"2 Times" is the debut single of English singer Ann Lee. It was released in Italy in December 1998 by X-Energy as the lead single from her debut album, Dreams (1999), and was issued worldwide the following year. The single peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, reached number one in Flanders, and entered the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and New Zealand.
Background and composition Ann Lee's previous work on a large number of Eurodance projects would help her receive a contract with Alfredo Larry Pignagnoli, with whom she had already worked with on many projects such as Whigfield, Ally & Jo, amongst others. He worked on a track with Marco Sorcini called "Two Times".Ann Lee. Eurodance Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 April 2013. The song is played in a F major key in common time at a BPM of 132, and throughout follows chord progression F-C7.Ann Lee – 2 Times Sheet Music (Print Instantly). Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
Critical reception A reviewer from Daily Record wrote, "This sounds like a line-dancing song reworked for the techno market, but it's worked for Ann Lee who has already topped the charts across Europe.""Chartslot". Daily Record. 29 October 1999. Retrieved 3 December 2020. The Guardian described it as "giddy"."Music: Pop CD Releases". The Guardian. 26 November 1999.
Commercial performance The song achieved success in many European countries where it was a top-10 hit, particularly in Denmark, Scotland, and the Flanders region of Belgium, where it reached number one. It peaked number two in Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom; it has sold over 500,000 copies in the UK as of 2014. It was also a top-10 hit in Australia after initially receiving frequent airplay on Melbourne radio station KIX FM.
Music video The song's accompanying music video was released in 1999 by Energy Productions.Ann Lee - Two Times Music Video on YouTube. Retrieved 24 April 2013. It sees Ann Lee performing the song during a day in her life, beginning with her waking up in the morning in her hut. She cooks, plays with her doll, takes a stroll on the beach and has a bath in her bathtub. The video ends with Lee sleeping in her bed. The singer has noted that the structure and cinematography of the video was very similar to that of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer"; "The two videos were similar! I remember perfectly the 'sledge video' (love Peter Gabriel!) and my movements are in fact very similar - but I think the similarity ends there".Meran, Tavi (September 2009). Ann Lee Interview. Eurodance Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 April 2013. Parts of the music video were filmed in Whitstable, Kent.
Track listings
Italian 12-inch single A1. "2 Times" (original extended mix) – 6:32 A2. "2 Times" (G. side) – 5:32 B1. "2 Times" (GambaClub) – 5:14 B2. "2 Times" (GambaDub) – 4:15 B3. "2 Times" (original edit mix) – 3:46
Italian and Australian CD single "2 Times" (original edit mix) – 3:46 "2 Times" (original extended mix) – 6:32 "2 Times" (G. side) – 5:32 "2 Times" (GambaClub) – 5:14 "2 Times" (GambaDub) – 4:15
German maxi-CD single "2 Times" (original edit mix/radio edit) – 3:46 "2 Times" (Gamba club) – 5:14 "2 Times" (original extended mix) – 6:32 "2 Times" (Gamba dub) – 4:15 "2 Times" (G. Side) – 5:32
German and Dutch CD single "2 Times" (original edit mix) – 3:46 "2 Times" (original extended mix) – 6:32
UK CD single "2 Times" (original radio edit) "2 Times" (Gamba club) "2 Times" (Bulletproof Euro mix)
UK 12-inch single A1. "2 Times" (original extended mix) B1. "2 Times" (Gamba club mix) B2. "2 Times" (Bulletproof Euro mix)
UK cassette single "2 Times" (original radio edit) "2 Times" (Gamba club)
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "2 Times"Chart (1999–2000)PeakpositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan)14Denmark (IFPI)1Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)5Hungary (Mahasz)10Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)7 Italy (FIMI)3
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for "2 Times"Chart (1999)PositionAustralia (ARIA)20Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)15Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)12Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)33Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)23Europe Radio (Music & Media)38Europe Border Breakers (Music & Media)7France (SNEP)28Germany (Media Control)28Italy (Musica e dischi)35Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)28Netherlands (Single Top 100)28Romania (Romanian Top 100)32UK Singles (OCC)21UK Pop (Music Week)5
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)ItalyDecember 199812-inch vinylX-EnergyMarch 1999CDNetherlands24 April 1999High FashionGermany28 April 1999ZYX MusicUnited Kingdom4 October 1999Systematic
References