"What You're On" is a

dance-pop Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...

song written by

James Ash James Ash (born Jamie Graham Appleby; 10 June 1973), is an English-born Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. He is the co-founder and keyboardist of Australian electro-rock group Rogue Traders, where he plays the keyboard and g ...

Natalie Bassingthwaighte Natalie Bassingthwaighte (; born 1 September 1975) is an Australian singer, actress and television personality. Born and raised in Wollongong, New South Wales, she began her career in musical theatre. She later pursued an acting career in 1998 ...

and Steve Davis, and produced by Ash for the

Rogue Traders Rogue Traders is an Australian electronic rock band formed in Melbourne, Victoria in 2002 by mainstay James Ash on keyboards. In 1989, Ash met fellow original member Steve Davis in London while both were working as DJs. Before forming Rogue ...

's third studio album '' Better in the Dark'' (2007). Co-writer, Ash, states the song deals with addiction."Rogue Traders' New Album In Stores Now!"
RogueTraders.com.au. Retrieved 16 April 2008. It was as released as the album's third

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

as a

digital download Digital download may refer to: *Downloading, the processing of copying data to a computer from an external source *Digital distribution, a method of downloading software or audio-visual media as opposed to buying it at a traditional point of sale * ...

on 15 March 2008 and as a

CD single A CD single is a single (music), music single in the form of a compact disc (CD). Originally the ''CD single'' standard (as defined in the Rainbow Books, Red Book) was an 8 cm (3-inch) "mini CD" (''CD3''); later on the term referred to any si ...

on 21 April 2008. Band member and one of the song's writers, Ash, states that the song is very special to the band and "it seems to connect with people quite deeply." He also states that the song is a highlight from the album and it allowed him to be "indulgent" which is how he imagined it. The band's lead singer, Bassingthwaighte, states "this

ong Ong or ONG may refer to: Arts and media * Ong's Hat, a collaborative work of fiction * “Ong Ong”, a song by Blur from the album The Magic Whip Places * Ong, Nebraska, US, city * Ong's Hat, New Jersey, US, ghost town * Ong River, Odisha, ...

seems to me to be saying 'You have issues but you can get over it', so I prefer to be realistic than stylistic. I think about someone I know when I sing it." This is the last single with

Promotion and chart performance

"What You're On" made its debut into the Australian

ARIA Singles Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

on 28 April 2008, at a poor position of number thirty. It continued to slide down the charts until it dropped of the ARIA Top 50 at number 48 after only its 7th week. It reached number eighteen on the Physical Singles Chart, and debuted at number nine on the Australian Chart. On the eve of its debut, and one week after its release, the Rogue Traders performed their new single on popular comedy program, ''

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''. Prior to this, band members

and

attended many interviews on radio and television to promote the song, and the upcoming "Better in the Dark Tour", as well as presenting an award at the 2008

MTV Australia Awards The MTV Australia Awards (previously known as the MTV Australia Video Music Awards or AVMA's) started in 2005 and were Australia's first awards show to celebrate both local and international acts. The last edition took place in 2009. History Th ...

also co-hosted an episode of '' The Music Jungle'' on 26 April.

Music video

The

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

for the song was filmed from 23 February 2008 to 24 February 2008 and premiered through ninemsn on 13 March 2008, two days before its digital and radio release."New Video Clip Getting Underway"
''Rogue Traders official forum''. Retrieved 16 April 2008. Filmed in black and white, the video sees Bassingthwaighte working in a top-end

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Burlesque Club. Unhappy and determined to leave, she tries to escape but is followed by a controlling owner and security. Then Ash comes to rescue her and they drive off. The other band members do not appear in the music video. The video is said to be one of their most successful clips to date and a crowd favourie performance on the ''Better In The Dark Tour''

Track listings

Digital download (Released 15 March 2008) # "What You're On" (single edit) – 3:38 Australian CD singleAustralian CD single
/ref> # "What You’re On" # "What You’re On" (James Ash remix) # "What You’re On" (Cedric Gervais vocal remix) # "

Don't You Wanna Feel "Don't You Wanna Feel" is a song written by James Ash and Natalie Bassingthwaighte for the Rogue Traders' third studio album '' Better in the Dark''. It was released on schedule as the album's first single on 29 September 2007. It was leaked on ...

" (Deadmau5 remix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2007 songs 2008 singles Rogue Traders songs Songs written by James Ash Songs written by Natalie Bassingthwaighte