"I Can Drive" is a song by UK pop act

Shakespears Sister Shakespears Sister are an alternative rock, alternative Pop rock, pop and rock musical duo that was formed in 1988 by Irish people, Irish singer-songwriter Siobhan Fahey, a former member of Bananarama. Shakespears Sister was initially a solo a ...

, released in June 1996 as the lead single from their third studio album '' #3''. The song was co-written and produced by Fahey's then-husband

David A. Stewart David Allan Stewart (born 9 September 1952) is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for Eurythmics, his successful professional partnership with Annie Lennox. Sometimes credited as David A. Stewart, he won Best British ...

and featured the now prominent record producer/writer

Jimmy Hogarth James Dearness Hogarth (born September 1974) is a London-based producer and songwriter, whose production and writing credits include, Anohni, Amy Winehouse, Sia, Tom Grennan, Paolo Nutini, Duffy, Corinne Bailey Rae, Ren Harvieu, Estelle, T ...

on guitar.

Background

"I Can Drive" peaked at #30 on the UK Singles Chart, and was not released internationally. Although intended as the lead single from the band's third album,

London Records London Recordings (or London Records and London Music Stream) is a British record label that marketed records in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Decca Records from 1947 to 1980 before becoming semi-independent. The London nam ...

then opted not to release the album at all and Shakespears Sister were dropped by the company, making this their last release with the label.

Siobhan Fahey Siobhan Maire Deirdre Fahey (; born 10 September 1958) is an Irish singer whose vocal range is a light contralto. She was a founding member of the British girl group Bananarama, who have had ten top-10 hits including the List of Billboard Hot ...

, the act's only full member by that time, eventually obtained the rights to release the album herself (via her website) in 2005. She later claimed that she was dropped by the label not because of the mediocre chart performance of "I Can Drive", but due to the label thinking the album was "too alternative for a woman of my age".

Critical reception

British magazine ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...

'' rated "I Can Drive" five out of five, picking it as Single of the Week. The reviewer wrote, "Strings and harpsichord give this return single from Siobhan Fahey an olde world feel. Fahey has her fans, and they'll welcome this unusual offering." Taylor Parkes of ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

'' noted it is not "melodically repulsive, but, like U2, I just can't take it, simply because of the steaming smugness that streams from every pore". He added, "

Bo Diddley Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist and singer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy ...

remains cool because he has never waivered: preserve us from these

Everything but the Girl Everything but the Girl are an English musical duo formed in Kingston upon Hull in 1982, consisting of lead singer, songwriter, composer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer, producer and sing ...

types who return from the dumper with 'a new sound' and that meaningless commodity, 'attitude', and expect us to swallow."

Track listing

*;CD single #"I Can Drive" — 4:09 #"Oh No, It's Michael" — 5:10 #"Suddenly" — 3:42 *;7" / Cassette #"I Can Drive" — 4:09 #"Oh No, It's Michael" — 5:10 *; 12" Promo #"I Can Drive (Pull Down Your Pants Mix)" — 6:32 #"I Can Drive (Pull Down Your Pants Dub)" — 6:06 #"I Can Drive (Roger Weed Mix)" — 8.00

Charts

References

1996 songs 1996 singles Shakespears Sister songs Music videos directed by Sophie Muller Songs written by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) Songs written by Siobhan Fahey Song recordings produced by Flood (producer) Song recordings produced by Alan Moulder {{1990s-pop-song-stub