Jump to content

Never Say Never (Basement Jaxx song)

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Never Say Never"
Single by Basement Jaxx featuring ETML
from the album Junto
Released27 June 2014 (2014-06-27)
Genre
Length4:23
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Simon Ratcliffe
  • Felix Buxton
  • Elliot Marshall
Producer(s)Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx singles chronology
"Back 2 the Wild"
(2013) 		"Never Say Never"
(2014) 		"Galactical"
(2014)
ETML singles chronology
"Bind Me"
(2013) 		"Never Say Never"
(2014)

"Never Say Never" is a song by the British electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. Featuring vocals from Elliot Marshall (credited under the stage name "ETML"), it was written by Simon Ratcliffe, Felix Buxton and Marshall. A soulful disco, house, R&B pop song, it was compared to the works of artists including Calvin Harris, SBTRKT, Womack & Womack and Gavin DeGraw, and labels such as Ministry of Sound and West End Records. It was released on 27 June 2014, as a single off their 2014 album Junto. An accompanying music video premiered on 21 July. Remixes by Tiësto, MOTi, Gotsome Bring It Back, Wayward and Mark Knight were also issued, as well as an extended mix of the original song.

"Never Say Never" was well received by critics, with praise going towards the group's roots that never made the sound too dated. It was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Recording at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. In the group's home country, it reached number 18 on the UK Indie Chart. Elsewhere it became a number-one hit on the American Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and the duo's fourth song to top that chart. It also appeared on record charts in Australia, Belgium and Japan.

Production and composition

[edit]

"Never Say Never" was written by Simon Ratcliffe, Felix Buxton and Elliot Marshall. It was produced by the former two, with Baunz handling co-production. In addition to the lead vocals from Marshall (who is credited under "ETML"), the track also features backing vocals from Yzabel, as well as kids chorus vocals from Amara Charles, Kiarah and Shamouy Mills-Foster.[1] It is a soulful mid-tempo disco house R&B pop song.[2][3][4] Introduced with "deceptively cinematic strings" and a "vintage, slightly dusty" piano,[5][6] "dub-leaning" bass and drums are also present in the arrangement.[6] Many critics noted it to be more relaxed and less cartoonishness than many of Basement Jaxx's other songs.[4]

Benjamin Aspray, a writer for PopMatters, compared it to records released by Ministry of Sound and West End Records.[7] Adam Workman, in his review for the Abu Dhabi newspaper The National, noted it to be in the style of Calvin Harris,[8] while Sean Thomas of Drowned in Sound and entertainment.ie's Rory Cashin described it as a SBTRKTy track.[9][10] The 405 author Lyle Bignon said the song "take[s] us back to a warehouse somewhere in Brixton circa 1998, rushing hard and loving the vibe along with another five hundred party heads."[11] Jon O'Brien of Mimo said the melody might've been taken from the song "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack.[12]

Release

[edit]

The original mix of "Never Say Never" was initially released worldwide on 27 June 2014,[6] and was sent to dance/EDM stations on 1 July.[13] It is a single off their sixth studio album Junto where it is listed as the fourth track.[1] Special editions of the album have also came with an extended mix of the song.[14] An accompanying music video, written and directed by Saman Kesh, premiered on 21 July 2014. In the video, Japanese scientists make a robot that can twerk.[15] Tiësto's remix with MOTi was released on 22 July.[16] The original track came out with the Gotsome Bring It Back and Wayward remixes in digital stores on 15 August.[17] On 2 September, Mart Knight's remix of the song was released.[18]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Never Say Never" earned positive reviews from critics. Angus Fitz-Bugden, in a Renowned for Sound article reviewing the single, gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five, praising the "vulnerable sensuality" of ETML's vocal performance and writing that Basement Jaxx "have managed to stay true to the sound that earned them their place with fans worldwide but without sounding dated."[5] James West of DIY called it an "undeniably an instantly-rousing summer smash in waiting, even if vocal sensation [ETML] makes blatant advances towards that already-fiercely-competitive boyish soul futurist throne (watch out Sam Smith, John Newman et al)."[19] In an AllMusic review, Heather Phares honored it as a "AMG pick track", opining the duo's roots present "never feels too self-conscious".[20] Stereogum's Tom Breihan wrote that the song proved "their fundamentals are still strong".[4] On 7 July 2014, Digital Spy staff members Lewis Corner and Amy Davidson named "Never Say Never" one of the "10 tracks you need to hear", writing that "Waves of signature Basement Jaxx beats washing over distinctive dance hooks affirm that time lapse aside, the British pair are still reigning over their genre."[21]

Writing for musicOMH, Larry Day described it as "big, stadium-y and has a lovely R&B vocal line."[22] Spin writer Colin Stutz highlighted the hook of the song that was "ripe for raving", and described it as "just plain blissful." He also praised the group's maturity present in the song.[2] Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound assumed that "One could easily enjoy this ditty with a nice afternoon mocaccino and some crackers",[6] while NME's called it "proof that hooky house doesn't have to be totally cheesy".[23] On the more mixed side, Nate Patrin of Pitchfork called the titular chorus of "Never Say Never" "relatively lacking in that giddy sense of control loss."[24] John Daniel Bull, in his review for The Line of Best Fit, explained the song "combine bolshie beats with '90s house keys, and could quite easily soundtrack a Brit's week in Ibiza or Ayia Napa, but so could a prime example of something Example churned out in an evening".[25]

At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015, "Never Say Never" received a nomination for the Best Dance/Electronic Recording category, but it lost to Clean Bandit's "Rather Be".[26]

Chart performance

[edit]

On the UK Indie Chart, "Never Say Never" peaked at number 18.[27] It reached number seven and 14 on the Belgian Ultratip chart, and also 24 and 20 on the dance chart, in Flanders and Wallonia respectively.[28][29] In the United States, it became a topper of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It was their fourth in their entire career and also their first in 14 years since "Bingo Bango" was number one in July 2000.[30] It was also in the top 20 of the Dance/Electronic Songs chart, where it peaked at number 18.[31] In Japan, it had a peak of number 68 on the Japan Hot 100,[32] and was also number ten on the Overseas chart.[33] The single packaged with Mark Knight, Got Some, Wayward and instrumental mixes of the song reached number 15 on the Australian ARIA club chart.[34]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from liner notes of Junto.[1]

  • Basement Jaxx – songwriting, production
  • Songwriting, vocals – ETML
  • Co-production – Baunz
  • Mixing – Alex Evans, Duncan F. Brown
  • Background vocals – Yzabel
  • Kids chorus vocals – Amara Charles, Kiarah and Shamouy Mills-Foster

Charts

[edit]

Release history

[edit]
Release history and formats for "Never Say Never"
Country Date Version Format Label Ref.
Various 27 June 2014 Original version
Atlantic Jaxx [6]
United States 1 July 2014 Dance/EDM Radio PIAS [13]
22 July 2014 Tiësto and MOTi Remix Digital download Atlantic Jaxx [16]
United Kingdom 28 July 2014 [40]
15 August 2014
  • Extended mix
  • Gotsome Bring It Back
  • Wayward remix
 [17]
United States 19 August 2014
  • Original version
  • Gotsome Bring It Back
  • Wayward remix
 [41]
2 September 2014 Mark Knight Remix [18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Junto (Media notes). Basement Jaxx. Atlantic Jaxx Recordings Ltd. 2014. PIASL138CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b Stutz, Colin (27 June 2014). "Basement Jaxx Share Soul-Freeing 'Never Say Never'". Spin. SpinMedia. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. ^ Zaleski, Annie (26 August 2014). "Electro pioneers Basement Jaxx color between the lines, with uneven results". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (27 June 2014). "Basement Jaxx – "Never Say Never" (Feat. ETML)". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  5. ^ a b Fitz-Bugden, Angus (1 August 2014). "Single Review: Basement Jaxx – 'Never Say Never' (feat. ETML)". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e Coplan, Chris (27 June 2014). "Listen: Basement Jaxx's new song "Never Say Never"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  7. ^ Aspray, Benjamin (26 August 2014). "Basement Jaxx: Junto". PopMatters. PopMatters Media, Inc. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  8. ^ Workman, Adam (8 September 2014). "Album review: Basement Jaxx – Junto". The National. Abu Dhabi: Mubadala Development Company. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  9. ^ Thomas, Sean (18 August 2014). "Album Review: Basement Jaxx – Junto". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  10. ^ Cashin, Rory (20 August 2014). "Album Review: Basement Jaxx – 'Junto'". entertainment.ie. The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  11. ^ Bignon, Lyle (12 September 2014). "Basement Jaxx – Junto". The 405. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  12. ^ O'Brien, Jon (26 August 2014). "Basement Jaxx "Junto" – Album Review". Mimo. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Dance/EDM Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Junto (Special Edition) by Basement Jaxx". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Basement Jaxx – Never Say Never ft. ETML". Basement Jaxx VEVO. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Never Say Never (Tiesto and Moti Remix) – Single by Basement Jaxx". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Never Say Never – Single by Basement Jaxx". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Never Say Never (Mark Knight Remix) – Single by Basement Jaxx". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  19. ^ West, James (22 August 2014). "Basement Jaxx - Junto". DIY. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  20. ^ Phares, Heather. "Junto – Basement Jaxx". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  21. ^ Corner, Lewis; Davidson, Amy (7 July 2014). "Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear – Ariana Grande, Nile Rodgers". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  22. ^ Day, Larry (25 August 2014). "Basement Jaxx – Junto". musicOMH. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  23. ^ Cottingham, Chris (21 August 2014). "Basement Jaxx – 'Junto'". NME. IPC Media (Inspire). Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  24. ^ Patrin, Nate (27 August 2014). "Basement Jaxx: Junto". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  25. ^ Daniel Bull, John (19 August 2014). "Basement Jaxx – Junto". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  26. ^ "Grammy awards 2015: list of winners". The Guardian. 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  27. ^ a b "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  28. ^ a b "Basement Jaxx – Never Say Never" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  29. ^ a b "Basement Jaxx – Never Say Never" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  30. ^ Murray, Gordon (12 September 2014). "Ariana Grande, ODESZA Own No. 1s On Dance Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Basement Jaxx Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  32. ^ a b "Basement Jaxx Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  33. ^ a b "Hot Overseas". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  34. ^ a b "Issue #1274" (PDF). ARIA Report. ARIA Charts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-30. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  35. ^ "Basement Jaxx – Never Say Never" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  36. ^ "Basement Jaxx – Never Say Never" (in French). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  37. ^ "Basement Jaxx Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  38. ^ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  39. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  40. ^ "Never Say Never (Tiesto and Moti Remix) – Single by Basement Jaxx". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. 28 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  41. ^ "Never Say Never – Single by Basement Jaxx". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Never_Say_Never_(Basement_Jaxx_song)&oldid=1303618684"