"Ambitions" is a song by Norwegian band Donkeyboy, taken from their debut album Caught in a Life. It was released as their debut single in 2009 and was a number-one hit in the Norwegian Singles Chart.
The chorus of the song is built around a bassline similar to those of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and some of Madonna's 1980s songs, and features guest vocals by Linnea Dale. It stayed at top of the Norwegian Singles Chart for a total of 13 weeks in 2009 (weeks 27 to 38 and week 43). In February 2010, the single also topped the Swedish Singles Chart. By March 2010, it was announced that Ambitions had been on the Norwegian Singles Chart for 52 continuous weeks. Donkeyboy were due to release it in the UK on 19 April 2010, but postponed the release.
In 2010, it was recorded by sixth season The X Factor winner Joe McElderry and released in the UK on 10 October 2010 as the lead single to his debut album, Wide Awake.
Music video
The music video directed by Kristoffer Borgli talks about a fictional disease "Abicere Leprous" which is caused by people giving up on their ambitions in life. Symptoms start with a vesicular skin rash, and it then spreads and destroys the entire body. The disease is almost always fatal within three years of catching it. The video interviews people infected with the disease and asks them how they were infected and what they are doing with their lives.
An alternative music video released by Donkeyboy shows various candidates in a talent competition in dancing and their tribulations and ambitions and hopes and how they are dashed. At the end of the video, Donkeyboy members invite in one of the main characters, Tobias Mead, sixth runner-up on Britain's Got Talent 2010, who just lost into their car, making his "ambitions" come true that way.
Reception
"Ambitions" was released on 26 March 2009 and was put into heavy rotation by NRK P3. "Ambitions" debuted on the Norwegian singles chart at #7 on 6 April 2009, and reached the #1 spot on 29 June, after 13 weeks on the charts. "Ambitions" remained at the #1 spot for twelve consecutive weeks, before being replaced by the band's second single "Sometimes" on 22 September. This was the first time ever for a Norwegian artist to occupy the top two spots on the singles chart. Guitarist Peter Michelsen described the situation as "completely absurd".
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Joe McElderry version
The song was covered by Joe McElderry, the 2009 winner in the sixth series of the UK version of The X Factor, it was his second single, the lead single and opening track from his debut album, Wide Awake (2010). It was released on digital download on 10 October 2010, with the CD single release the following day. The B-Side, "If You Love Me" is an original track which doesn't appear on the album.
Background
The record label considered changing the title of McElderry's version to "Somebody". It received its first play on BBC Radio 1 on 19 September 2010 and was uploaded on McElderry's official YouTube channel moments later. This video was made private once the official video was posted on the channel
Promotion
The song had three television appearances. He performed the single on the Sunday 10 October show of The X Factor 2010 and on Paul O'Grady Live on 15 October 2010 as well as on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Music video
The video was directed by Nigel Dick in Bulgaria. The filming started on 9 September 2010 and wrapped the next day. The music video leaked on 18 September 2010 but officially premiered on MSN on 23 September 2010. The video is described as an all-singing, all-dancing affair, McElderry told Daily Mirror "They wanted me to just do a few hand gestures, but I wanted a full-on dance routine. I made them get me a choreographer and everything."