"I Know What I'm Here For" is a song by British rock band James. It was the first single released from their eighth studio album, Millionaires,[2] and reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
Background, release and reception
"It's about the meaning of life. It's also about the nature of being in a band: the fulfilment of adolescent fantasies of endless drugs, drink and sex. But unless there's self-discipline, it can easily become a nightmare… Initially we did it almost as a blues song, but [producer]Brian Eno came up with the wacky, space-funk hookline. It became the album's first single, to make an announcement that we'e gone into a new musical area." – Tim Booth, singer[3]
The single was released on CD and cassette and reached number 22 in the UK Top 40 chart, spending five weeks on the chart.[4]
A live version and a video appeared on the limited edition two-disc edition of Millionaires.
Peter Buckley, in The Rough Guide to Rock, described it as an "effortless soaring track".[5] In contrast, Victoria Segal, reviewing the track for the NME, described it as "not interesting ... just silly".[6]
^I Know What I'm Here For (UK CD2 liner notes). James. Mercury Records. 1999. JIMDD 22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Know What I'm Here For (UK cassette single sleeve). James. Mercury Records. 1999. JIMMC22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Know What I'm Here For (European maxi-CD single liner notes). James. Mercury Records. 1999. 562 261-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)