From its beginnings as a fortuitous sample to dominating Miami’s WMC and topping the UK Singles Chart for 5 weeks, ‘Lola’s Theme’ has become one of the most popular house anthems of all time.

Backstory:

In 2003 the post-millennial landscape for UK dance music was as rich and varied as it had ever been. 

The Shapeshifters Simon Marlin was one of those & he had run a small house night in London during the 1990s.

Marlin had made connections with the short-lived DJ label 'Downboy Recordings' in the 1990s and did some A&R work for them. 

As part of his A&R duties he visited Sweden in order to check out a couple of Swedish producers “Who were producing this great stuff”, and one of them was Max Reich, his future partner in The Shapeshifters.

They decided to team up to form a production partnership.

“Max was a great beats maker, so the symbiosis of that seemed perfect to me.” Simon also wanted to launch his own label, and set up Nocturnal Groove with his wife Lola.

“One day we were in my living room in Maida Vale [in London] playing some records, and one of those records was Johnnie Taylor ‘What About My Love’ from 1982.”

“I knew the record from before, but there was something about when Lola put it on the turntable, and that first 16 bars played — I hadn’t heard it in that way before, in a way where I was thinking, ‘I’m gonna go into the studio now to do something’.

The working title for the record was ‘Lola’s Theme’, as the original inspiration had come from Simon’s wife Lola.

They originally promo’d the record in November 2003. “I pressed up 500 white labels — it was a simple black and white label with a phone number attached,” he remembers.

“That phone number was connected to an answering machine — very old school. 

We came back from America, and the answering machine was full of distributors, labels, record shops, friends or whatever — all clamouring for more. I pressed up another thousand, which went out straight away. Then, I purposefully left the market dry from January through to March, because I knew that Miami was coming.”

“We all went to Miami Winter Music Conference 2004, and literally you could hear that record being played everywhere,” Simon smiles. “It was at that point that I was like, ‘OK, something’s going on with this now’.”

In order to find a suitable vocalist, they put the feelers out and a few London-based singers came into their studio to try out. “Cookie came in, and she was perfect,” Marlin enthuses.

Cookie, who sang with the London Community Gospel Choir, added some verses, and was an invaluable asset when ‘Lola’s Theme’ shot to the top of the pop charts and The Shapes were called upon to do the UK’s premier pop show "Top Of The Pops".

The success of ‘Lola’s Theme’ including 5 weeks at #1 on the UK charts allowed The Shapes to have a 20-year career that is still flourishing to this day. 

Comments:

maia2812

I was lucky enough to just enter and be in my early 20s when this kind of music was around in the clubs! Unforgettable times, basic mobile phones, no social media, real life experiences, real friendships and connections. We appreciated a good night out back then.

ThaGoldMaster

This song literally gives me huge nostalgia! Listening to it when I was 9 was amazing and hearing it now when I go some nightclubs is the best feeling ever!

user-ls1do9ld2r

I cant believe this song was released in 2004. I still listen to it now. Damn I'm getting old. I just love the song, the lyrics everything about it.

colonelsanders4006

Without doubt one of the best dance anthems ever produced. Aged like a fine wine.

randyangel9412

Underrated Masterpiece

D1Snr

This song is timeless. One of my favourite songs.

rhettwar

2022 and still a certified banger !!! CHILLS

stevejjk89

2021 and still a banger, they don't make tunes like this anymore

laidbackjack3166

Mid 00s nostalgia. Secondary school days. No social media, basic phones, no fake news still enough of the 90s to make life simple. 

filipov16

This song is such a feel good vibe. Great memories.

Fenellaribena

Just yesterday I was driving along, minding my own business and THIS comes on the radio!  I'd whacked up the volume and was singing along like I had a half-decent voice (I don't, but who cares?)   I got stuck in some traffic and I look across at a woman in the car opposite.  She's doing exactly the same thing!  It's THAT sort of tune! <3

claudiar3305

Can’t get enough of this song - Missed it when it was first released some years ago but heard it when I visited my daughter in the U.K. 2018. They played it regularly on Heart Radio and I became addicted ????????

sandromauro3083

I was 30 when this MASTERPIECE came out !!! PURE NOSTALGIA !!!

JuanSanchez-kv9yl

Listening to this makes you feel good even if you're not! It's incredible!

Pulsonar

What a gorgeous track, and that voice so husky and luxurious with that classy - Orchestral brass section like retro TSOP disco of the 70s - Wow

evanhanley6437

Heard this song SO much growing up and loving it to bits. The memories are all coming back. Grand Theft Auto 4 having this song made it even better.

zafnatpaneaj4992

This is pure masterpiece. I was so lucky dancing at the disco at the beggining of the 00s...!!!

toptiertrips

Been my favourite song for years now! Absolutely beautiful tune!

danieljopson9032

This song still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck

zoetamaraknape

Absolutely love this song so much. Brings back so many memories. ????

euanelliott3613

Memories of my Mum taking my sister and I to the fair in the '70's. In those days they played things like Spirit In The Sky and Son Of The Father on the rides, but I remember eating candy floss and being slightly wary of some of the rides as they looked too fast. My sister won a goldfish and the bag sprung a leak, she was upset in case the fish died. It survived. In those days it was 10p a ride and the music was loud. RIP Mum, I love you and I miss you XX.

Bitcoin187

Absolutely amazing! I love this song

MICEVVV

When you make your tune timeless, you become a lord of sound.Thank you Shapeshifters we all love you !