You Are (Atomic Kitten song)

"You Are" was written by Paul Gendler, Wayne Hector, Ali Tennant, and Steve Mac and originally intended to be recorded by Irish boy band Westlife.[3] When Atomic Kitten recorded the song at Rokstone Studios in London, England,[4] it was introduced on the 2001 re-issue of their debut album Right Now. The album version of "You Are" differs from the single version, as the single version features newly recorded vocals and a new musical arrangement. On the album version, Natasha Hamilton performs every solo in the song. However, for the single version, Liz McClarnon performs half of the verses, whilst Jenny Frost performs the background vocals and responses.[2] British songwriter Tracy Ackerman provided backing vocals on the song.[3]

"You Are" became a top-20 hit in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 13, staying in the top 50 for 15 weeks—a third of which were in the top 20;[5] it was the song's highest peak anywhere. The song also did well in Flemish Belgium, where it peaked at number 24. It stayed in the chart for 11 weeks.[6] It was their fourth longest single in the chart over there, lasting eleven weeks in the top 50.[6] In Wallonia, the song was less successful, only reaching number nine on the Ultratip chart, which roughly corresponds to number 59 overall.[6] In neighbouring Netherlands, the song debuted at number 84 and climbed to its peak of number 35 five weeks later, totalling 10 weeks on the chart.[7] In Sweden, "You Are" peaked at number 52 on its second week in, but only stayed on the chart for three weeks.[8]

In German-speaking Europe, the song managed to peak at number 61 in Germany.[9] In Switzerland, the song peaked at number 40 and stayed on the chart for 16 weeks—the longest out of any country it was released in.[10] The song debuted and peaked at number 46 in Austria, and lasted seven weeks on the chart.[11] In France, it attained a peak of number 86, subsequently lasting three weeks in the top 100.[12] Although "You Are" was initially planned to be released in the UK, it was eventually not released as a single since Innocent Records feared that the band would not be able to promote the single as properly as necessary to guarantee a top-10 entry due to ongoing overseas touring with "Whole Again."[2] However, the song did make it into the top 100 due to imports, peaking at number 90 on the UK Singles Chart.[13]

Plans to film a video at the Grand Central Station were scrapped due to the 11 September attacks.[14]

An accompanying music video for "You Are" was originally planned to be filmed at Grand Central Station in Midtown Manhattan, New York City in early September 2001;[14] however, plans had to be scrapped in the wake of the 11 September attacks.[14] While it was reported that Atomic Kitten were expected to film the video at railway stations in the United Kingdom instead, portions for the video were eventually filmed on a specially built stage set.[14] Their fifth collaboration with director Phil Griffin,[15] the visuals for "You Are" depict the group on a glass stage with a plain white background and two large speakers either side of the stage. The video starts off with the group in a line sitting on chairs. A basic dance routine accompanies the chorus. After the chorus, the group walk about on the stage at a non stylised pace, and doing the jog moves on the stage, and close-ups of the members' eyes, lips and faces conclude the video. Throughout the video, various scenes of a young couple are also spliced in.

Notes

• ^{^[a]} denotes additional producer

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Right Now.[18][3]

Studio

• Recorded and mixed at Rokstone Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Official site