Strict Machine

"Strict Machine"
Song

"Strict Machine" is a electronic–dance song written by British group Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for their second studio album Black Cherry (2003). The song was produced by Goldfrapp and received a positive reception from music critics. It was released as the second single in the second quarter of 2003, and became the band's second single to appear in the top thirty on singles chart in the United Kingdom. In May 2004, the song was re-issued under the title "Strict Machine '04" and became Goldfrapp's first top twenty single in the UK. In the United States, "Strict Machine" was released to success on the Billboard dance charts, where it reached the top position on the Dance Club chart and number three on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

"Strict Machine" featured a music video directed by Jonas Odell. The video, a mixture of graphic and live action segments, builds upon the art direction featured on the band's album and single covers. Throughout the video, Alison Goldfrapp is surrounded by black and white animated backgrounds, dog-headed dancers and colourful butterflies. While receiving some well placed publicity in the Verizon Wireless commercial for the new LG Electronics Mobile Communications' "Chocolate" wireless phone, the song is clearly derivative of Donna Summer's disco-era hit I Feel Love. Strict Machine sounds like a stripped down version of the 1970's dance classic with slower tempo, and elevated bass and distortion levels.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Strict Machine" and "Strict Machine '04".

CD single #1

1. "Strict Machine" (Single mix) (3:26)
2. "White Soft Rope" (featuring the Midwich Children Choir) (4:30)
3. "Hairy Trees" (Live at London ULU 2003) (6:47)

CD single #2

1. "Strict Machine" (Ewan Pearson Instrumental remix) (5:53)
2. "Strict Machine" (Rowan's remix) (6:04)
3. "Train" (Ewan Pearson dub) (7:46)

Australian CD maxi-single

1. "Strict Machine" (Single mix) (3:26)
2. "White Soft Rope" (featuring the Midwich Children Choir) (4:30)
3. "Hairy Trees" (Live at London ULU 2003) (6:47)
4. "Deep Honey" (Live at London ULU 2003) (4:41)
5. "Strict Machine" (Ewan Pearson Instrumental remix) (5:53)
6. "Strict Machine" (Rowan's remix) (6:04)
7. "Train" (Ewan Pearson dub) (7:46)

Re-issue CD single #1

1. "Strict Machine" (Single mix) (3:26)
2. "Strict Machine" (Benny Benassi Sfaction edit) (3:27)

Re-issue CD single #2

1. "Strict Machine" (Paris Loaded) (3:39)
2. "Strict Machine" (We Are Glitter) (6:27)
3. "Strict Machine" (Benny Benassi Sfaction Extended mix) (6:53)
4. "Strict Machine" (Benny Benassi dub) (6:27)

Re-issue U.S. CD maxi-single

1. "Strict Machine" (Single mix) (3:26)
2. "White Soft Rope" (featuring the Midwich Children Choir) (4:30)
3. "Hairy Trees" (Live at London ULU 2003) (6:47)
4. "Strict Machine" (Rowan's remix) (6:04)
5. "Strict Machine" (Calderone + Suryanto remix) (12:02)
6. "Strict Machine" (Peter Rauhofer "NYC" mix) (8:32)
7. "Strict Machine" (Peter Rauhofer "UK" mix) (5:42)
8. "Strict Machine" (Benny Benassi Sfaction Extended mix) (6:53)
9. "Strict Machine" (Ewan's Stripped Machine remix) (8:31)

Chart performance

On June 30 2003, "Strict Machine" was released in the United Kingdom. The song became Goldfrapp's second top thirty single when it debuted at number twenty-five on the singles chart, and spent a total of six weeks in the top seventy-five. The song was re-released on April 26 2004 under the name "Strict Machine '04" and surpassed it previous chart position in the UK by recharting at number twenty, becoming Goldfrapp's first top twenty single.

Outside of the UK, the song was also successful. It reached number twenty-six in Canada and became Goldfrapp's first single release to chart in the country. Although the single sold considerably, "Strict Machine" did not chart on the Canadian BDS Airplay chart, receiving most of its sales from its fans in the dance clubs. In Australia, the song peaked at number eighty and would remain as Goldfrapp's only single to chart in the country until the release of "Ooh La La" in 2005.

Due to the favourable reception of "Twist" and "Black Cherry" on the dance charts, "Strict Machine" was released in the United States. It became their first release to reach the top of the Billboard Dance Chart, where it remained for one week. It also performed well on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, where it reached number three.

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	25
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	80
Chart (2004)	Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales	3
UK Singles Chart	20
Canadian Singles Chart	26

Chart trajectories

UK Singles Chart trajectory (2003)
Week	01	02	03	04 (re)	05	05
Chart position	25	46	64	20 (re)	45	60

Trivia

• "Strict Machine" was featured in a short Game Boy Advance commercial in the United States along with the Goldfrapp song "Train".
• In 2003, the song was featured in a in a television advert for the fragrance "Night" by Armani. In France, promotional CD singles were created to promote the song and the commercial. The promotional single featured the single mix of "Strict Machine", the song's music video and the commercial.
• Wonderful Electric, Goldfrapp's concert tour in support of Black Cherry, was named after lyrics in the song.
• In 2006, the We Are Glitter Mix of the song was used in the film Miami Vice.
• In 2006, Verizon Wireless begins launching a new phone named "Chocolate". The song "Strict Machine" is featured on the commercial and website.
• In August of 2006, "Strict Machine" was prominently featured in one of many promos for season four of the US television drama Nip/Tuck.

Alternative covers

• DVD single cover (2003)
  DVD single cover
  (2003)
• UK box set slipcase cover (2003)
  UK box set slipcase cover
  (2003)
• Re-issue CD single cover (2004)
  Re-issue CD single cover
  (2004)
• DVD single cover (2004)
  DVD single cover
  (2004)
• UK box set slipcase cover (2004)
  UK box set slipcase cover
  (2004)

References

• "ARIA.com". Australian airplay and sales charts. Retrieved March 29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "BBC.co.uk". United Kingdom sales chart. Retrieved March 29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Billboard.com". Billboard Hot 100 chart. Retrieved March 29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Chart Data: Goldfrapp". Worldwide chart positions. Retrieved March 31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Goldfrapp.Free.Fr". Track listings and formats. Retrieved July 1. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Jam Canoe". Canadian airplay and sales charts. Retrieved March 29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

External links

• Goldfrapp.co.uk — official website.
• "Strict Machine" lyrics — lyrics to the album version of the song.