I Am Not a Robot is a single by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Appearing on her first studio album, The Family Jewels, it is the 3rd track on the album, and was released as the 4th single.
The song was written by Marina alone, and produced by Liam Howe.
Background[]
During an Instagram live in April 2020, Diamandis stated I Am Not a Robot and Numb took approximately four months to write.[1]
The song was initially released as a promotional single for The Crown Jewels in 2009,[2] then re-released as the fourth single from The Family Jewels on April 23, 2010, however, in the United Kingdom only.
Marina said she decided to release I Am Not a Robot as a single, as "people seem to empathize and relate with the song, regardless of gender or age".[3]
The single version, which would go on the US edition, is slightly different. Marina stated:[4]
❝ robot is out on 26th april with a new drum beat. It's a little harder hitting. I don't know which I prefer out of old and new. ❞
On July 16, 2021, a 1080p version of the official music video was uploaded, however, features the album version of the track rather than the single version.[5]
Registration[]
The song was registered once on both ASCAP/BMI[6] and GEMA,[7] with no co-writers.
On GEMA the song is registered as (I am Not a) Robot, and on ASCAP, I am Not a Robot, with the alternate titles of I am Not a Robot (Album Version) and I am Not a Robo. This is likely a typo as Guilty has an alternate title of "Guily".
Trivia[]
- An acoustic video was recorded for the track (among Hollywood and Mowgli's Road) although it wasn't released for an unknown reason. It can be partially seen during an interview with Marina here.
- The same pose used in the single art was also used on the back of The Family Jewels' cover.
- At the end of the song, the sound of a heartbeat can be heard.
- I Am Not a Robot was heavily sampled by Hoodie Allen in his debut single "You Are Not A Robot" in 2010.
- During a webcam chat in October 2011, Marina stated the song and Mowgli's Road were her favourite to perform live.[8]
- In 2009, at Reading Festival, I Am Not a Robot was her first song to ever be performed on TV.[9]
- In 2010, on the Craig Ferguson show, the song was her first to be performed live in the United States.[10]
- The Crown Jewels version of the song can be found on Spotify. However, it is unplayable.[11]
Meaning[]
In an interview with the UK newspaper The Sun, Marina said:[citation needed]
❝ They [I Am Not A Robot and Numb] are both about being emotionally detached. Even though I'm this jolly and bubbly person on the surface, I'm very different with certain people. ❞
Artwork[]
|
Photoshoot  Media  Single artwork  Album promo |
Videos[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | I Am Not a Robot | |
| Premiere | 24 Jun 2009 | |
| Length | 3:38 | |
| Location | London, England | |
| Filmed | 06 May 2009 | |
| Director | Rankin & Chris Cottam | |
| Production company | HSI London | |
| Editor | Gareth McEwen | |
Behind the Scenes
Background
In a 2010 interview with Loose Women, Marina explained:[12]
❝ Well, I think, as people, we have many different layers and faces that we give to the world, which is quite separate from who we are really. And so, in the video, I had these full, really heavy makeup looks to symbolize that, so the look where I was covered in black oil and glitter was kind of very contrasting to a very natural look, where I didn't have much makeup on at all. ❞
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | I Am Not a Robot (L.A. Version) | |
| Premiere | 14 Apr 2010 | |
| Length | 3:37 | |
| Location | Hollywood Boulevard | |
Behind the Scenes
Background
From her Blogpost:
❝ Not going to pretend. I didn't really want to put this up originally. It was filmed on a whim in one take in the last 4 minutes of a 12 hour day. I was in LA and was filming 3 other mini flims in Hollywood for upcoming tour.
This is NOT a new video. Just a taster of new live show footage. I don't know. Hate putting anything out that I feel is sub par. But did not want to chuck footage in bin. For all those entering my competition (check news), it's an example of what you can do with about 2p of a budget. Videos don't have to cost a million bucks. Or even a grand at that. The old video is the original and official, as it always was. Yawn. ❞
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Le CO2eux Soirée | |
| Premiere | Unknown | |
| Length | 3:31 | |
| Filmed | 06 May 2010 | |
| Director | Agustin Alberdi | |
| Production company | Stink | |
| Notes | Agency: Mother London. | |
Behind the Scenes
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album [Stems] [Inst.] ("L.A."/Tour Version)
|
The Family Jewels | 15 Feb 2010 | 3:34 |
| Single (US Album Version) | I Am Not a Robot | 26 Apr 2010 | 3:32 | |
| Radio Edit | The Crown Jewels | 01 Jun 2009 | 4:22 | |
| Remixes | ||||
| ▶ | The Shoes (No Shoes Remix) | The Family Jewels (Deluxe) | ~May 2009 | 4:02 |
| [13] | Starsmith 24 Carat Remix (Used as introduction during The Burger Queen Tour) | The Crown Jewels | 01 Jun 2009 | 5:18 |
| ▶ | The Aspirins For My Children Remix (Promo remix) | I Am Not a Robot - EP | ~Jun 2009 | 4:42 |
| ▶ | Penguin Prison Remix (Promo remix) | I Am Not a Robot - EP | ~Aug 2009 | 6:08 |
| ▶ | Flex'd Rework (Passion Pit Remix) | I Am Not a Robot - EP | 23 Apr 2010 | 4:47 |
| ▶ | Clock Opera Remix | I Am Not a Robot - EP | 23 Apr 2010 | 4:35 |
| ▶ | Doorly Remix | I Am Not a Robot - EP | 23 Apr 2010 | 5:18 |
| ▶ | Fool's Gold Remix (Promo remix) | I Am Not a Robot - EP | ~Apr 2010 | 3:31 |
| ▶ | Ground Control Remix (Promo remix) | I Am Not a Robot - EP | ~Apr 2010 | 3:52 |
| ▶ | Ground Control Remix (Promo remix, radio edit) | I Am Not a Robot - EP | ~Apr 2010 | 3:33 |
| Acoustic/Live | ||||
| Acoustic | I Am Not a Robot - EP | 23 Apr 2010 | 3:48 | |
| Live 1 | ITunes Live: London Festival '09 | 15 Jun 2009 | 3:32 | |
| Live 2 | ITunes Live: London Festival '10 | 26 Jul 2010 | 3:58 | |
| Demos | ||||
| Demo 1 | N/A - Demo | 3:25 | ||
| Demo 2 | N/A - Demo | 3:37 | ||
Lyrics[]
The line "And let the drum beat drop" on the final version's bridge is not featured in the first demo of the song.
[Verse 1]
You've been acting awful tough lately
Smoking a lot of cigarettes lately
But inside, you're just a little baby, oh
It's okay to say you've got a weak spot
You don't always have to be on top
Better to be hated than loved, loved, loved for what you're not
[Pre-Chorus 1]
You're vulnerable, you're vulnerable
You are not a robot
You're lovable, so lovable
But you're just troubled
[Chorus]
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
[Verse 2]
You've been hanging with the unloved kids
Who you never really liked and you never trusted
But you are so magnetic, you pick up all the pins
Never committing to anything
You don't pick up the phone when it ring, ring, rings
Don't be so pathetic, just open up and sing
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I'm vulnerable, I'm vulnerable
I am not a robot
You're lovable, so lovable
But you're just troubled
[Chorus]
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
[Bridge]
Can you teach me how to feel real?
Can you turn my power off?
And let the drum beat drop
[Chorus]
Guess what? I am not a robot
Guess what? I am not a robot
[Outro]
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what? I'm not a robot, a robot
Credits[]
Personnel
- Marina Diamandis - Piano, Glockenspiel
- Lucy Shaw - String arrangement, Double bass
- Alison Dods - Violins
- Clina de la Mere - Violins
- Rachel Robson - Viola
- Chris Allan - Cello
- Liam Howe - Bass, Mellotron, Philicorda, Synths
- Steve Durham - Drums
Technical
- Produced by Liam Howe for This Much Talent
- Mixed by Liam Howe at The Ivory Tower
- Programming by Liam Howe
- Engineered by Richard Wilkinson
- Assistant engineer Dougal Lott
- Recorded at The Ivory Tower and Konk, London
- Written by Marina Diamandis
- Published by Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd
- Mastered by Guy Davie at Electric Mastering, London
References[]
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Zf-4YYukkus?t=2089
Additional source: https://www.sodajerker.com/episode-206-marina (@17:09) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100527230031/http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/news,i-am-not-a-robot-will-be-marinas-next-single-in-the-uk_37.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100527230031/http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/news,i-am-not-a-robot-will-be-marinas-next-single-in-the-uk_37.htm
- ↑ https://marinaandthediamonds.fandom.com/wiki/Blog/Posts/2010/6thApril
- ↑ https://vimeo.com/575954106
- ↑ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#
ISWC: T9021497449 Work ID: 463258297 - ↑ https://online.gema.de/werke/search.faces?lang=en
ISWC: T-902.149.744-9 GEMA work no.: 10728214-001 - ↑ https://youtu.be/FeR9MqCmVQQ?t=501
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/marinadiamandis/posts/127441694116
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/marinadiamandis/posts/135839516447793
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/44KwA6FOJ7O7ie3JkBWcPg
- ↑ https://youtu.be/nl_80vVIhds?t=127
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Xk04KOYFJS8
 | |
|---|---|
| Tours • Merch • Photography • Blog • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | The Family Jewels • The Crown Jewels • The American Jewels • iTunes Live: '09 • iTunes Live: '10 |
| Tracklist | Are You Satisfied? • Shampain • I Am Not a Robot • Girls • Mowgli's Road • Obsessions • Hollywood • The Outsider • Hermit the Frog • Oh No! • Rootless • Numb • Guilty • The Family Jewels • Seventeen |
| Non-Album | Happy Meal • Simplify • Blindfold Me • Bad Kidz • Starlight • Sinful • Not That Ugly • Jealousy • Like the Other Girls • Dirty Sheets |
| Misc | Porn Does Good • What You Waiting For? • Space and the Woods • Sweet Dreams • Many of Horror • Candy • Starstrukk • Perfect Stranger |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams | |