Jessie Ware has released her album track Remember Where You Are as a single – less than two months after former US President Barack Obama chose the song as one of his musical picks of 2020. The summery, soul-pop number – which bookended Ware’s fourth studio album What’s Your Pleasure? – attained a coveted slot on the popular Commander in Chief’s annual end-of-year playlist alongside work from the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Dua Lipa.
Ware co-wrote Remember Where You Are with The Last Shadow Puppets multi-instrumentalist James Ford; Zimbabwean-American folk-pop singer-songwriter Alexandra Shungudzo Govere; and Danny Parker, who has previously written tracks for Britney Spears, Shawn Mendes and Louisa Johnson. The single edit of the song retains the upbeat feel of the album version, whilst shaving two minutes off the running time.
Commenting on the release on her Instagram account, Ware said: “‘Remember Where You Are’ is finally coming out as a single – because Barack Obama gave it the seal of approval in his end of year song playlist (god bless ya Sasha Obama for putting Daddio onto Jessie Ware) and because I know how many of you love it. Thank you for all the messages about this song. It means a lot. We wrote it at a time of uncertainty but never did we expect Covid 19 to come and now, once again, this song has taken on a new poignancy.”
What’s Your Pleasure? – which was recorded over two years at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios – was a commercial and critical success; reaching number #3 in the Official UK Albums chart and featuring prominently in numerous record-of-the-year lists compiled by the likes of The Needle Drop (#1), Rolling Stone (#9), Slate (#3), and Under The Radar (#5). The Guardian hailed the album’s “defiantly sexy, plush post-disco“; while NME described the LP as “pure escapism” and an “intoxicating cocktail of seductive beats, exhilarating choruses and sleek production.”
Ware had been hopeful of taking the record on the road across the UK this spring, with nine dates pencilled in for April. However, the ongoing uncertainty caused by the pandemic has forced the Londoner to push the shows back to the tail-end of the year, with existing tickets remaining valid for the rescheduled gigs. Addressing fans on Instagram this week, the singer said: “I’m so so sorry we can’t make the April WYP tour work, it’s just not safe yet. We have been working so hard to try and get dates that seem logical and as close as possible, whilst also being safe. Because when I tour this album, we are going to need to be up close and personal with each other!”
Ware added “There’s going to be dancing, dirty dancing, kissing, touching and hugging strangers and lovers! It’s going to be so much fun and to do it properly – and sensibly – this is when I have been advised, so we’ll see each other in December. I can’t wait. But I am sorry you’re going to have to wait a little longer for What’s Your Pleasure live. I promise it will be worth it.”
I’m so sorry we can’t make the April What’s Your Pleasure? tour work, it’s just not safe yet BUT we’ll see each other in December and I can’t wait. I promise it will be worth it. Original tickets remain valid on rescheduled dates. Get tickets HERE: https://t.co/Bvn2s3JbIg pic.twitter.com/w3TXAviqTN
— Jessie Ware (@JessieWare) February 5, 2021
A busy year lies ahead for Ware – not least as she is expecting her third child, as unveiled on last night’s edition of The Graham Norton Show. In June the Hammersmith native will also release a new book, Omelette: Food, Love, Chaos and Other Conversations, a ‘food memoir’ that follows in the footsteps of the singer’s acclaimed Table Manners podcast.
