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- ^ a b c Coachman, Kirsten (2011-03-17). "Music Review: Glee Cast: "Original Song"". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ a b Berk, Brett. "The Gay Guide to Glee: Season 2, Episode 16, "Original Song"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ New York City, New York. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- ^ a b "'Glee' Cast's 10 Best-Selling Downloads". Billboard. March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "Glee Cast Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "Glee Cast – Loser like Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Loser like Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Hankinson, Bobby (16 March 2011). "Glee: "Loser Like Me" gets it right". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ Futterman, Erica (16 March 2011). "'Glee' Recap: New Directions Head to Regionals in 'Original Song'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ "Glee Cast – Loser like Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "American single certifications – Glee Cast – Loser like Me". Recording Industry Association of America.