I'm Not Scared (song)
"I'm Not Scared" is a 1988 song recorded by Patsy Kensit’s British pop band Eighth Wonder. The group's fifth single, the first single from the album Fearless, was released in 1988. It achieved success in France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and the UK, where it was a top ten hit. Written by the Pet Shop Boys, the original version contains several words in French. "J'ai pas peur" is the French adaptation of "I'm Not Scared" and is featured as the B-side of the 7" and 12" singles,. The 12" "disco mix" combines the two versions into one long mix.
"I'm Not Scared" | ||||
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Single by Eighth Wonder | ||||
from the album Fearless | ||||
B-side | "J'ai pas peur" | |||
Released | 20 February 1988 | |||
Recorded | PWL Studios, London, late 1987 – early 1988 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | CBS | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Eighth Wonder singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"I'm Not Scared" on YouTube |
The Pet Shop Boys also released their own version of the song, with Neil Tennant vocals, on the album Introspective.
Slant Magazine ranked the song 62nd in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, adding: "'I'm Not Scared' is unmistakably a Lowe/Tennant composition, with sharp staccato synth lines, a fluctuating bassline, histrionic lyrics ending in curly, figurative question marks (...), and – on the extended Disco Version – dramatic string stabs".[3]
Cover versions
"I'm Not Scared" | |
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Song by Pet Shop Boys | |
from the album Introspective | |
Released | 1988 |
Genre | Synthpop |
Length | 7:23 |
Label | Parlophone Records / EMI Records |
Songwriter(s) |
- The Pet Shop Boys included their own version of the song on their 1988 album Introspective.
- Swedish Pet Shop Boys tribute group West End Girls covered the song for their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
Track listings
- 7" single
- "I'm Not Scared" – 3:49
- "J'ai pas peur" – 5:48
- 10" single
- "I'm Not Scared" (10" remix) – 5:34
- "J'ai pas peur" – 5:48
- 12" maxi
- CD maxi
- "I'm Not Scared" (disco mix) – 7:58
- "I'm Not Scared" – 4:30 (album version)
- "J'ai pas peur" – 5:48
- CD single: Promo
- "I'm Not Scared" (radio mix) – 3:49
- "I'm Not Scared" (long euro mix) – 7:58
- "I'm Not Scared" ("little" Louie Vega mix club mix) – 5:17
- 12" maxi: Promo
- "I'm Not Scared" ("little" Louie Vega mix) – 7:17
- "I'm Not Scared" (dub version) – 4:55
- "J'ai pas peur" (French version) – 5:48
- "I'm Not Scared" (long euro mix) – 7:58
- "Baby Baby" (dusted mix) – 6:00
Credits
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Charts
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] | 20 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 16 |
France (SNEP)[6] | 8 |
Greek Singles Chart | 4 |
Irish IRMA Singles Chart[7] | 14 |
Italian Singles Chart[8] | 1 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] | 27 |
Portuguese Singles Chart | 2 |
Spain (AFYVE)[10] | 2 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] | 2 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] | 7 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 5 |
References
- Blythe, Daniel (2002). The Encyclopaedia of Classic 80s Pop. Allison & Busby. p. 133. ISBN 0-7490-0534-3.
Yes, it's the one with Patsy Kensit—who, halfway through 'Im Not Scared', an enjoyable piece of atmospheric synth-pop, delivers some French lyrics in a deliciously good accent.
- Arena, James (2017). "Appendix: The Record Shop–Noteworthy Tracks". Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop: 32 International Music Legends Discuss Their Careers. McFarland & Company. p. 225–230. ISBN 978-1-4766-7142-0.
- "100 Greatest Dance Songs". Slant Magazine. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
- "Austriancharts.at – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Ultratop.be – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "Lescharts.com – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in French). Les classement single.
- Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie Archived 2009-06-03 at WebCite (Retrieved January 2, 2009)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2012-07-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Swisscharts.com – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared". Swiss Singles Chart.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 7, 2020.