Lola's Theme

Background

The name "Lola's Theme" was originally a working title for this record; Lola is Simon Marlin's wife, and it was while listening to her record collection that the initial idea for the track was conceived. "Lola's Theme" features a sample from the introduction of Johnnie Taylor's 1982 R&B hit "What About My Love" and it was originally released as an instrumental at the end of 2003 on their own Nocturnal Groove label. Due to its immense popularity, "Lola's Theme" was licensed from Nocturnal Groove to Positiva Records.

At the same time, the sample of "What About My Love" was then completely replayed by Mark Summers at Scorccio Sample Replays, recreating all elements of the sample (strings, brass sections, piano, etc.). The duo then set about finding a vocalist. After a long search they met Cookie, a gospel singer from the London Community Gospel Choir who recorded the vocals for the full release.

Composition

The song is a dance pop song, utilizing elements of "What About My Love" by Johnnie Taylor. Lyrically, the song speaks of a person whom for most of his/her life felt disillusioned and alienated. The protagonist tells the subject of the song that they were a guide who helped the protagonist have a positive outlook on life. The subject remains ambiguous, but can be aimed towards a lover or a parent, or God.

Chart performance

"Lola's Theme" was released on 12 July 2004, and upon its release went straight into the charts in the United Kingdom at number one. "Lola's Theme" also topped the American Dance Charts, peaking at number one on the Hot Dance Airplay chart in October 2004. The duo went on to have a further two Top 20 UK hits ("Back To Basics" and "Incredible") and now have a recording contract with Defected Records.

"Lola's Theme" was nominated for "Best British Single" at the 2005 Brit Awards. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, on the fictional in game station Vladivostok FM.

Music video

The music video for "Lola's Theme" was filmed at George Irvin's Funfair and some of the video was filmed at the Irvin's Hellraiser (or Waltzer), the Top Buzz, and other rides. The film starts out with a girl writing the song's name and rushing into the park. The Shapeshifters are seen as well, but they don't sing.

Then Cookie is seen as she sings and watches the Waltzer ride spin. A teenage boy and girl meet and kiss each other while they're watched. They head into an arcade and play a game. Another teenage boy meets the girl and says "hi", but the other guy tries to get her back and wins her.

They head back out to the park and watch an airplane zoom by and start to kiss. Other people watch them kiss as well. Then 3 people use water guns to squirt each other as the film ends with the same girl at the beginning of the video waves goodbye with the chalkboard and rushes back into the crowd.

Legacy

The orchestral sounding music in the song inspired the emergence of similar orchestral-sounding dance music over the following two years (such as Inaya Day's "Nasty Girl"), before more electronic dance music became popular in mid-2006. These sounds also owe much to 1970s disco, and so the resulting genre can be described as nu-disco or disco house.

Track listing

1. "Lola's Theme" (radio edit) – 3:25
2. "Lola's Theme" (main mix) – 8:11
3. "Lola's Theme" (Extended Vocal Mix) – 6:54
4. "Lola's Theme" (Eric Prydz Mix) – 8:02
5. "Lola's Theme" (Calderone Vocal Mix) –10:26
6. "Lola's Theme" (video) – 3:30