Electricity (Suede song)

"Electricity"
Single by Suede
from the album Head Music
Released April 12, 1999
Format CD
Recorded 1999
Genre Alternative rock, electronic rock
Length 4:39
Label Nude
Songwriter(s) Brett Anderson, Neil Codling, Richard Oakes
Producer(s) Steve Osborne, Ben Hillier, Bruce Lampcov
Suede singles chronology
"Filmstar"
(1997)		 "Electricity"
(1999)		 "She's in Fashion"
(1999)

"Filmstar"
(1997)		 "Electricity"
(1999)		 "She's in Fashion"
(1999)

"Electricity" is the first single from the album Head Music by Suede, released on April 12, 1999 on Nude Records. It reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Background

The band re-emerged with this successful electronic-rock tune after two years away from the public eye. For the first time, synthesizers are used as a primary part of a song, working in parallel with the distorted guitar as opposed to just providing backing. The single helped guide the band's new direction, as evident in the fact that synths were also heavily used on Head Music.

"Electricity" was produced by Steve Osborne, "Popstar" and "See That Girl" were produced by Ben Hillier while "Waterloo" was produced by Bruce Lampcov. The video for "Electricity" was directed by Mike Lipscombe, and is one of the band's few big budget videos. It features the band performing in the back alley behind the London Astoria venue, ghosting in and out of view as electrical power lines surge and shower sparks over scene. The director made use of miniature models, rotoscoping and heavy post-production to achieve the final, big production look.

Critical reception

Reviews to the highly-awaited single were mixed. The Mirror rated it 9 out of 10, writing: "Open the windows, whack this on full blast and watch the sparks fly. Rock is in this summer."[2] While the NME felt that Suede were displaying familiar music and lyrical ideas from the previous album, they said the "recycled cut-and-paste Suede is still a fair old mince ahead of most other singles you'll hear this year."[3]

However, some Scottish critics felt that the single was lacking creativity. The Daily Record wrote: "Loyal Suede fans have put Brett Anderson's band back in the Top 10, but 'Electricity' lacks the energy of previous hits."[4] Likewise, The List wrote: "'Electricity' finds Suede treading water when they should be breaking new ground."[5]

Track listings

Cassette
  1. "Electricity" (Brett Anderson, Neil Codling, Richard Oakes)
  2. "Implement Yeah!" (Anderson, Codling, Simon Gilbert, Oakes, Mat Osman)
CD1
  1. "Electricity" (Anderson, Codling, Oakes)
  2. "Popstar" (Anderson, Gilbert, Oakes, Osman)
  3. "Killer" (Anderson, Oakes)
CD2
  1. "Electricity" (Anderson, Codling, Oakes)
  2. "See That Girl" (Anderson)
  3. "Waterloo" (Codling)
MiniDisc
  1. "Electricity" (Anderson, Codling, Oakes)
  2. "Popstar" (Anderson, Gilbert, Oakes, Osman)
  3. "Killer" (Anderson, Oakes)
  4. "See That Girl" (Anderson)
  5. "Waterloo" (Codling)
  6. "Implement Yeah!" (Anderson, Codling, Gilbert, Oakes, Osman)

References

  1. ↑ "Artist Chart History: Suede". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Singles of the Week". The Mirror Archived at The Free Library. 11 April 1999. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Chick, Stevie (13 April 1999). "This Week's Singles". NME. Archived from the original on 10 June 2000. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Chart Slot". Daily Record Archived at The Free Library. 23 April 1999. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Donaldson, Brian (1 April 1999). "Music - record reviews". The List (356): 43. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
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