I'm Not Scared (song)

"I'm Not Scared" is a 1988 song recorded by Patsy Kensit’s British pop band Eighth Wonder. The group's fifth single, the first single from the album Fearless, was released in 1988. It achieved success in France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and the UK, where it was a top ten hit. Written by the Pet Shop Boys, the original version contains several words in French. "J'ai pas peur" is the French adaptation of "I'm Not Scared" and is featured as the B-side of the 7" and 12" singles,. The 12" "disco mix" combines the two versions into one long mix.

"I'm Not Scared"
Single by Eighth Wonder
from the album Fearless
B-side	"J'ai pas peur"
Released	20 February 1988
Recorded	PWL Studios, London, late 1987 – early 1988
Genre	Synth-pop[1] dance-pop[2]
Length	4:30 (album) 3:49 (single) 7:58 (disco mix)
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	Neil Tennant Chris Lowe
Producer(s)	Phil Harding Neil Tennant Chris Lowe
Eighth Wonder singles chronology
"When The Phone Stops Ringing" (1987) "I'm Not Scared" (1988) "Cross My Heart" (1988)
Music video
"I'm Not Scared" on YouTube

Pet Shop Boys also released their own version of the song, with Neil Tennant vocals, on the album Introspective.

Slant Magazine ranked the song 62nd in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, adding: "'I'm Not Scared' is unmistakably a Lowe/Tennant composition, with sharp staccato synth lines, a fluctuating bassline, histrionic lyrics ending in curly, figurative question marks (...), and – on the extended Disco Version – dramatic string stabs".[3]

Cover versions

"I'm Not Scared"
Song by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Introspective
Released	1988
Genre	Synthpop
Length	7:23
Label	Parlophone Records / EMI Records
Songwriter(s)	Neil Tennant Chris Lowe

• The Pet Shop Boys included their own version of the song on their 1988 album Introspective.
• Swedish Pet Shop Boys tribute group West End Girls covered the song for their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.

Track listings

• 7" single

1. "I'm Not Scared" – 3:49
2. "J'ai pas peur" – 5:48

• 10" single

1. "I'm Not Scared" (10" remix) – 5:34
2. "J'ai pas peur" – 5:48

• 12" maxi
• CD maxi

1. "I'm Not Scared" (disco mix) – 7:58
2. "I'm Not Scared" – 4:30 (album version)
3. "J'ai pas peur" – 5:48

• CD single: Promo

1. "I'm Not Scared" (radio mix) – 3:49
2. "I'm Not Scared" (long euro mix) – 7:58
3. "I'm Not Scared" ("little" Louie Vega mix club mix) – 5:17

• 12" maxi: Promo

1. "I'm Not Scared" ("little" Louie Vega mix) – 7:17
2. "I'm Not Scared" (dub version) – 4:55
3. "J'ai pas peur" (French version) – 5:48
4. "I'm Not Scared" (long euro mix) – 7:58
5. "Baby Baby" (dusted mix) – 6:00

Credits

Original version Artwork by Stylorouge Photography by Eamon J. McCabe Produced by Pet Shop Boys and Phil Harding Programmed by Ian Curnow Written by Tennant and Lowe

Little Louie Vega mix & Dub version Edited by Tony Moran Assistant: Chris Trevett Recording by Mike Rogers Remixed by Hugo Dwyer Keyboards by Mac Quayle Produced by "Little" Louie Vega

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1988) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 20 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 16 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[6] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 4 France (SNEP)[8] 8 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 14 Italy (Musica e dischi)[10] 1 Japan (Oricon)[11] 100 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 27 Netherlands (Tipparade)[13] 4 Spain (AFYVE)[14] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 7 West Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 5

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 7 West Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 51

References

1. Blythe, Daniel (2002). The Encyclopaedia of Classic 80s Pop. Allison & Busby. p. 133. ISBN 0-7490-0534-3. Yes, it's the one with Patsy Kensit—who, halfway through 'Im Not Scared', an enjoyable piece of atmospheric synth-pop, delivers some French lyrics in a deliciously good accent.
2. Arena, James (2017). "Appendix: The Record Shop–Noteworthy Tracks". Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop: 32 International Music Legends Discuss Their Careers. McFarland & Company. pp. 225–230. ISBN 978-1-4766-7142-0.
3. "100 Greatest Dance Songs". Slant Magazine. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
4. "Austriancharts.at – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
5. "Ultratop.be – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
6. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5 no. 22. 28 May 1988. p. 24. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
7. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
8. "Lescharts.com – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in French). Les classement single.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm Not Scared". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
10. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5. 28 May 1988. p. 28. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
11. Okamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-088-4.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
13. "Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
14. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared". Swiss Singles Chart.
16. "Eighth Wonder: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
18. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1988". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
19. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 15 December 2020.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics