Apr 13, 2005 Check out Souvenirs by Ian Pooley on Amazon Music. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon.com. Souvenirs will probably go down as one of Ian Pooley's most divisive releases. To be upfront, it's definitely not for everyone's tastes. Souvenirs is not an album built for hit singles. And it is certainly not recommended as an impulse buy based off a particular guest performer.
'Balmes (A Better Life)' | ||||
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Single by Ian Pooley featuring Esthero | ||||
from the album Since Then | ||||
Released | September 14 2001[1] | |||
Format | CD single[2] | |||
Recorded | 2000 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:39 (single version) 6:52 (album version) | |||
Label | V2 Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ian Pooley | |||
Ian Pooley singles chronology | ||||
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Esthero singles chronology | ||||
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'Balmes (A Better Life)' is a house song by German DJ Ian Pooley. Although an instrumental version of the song was featured on his 2001 album, Since Then, the single version includes vocals from Canadian singer/songwriter Esthero. The single version was released in 2001, with an accompanying animated music video.
Upon its release, the song was successful. It was a modest hit in the United Kingdom, where it became Pooley's second Top 75 hit and Esthero's first. The song became Pooley's second-highest peaking chart entry in the UK, and is today his third-highest peaking. The song was also successful on the US Dance Club Songs chart, on which it peaked at number 34 and gave Pooley his only American chart entry to date. It also became Esthero's highest-peaking single on the US dance chart until 'O.G. Bitch,' which topped the chart 3 years later.
- 1Background
- 2Reception
- 3Music video
Background[edit]
Composition[edit]
The song, which is done in filtered house style, includes flamenco guitars.[3] The song also features a plucked acoustic guitar.[4] Canadian singer/songwriter Esthero provides vocals for the single version of the song.[3]
Release[edit]
Two versions of the song exist: an instrumental version, which was included on his 2001 album Since Then;[5] and a single version, which was successful in the United States[6] and the United Kingdom,[7] and featured vocals from Canadian singer/songwriter Esthero.[8] The single version was also featured as a hidden track on some editions of Since Then.[5] A VHS single, featuring the song's music video, also received limited release.[9]
Reception[edit]
Critical[edit]
Billboard's Michael Paoletta praised the song as 'a fine merging' of house and flamenco guitars, also calling Esthero's vocals 'sublime' and adding that the song is 'perfect for beach-front, sunset soirees, peak-hour dancefloor action, or 'back to mine' interludes.' He also praised Faze Action's 'Never Coming Home' remix of the song.[3]
Commercial[edit]
The song was modestly successful, charting in the US and the UK.[6][7] In the UK, 'Balmes' debuted on the Official Singles Chart at number 65, on the chart dated November 8, 2001. The following week, it slid to number 95, then off of the chart completely. Upon its release, the song became Esthero's only charting single in the UK, and Ian Pooley's second-highest-peaking single. It remains his third highest peaking single in that country; his only higher-peaking singles are '900 Degrees,' which reached number 57, and 'Piha,' which reached peaked at number 53.[7]
The song was also a minor hit in the US, going into rotation on WENU, a college radio station,[10] and entering the American Dance Club Songs chart. The song debuted on the Dance Club Songs chart dated September 8, 2001, at number 50. It spent a total of 8 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 34.[6] It remained Esthero's highest-peaking song on the chart until 'O.G. Bitch' topped the chart three years later.[11]
Music video[edit]
Background[edit]
In June 2001, an accompanying music video, directed by Max Zimmerman and with production by German producers Fiftyeight,[12] was released.[13] It featured an animated Esthero singing the song, and a man falling asleep in a house, which floats off the ground. The video also features imagery of a dirigible floating through a city.[14]
Release[edit]
A VHS single of the song received release in the UK.[9] The video went into rotation on Kiss TV, a Spanish music video channel.[13]
Track listing[edit]
CD Single[2]
- Balmes (A Better Life) (Single Edit) — 3:46
- Balmes (A Better Life) (Never Coming Home Vocal Remix) — 7:04
- Balmes (Original Album Version) — 6:56
Charts[edit]
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[7] | 65 |
US Dance Club Songs[6] | 34 |
References[edit]
- ^'Balmes - Ian Pooley overview'. AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ ab'Product Overview'. Amazon. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ abcdPaoletta, Michael (14 July 2001). 'The Dance Trax Hot Plate'. Billboard. 113 (28): 52. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^Cisterna, Fred. 'Editorial Reviews -- Amazon.com'. Amazon. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ^ abBush, John. 'Ian Pooley Since Then review'. Allmusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ abcd'Esthero - search results'. Billboard.biz. Billboard. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ abcd'OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: BALMES'. Official Charts. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^'Ian Pooley feat. Esthero – Balmes (A Better Life)'. Discogs. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ ab'Ian Pooley – Balmes (A Better Life)'. Discogs. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^Balzarini, Andrew (Feb 17, 2003). 'Station Profile: WENU Vitals'. CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network (801).
- ^'Esthero chart search'. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^'Fiftyeight Overview'. MVDBase. ASG. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ ab'Ian Pooley feat. Esthero - Balmes/A Better Life'. MVDBase. ASG. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^'Ian Pooley Feat. Esthero - Balmes (A Better Life)'. YouTube. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
External links[edit]
- Official Music Video at YouTube
- Read full lyrics at MetroLyrics
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Balmes_(A_Better_Life)&oldid=931662915'
Birth name | Ian Pinnekamp |
---|---|
Born | 1973 (age 46–47) Germany |
Genres | House |
Occupation(s) | Record producer, DJ |
Years active | 1993–present |
Website | www.ianpooley.com |
Ian Pooley (born Ian Pinnekamp in 1973) is a German record producer and DJ. While incorporating samples of various musical genres, Pooley's creations are usually classified as house or tech house with Brazilian influence.
- 2Discography
Career[edit]
Pooley's music career began in 1993.[1] After a long stretch with V2 Records in which Pooley released several very successful[citation needed] albums (Meridian and Since Then) Pooley left V2 and started his own record company, Pooled Music, in 2003.[1]
Ian Pooley has also cited on various albums (Brazilution 5.3 and Souvenirs being two) that he had an audible 'click' when listening to Brazilian music at a night club.[citation needed] As such, a lot of his music has a noticeable Brazilian flavor to it. He has incorporated artists like Rosanna and Zelia and veteran musician Marcos Valle in some of his works.
In addition to original works, Pooley has remixed artists such as Deee-Lite, The Cardigans, Daft Punk, Cirque du Soleil, Carl Cox and Bob Sinclar.[2]
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
- 1993 The Latest Adventures of Kool Killer, as Space Cube
- 1995 Relations
- 1996 The Times
- 1998 Meridian
- 1999 The Allnighter/Calypso
- 2000 Since Then
- 2002 The IP Series
- 2004 Souvenirs
- 2005 A Subterranean Soundtrack
- 2008 In Other Words
- 2013 What I Do
Singles[edit]
- Ian Pooley
- 1993 'Limited Edition'
- 1994 'Pulse Code EP', as Ian Pooley & Alec Empire (with Alec Empire)
- 1994 'Roller Skate Disco'
- 1994 'Twin Gods EP'
- 1995 'Twin Gods Vol. 2'
- 1995 'Celtic Cross EP'
- 1995 'Celtic Cross Remixes'
- 1995 'My Anthem'
- 1995 'Today'
- 1996 'Chord Memory'
- 1996 'Two Space Cowboys on a [Bad] Trip to Texas', as Ian Pooley & The Jaguar (with Alec Empire)
- 1996 'What's Your Number'
- 1997 'Calypso EP'
- 1997 'Gimme Sound'
- 1997 'Higgledy Piggedly'
- 1998 'Followed'
- 1998 'Loopduelle'
- 1998 'Rock Da Discoteque EP'
- 1998 'What's Your Number' (re-release)
- 1999 'Coldwait'
- 2000 '900 Degrees'
- 2000 'Coração Tambor' (with Rosanna & Zélia)
- 2000 'The Allnighter EP'
- 2001 'Balmes (A Better Life)' (with Esthero)
- 2002 'Traffic'
- 2002 'The Fly Shuffle'
- 2002 'Niteflite'
- 2002 'Missing You'
- 2002 'Ready to Flow'
- 2002 'Piha', as Ian Pooley & Magik J (with Magik J)
- 2003 'Here We Go!'
- 2003 'Heke', as Ian Pooley & Magik J (with Magik J)
- 2004 'Searchin'
- 2004 'Heaven' (with Jade and Danni'elle)
- 2005 'Samo Iluzija'
- 2006 'Higgledy Piggedly 2006'
- 2006 'Celtic Cross 2006'
- 2007 'All Nite'
- Ides
- 1994 'Sweet & Sour EP'
- 1996 'Plastered EP'
- 1996 'Elastic EP'
- 1998 'Limer'
- 2005 'Right in the Night EP'
- Space Cube
- All are collaborations with DJ Tonka
- 1991 'Space Cube EP'
- 1991 'Sub Audible'
- 1992 'Kool Killer EP'
- 1992 'Kool Killer Vol. 2'
- 1993 'Kool Killer Vol. 3'
- 1993 'Kool Killer Mixes EP'
- 1993 'Unreleased Project EP'
- 1993 'The Latest Adventures of Kool Killer EP'
- 1994 'Dschungelfieber'
- 1994 'Inbound/Outbound'
- 1995 'Kommerz Killer/Big Bam Bam'
- 1997 'Unreleased Space Cube Tracks'
- T'N'I
- All are collaborations with DJ Tonka
- 1991 'Low Mass EP'
- 1991 'Trip Men'
- 1991 'Do You Still Care' (with Marie Pullins)
- 1992 'Beam EP'
- 1993 'Depart EP'
- 1993 'Dream Team EP'
- 1993 'I Want To Be Free'
- 1994 'Mad Situation/Be Straight'
- Other aliases
- 1991 'Emperor/Daylight', as Outrage (with DJ Tonka)
- 1993 'The Modular', as The Modulor
- 1996 'Next to Nowhere', as Ansicht
- 1996 'Skippin' EP', as John Skipper Trax
- 1996 'Roll With It!', as The Low Frequency Band
- 1996 'Ice Fractions 1', as Silvershower
- 1996 'Ice Fractions 2', as Silvershower
- 1997 'Enlite EP', as Bluelite
- 1999 'Enlite Juice', as Bluelite
- 1999 'Valle Valle!', as Pinnchiky'
- 2001 'Viewing a Decade EP', as Quiet Daze
- 2002 'Skippin' EP', as John Skipper Trax (re-release)
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Ian Pooley's Debut Label Compilation 'Pooled 25''. Skiddle.com. 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^'A wave of new energy'. Vijesti. Podgorica: Visit Montenegro. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
External links[edit]
- Ian Pooley discography at Discogs
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ian_Pooley&oldid=933721568'