Another damn "identify this song" question.
July 1, 2011 7:34 AM Subscribe
This may be the longest shot question I have ever asked. Help me identify this super-catchy tune!
Last Saturday, in the athletic store Finish Line, I heard a song that I as of yet have been unable to identify.
The song had a very strong hip hop beat, and the first few stanzas, before any vocals came in, I thought it was going to be rap, but instead it was sung. The vocals were almost dreamy and unfocused, and the lyrics I could make out were "I don't want to be alone (anymore)" and "no no no no no no", repeated over and over again.
The beat was super-catchy, many people in the store were nodding their heads along with the tune. In some ways it reminded me of the first time I heard "Jenny from the Block", which has a similar stylistic feel to the song I am looking for.
When google failed to help me identify the song, I called the Finish Line store itself, and they couldn't help me. I friended Finish Line on Facebook, and they couldn't help me. I identified the company that provides the music for Finish Line stores. I listened to songs on that company's website radio for hours. I contacted the corporate music firm as well, and they never got back to me. I REALLY LIKE THIS SONG AND WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN!
So to recap - catchy hip hop beat, lyrics "I don't want to be alone (anymore)" "no no no no no no" repeated quite a bit. Male singer. Very contemporary. Assume I have googled the hell out of this and all of the obvious contenders are out. It isn't Billy Joel, it isn't All Saints, nor any other artist that comes up in the first 100 searches on google with any iteration of those lyrics. I am ashamed that I even reached out to Yahoo Answers with this one (with no success) because I had already used my question for that week. Ugh.
Undying devotion to the person who can help me find this song.
Thanks!
Last Saturday, in the athletic store Finish Line, I heard a song that I as of yet have been unable to identify.
The song had a very strong hip hop beat, and the first few stanzas, before any vocals came in, I thought it was going to be rap, but instead it was sung. The vocals were almost dreamy and unfocused, and the lyrics I could make out were "I don't want to be alone (anymore)" and "no no no no no no", repeated over and over again.
The beat was super-catchy, many people in the store were nodding their heads along with the tune. In some ways it reminded me of the first time I heard "Jenny from the Block", which has a similar stylistic feel to the song I am looking for.
When google failed to help me identify the song, I called the Finish Line store itself, and they couldn't help me. I friended Finish Line on Facebook, and they couldn't help me. I identified the company that provides the music for Finish Line stores. I listened to songs on that company's website radio for hours. I contacted the corporate music firm as well, and they never got back to me. I REALLY LIKE THIS SONG AND WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN!
So to recap - catchy hip hop beat, lyrics "I don't want to be alone (anymore)" "no no no no no no" repeated quite a bit. Male singer. Very contemporary. Assume I have googled the hell out of this and all of the obvious contenders are out. It isn't Billy Joel, it isn't All Saints, nor any other artist that comes up in the first 100 searches on google with any iteration of those lyrics. I am ashamed that I even reached out to Yahoo Answers with this one (with no success) because I had already used my question for that week. Ugh.
Undying devotion to the person who can help me find this song.
Thanks!
At work so can't listen and be sure, but your description put me in mind of Jamie Woon. Album on Spotify
posted by Ness at 7:41 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by Ness at 7:41 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Samsara, no it isn't the Gerald Levert tune
Asockpuppet, definitely not reggae, or a Twinkle Brothers cover
Ness, Jamie Woon's lyrics are a little to clear and sharp, the song I heard was much more "produced", and focused less on the lyrics than the tune itself. Jamie is cool though, thanks for the recommendation
Sys Rq, Liberation is a great track, but my song is much more uptempo and dance-y
Keep them coming, kids! I appreciate the guesses thus far!
posted by msali at 7:51 AM on July 1, 2011
Asockpuppet, definitely not reggae, or a Twinkle Brothers cover
Ness, Jamie Woon's lyrics are a little to clear and sharp, the song I heard was much more "produced", and focused less on the lyrics than the tune itself. Jamie is cool though, thanks for the recommendation
Sys Rq, Liberation is a great track, but my song is much more uptempo and dance-y
Keep them coming, kids! I appreciate the guesses thus far!
posted by msali at 7:51 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Furthermore, the company that supplies the music to the stores is "Play Network". They won't respond to my requests, but maybe someone out there in mefi-land works there? This is a major long shot, I know.
posted by msali at 7:52 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by msali at 7:52 AM on July 1, 2011
Can you sing the rythym or the lyrics? If you have an iPhone you can try the app sound hound. If you don't you can upload the mp3 or email it to me and I'll try identifying it with that.
posted by zephyr_words at 7:58 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by zephyr_words at 7:58 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Sorry zephyr_words, it's been a week already now. I can't sing it. Furthermore, I wouldn't be able to reproduce the beat, and no one needs to be subjected to my crappy singing voice.
posted by msali at 8:02 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by msali at 8:02 AM on July 1, 2011
Maybe you can listen to the play network radio player and identify the song.
posted by zephyr_words at 8:13 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by zephyr_words at 8:13 AM on July 1, 2011
zephyr_words: "Maybe you can listen to the play network radio player and identify the song."
OP has said they've listened to that for hours and not spotted it. I clicked through and it seems to be a relatively small sample of their library.
posted by Happy Dave at 8:14 AM on July 1, 2011
OP has said they've listened to that for hours and not spotted it. I clicked through and it seems to be a relatively small sample of their library.
posted by Happy Dave at 8:14 AM on July 1, 2011
Could it be one of the remixes of Rob Thomas' Lonely No More
posted by FreezBoy at 8:21 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by FreezBoy at 8:21 AM on July 1, 2011
It's not this by Rob Thomas is it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7spBU4Yv8fE
posted by agress at 8:28 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by agress at 8:28 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Sorry, not Rob Thomas. It was DEFINITELY hip hop, and like I said, I have gone through every possible obvious iteration.
posted by msali at 8:34 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by msali at 8:34 AM on July 1, 2011
Hahaha — was it "Don't Leave Me" by Blackstreet? Doesn't really hit that whole "very contemporary" thing, but worth a shot.
posted by penduluum at 8:57 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by penduluum at 8:57 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: No, sorry. None of these. Think Beatnuts, think Tribe Called Quest. Think Beastie Boys. Think Blackalicious. Something super catchy and FAST, much faster beat than anything suggested so far. Then instead of rapping, singing.
You guys are awesome, though.
I forgot to mention, I have energized some of the kids at the Finish Line store to keep an ear out for me. Nothing has come up on that front either.
Lest you think I am seriously insane for spending so much time chasing down one song, let me just say this tune is really good (in my feeble brain).
posted by msali at 9:26 AM on July 1, 2011
You guys are awesome, though.
I forgot to mention, I have energized some of the kids at the Finish Line store to keep an ear out for me. Nothing has come up on that front either.
Lest you think I am seriously insane for spending so much time chasing down one song, let me just say this tune is really good (in my feeble brain).
posted by msali at 9:26 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for trying amicamentis, but that's not it either. I guess I can say that there wasn't much synthesizer in the song I am thinking of.
posted by msali at 9:44 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by msali at 9:44 AM on July 1, 2011
Could you go back to the place and ask one of the employees what it was? If it was an in-store CD they could easily tell you, and they could probably also tell you if it was playing from someone's iPod.
posted by wondermouse at 10:58 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by wondermouse at 10:58 AM on July 1, 2011
And I know you said you already tried calling the place, but maybe you'd have better luck if you physically go back in there at around the same time you were there when you heard the song, when the same employees might be there.
posted by wondermouse at 11:00 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by wondermouse at 11:00 AM on July 1, 2011
Another Level -Be alone no more
Sneaky Sound System - I just don't wanna be loved (possibly a male hiphop cover of this song where "in love" might have been misheard as "alone")
Ne-Yo - Lincoln Continental
Phyllis Hyman - Living All Alone (possible male hip hop cover/remake of this song, if the tune sounds familiar.
posted by samsara at 11:02 AM on July 1, 2011
Sneaky Sound System - I just don't wanna be loved (possibly a male hiphop cover of this song where "in love" might have been misheard as "alone")
Ne-Yo - Lincoln Continental
Phyllis Hyman - Living All Alone (possible male hip hop cover/remake of this song, if the tune sounds familiar.
posted by samsara at 11:02 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Zug, no dice, but thanks for trying.
Wondermouse, I went back the other day. The employees explained to me that they get a thumb drive with pre-loaded music every four to six weeks. They have no way of previewing tracks, plays are random, and I have about five kids who are gung ho to help me figure this out. They have my number and email address and have already contacted me with other guesses.
posted by msali at 11:04 AM on July 1, 2011
Wondermouse, I went back the other day. The employees explained to me that they get a thumb drive with pre-loaded music every four to six weeks. They have no way of previewing tracks, plays are random, and I have about five kids who are gung ho to help me figure this out. They have my number and email address and have already contacted me with other guesses.
posted by msali at 11:04 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: None of those samsara. Thanks for trying. I'm starting to get discouraged. Don't get me wrong - y'all have been great, but none of these are it.
posted by msali at 11:10 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by msali at 11:10 AM on July 1, 2011
Long shot, but maybe something like Kid Cudi - Day 'n' Nite or maybe a remix of it.
posted by Jacob G at 11:18 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by Jacob G at 11:18 AM on July 1, 2011
This may not help for awhile, but would they let you borrow/copy the flash drive once the 4-6 week cycle is up?
posted by amicamentis at 11:25 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by amicamentis at 11:25 AM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Shesaygo, I would have to have major skills to make SongTapper work for this song.
Sorry Jacob G, definitely not Kid Cudi, I know that song well
Amicamentis, the music/software and thumbdrive are all proprietary, I already asked.
Booksherpa, that's not it either.
Thanks everyone for trying!
posted by msali at 12:00 PM on July 1, 2011
Sorry Jacob G, definitely not Kid Cudi, I know that song well
Amicamentis, the music/software and thumbdrive are all proprietary, I already asked.
Booksherpa, that's not it either.
Thanks everyone for trying!
posted by msali at 12:00 PM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Nope and nope sleepcrime and illenion. No obvious autotune, and the tune was really upbeat.
posted by msali at 12:42 PM on July 1, 2011
posted by msali at 12:42 PM on July 1, 2011
Maybe you could make a Pandora channel seeded with songs similar to the one you heard? It's a slow method, but it could work...
posted by booksherpa at 12:54 PM on July 1, 2011
posted by booksherpa at 12:54 PM on July 1, 2011
Zac Poor - I don't want to be alone tonight?
Shai- I don't want to be alone - Remix?
posted by chrisulonic at 1:00 PM on July 1, 2011
Shai- I don't want to be alone - Remix?
posted by chrisulonic at 1:00 PM on July 1, 2011
Also, if you can get hold of someone's smartphone, you could try humming the melody of it in an app like Soundhound..
posted by samsara at 1:01 PM on July 1, 2011
posted by samsara at 1:01 PM on July 1, 2011
Did they tell you when they got that drop of music? Was it early in the cycle (so maybe a song released a month ago) or late in the cycle (so maybe a song released a few months ago.)
An additional aside, if you can get a hold of the thumbdrive, depending on the construction and organization of the files, you might be able to get to some information on there.
posted by Jacob G at 1:38 PM on July 1, 2011
An additional aside, if you can get a hold of the thumbdrive, depending on the construction and organization of the files, you might be able to get to some information on there.
posted by Jacob G at 1:38 PM on July 1, 2011
Perhaps you could ask Finish Line what their current playlist is?
posted by Thorzdad at 1:44 PM on July 1, 2011
posted by Thorzdad at 1:44 PM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Jacob G, they won't give it to me, already asked. The kids that work at the local store have all been great and really helpful, but they have no clue about the music, which is all provided by the Play Netowrk.
Thorzdad, you didn't notice, but I mentioned that I actually friended Finish Line on FB, and asked. They didn't have an answer.
posted by msali at 1:59 PM on July 1, 2011
Thorzdad, you didn't notice, but I mentioned that I actually friended Finish Line on FB, and asked. They didn't have an answer.
posted by msali at 1:59 PM on July 1, 2011
Chris Brown She Ain't You? Though that has a pretty distinctive MJ sample.
Was there anything else recognizable or distinctive about the song?
posted by janerica at 2:04 PM on July 1, 2011
Was there anything else recognizable or distinctive about the song?
posted by janerica at 2:04 PM on July 1, 2011
Definitely a long shot, but I Don't Wanna Dance - Eddy Grant?
posted by lioness at 3:04 PM on July 1, 2011
posted by lioness at 3:04 PM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Nope. None of those, sorry. To reiterate: hip hop beats and samples, male singer, no rapping, general feel of "Jenny from the Block" (or Beatnuts "Watch out now"). Super catchy hip hop.
posted by msali at 5:34 PM on July 1, 2011
posted by msali at 5:34 PM on July 1, 2011
Response by poster: Sorry Vindaloo, that's not it. I reposted this question to the Finish Line page on FB. We'll see if we get their attention. Barring that, I think that booksherpa's Pandora seeding is the best idea. I'm still holding out hope though...
posted by msali at 5:39 AM on July 2, 2011
posted by msali at 5:39 AM on July 2, 2011
keep us updated, msali!
posted by pintapicasso at 6:01 AM on July 7, 2011
posted by pintapicasso at 6:01 AM on July 7, 2011
Response by poster: God, I wish I had an answer for you pintapicasso. I called back Finish Line and FB'd them again. I think they are convinced I am just some crazy person at this point.
posted by msali at 8:21 PM on July 10, 2011
posted by msali at 8:21 PM on July 10, 2011
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posted by samsara at 7:39 AM on July 1, 2011