Dancing on My Own

* Single
* Acoustic
* Instrumental
* Tiësto Remix

## Single by Calum Scott

> I always give kudos to Robyn because without her and without having written the song—unbeknownst to her at the time—she's completely changed my life. I'm very proud to go around the world singing that song. And I hope she's happy to see that song come back to life again.
>
> Calum Scott to *Billboard*

"**Dancing on My Own**" is a song by Swedish pop singer Robyn, released on 20 April 2010 as the lead single from her fifth studio album, *Body Talk Pt. 1* (2010).

English singer-songwriter Calum Scott performed the song for his audition on ITV's Series 9 of *Britain's Got Talent* in 2015, receiving Simon Cowell's Golden Buzzer. The following year, he released his rendition of "Dancing on My Own" on 3 June 2016 through Capitol Records as his debut solo single, with production handled by John McIntyre. It charted globally, attaining eleven top ten chart positions in nine different countries, and became a sleeper hit in Europe. It sold over 1.2 million copies in the United Kingdom, peaked at No. 2 on the Official Top 40, and nominated for a BRIT Award, and became certified platinum in seven different countries. The accompanying music video premiered 14 June 2016, directed by Ryan Pallotta.

Scott noted to *Gay Times*, "I had reached out, but never managed to get hold of her. She did say to Patrick [Berger, a co-writer of the song] that she's given the thumbs up to my version, so I was like, 'Thank god! I can sleep easy'".

According to a source, Robyn stated, "I'm super happy for him to have the success and am pleased people got to know the song a little bit more".

## Background

In an interview, he said about his decision to cover Robyn:

>
> I discovered it while I was just having a play with some songs and trying to find a song to cover. I came across this version online, which was a really nice arrangement of the song and it was stripped back. I remember loving the original song but thought this was quite cool as a slow piano ballad version of it opposed to the dance version. I basically put a verse and a chorus down, just whatever came to mind at the time. I related to the song because I was single so it came very naturally. I did a version of it and I was quite happy with it. My mum is my biggest critic so I got her and my sister in my studio and asked them to listen to it. I played a verse and a chorus and they were in tears so I thought 'this is the song I need to be singing'. I'd already connected to it but to see other people connect to it in the same way was what drove me to do it. It seems to have been that kind of reaction across the world so I'm glad I (recorded) it". It was added in another statement, "I fell in love with the song instantly. I was about 21 when it was originally released, and it came at the height of me figuring out my personality".
>
>
>
>

He shared to *Atwood Magazine*, "When I first came to perform the song, it was because I was a massive fan of Robyn, a massive fan of the original and very much related to the lyrics as a gay man. I was always falling in love with the straight guy. I always watched the relationship bloom between the guy and the girl and I was never part of it which came with all the heartbreak and the sympathy. But, you know, I very much related to the lyrics and that stayed with me so years later when I came across a beautiful piano rendition, I already knew the song and sang a little bit on there and recorded it. I Just really connected with the piano and connected with the lyrics in a different sense. This was slowed down, it was a lot more raw and you listen to it in a different way. [...] One of the things I'm most proud of is that I deliberately made sure that this was my version; I made sure that the lyrics definitely remained in the vein of being in a gay man's perspective. 'I'm in the corner watching you kiss her and I'm not the guy you're taking home'. That was really important to me to keep that there, and the support I've had from taking that perspective has just been unreal".

## Credits and personnel

### Song

* Andrew Bolooki, Phil Shaouy – recording engineer
* Calum Scott – vocals
* Chris Worsey, Ian Burdge – cello
* Dan Ewin, William Delaney – assistant recording engineer
* Fraser T. Smith – acoustic guitar, piano, drum programming
* John Hanes – mixing engineer
* John McIntyre – producer, mixing engineer
* Louisa Fuller, Rick Koster, Richard George, Lucy Wilkins, Oli Langford, Alison Dods, Natalia Bonner, Nicky Sweeney – violin
* Manon Grandjean – engineer
* Patrik Berger – writer
* Rachel Robson, Reiad Chibah – viola
* Robin "Robyn" Carlsson – writer
* Richard Pryce – double bass
* Sally Herbert – conductor, string arranger
* Șerban Ghenea – mixing engineer

### Video

* Daniel Miranda – editor
* Gina Leonard, Targa Sahyoun – producer
* Ryan Hope – director of photography
* Ryan Pallotta – director

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

Somebody said you got a new friend

But does she love you better than I can?

And there's a big black sky over my town

I know where you're at, I bet she's around

And yeah I know it's stupid, but I just gotta see it for myself

[Chorus]

I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, oh oh oh

And I'm right over here, why can't you see me? Oh oh oh

And I'm giving it my all

But I'm not the guy you're taking home, oooh

I keep dancing on my own

[Verse 2]

I just wanna dance all night

And I'm all messed up, I'm so out of line, yeah

Stilettos and broken bottles

I'm spinning around in circles

[Chorus]

And I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, oh oh oh

And I'm right over here, why can't you see me? Oh oh oh

And I'm giving it my all

But I'm not the guy you're taking home, ooh

I keep dancing on my own

And oh, nah

[Bridge]

So far away, but still so near

The lights come on, the music dies

But you don't see me standing here

I just came to say goodbye

[Chorus]

I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, ohh

And I'm giving it my all

But I'm not the guy you're taking home, oooh

I keep dancing on my own

And oh, nah

Said I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, oh​ no

And I'm right over here, why can't you see me? Oh no

And I'm giving it my all

But I'm not the guy you're taking home, ooh

And I keep dancing on my own

[Outro]

So far away, but still so near

The lights come on, the music dies

But you don't see me standing here

## Gallery

Audio
* Original
* Acoustic
* Instrumental
* Tiësto Remix

Images
**@calumscott:** "NO WORDS. ❤️ @robynkonichiwa"
* 4 December 2018
* Instagram

Live Performances
* 1 Mic, 1 Take
* BBCRadio1
* Britain's Got Talent
* BRITs Nominations Show
* Good Morning America
* Special Anniversary Performance
* The Voice Australia

## References

1. ↑ Weatherby, Taylor (8 February 2017). "Calum Scott Talks New Track 'Rhythm Inside' & Staying True to Himself After 'Dancing On My Own' Success". *Billboard*.
2. ↑ Corner, Lewis (2 March 2018). "Calum Scott Reveals What Robyn Thinks of His Version of Dancing on My Own". *Gay Times*.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Holden, Steve (1 June 2020). "Dancing on My Own: The Story Behind Robyn's 2010 'Sad Banger'". *BBC*.
4. ↑ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (25 June 2016). "Calum Scott Interview". *Entertainment Focus*.
5. ↑ Pettican, Luke (20 March 2018). "Love, Lust, and Longing: A Conversation with Calum Scott". *Atwood Magazine*.
6. ↑ "Calum Scott (@calumscott)". *Instagram*. 4 December 2018.