Pieces of Me

This article is about the Ashlee Simpson song. For other uses, see Pieces of Me (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Piece of Me.
"Pieces of Me"
Single by Ashlee Simpson
from the album Autobiography
B-side
  • "Better Off"
    (Canadian version)
  • "Shadow" / "Autobiography" / "La La" / "Better Off" (Snippet Medley)
    (UK version)
Released June 29, 2004 (2004-06-29)
Format
Recorded 2004;
Henson Recording Studio
(Hollywood, California)
Genre Pop rock
Length 3:37 (album version)
3:13 (radio edit)
Label Geffen
Writer(s)
Producer(s) John Shanks
Ashlee Simpson singles chronology
"Pieces of Me"
(2004)		 "Shadow"
(2004)
Audio sample
file info · help

"Pieces of Me" is a song by American pop/rock singer Ashlee Simpson and the first single from her début album, Autobiography (2004). The song, which was jointly written and composed by Simpson, Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks, and produced by Shanks,[1] is a blend of pop and rock with lyrics about finding comfort and happiness in a relationship with a new boyfriend. "Pieces of Me" was released as the first single from Autobiography in mid-2004 (see 2004 in music), prior to the album's release in July; it peaked at number five in the United States (on the Billboard Hot 100), and contributed to the considerable success of Autobiography, which went triple platinum in the U.S. Outside of the U.S., the song enjoyed some chart success as well, reaching the top ten in a number of countries. As of 2014, it remains Simpson's most successful song, as well as her only song to reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

Background

The recording of "Pieces of Me" features in "Valentine's Bummer," the fourth episode of the first season of Simpson's reality show, The Ashlee Simpson Show,[2] and was inspired by Simpson's relationship with the musician Ryan Cabrera, a friend with whom she became romantically involved. As she said, "It was just really nice to be with somebody who's just real and who's nice — just a good person. So I wrote that about him, and when I finished it, I was so excited and so was he."[3] (The two were reported to have broken up in August 2004,[4] while the song was still high on the charts. They soon got back together before breaking up again in early 2005.) In another interview, she said, "It's a feel good song, it's easy to listen to and every time I perform it or listen to it or whatever, ... it just feels good."[5]

Jeff Rothschild played drums on the track, Shanks played guitars and bass, and Simpson and DioGuardi did background vocals.[1]

Critical reception

The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics. IGN.com said of the song that it "lopes along to a feel good melancholic guitar strum while [Simpson] waxes like any lovelorn 19-year old would about the current love of their life."[6] Another review said that the "stringy" guitar riffs in "Pieces of Me" were "simple, yet effective," with the "catchy chorus bringing the song to life."[7] According to one review of the album, Simpson's singing on the track goes from "impassioned wail to innocent cooing ably."[8] A UK review of the single called it "palatable" "as guitar-led lipstick confessionals go".[9] It has also been described as a "perfect choice" for the album's first single, having "a tempo between fast and slow, with hints of both throughout the song."[10]

Commercial performance

"Pieces of Me" began receiving widespread radio play in the U.S. in May 2004, well before the album's release on July 20. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, 97 stations added "Pieces of Me" to their play lists in the week ending on May 17, which it said was the strongest week for any single in 2004 at that point in the year.[11] The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 61 in June 2004 (the chart's top début for the week)[12] and reached the top ten in August with a rise from number 13 to number nine.[13] It then rose to number eight the next week,[14] where it spent two weeks before peaking at number five on the Hot 100 in September 2004.[15] After spending one week at number five, it fell to number six[16] and then to number seven.[17] "Pieces of Me" remained in the top 50 on the Hot 100 chart until November 2004. It also reached number one on the Billboard Top 40 Tracks chart. The single was certified gold in October 2004 and platinum in January 2005.[18] "Pieces of Me" was number 39 on Billboard's 2004 year end Hot 100 Singles & Tracks chart and number 36 on the year end Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.[19]

The U.S. CD single was released by Geffen Records on June 29, 2004,[20] and debuted at number three in single sales (behind American Idol stars Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo) with almost 8,000 copies sold.[21] The single includes the album version of the song as well as an instrumental. On the cover, Simpson has dark hair, and the artwork is similar to that of the album Autobiography; an earlier, promotional version of the single shows a blonde Simpson with a yellow jacket. This promotional version includes only the original version of the song.

The single was released in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2004, on two CDs; the first includes a David Garcia & High Spies remix, and the second includes remixes, a medley of snippets of songs from Autobiography ("Shadow," "Autobiography", "La La", and "Better Off"), and the "Pieces of Me" music video. "Pieces of Me" debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending October 3 and remained in the top 40 for seven weeks.[22]

Simpson has described her excitement when she first heard the song on the radio:

“ "I was in L.A. and my sister heard me on the radio and was freaking out and called me so I turned on the radio in my apartment with my two best friends and started jumping around and freaking out."[23] ”

In Australia, "Pieces of Me" made its début on the ARIA singles chart at number 14,[24] and peaked for two weeks at number 7 in September;[25] it fell out of the top 40 in late November 2004. "Pieces of Me" was also accredited as a gold single in Australia.[26] In New Zealand, the song debuted on the RIANZ top 40 singles chart at number 33 in September 2004, peaked at 32 the next week, and fell out of the top 40 after its third week.[27]

In Germany, "Pieces of Me" reached number 26 on the singles chart,[28] and in Austria it debuted at number 43 and peaked at 15 in its sixth week.[29] In Switzerland, it debuted at number 17 and peaked at 11 in its third week, in October 2004.[30] In Italy, "Pieces of Me" peaked at 24 in October 2004, in its fourth week on the top 50 singles chart after debuting at 47;[31] after seven weeks, it fell out of the top 50. In Denmark, the song debuted at 5 and peaked at 4,[32] after which it fell off the chart; in Sweden, it reached a peak of number 31 on the singles chart,[33] while in Norway it stayed on the top 20 singles chart for 12 weeks, peaking at 3 in its fifth week.[34]

"Pieces of Me" is track 16 on the American Now That's What I Call Music! 17, a compilation of popular music that was released on November 2, 2004.[35] It also is track 12 on the American Now That's What I Call Music!, #1's, a compilation of songs that reached #1 or songs that reached a high standard on the Billboard Hot 100; the compilation was released in January 2006.

In Japan, "Pieces of Me" was a popular hit on radios reaching the top spot in domestic and international top in Japan Radio. It also reached the top 5 in countries such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan.[36]

Release and promotion

"Pieces of Me" was released as the lead single from Autobiography on June 29, 2004. The music video for the song, directed by Stefan Smith,[37] features Simpson (wearing a white shirt emblazoned with the word "punk" and a pink dress, as well as using Fostex T20RP headphones) and her band in the studio interspersed with clips of reality TV footage. The video is fairly simplistic, and Simpson refers to the more elaborate video for her second single, "Shadow," as her first "real" video.

Simpson appeared on MTV's Total Request Live on May 17, 2004, and the "Pieces of Me" video was premiered on the show on this date. On June 2, she also appeared on the show and performed the song. The video did not debut on the countdown's top ten until July 19; however, it reached number one for the first time on August 4 and remained on the countdown through September 13. The "Shadow" video premiered on the following day and took the place of "Pieces of Me" on the countdown.[38]

Simpson has frequently performed "Pieces of Me" live, including a number of notable television performances. She sang the song at Summer Music Mania on May 20, and it aired on FOX on June 1.[39] Simpson sang "Pieces of Me" (followed by a brief interview with Jay Leno) on the May 24, 2004 episode of The Tonight Show, and she also sang the song on the Late Show with David Letterman on July 16. She performed "Pieces of Me" (after a brief interview with Charles Gibson) on Good Morning America on July 19, the day before her album was released in the U.S., and on July 27, she sang it (after an interview) on Ryan Seacrest's talk show, On Air With Ryan Seacrest. On August 8 she performed "Pieces of Me" on the Teen Choice Awards, and the song also received the "Song of the Summer" award.[40] On August 29, Simpson performed the song during the pre-show for the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.[41]

The song made its debut somewhat later in the United Kingdom, where the album was also released several months after it was in the U.S. In September 2004, Simpson made several notable television appearances in the UK in which she performed the song, including on Top of the Pops (September 17),[42] Top of the Pops Saturday (September 25),[43] CD:UK and Popworld.

Later in 2004, on the October 23–24 episode of Saturday Night Live, Simpson performed "Pieces of Me" as her first of two songs that night; when she started to perform her second song (which was supposed to be "Autobiography"), a recording of "Pieces of Me" was mistakenly played instead, indicating that Simpson was using some sort of vocal aid. She began to do an impromptu jig (which she later named as a hoedown) when she realized she had been caught lip-syncing, and then left the stage. (She later explained it as being due to her acid reflux condition.)[44] For her next performance, at the Radio Music Awards on October 25, Simpson poked fun at the SNL incident by having some of "Pieces of Me" play at the beginning of her performance, to suggest that she was caught in the same situation as before, only to then smile and exclaim that she was "just kidding," and begin performing "Autobiography."[45] The incident was also parodied in Good Charlotte's "I Just Wanna Live" music video and later on Family Guy.

She subsequently performed "Pieces of Me" (in addition to a performance of "La La") on Jingle Ball Rock, a television special on FOX featuring performances by a number of popular artists; it was taped on December 3 and aired on the evening of December 17. She also sang the song as part of a concert broadcast live over the Internet on December 6, and during the performance she pulled a member of the audience up on stage with her. Simpson later performed the song on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2005, in which she also hosted the West Coast portion of the show.[46]

The video for "Pieces of Me" was nominated for "Best Pop Video" for the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards,[37] but lost to Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone."[47] The video was also nominated for the same category for the 2005 MTV Australia Video Music Awards,[48] but lost to Guy Sebastian's "Out with My Baby."[49]

As part of the promotion for her third album, Bittersweet World, Simpson performed "Pieces of Me," together with her newer single "Little Miss Obsessive," on The TODAY Show on April 18, 2008.[50]

Cover versions

In 2005, country-rock singer Juice Newton recorded an acoustic version of "Pieces of Me" for the TV show Hit Me, Baby, One More Time. Canadian R&B group Jacksoul covered "Pieces of Me" on their 2006 cover album mySOUL. The album won the 2007 Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. "Pieces of Me" has also been covered by the Washington, D.C.-based go-go band Rare Essence as well as Almost Better.

The song appears in the game Karaoke Revolution Party.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Pieces of Me."

U.S. CD single

  1. "Pieces of Me (Album version)" - 3:35
  2. "Pieces of Me (Instrumental)" - 3:35

UK CD single

  1. Pieces of Me (Album Version) - 3:35
  2. Pieces of Me (David Garcia & High Spies Remix Radio Edit) - 3:15

UK CD maxi single

  1. "Pieces of Me (Radio Edit #2)" - 3:11
  2. "Pieces of Me (David Garcia & High Spies Remix Club Mix)" - 7:09
  3. "Pieces of Me (29 Palms Remix Vocal Edit)" - 4:04
  4. "Shadow/Autobiography/La La/Better Off (Snippet Medley)" - 5:20
  5. "Pieces of Me" (Video - Performance only version/International Version)

Australian CD single

  1. Pieces of Me (Radio Edit) - 3:13
  2. Pieces of Me (David Garcia & High Spies Remix Club Mix) - 7:06
  3. Pieces of Me (Instrumental) - 3:35

Canadian Enhanced CD single

  1. Pieces of Me (Album Version) - 3:35
  2. Pieces of Me (Instrumental) - 3:35
  3. Better Off (Bonus) 3:25
  4. Pieces of Me (Official Video) 3:05

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2004-05) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[51] 7
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[52] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[53] 42
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[54] 9
Denmark (Tracklisten)[55] 4
European Hot 100 Singles[56] 12
Germany (Media Control AG)[57] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[58] 10
Italy (FIMI)[59] 48
Japan (Oricon)[60] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[61] 20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[62] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[63] 32
Norway (VG-lista)[64] 3
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[65] 64
Russia (2M)[66] 112
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[67] 5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[68] 31
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[69] 11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[70] 4
Ukraine (FDR Charts)[71] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[72] 5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[73] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[73] 30
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[73] 4

End of year charts

Chart (2004) Position
Australian Singles Chart[74] 54
Swiss Singles Chart[75] 91
UK Singles Chart[76] 123
US Billboard Hot 100[77] 39

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[78] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[79] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[80] June 29, 2004 CD single Geffen Records
United States[81] August 3, 2004 Hot AC radio Geffen Records
Japan[82] August 4, 2004 Maxi single Universal Music Group
Germany September 13, 2004 CD single[83]
Maxi single[84]
United Kingdom September 27, 2004 Digital download (single and EP)[85][86] Polydor Records
Maxi single[87]

References

  1. 1 2 Autobiography liner notes.
  2. ↑ Episode guide for The Ashlee Simpson Show, Episode 104: "Valentine's Bummer", MTV.com.
  3. ↑ "Ashlee Simpson: Her Most Revealing & Heartfelt Interview Ever," Life Story Jessica, page 69.
  4. ↑ "For The Record: Quick News On Nelly, Lil Jon, Hilary Duff, Ashlee And Ryan, The Hives, Solange Knowles & More", MTV News, August 10, 2004.
  5. ↑ Interview with Ashlee Simpson, The Record Music Magazine, September 2004.
  6. ↑ Spence D., IGN.com review of Autobiography, September 17, 2004.
  7. ↑ Kate Marshall, "Pieces of Me" review, Tiscali.co.uk, September 20, 2004.
  8. ↑ Todd Burns, Stylus, Autobiography album review, July 21, 2004.
  9. ↑ Anna Britten, "Pieces of Me" review, Launch.co.uk, October 1, 2004.
  10. ↑ Becca Saunders, "Simpson sister finds success", The Observer (Notre Dame and Saint Mary's), September 16, 2004.
  11. ↑ Steve Hochman, "Another Simpson living in the lens," Los Angeles Times, May 2004.
  12. ↑ Margo Whitmire, "Usher Locks Up Singles Chart Again", Billboard.com, June 24, 2004.
  13. ↑ Margo Whitmire, "'Lean Back' Gets Comfy At No. 1", Billboard.com, August 19, 2004.
  14. ↑ Margo Whitmire, "'Lean Back' Retains No. 1 Groove", Billboard.com, August 26, 2004.
  15. ↑ Margo Whitmire, "Ciara's 'Goodies' Still Good At No. 1", September 9, 2004.
  16. ↑ Margo Whitmire, "Ciara's 'Goodies' Steadfast At No. 1", Billboard.com, September 16, 2004.
  17. ↑ Margo Whitmire, "Ciara Keeps 'Goodies' Perched On Top", Billboard.com, September 23, 2004.
  18. ↑ RIAA.com.
  19. ↑ 2004 Year End Charts, Billboard.biz (subscription required).
  20. ↑ Information on the "Pieces of Me" single from Simpson's official website.
  21. ↑ Gary Susman, "'Summertime' Skirmish", ew.com, July 8, 2004.
  22. ↑ "Pieces of Me" U.K. chart positions, Chart Stats - UK Singles & Albums Chart Statistics.
  23. ↑ 944 magazine, Volume 3, Issue 8, page 75.
  24. ↑ Top 40 Charts Australia, August 7, 2004
  25. ↑ Top 40 Charts Australia, September 25, 2004
  26. ↑ ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles, Aria.com.au.
  27. ↑ RIANZ Top 40 Singles Chart, weeks September 20–October 4, 2004.
  28. ↑ Top 40 Charts Germany - October 9, 2004
  29. ↑ oe3.ORF.at, October 2004
  30. ↑ Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade, October 10, 2004
  31. ↑ FIMI - October 28, 2004
  32. ↑ Danmark Officielle Hitliste, week 40-2004, October 1, 2004.
  33. ↑ Svergies Radio P3 - November 8–14, 2004
  34. ↑ "Pieces of Me" chart trajectory, VG NETT MUSIKK.
  35. ↑ Barry A. Jeckell, "'NOW' Series Spawns 17th CD, 2nd DVD", Billboard.com, October 20, 2004.
  36. ↑
  37. 1 2 Press release, "MTV Announces Host, Nominees, and Performers for the 2005 Video Music Awards", PRNewswire.com, July 25, 2005.
  38. ↑ TRL Archives - May 2004, June 2004, July 2004, August 2004, and September 2004, Popfusion.net.
  39. ↑ Larry Rodgers, "Fox's 'Summer Music Mania'", The Arizona Republic, May 21, 2004.
  40. ↑ Corey Moss, "Usher And Lindsay Win Big, Ashlee Burps, Britney A No-Show At Teen Choice Awards", MTV News, August 9, 2004.
  41. ↑ Corey Moss, "Outkast, Jay-Z Win Big At VMAs; Usher, No Doubt Land Multiple Moonmen", MTV News, August 29, 2004.
  42. ↑ "Ashlee Simpson Performs On 'Top Of The Pops'", Popdirt.com, September 18, 2004; Episode summary at TV.com. (see video)
  43. ↑ Episode summary at TV.com.
  44. ↑ Jennifer Vineyard, "Ashlee Blames Gastric Distress For 'SNL' Lip-Synch Snafu", MTV News, October 25, 2004.
  45. ↑ Jennifer Vineyard, "Ashlee Pokes Fun At Self, Lip-Synch Flap: 'It's So Silly'", MTV News, October 26, 2004.
  46. ↑ Ashlee Simpson - Date Archive, 2004, Geffen.com.
  47. ↑ Christina Fuoco, "Green Day Rock the VMAs", Rolling Stone, August 29, 2005.
  48. ↑ Carmine Pascuzzi, "Voting closes on February 14 for MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2005", Mediasearch.com.au.
  49. ↑ Elle Halliwell and Juliet Anderson, "MTV Australian Video Music Awards for 2005 - winners and pictures", Mediasearch.com.au.
  50. ↑ Mike Celizic, "Ashlee Simpson dances around pregnancy rumors", TODAYShow.com, April 18, 2008.
  51. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  52. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  53. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  54. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  55. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  56. ↑ "European Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  57. ↑ "Single - Ashlee Simpson, Pieces Of Me". charts.de. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  58. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 44, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  59. ↑ "Charts - Ashlee Simpson, Pieces Of Me". FIMI. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  60. ↑ "Ashlee Simpson - Pieces Of Me Tokyo Hot 100 2004-09-01". Oricon. 2004-09-01. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  61. ↑ "Top 40 week 39 van 2004". top40.nl. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  62. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  63. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  64. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me". VG-lista. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  65. ↑ "Romanian top 100 Editia 42, saptamina 18.10 - 24.10, 2004". Music & Media. Archived from the original on May 10, 2005. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  66. ↑ "Ashlee Simpson - Pieces of Me". tophit. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  67. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2004-10-03". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  68. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  69. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  70. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2004-10-09" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
  71. ↑ "Ashlee Simpson - Pieces of Me". fdr.com.ua. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  72. ↑ Billboard
  73. 1 2 3 "Ashlee Simpson – Autobiography Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  74. ↑ Australian Recording Industry Association (2004). "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2004". Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  75. ↑
  76. ↑ Official Charts Company (2000). "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  77. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 - 2004". Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  78. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  79. ↑ "American single certifications – Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  80. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Me-Ashlee-Simpson/dp/B0002IQA54
  81. ↑ http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=08/03/2004&Format=10
  82. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%94%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B7%E3%82%BA%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AA%E3%83%96%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9F%E3%83%BC-%E3%82%A2%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A5%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3%E3%83%97%E3%82%BD%E3%83%B3/dp/B0002CHQ8K
  83. ↑ http://www.amazon.de/Pieces-Me-Ashlee-Simpson/dp/B0002U9K86
  84. ↑ http://www.amazon.de/Pieces-Me-Ashlee-Simpson/dp/B0002T6IKU
  85. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001KL528S
  86. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001KSUMNQ
  87. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pieces-Me-CD/dp/B0002XME9K
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