"Paid My Dues" is a song by American recording artist

Anastacia Anastacia Lyn Newkirk ( ; born September 17, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter and former dancer. Her first two albums '' Not That Kind'' (2000) and '' Freak of Nature'' (2001) were released in quick succession to major success. Spurred o ...

from her second studio album '' Freak of Nature'' (2001). It was released on November 12, 2001, as the album's

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...

. The song was written by Anastacia, Greg Lawson,

Damon Sharpe Damon Sharpe, born Damon Jared Reinagle, is an American record producer, songwriter, DJ and recording artist who works in Los Angeles. He first reached notability as a member of Guys Next Door. He has since contributed to various albums that hav ...

, and LaMenga Kafi and was produced by

Ric Wake Ric Wake is an American record producer who has won four Grammy Awards and two Oscar Awards. During his tenure as staff producer with Sony Music Entertainment he has worked with vocalists such as Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Lucero, Taylor D ...

with additional production by Richie Jones. "Paid My Dues" became a commercial success, reaching number one in Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as peaking within the top 10 in several other mainland European countries.

Composition

"Paid My Dues" was written by

, LaMenga Kafi, Greg Lawson, and

, while production was handled by

, with additional production by Richie Jones. According to James Salmon from

Yahoo! Music Yahoo! Music was a brand under which Yahoo! provided a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming. Previously, users with Yahoo! accounts could gain access to hundreds of ...

, the song is a "typically robust 'go girl' anthem."

Critical reception

Jose F. Promis writing for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

called the song "the soulful, bombastic rocker". Sal Cinquemani from ''

Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...

'' wrote that "her tenacious attitude on songs like 'Paid My Dues' carve a unique niche for the singer." Aidin Vaziri wrote for ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' that the song is "grating" and one of ''Freak of Natures "moments of sheer overkill".

Music video

Directed by

Liz Friedlander Liz Friedlander is an American music video, television director and television producer. Originally from New York City, Friedlander moved to Pennsylvania to attend the Drama Conservatory school at Carnegie Mellon University. She then moved to Lo ...

, the

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

for "Paid My Dues" was shot in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. In the beginning, Anastacia is speaking while being in a virtual mirror. Then you can see Anastacia in a room where she is packing her suitcases. Following this, you see her while she is trying to make her a way but there are many people she must across. Then she is in some kind of a disco, where she successfully tries again to find her way through people, this time to a stage. When she finally arrives there, she goes through a mirror and is "teleported" to a stage, where she lip-synchs the song. In the end she pulls out the electricity cable.

Track listings

UK CD single # "Paid My Dues" – 3:20 # "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar mix) – 5:25 # "I Dreamed You" – 5:08 UK cassette single # "Paid My Dues" – 3:20 # "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar radio edit) – 3:29 # "I Dreamed You" – 5:08 European CD1 # "Paid My Dues" – 3:20 # "Funk Medley" (live from

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

) – 7:30 European CD2 # "Paid My Dues" – 3:20 # "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar mix) – 5:25 # "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar dub mix) – 5:23 # "Funk Medley" (live from Amsterdam) – 7:30 Australian CD single # "Paid My Dues" # "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar radio edit) # "Paid My Dues" (The S-Man's Darkstar mix) # "I Dreamed You" (album version) # "Funk Medley" (live from Amsterdam)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the European CD1 liner notes. Studios * Recorded at Cove City Sound Studios (

Glen Cove, New York Glen Cove is a Political subdivisions of New York State#City, city in Nassau County, New York, United States, on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore of Long Island. At the 2020 United States Census, the city population was 28,365 as of th ...

, US) and

Sony Music Studios Sony Music Studios was an American music recording and mastering facility in New York City. The five-story building was a music and broadcasting complex located at 460 W. 54th Street, at 10th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan. I ...

(New York City) * Mixed at Cove City Sound Studios (Glen Cove, New York, US) Personnel * Anastacia – writing, vocals, backing vocals * Greg Lawson, Damon Sharpe – writing * LaMenga Kafi – writing, backing vocals *

Nicki Richards Nicki Richards (born Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on March 24) is an American singer, songwriter, producer and actress based in Manhattan, New York City. She is also known as a backing singer for a number of renowned artists and on a big numbe ...

, Danny Madden – backing vocals *

Eric Kupper Eric Kupper is an American keyboardist, arranger, songwriter, remix artist, DJ, and record producer of French descent. Biography Eric Kupper began playing in bands in his formative years, and got his real start in the mid-1980s working as a keybo ...

– keyboards, guitars * Marc Russell – bass guitar, production coordination * Ric Wake – production, arrangement * Richie Jones – additional production, arrangement, mixing, drum programming * Dan Hetzel – mixing, engineering * Jim Annunziato – engineering assistant * "Young" Dave Scheuer – recording * Thomas R. Yezzi – recording (lead vocals) * David Massey – A&R * Lisa Braudé – executive producer, management

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2001 singles 2001 songs Anastacia songs Daylight Records singles Epic Records singles Music videos directed by Liz Friedlander Number-one singles in Denmark Number-one singles in Hungary Number-one singles in Italy Number-one singles in Norway Number-one singles in Switzerland Song recordings produced by Ric Wake Songs written by Anastacia Songs written by Damon Sharpe Songs written by Greg Lawson