Still Alive – the Remixes
Encyclopedia
Still Alive: The Remixes is a remix album
comprising different versions of the song "Still Alive" by Swedish pop rock
singer Lisa Miskovsky
. It was released by Artwerk on 11 November 2008 to coincide with the North America
n release date of Mirror's Edge
, an action-adventure
video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE) for which "Still Alive" had been chosen as the main theme.
, who have also written material for artists such as Britney Spears
, Shayne Ward
and Westlife
; Miskovsky wrote the lyrics. The song and several of its remixes have been featured in several previews, first appearing in a teaser trailer
released on 6 May 2008. , a music video
directed by Matthew Stawski and featuring Miskovsky has been produced for the song in Los Angeles
, California
.
, Spence Abbott praises several of the remix
es, saying that each remixer "has left their own unique stamp on the material, improving it by tweaking it as they saw fit". However, he also points out that "it's the remixes that really score here, taking an otherwise mundane generi-pop track and turning it upside down".
. It peaked at number 29, and remained in the chart for a total of three weeks.
and is packaged as a bonus disc for the PC version of the game, the other releases are available in various formats including 12" record
and CD
, and for download from various online retailers including iTunes
, eMusic
and Amazon
. The original version of "Still Alive" was written by Arnthor Birgisson, Rami Yacoub and Lisa Miskovsky, and was produced by Birgisson and Yacoub.
Remix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
comprising different versions of the song "Still Alive" by Swedish pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
singer Lisa Miskovsky
Lisa Miskovsky
Lisa Miskovsky is a Swedish musician. Her mother is Finnish and her father is from the Czech Republic.-Biography:...
. It was released by Artwerk on 11 November 2008 to coincide with the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n release date of Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge is a single-player first person action-adventure video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts. The game was announced on July 10, 2007, and was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2008. A Microsoft Windows version was released...
, an action-adventure
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE) for which "Still Alive" had been chosen as the main theme.
Background and writing
The song "Still Alive" was recorded exclusively for the video game Mirror's Edge. The music was written and produced by Arnthor Birgisson and Rami YacoubRami Yacoub
Rami Yacoub is a Swedish music producer and songwriter of Palestinian descent, and former member of the successful songwriting/production houses Cheiron Studios and Maratone...
, who have also written material for artists such as Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
and Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
; Miskovsky wrote the lyrics. The song and several of its remixes have been featured in several previews, first appearing in a teaser trailer
Teaser trailer
A teaser campaign is an advertising campaign which typically consists of a series of small, cryptic, challenging advertisements that anticipate a larger, full-blown campaign for a product launch or otherwise important event. These advertisements are called "teasers" or "teaser ads"...
released on 6 May 2008. , a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
directed by Matthew Stawski and featuring Miskovsky has been produced for the song in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Critical reception
Still Alive: The Remixes has received some favourable reviews. While reviewing the album for IGN MusicIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, Spence Abbott praises several of the remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es, saying that each remixer "has left their own unique stamp on the material, improving it by tweaking it as they saw fit". However, he also points out that "it's the remixes that really score here, taking an otherwise mundane generi-pop track and turning it upside down".
Chart performance
A week after Still Alive: The Remixes was released, the lead track entered the Swedish Singles ChartSverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....
. It peaked at number 29, and remained in the chart for a total of three weeks.
| Charts (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
29 |
Track listings
Three versions of Still Alive: The Remixes have been released, including a promotional release and a North American release containing four additional versions of the lead track. The promotional release is available for critical review via downloadMusic download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
and is packaged as a bonus disc for the PC version of the game, the other releases are available in various formats including 12" record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, and for download from various online retailers including iTunes
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
, eMusic
EMusic
eMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
and Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
. The original version of "Still Alive" was written by Arnthor Birgisson, Rami Yacoub and Lisa Miskovsky, and was produced by Birgisson and Yacoub.
Standard release
North American release
Promotional release
Personnel
The following people contributed to Still Alive: The Remixes.- Lisa MiskovskyLisa MiskovskyLisa Miskovsky is a Swedish musician. Her mother is Finnish and her father is from the Czech Republic.-Biography:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Arnthor BirgissonArnthor BirgissonArnthor Birgisson born on February 12, 1976, in Reykjavik, Iceland, is a Swedish songwriter and producer. His music can be described as a mixture of pop and R&B...
– writerSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Rami YacoubRami YacoubRami Yacoub is a Swedish music producer and songwriter of Palestinian descent, and former member of the successful songwriting/production houses Cheiron Studios and Maratone...
– writer, producer - Marco BenassiBenny BenassiMarco Benassi , better known as Benny Benassi, is a Grammy Award winning Italian disc jockey and record producer of electro house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction"...
– remixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song .... - Matthias PaulPaul van DykMatthias Paul, better known by his stage name Paul van Dyk is a German Grammy Award-winning Electronic Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer...
– remix - Armand Van HeldenArmand Van HeldenArmand Van Helden is a record producer, DJ and remixer whose biggest commercial successes came from his remixes of the 1996 Tori Amos song "Professional Widow" , which reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1997, and his own track "U Don't Know Me ", which went to number 1...
– remix - Tom HolkenborgJunkie XLTom Holkenborg , better known as Junkie XL or JXL, is a Dutch musician. He uses the name JXL in cases where the term "Junkie" might cause offense. XL is for "Xpanding Limits"....
– remix - TeddybearsTeddybearsTeddybears is a Swedish band formed in 1991, known for mixing pop, rock, hip-hop, electronica, reggae, punk and many other genres.-History:...
– remix
External links
- Official soundtrack website
- Still Alive: The Remixes at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Still Alive: The Remixes at MusicBrainzMusicBrainzMusicBrainz is a project that aims to create an open content music database. Similar to the freedb project, it was founded in response to the restrictions placed on the CDDB...