Am I Right?

"Am I Right?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in November 1991 in Europe and Canada as the third single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991). Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the ballad peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

This article is about the song by Erasure. For the popular music parody web site, see Am I Right.

"Am I Right?"
Single by Erasure
from the album Chorus
B-side
  • "Carry On Clangers"
  • "Let It Flow"
  • "Waiting for Sex"
  • "B3"
Released25 November 1991 (1991-11-25)[1]
Length4:18
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Martyn Phillips
Erasure singles chronology
"Love to Hate You"
(1991)		 "Am I Right?"
(1991)		 "Breath of Life"
(1992)
Music video
"Am I Right?" on YouTube
Am I Right?
EP by
Erasure
ReleasedDecember 1991 (1991-12)[2]
Length24:55
LabelMute
ProducerMartyn Phillips
Erasure chronology
Chorus
(1991)		 Am I Right?
(1991)		 Abba-esque
(1992)

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Hannsjörg Riemann from German Bravo gave it three out of three, declaring it as "one of the soulful numbers" on the Chorus album. He also remarked that Clarke and Bell is "on top form in terms of composition and vocals on great "old-fashioned" synth sounds."[3] Ned Raggett from AllMusic described it as a song that "reflects on love and aging with a gentle tone and soft hip-hop beat".[4] The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith felt it is "another story entirely." He added, "As my all-time favorite Erasure ballad, it has a tough chorus to memorize yet contains some wonderful imagery that pulls at the heartstrings."[5]

David Stubbs of Melody Maker described "Am I Right?" as "another licence to print money" and commented, "As with their last two or three efforts, Vince Clarke has bucked up his ideas a bit in the bleep and burble department, but Andy Bell's larynxy gurgle irritates as much as ever."[6] Barbara Ellen of NME viewed it as the "most melodramatic and ridiculous of torch songs". She noted the "slow, morbid chorus" and Bell's "appalling pitched" vocals.[7] Christopher Smith from Talk About Pop Music called the song "creepy and subdued", writing that it "takes the tone down but equally classy and thought-provoking."[8] Troy J. Augusto from Variety described it as "haunting".[9]

Chart performance

Upon its release, "Am I Right?" became the fifteenth consecutive top-20 song on the UK Singles Chart for Erasure, peaking at number 15. It also reached number nine in Ireland and number 21 in Austria. Shortly after the single release, the Am I Right? EP was released, which includes new songs and alternate versions of Erasure singles and album tracks. The EP peaked at number 22 in the UK.

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. It pictures Andy Bell walking down through Amsterdam and sitting down at the "Homomonument" (The Gays' Monument) near the Westerkerk. Vince Clarke is seen on a sailboat, sailing on the water in the Amsterdam canal system. The video was published on YouTube in September 2014, and as of November 2020, it had generated more than 578 000 views.

Track listings
  • 7-inch, Mute / MUTE134 (UK)
  • Cassette (CMUTE134)
  1. "Am I Right?"
  2. "Carry On Clangers" (edit)
  3. "Let It Flow"
  4. "Waiting for Sex" (edit)
  • 12-inch, Mute / 12MUTE134 (UK)
  1. "Am I Right?" (Dave Bascombe mix)
  2. "Carry On Clangers"
  3. "Let It Flow"
  4. "Waiting for Sex"
  • 12-inch, Mute / L12MUTE134 (UK)
  1. "Am I Right?" (The Grid mix)
  2. "Love to Hate You" (LFO Modulated mix)
  3. "Chorus" (Vegan mix)
  4. "B3"
  • CD, Mute / CDMUTE134 (UK)
  1. "Am I Right?"
  2. "Let It Flow"
  3. "Waiting for Sex"
  4. "Carry on Clangers"
  • CD EP, Mute / LCDMUTE134 (UK)
  1. "Am I Right?" (The Grid mix)
  2. "Love to Hate You" (LFO Modulated mix)
  3. "Chorus" (Vegan mix)
  4. "Perfect Stranger" (acoustic version)

Charts

Original release
Chart (1991–1992) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 21
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 43
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 15

Remix EP release
Chart (1992) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 22

References
  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 23 November 1991. p. 21.
  2. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 21 December 1991. p. 25.
  3. Riemann, Hannsjörg (January 1992). "Platten-News: Maxi-CDs". Bravo. p. 57. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Chorus". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  5. Smith, Michael R. (10 June 2007). "Chorus – Erasure". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  6. Stubbs, David (23 November 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 27.
  7. Ellen, Barbara (14 December 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 16.
  8. Smith, Christopher (14 February 2020). "Review: 'Chorus' (Deluxe Edition) – Erasure". Talk About Pop Music. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  9. Augusto, Troy J. (23 November 1992). "Erasure". Variety. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  10. "Erasure – Am I Right?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 37.
  12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Am I Right". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
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