Playing in the Shadows

Playing in the Shadows
Studio album by Example
Released	4 September 2011
Genre	House[1] dance[2] drum and bass[3] dubstep[1] Euro-trance[1]
Length	48:59
Label	Ministry of Sound Data
Producer	Funkagenda Nero Michael Woods Faithless Laidback Luke Sheldrake DC Breaks Brookes Brothers Chase & Status Feed Me Skream Third Strike Tom Neville Dirty South Felguk
Example chronology
Won't Go Quietly (2010) Playing in the Shadows (2011) The Evolution of Man (2012)
Singles from Playing in the Shadows
"Changed the Way You Kiss Me" Released: 5 June 2011 "Stay Awake" Released: 28 August 2011 "Natural Disaster" Released: 16 October 2011 "Midnight Run" Released: 4 December 2011

Playing in the Shadows is the third album by British recording artist Example, released on 4 September 2011 through Ministry of Sound.^[4] Example confirmed that much like the previous album, there would be no collaborations, besides that of producers (including frequent collaborator Skream). During an interview, Example said the album remains dance oriented, although he would make a gradual move into electronic and dubstep genres.

The album's release was preceded by two singles, "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" and "Stay Awake", which both peaked atop of the UK Singles Chart. A third single, Laidback Luke collaboration "Natural Disaster", has been released on 16 October. A fourth single, "Midnight Run" was released on 4 December.

Background and development

In an interview with Lowe he revealed that his third album would be released in September 2011 entitled Playing in the Shadows. Example described the album as a darker record than previous album Won't Go Quietly ("dark, epic beast"). He also said production on the record will come from Michael Woods, Skream, Nero, Faithless, Brookes Brothers, Dirty South and hopefully Chase & Status, as well as writing with English songwriter and producer Guy Chambers. Funkagenda will be producing the intro track also (as per their respective Twitter feeds). In a discussion on Twitter, Example also revealed the final track to be completed on his album would be produced by Feed Me.

Singles

• "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" was the album's lead single. It is produced by Michael Woods and was released on 5 June 2011.^[5] On 24 March 2011 "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" debuted on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World. The video was released on Example's website on 24 April 2011.^[6] The single debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" is featured in Adidas' launch event for new Predator Football boots.^[7]

• "Stay Awake" was the second single from the album and was produced by Nero. The single debuted on 1 July 2011 on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show^[8] and was released on 28 August 2011. The video premiered on 18 July 2011.^[9] The single debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

• "Natural Disaster" was released on 16 October. It debuted at number 37 on the UK charts. The song is a collaboration with Dutch DJ Laidback Luke. The single is billed to Laidback Luke vs. Example.

• "Midnight Run" was the fourth single from the album, which was released on 4 December 2011 and was produced by Feed Me. The song debuted at number 30 on the UK official charts. However the single topped the UK Indie chart with 1 and achieved 5 on the UK dance chart.^[10]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
NME	7/10[11]
Q
BBC	positive
The Observer
The Guardian
Sputnikmusic
Digital Spy	positive

Other singles

• "Shot Yourself in the Foot Again" was released as a free download in January 2011. The track is produced by Skream and has gained over 13 million views on YouTube. It features on Example's album as an iTunes bonus track. Although it was a free download, it managed to chart at 82 in the UK.

• The iTunes bonus track "Plastic Smile" (with Felguk) is featured as the B-side track of Felguk's "Jack It" EP^[12] and on the 2012 video game SSX. The track has not made any major chart appearances, although it has charted at No. 39 in the UK Indie Chart.^[13]

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)[4]	Length
1.	"Skies Don't Lie"	Funkagenda	4:24
2.	"Stay Awake"	Nero	3:24
3.	"Changed the Way You Kiss Me"	Michael Woods	3:15
4.	"The Way"	Faithless	4:28
5.	"Natural Disaster" (Laidback Luke vs. Example) (Extended Album Version)	Laidback Luke	5:05
6.	"Never Had a Day"	Sheldrake, DC Breaks	3:53
7.	"Microphone"	Brookes Brothers	4:16
8.	"Playing in the Shadows"	Chase & Status	4:39
9.	"Midnight Run"	Feed Me	3:58
10.	"Under the Influence"	Skream	4:55
11.	"Wrong in the Head"	Tom Neville, Brookes Brothers	3:11
12.	"Anything"	Dirty South	3:31

CD bonus track
No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"Lying to Yourself"	Eddie Jenkins, Wez Clarke	3:34

iTunes bonus tracks
No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"Plastic Smile" (Example vs. Felguk)	Felguk	4:42
14.	"Shot Yourself in the Foot Again" (Skream & Example)	Skream	3:42
15.	"Changed the Way You Kiss Me" (Friction Remix)	Michael Woods	4:46

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart[14]	14
German Albums Chart[15]	43
Irish Albums Chart[16]	6
New Zealand Albums Chart[17]	22
Scottish Albums Chart[18]	3
Swiss Albums Chart[19]	59
UK Dance Albums Chart[20]	1
UK Independent Albums Chart	1
UK Albums Chart[21]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Ireland[22]	4 September 2011	Digital download, CD	Ministry of Sound
United Kingdom[23]
Australia[24]	9 September 2011

References

1. Ian Gittins (5 September 2011). "Example: Playing In The Shadows Album Review – Reviews – Music". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
2. O'Brien, Jon. "Playing in the Shadows - Example". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
3. Kitty Empire (4 September 2011). "Example: Playing in the Shadows — review | Music | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
4. Rimmington, Stephen (29 June 2011). "Example's 'Playing in the Shadows' album cover and tracklisting | Nothin' Gonna Change". Nothingonnachange.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
5. "iTunes – Music – Changed the Way You Kiss Me (Remixes) – EP by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
6. Example. "Me New Video". Try This For Example. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
7. "Kaka, Van Persie and Nani launch the new adidas Predator". Cushionrunningshoes.org. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
8. "Example: 'Number one single is mind-blowing' – Music News". Digital Spy. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
9. "Example – 'Stay Awake' OFFICIAL VIDEO (Out NOW)". YouTube. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
10. "iTunes – Music – Midnight Run – EP by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
11. "NME Album Reviews – Album review: Example – 'Playing In The Shadows'". Nme.Com. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
12. "Jack It EP". Beatport. Dongle Records.
13. "Archive Chart" UK Indie Chart. 2011-09-17.
14. Steffen Hung. "Example – Playing in the Shadows". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
15. "charts.de". charts.de. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
16. "GFK Chart-Track". Chart-track.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
17. Steffen Hung. "Example – Playing in the Shadows". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
18. "Archive Chart". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
19. Steffen Hung. "Example – Playing in the Shadows". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
20. "Archive Chart". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
21. "Archive Chart". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
22. "iTunes – Music – Playing in the Shadows (Bonus Track Version) by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
23. "iTunes – Music – Playing in the Shadows (Bonus Track Version) by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
24. "iTunes – Music – Playing in the Shadows by Example". Itunes.apple.com. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-19.