I Promised Myself

"I Promised Myself"
1990 CD maxi single
Single by Nick Kamen
from the album Move Until We Fly
Released1990 (1990)
Recorded1990
Genre
Length3:55
LabelAtlantic
SongwriterNick Kamen
Producers
Nick Kamen singles chronology
"Don't Hold Out"
(1989)
"I Promised Myself"
(1990)
"Oh How Happy"
(1990)
Nick Kamen singles chronology
"We'll Never Lose What We Have Found"
(1992)
"I Promised Myself 2004"
(2004)
Music video
"I Promised Myself" on YouTube
Alternative cover
2004 version

"I Promised Myself" is a song written and originally performed by British English singer Nick Kamen. Originally released on his album Move Until We Fly (1990), it was released as a single in the same year and, as a remix in 2004. The original version achieved success in numerous countries, including Austria and Sweden where it topped the charts, although did not reach the top 40 in his native country. It has been covered multiple times by artists such as Dead or Alive, A-Teens and Basshunter.

Track listings

CD maxi single
No.TitleLength
1."I Promised Myself" 
2."You Are" 
3."Don't Hold Out" 
4."Tell Me" 
7-inch single (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."I Promised Myself"3:55
2."You Are"3:58
Total length:7:53
12-inch maxi single (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."I Promised Myself (Extended Version)"5:40
2."I Promised Myself (Single Version)"3:55
3."You Are"3:58
Total length:13:33
I Promised Myself 2004 CD single version (2004)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."I Promised Myself 2004 (Radio Edit)"Nick Kamen3:54
2."I Promised Myself 2004 (Extended Mix)"Nick Kamen7:05
3."On a Wave"Wilde & Janssens6:32
Total length:17:31

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "I Promised Myself"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI) Gold 250,000^
Sweden (GLF) Gold 25,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

A-Teens version

"I Promised Myself"
Single by A-Teens
from the album Greatest Hits
Released4 April 2024 (2024-04-04)
Recorded2004
Genre
Length3:32
LabelUniversal Music Group
SongwriterNick Kamen
Producers
  • Grizzly
  • Tysper
A-Teens singles chronology
"A Perfect Match"
(2003)
"I Promised Myself"
(2024)
"Iconic"
(2026)
Music video
"I Promised Myself" on YouTube

"I Promised Myself" was covered by Swedish pop group A-Teens and released on 28 April 2004 as the group's final single until 2026. It was one of three new songs to be included on their 2004 compilation album, Greatest Hits. It was produced by Grizzly and Tysper.

Music video

The video was directed by Gustav Johnson and was filmed in Sweden and shows the band's members images inserted in scenes from past videos, so that they appear to be interacting with the teenagers they were before.

Track listings

European 2-track CD single (2004)
No.TitleLength
1."I Promised Myself (Radio Version)"3:32
2."I Promised Myself (Extended Version)"4:43
Total length:8:15
European CD maxi single (2004)
No.TitleLength
1."I Promised Myself (Radio Version)"3:32
2."I Promised Myself (Extended Version)"4:43
3."I Promised Myself (The Attic Radio Version)"3:28
4."I Promised Myself (The Attic Remix)"5:55
Total length:17:38

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "I Promised Myself"
Chart (2004) Peak
position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)2

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "I Promised Myself"
Chart (2004) Position
Sweden (Hitlistan) 40

Basshunter version

"I Promised Myself"
Single by Basshunter
from the album Bass Generation
Released30 November 2009 (2009-11-30)
Recorded2009
GenreEurodance
Length2:38 (Radio Edit)
Label
SongwriterNick Kamen
ProducersBasshunter, Scott Simons
Basshunter singles chronology
"Every Morning"
(2009)
"I Promised Myself"
(2009)
"Saturday"
(2010)
Music video
"I Promised Myself" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
BBCStarStarStar

Swedish musician Basshunter covered the song on his fifth studio album, Bass Generation. The single was released on 30 November 2009. It was produced by Basshunter. "I Promised Myself" is two minutes and 38 seconds long and has a tempo of 150 beats per minute. Basshunter describing his cover of "I Promised Myself" said that it has similar setup to "Now You're Gone" with improved bass drums and bassline and it is more rhythmic. Grant Black from BBC describing the song said that it has no sign of a verse, and it sounds like previous Basshunter songs. In his opinion song with this sentiment should not have a sniff of a dance backing but he also understood that Basshunter can't make songs without bass. He appreciated that Basshunter really does try to sing, and he kind of pulls it off.

Music video

Music video for "I Promised Myself" was directed in Málaga by Alex Herron. Music video was released by Hard2Beat Records on 15 October 2009. Anders Anderson was assistant director and Maz Makhani was camera operator. On 19 November, the Pete Hammond Remix was released.

In the music video, Basshunter goes through all the trouble of finding Aylar Lie after receiving a voicemail from a friend telling him that he needs to get to the hospital. Whilst in the taxi to the hospital he looks out the window and then down at his phone in his hands that shows pictures of Aylar Lie and then recalls memories of them together. The taxi then gets stuck in traffic so Basshunter starts walking to the hospital. He then arrives at the hospital and asks where he can find Aylar and goes in search for her whilst remembering the last night he saw her. He finds the room, opens the door but then finds her with her ex-boyfriend, Lucas, from previous music videos.

Track listings

Digital download (30 November 2009)
No.TitleLength
1."I Promised Myself (Radio Edit)"2:38
2."I Promised Myself (Pete Hammond Edit)"3:11
Total length:5:49
Digital download (30 November 2009)
No.TitleLength
1."I Promised Myself (Radio Edit)"2:38
2."I Promised Myself (Pete Hammond Remix)"6:55
3."I Promised Myself (Hixxy Mix)"5:34
4."I Promised Myself (Bad Behaviour Remix)"5:09
5."I Promised Myself (7th Heaven Remix)"6:04
6."I Promised Myself (Extended Mix)"4:04
7."I Promised Myself (Pete Hammond Edit)"3:11
8."I Promised Myself (7th Heaven Edit)"2:55
Total length:36:30

Charts

Chart performance for "I Promised Myself"
Chart (2009–2010) Peak
position
ERROR in "CIS": Invalid position: 208. Expected number 1–200 or dash (–).
Germany (Deutsche-DJ-Playlist) 89
UK Singles (Official Charts)94
UK Dance (Official Charts)9
UK Independent (Official Charts)8

Other versions