I'm Not the Man I Used to Be

"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" is a song by British pop-rock band Fine Young Cannibals. It was released as the fourth single from the band's 1988 album The Raw & the Cooked. The song reached the top 40 charts in the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria, and the Netherlands. It also appeared on the CD version of the compilation album Now 16.

"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be"
Single by Fine Young Cannibals
from the album The Raw & the Cooked
B-side"Motherless Child"
Released1989
GenrePop rock
Length4:20
LabelI.R.S.
Songwriter(s)Roland Gift, David Steele
Producer(s)Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals singles chronology
"Don't Look Back"
(1989)
"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be"
(1989)
"I'm Not Satisfied"
(1990)

Composition

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Written by lead vocalist Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" contains prominent drum beats with keyboards and finger-picked guitar accompaniment. The song utilises, throughout the track, a sample from "Funky Drummer" by James Brown.[1] Allmusic writer Jo-Ann Greene described the song as having "a futuristic jungle beat and an almost housey production".[2]

Release and reception

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"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" entered the UK Singles Chart in November 1989 and spent eight weeks on the chart, peaking at number 20.[3] The song also peaked at number 29 in Austria and the Netherlands,[4] number 35 in Canada,[5] and number 54 in the United States.[6] Dave Thompson of Allmusic praised Gift for "[h]is introspective lyrics and almost wistful performance".[1] The song was featured in a 2009 episode of the American television series Nip/Tuck on FX.[7]

Track listing

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7" Vinyl
  1. "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" - 4:20
  2. "Motherless Child" - 2:33
12" Vinyl, CD Maxi-Single
  1. "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" (7" Mix) - 4:20
  2. "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" (12" Remix) - 4:42
  3. "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" (Instrumental) - 4:25
  4. "Motherless Child" - 2:37

Chart performance

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Chart (1989) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[3] 20
Austrian Singles Chart[4] 29
Canadian Singles Chart[5] 35
Dutch Top 40[4] 29
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] 54
U.S. Dance Music/Club Play[6] 8

References

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  1. ^ a b Thompson, Dave. ""I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" - Song Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  2. ^ Greene, Jo-Ann. "The Raw and the Cooked - Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  3. ^ a b Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book Of The British Charts (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 408. ISBN 978-1-84449-058-5.
  4. ^ a b c "Fine Young Cannibals - 'I'm Not the Man I Used to Be'". Ultratop. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  5. ^ a b "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. 51 (7). RPM Music Publications Ltd. 1989-12-16. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  6. ^ a b c "Fine Young Cannibals - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  7. ^ "Soundtracks for Nip/Tuck - Gene Shelly". IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 2010-01-18.