E=MC2 (song)

Last updated
"E=MC2"
E=MC2 cover.jpeg
Single by Big Audio Dynamite
from the album This Is Big Audio Dynamite
ReleasedMarch 1986
Recorded1985
Genre
Length5:55
Label CBS
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mick Jones
Big Audio Dynamite singles chronology
"The Bottom Line"
(1986)
"E=MC2"
(1986)
"Medicine Show"
(1986)
Music video
"E=MC2" on YouTube

"E=MC2" is a 1986 single by the English band Big Audio Dynamite, released as the second single from their debut studio album, This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985). The song was the band's first Top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 11. Additionally, it peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States. The song features prominent dialogue samples from the crime drama film Performance (1970). The song is also played during the opening titles of the French movie Forces spéciales (2011).

Contents

History

This song was inspired by the films of Nicolas Roeg, notably Performance (1970; written and co-directed by Donald Cammell), Walkabout (1971), Don't Look Now (1973), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), Eureka (1983), and Insignificance (1985). Its lyrics refer directly to many of them. For example:

Included throughout the song are dialogue samples from Performance (1970).

Music video

The music video for the song (directed by Don Letts) features clips from films made by Nicolas Roeg, coupled with scenes of the band performing in a mine.

Mick Jones and Hard-Fi

Indie rock band Hard-Fi have performed "E=MC2" live, being joined by Big Audio Dynamite's lead vocalist Mick Jones on occasion. One such performance was at the Brixton Academy on 15 May 2006, a gig at which Billy Bragg and Paul Weller also appeared. [1] On 18 May 2006, Hard-Fi were again joined onstage by Jones one song into their three-song encore for their final performance of "E=MC2". [1]

Track listing

7" CBS / A 6963 (UK)

  1. "E=MC2" – 4:30
  2. "This Is Big Audio Dynamite" – 3:39

7" Columbia / 38-06053 (US)

  1. "E=MC2" – 4:30
  2. "A Party" – 4:44

12" CBS / TA 6963 (UK)

  1. "E=MC2 (Extended Remix)" – 6:18 (remixed by Paul 'Groucho' Smykle)
  2. "This Is Big Audio Dynamite" – 5:53

12" Columbia / 44-05909 (US)

  1. "E=MC2 (Extended Remix)" – 5:33 (remixed by Bert Bevans)
  2. "A Party" – 10:15 (remixed by Paul 'Groucho' Smykle)

Chart positions

Chart (1986)Peak
position
Australia ARIA Singles Chart [2] 47
Irish Singles Chart [3] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [4] 18
UK Singles Chart [5] 11
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play [6] 37
US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales [6] 41

References

  1. 1 2 Hard-Fi team up with very special guest | News | NME.COM
  2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 34. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  3. "The Irish Charts". IRMA. Archived from the original on 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  4. "Big Audio Dynamite – E=MC2". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  5. "The Official Charts Company - Big Audio Dynamite". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  6. 1 2 "Big Audio Dynamite > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". AllMusic . Retrieved 2011-06-16.