Tinchy Stryder: 'You're Not Alone'

Released on Monday, Oct 26 2009

Published Friday, Oct 9 2009, 09:05 BST | By Nick Levine | 21 comments

Since the start of the year, Tinchy Stryder's racked up three massive hits with three different partners - Taio, Dappy and Amelle - so there's a fairly obvious brick for critics to chuck at his window. 'You're Not Alone' could, therefore, be seen as a slightly unfortunate single choice. So heavily does it sample a certain '90s house classic that Stryder essentially duets with Olive singer Ruth-Ann Boyle on the chorus.

Then again, how could he bring himself to keep this as an album track? That whopping great chorus sounds as ace as ever, Stryder's rhymes are simple and good-natured ("By your side is where I'll stay 'til we're old and grey"), and Fraser T Smith's production gleams like the gold medallion Tinchy hangs round his neck. What this may lack in originality, it more than makes up for in pure pop appeal - something Stryder's showing quite a knack for this year.

> Click here to read our review of Tinchy Stryder's album

More: Tinchy Stryder, Music

Your Views

21 Comments

Your Responses

Ross, on December 20th, 2010
Hmm though it wasn't as good as other singles. It felt quite at the right time to releaase it all dark and misty :)

Tim, Llanberis, on October 30th, 2009
Seriously, can he not release one song that doesn't feature someone else's voice somewhere in it??? This song is poor and repetative, i can imagaine him more in a band, 'cause the only way he could make it to number one was with n-dubz, not forgetting his chart success with amelle, then this song, well the less said about it the better

Steph, Portsmouth, on October 30th, 2009
Shock horror an artist that has sampled another artists track? My goodness has this REALLY never happend before? give it up all you "RnB doesnt belong with Dance" really its happend before and it WILL happen again, I like this song, didnt at first but it grew on me and Ive grown to like it, I think Tinchy was brave sampling such a well known track and did a good job,

Iceman, Leeds, on October 30th, 2009
Congratulations you've mastered the art of talking over a song now learn to stand straight without sticking your arse out!

Ami, Manchester, on October 29th, 2009
What an insult to the original version. Grime and r'n'b do NOT go together.

Hannah, Manchester, on October 25th, 2009
I LOVE THIS SONG!! To all the haters this song has GREAT meaning, LISTEN to what he's saying!

Camilla, London, on October 24th, 2009
Great track - stop bashing Tinchy!!!

lauren london , on October 20th, 2009
i think the song is great i love tinchy and he makes some great songs

Lep, UK, on October 18th, 2009
people who buy this dreck shouldnt be allowed to vote

L, Boston, on October 15th, 2009
What are you talking about teenagers don't listen to 90's music anymore?. I'm a teenager with a good taste in music and I listen to the classics from the 90's as well as modern music stuff which has actually been written by the artist ( such as La roux ) Not this crap which has been stolen. Tinchy Stryder has just destroyed one of my favourite songs actually.

Billy-Joe Locke, UK, on October 14th, 2009
I disagree with this review. I think the song is boring and missing that spark that was in 'Never leave you' & 'Number 1'.

Deano, Nottingham, on October 12th, 2009
I love this song!! Made me remember how good Olive were!!

Rachel Liverpool, on October 11th, 2009
I proper love this song now :")) I never used too like, bu i do now! ;D Peace Out! <3333

Callum, UK, on October 10th, 2009
You're Not Alone with the beat of Number 1 over it . . . inspired . . . NOT. Terrible!!! - once again R'n'B has stolen from another genre of music and has the nerve to claim it's their own quality sound. Sickening. Enough said.

Ste, Manchester, on October 10th, 2009
4 stars?! Is that serious?! This is a poor attempt at a "cover" song. It sounds like some kid with a mic is just singing over the original song. What's the point in this song?! It seems to serve no purpose whatsoever. It doesn't even deserve half a star! I don't get how people are referring to it as his song. He has just added some half-arsed 'rap' over an old classic.

Makson, on October 10th, 2009
The good thing about this song is that it reminded juat how great the Olive original is so I went and downloaded that

Ben, Witney, on October 9th, 2009
This is the worst cover to a song ever!!!! He has complety mudered the Olive original!!! Clear off Tinchy you can't sing!

Katy, Manchester, on October 9th, 2009
I actually really like this track! I wasn't too fond of it when I first heard in on Catch 22 but it grew on me and I think it's one of Tinchy's best! I like how it has plenty of dance elements in it!

A, on October 9th, 2009
how can u say that it is a ruined classic. it may be in your eyes. bt teenagers these days we dont listen to the 90's music in fact we dont like it much. the changes which tinchy has made is what makes us like it!!! we are not in the 1990's!!!

Bob, on October 9th, 2009
It sounds really really cheap... travesty compared to the mastery of the original

Next 20 Responses