Evil (Interpol song)

Last updated
"Evil"
Evil - Interpol.jpg
Single by Interpol
from the album Antics
B-side
ReleasedJanuary 3, 2005
RecordedMarch –May 2004
Studio Tarquin Studios
(Bridgeport, Connecticut)
Genre
Length3:35
Label Matador
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Interpol singles chronology
"Slow Hands"
(2004)		"Evil"
(2005)		"C'mere"
(2005)

"Evil" is a song by American rock band Interpol. It was released as the second single from their second studio album, Antics (2004), on January 3, 2005. The song is believed to be about Fred and Rosemary West, a married couple who raped and murdered teenage girls together in England between the 1960s and 1980s. [1] [2] "Evil" peaked at No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 24 on Billboard magazine's Modern Rock Tracks chart. In Australia, the song was ranked No. 76 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.

Contents

Music video

A still from the song's music video showing the main character, a puppet later named "Norman" by fans Evil interpol puppet.JPG
A still from the song's music video showing the main character, a puppet later named "Norman" by fans

The music video, directed by Charlie White, shows a life-sized animatronic puppet who travels via ambulance to a hospital emergency room following a car crash, being examined by real-life actors as he sings the lyrics to the song before breaking into a frantic dance on the operating table. [3] White had never made a music video before, but came up with the idea for the video after listening to the song and pitched it to the band. Despite the fact that the band had appeared in all of their prior music videos, the band loved the idea and gave White their blessing. White listened to the song on a loop for an entire weekend and hired the special effects team that had worked on the films Hellboy and Fantastic Four to create the puppet. [4]

The video was shot over the course of 17 hours in one day and used a real hospital room. The puppet's animatronic head was programmed to automatically sing the song; six puppeteers, who needed to be digitally removed from the video, were tasked with moving its eyes and body. [5] The video was a hit with audiences but the puppet itself had polarizing reactions, with some thinking it was cute and others thinking it was creepy. Regardless, the puppet received its own cult following and was named "Norman" by fans on Interpol's online message board shortly after the video premiered. [6] The video reached No. 25 on Yahoo!'s list of the Top 25 Scariest Videos. [7] White would later collaborate with the band again to produce the music video for their 2010 song "Lights".

Shortly after the video was released, the puppet was lost and its whereabouts remained a mystery for almost a decade. In 2014, it was spotted in an online auction in which it was simply listed as "animatronic creepy ghoul puppet from music video". At this point, the puppet had badly deteriorated, and it was sold to an unknown buyer for only a few hundred dollars. The puppet continued to change hands for the next five years, still out of the public eye. In 2019, it was purchased from another online auction by artist John Kolbek, who was able to successfully raise money from a GoFundMe campaign called "Let's save Norman!" to restore the puppet. [8] As of 2020, the puppet is again in working order and is currently being used to host various videos on Kolbek's YouTube channel, which are usually horror-themed due to the puppet's broken-down state giving it an even scarier appearance. [9] [10] In March 2022, a video revealed the puppet's full restoration. [11]

Track listings

  1. "Evil" – 3:36
  2. "Leif Erikson" (Zane Lowe BBC session)
  1. "Evil" – 3:36
  2. "Song Seven" – 4:50
  1. "Evil" – 3:36
  2. "Narc" (Zane Lowe BBC session) – 4:08
  3. "Evil" (Zane Lowe BBC session) – 3:33
  4. "Slow Hands" (video)
  1. "Evil" – 3:36
  2. "Song Seven" – 4:49
  3. "Leif Erikson" (Zane Lowe BBC session) – 3:53
  4. "Narc" (Zane Lowe BBC session) – 4:08
  5. "Evil" (Zane Lowe BBC session) – 3:33

The song has appeared in episodes of the television series The 100 , Entourage , Grey's Anatomy , and The O.C. . It was also featured on the soundtrack of the 2022 film Orphan: First Kill .

Charts

Chart (2005)Peak
position
Belgium (Back Catalogue Singles Flanders) [12] 43
Ireland (IRMA) [13] 35
Scotland (OCC) [14] 19
UK Singles (OCC) [15] 18
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [16] 24

Related Research Articles

<i>Antics</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Interpol

Antics is the second studio album by American rock band Interpol, released on September 27, 2004, by Matador Records. Upon its release, the album peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard 200 and number 21 on the UK Albums Chart, and went on to sell over 488,000 copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biffy Clyro</span> Scottish rock band

Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band that formed in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, composed of Simon Neil and twin brothers James and Ben Johnston. Currently signed to 14th Floor Records, they have released nine studio albums, and following their first three albums, the band expanded their following significantly in 2007 with the release of their fourth album Puzzle, which peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and was awarded a Platinum certification by the BPI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spitting Games</span> 2003 single by Snow Patrol

"Spitting Games" is the lead single from Snow Patrol's third album, Final Straw, released on 15 September 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obstacle 1</span> 2002 single by Interpol

"Obstacle 1" is a song by American rock band Interpol. It was released as the second single from their debut studio album, Turn on the Bright Lights, on November 11, 2002. It was eventually remixed by producer Arthur Baker and reissued as a single on September 15, 2003. The music video for "Obstacle 1" was directed by Floria Sigismondi. The song peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and was critically acclaimed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C'mere</span> 2005 single by Interpol

"C'mere" is a song by American rock band Interpol and is featured on the band's second studio album, Antics (2004). It was released in 2005 as the third single from that album, charting at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Maccabees (band)</span> Indie rock band

The Maccabees were an English indie rock band, formed in 2004 in London. They released four albums: Colour It In in 2007, followed by Wall of Arms in 2009, Given to the Wild which was released on 9 January 2012 and their last album Marks to Prove It released on 31 July 2015. The band announced that they decided to disband in August 2016, with farewell gigs in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Sniper</span> 2007 single by Enter Shikari

"Jonny Sniper" was the third physical single, and fourth overall, by Enter Shikari and the third single to be released from their debut album Take to the Skies. The band have referred to the single as a "double a-side", possibly due to the positive response to "Kickin' Back on the Surface of Your Cheek", the b-side from the previous single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Heinrich Maneuver</span> 2007 single by Interpol

"The Heinrich Maneuver" is a song by American rock band Interpol. It was released on May 7, 2007, as the lead single from their third studio album, Our Love to Admire (2007). It was Interpol's first release through Capitol Records after signing with the label. The picture sleeve for the single features a Serval cat. The song's title is a play on the Heimlich Maneuver and an allusion to the novel White Noise by Don DeLillo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggernauts (song)</span> 2009 single by Enter Shikari

"Juggernauts" is a song by British rock band Enter Shikari produced by record producer Andy Gray for their second studio album, Common Dreads. The song was released as a single on 29 May 2009. The song was also released on 7" limited edition vinyl, of which only 1000 copies were made. "Juggernauts" was first broadcast to the public on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1 on 15 April 2009. It was selected by Scott Mills as his record of the week on 1 June 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Not the End of the World, But I Can See It from Here</span> 2009 single by Lostprophets

"It's Not the End of the World, But I Can See It from Here" is the twelfth single by Welsh rock band Lostprophets, and the first from their fourth studio album The Betrayed. It was released on 11 October 2009 in the UK, the first time they had released anything since April 2007. The release also features the song "AC Ricochet". Drummer Ilan Rubin wrote the song when he was 16, though there were changes and a middle 8 written with the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate (song)</span> 2009 single by The Automatic

Interstate is the first single from Tear the Signs Down, the third studio album by Welsh alternative rock band The Automatic. The single was released on 6 December, and marks the first release through the band's own record label, Armored Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interpol discography</span>

The discography of American rock band Interpol consists of seven studio albums, seven extended plays (EPs), and fifteen singles. Interpol was formed in 1997 by New York University students Daniel Kessler and Greg Drudy, with Carlos Dengler and Paul Banks joining later. Drudy left the band in 2000, and was replaced with Sam Fogarino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superfast Jellyfish</span> 2010 single by Gorillaz featuring Gruff Rhys and De La Soul

"Superfast Jellyfish" is the second single released from British alternative band Gorillaz' third studio album, Plastic Beach. The single was released on 9 May 2010.

<i>Interpol</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Interpol

Interpol is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Interpol, released on September 7, 2010, through Matador Records. The self-produced album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village. Bassist Carlos Dengler left shortly after the album's completion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigger than Us (White Lies song)</span> 2011 single by White Lies

"Bigger than Us" is a song by English Indie rock band White Lies from their second studio album, Ritual. It was released as the lead single on 3 January 2011 in the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number 42. A live version of the track was made available by the band for download.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">At Your Inconvenience (song)</span> 2011 single by Professor Green

"At Your Inconvenience" is a song by British rapper Professor Green. It was released as a promotional single from his second studio album of the same name. It was released on 26 July 2011 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Save Me (Haim song)</span> 2012 single by Haim

"Don't Save Me" is a song by American rock band Haim. The song was released in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2012. It was featured on their debut studio album, Days Are Gone, released in 2013. On December 23, 2012, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 74. On January 6, 2013, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 51, climbing to number 32 the following week. The song premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's 'Hottest Record' on October 16, 2012. A music video to accompany the release of "Don't Save Me" was first released onto YouTube on November 26, 2012, at a total length of three minutes and fifty-six seconds. On November 23, 2013, the band performed the song on Saturday Night Live. The song impacted radio on October 14, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rat Race (Enter Shikari song)</span> 2013 single by Enter Shikari

"Rat Race" is a single by British rock band Enter Shikari. The song was first played on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio One show on the evening of 31 October 2013. The single was released with a remix of the song Radiate by Enter Shikari's alter ego Shikari Sound System. The band also released an EP, which compiled the two previous singles "The Paddington Frisk" and "Radiate".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drown (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2014 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Drown" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon released on 21 October 2014. Originally released as a stand-alone single, a remixed version features on the band's fifth studio album That's the Spirit and was released as the lead single. The track, musically, marks a shift away from the band's previously established metalcore sound. Rather, it was described by critics as a pop punk-leaning emo and rock song, being the later showcased as arena rock. It is available to play in the music video game Guitar Hero Live, added on 12 January 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distant Past (song)</span> 2015 single by Everything Everything

"Distant Past" is a song recorded by British indie pop band Everything Everything. The track was released in the United Kingdom by Sony on 18 February 2015 as the lead single from the band's third studio album, Get to Heaven. It was written by band members Jonathan Higgs, Jeremy Pritchard, Michael Spearman, and Alex Robertshaw, and was produced by Stuart Price. The song, like much of the album it appears on, reflects on the events of 2014, with chief songwriter Higgs explaining that it "[looks] at the fact that history repeats itself".

References

  1. ↑ Luke Lewis (2009-03-05). "Release The Bats - It's The 20 Greatest Goth Tracks". nme.com. NME. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  2. ↑ Erin Thompson (2010-10-27). "The Top 10 Songs About Serial Killers". seattleweekly.com. Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 2010-10-30. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  3. ↑ "Matador Records Interpol Music & Video". matadorrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  4. ↑ "Interpol's Fans Are About to Get 'Evil'". Archived from the original on August 13, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Interpol's 'Evil' is More Like 'Creepy': Lens Recap". Archived from the original on August 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ Gil Kaufman (2005-02-24). "Interpol's 'Evil' Is More Like 'Creepy': Lens Recap". mtv.com. MTV. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  7. ↑ "Scariest Videos". yahoo.com. Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 2005-11-02. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  8. ↑ "A Crowdfunder to restore the creepy puppet from Interpol's 'Evil' video is nearing its total". 21 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Things Under your BED! Hosted by Norman". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  10. ↑ "The Art of Falling Apart (The Story of Norman)". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  11. ↑ Norman is fully Restored! , retrieved 2022-05-09
  12. ↑ "ultratop.be - Interpol - Evil". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Interpol Irish Charting". irish-charts.com. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Interpol Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.