Original Sin

"Original Sin" is a song performed by British singer-songwriter Alesha and American recording artist Ryan Dawson. It was released on July 14, 2008, by Ensemble Entertainment, as the second single from Alesha's fifth studio album The Second Coming. The song was written and produced by Alesha. Alesha notably incorporates a sample of piano-led indie-pop song "The Lottery" by Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton into the '80s-inspired electro-pop track.

Drawing from influences as Britney Spears and Pet Shop Boys, "Original Sin" is a song about losing one's inhibitions and engaging in sin. The song is very loosely based on the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve. Contemporary critics praised "Original Sin," who compared it to a more artistic take on Dawson and Putanovska's chart-topping duet "Make-Up Sex" (2007). "Original Sin" charted at number one, becoming Alesha's fifth number one and Dawson's second.

Due to Alesha's busy touring schedule, having just launched 2008's Jesus Christ Supertour, no music video for "Original Sin" was shot. To make up for the lack of music video, Alesha involved the song in an elaborate production on 2009's Apocalypse City Live tour. Dawson served as the support act for the tour's European leg, performing the track with Alesha on all those dates.

Background and composition
"Original Sin" was written by Alesha while recording her fifth studio album The Second Coming (2008). Like "Jesus Christ Supermodel" and "Crucify," the first songs written for the album, "Original Sin" uses religious imagery in its lyrics. The song is very loosely based on the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve, while equating the original sin with sexual desire. The chorus — "There's a new crime, let's commit it" — contains a lyrical interpolation and samples the vocal melody of "The Lottery" by Canadian singer-songwriter Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton.

Musically, "Original Sin" has been described as "retro-futurist" for employing state-of-the-art production while still referencing '80s synthpop. Major influences for the song were the Pet Shop Boys and Britney Spears' work with producer Danja. For the male vocal, Alesha chose her friend and protégé of sorts Ryan Dawson. Alesha had contributed songwriting to Dawson's debut album and played a large role in launching his career, from his time as a member of short-lived duo Sieg Heil to his solo breakthrough. Alesha had been impressed by Dawson and Putanovska's chart-topping duet "Make-Up Sex."

"Original Sin" was released as the second single from The Second Coming on July 14, 2008. Biographer Robert Monroe, author of Alesha-mania, noted that the song was "commercially safe" when compared to previous singe "Tsunami of the Soul." Alesha and Dawson recorded an impromptu cover of Peaches and Iggy Pop's "Kick It" in one take for the single's B-side, while Alesha contributed "Snatch the Cat Back" and Dawson offered "I Kissed a Boy."

Critical reception
"Original Sin" was well received by music critics. Dennis Lim of Blender named the song one of the highlights of the album, calling it "hypnotic pole-dance pop." Rolling Stone gave the song four and a half stars, named it the second potential hit from the album, and called it “a bubblegum-electro dance floor jam with a hook most pop stars would kill for." Eric R. Danton of The Hartford Courant deemed it as "crackling" and "club-ready." Nekesa Mumbi Moody of USA Today called it "a sexy techno groove that you can't help but bounce to." On July 14, 2008, "Radar" was chosen as single of the week in FHM.

Live performances
"Original Sin" was performed by Alesha on 2008's Jesus Christ Supertour, which launched on August 1 in Dublin, Ireland.

Ryan Dawson supported Alesha on the European leg of her 2009 tour Apocalypse City Live, allowing the pair to perform the song together on every show of the leg. After failing to record a music video for the track, Alesha highlighted "Original Sin" with an elaborate production. Alesha and Dawson were depicted in adjecent prison cells, performing a racy dance routine with each other and the bars, eventually escaping and meeting in the middle of the stage. After the song's final line, Alesha and Dawson would look each other in the eye and kiss (for show).

Alesha and Putanovska performed a medley of their Ryan Dawson duets, "Make-Up Sex" and "Original Sin," on their joint 2010 tour The Reckoning. Dawson joined Alesha to perform "Original Sin" at her star-studded one-off concert, Judgment Day at Wembley Stadium.

Track listing

 * CD1
 * 1) ”Original Sin"
 * 2) "Kick It"
 * CD2
 * 1) ”Original Sin"
 * 2) "Snatch the Cat Back" (Alesha)
 * 3) "I Kissed a Boy" (Ryan)
 * 4) "Original Sin" (Israeli Condemned Sodomizers MetroMix)


 * Digital remix EP
 * 1) ”Original Sin"
 * 2) "Original Sin" (Israeli Condemned Sodomizers MetroMix)
 * 3) "Original Sin" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix)
 * 4) "Original Sin" (Tony Lamezma's Fall of Man)
 * 5) "The Lottery"

Chart performance
"Original Sin" entered the official singles chart at number one, becoming Alesha's fifth number one-single and Ryan Dawson's second. The single sold 310,381 copies, receiving a platinum certification and becoming the 27th best-selling single of 2008.