After finishing as runner-up on the tenth series of The X Factor in December 2013, McDonald signed a record contract with RCA Records.[2] "Answerphone" was one of three original tracks written for his debut studio album In the Arms of an Angel. The song was co-written by McDonald and Paul Barry. McDonald stated that, "I chose that as my first song because it's a really original, fresh and fun song. It's a song that I knew I would enjoy performing."[3]
In an interview with sugarscape.com, McDonald said that "'Answerphone' is about me being in the studio, working hard, doing my thing and I've got a girlfriend during this, this work in progress - something happens and I'm trying to get ahold of her, she's trying to get ahold of me. I just keep checking my phone, like 'where is she?' and 'what have I done?'. I'm just like in this video going 'what have I done wrong?' and 'what's happening?' Basically, then she turns up at the door with a phone like 'I've been trying to call you when you've been trying to call me'."[4]
The track received its debut airplay on 3 February 2014 on the Clyde 1 Breakfast Show with George Bowie.[5]
Music video
The music video was filmed on 5 February 2014.[6] McDonald took a break from rehearsals for the X Factor Live Tour in order to film the video. He said on Twitter, "Access all areas #Answerphone video shoot.", before later adding "AND THATS A WRAP !!! MUSIC VIDEO FOR ANSWERPHONE IS ALL DONE !! NOW LETS HOPE ALL THAT HARD WORK WAS WORTH IT #answerphone !!!"[6] The video premiered on McDonald's Vevo channel and YouTube on 18 February.[7]
The song debuted at number 73 on the UK Singles Chart on 23 March 2014. It was a major flop in comparison to In the Arms of an Angel, which debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart the same week.[9] The song also charted at number 28 on the Scottish Singles Chart.[10]
