"Gamma Ray" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Beck | ||||
from the album Modern Guilt | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | August 11, 2008 | |||
Genre | Surf rock | |||
Length | 2:58 | |||
Label | XL | |||
Songwriter(s) | Beck Hansen | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Beck singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Gamma Ray" (Version 1) on YouTube "Gamma Ray" (Version 2) on YouTube | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"Gamma Ray" is a song by American rock musician Beck. It was released as the second single from his eighth studio album, Modern Guilt ,on August 11,2008. [1] It is seemingly inspired by the surf rock songs of the 1960s,but with ghostly moans and lyrics on the state of the world. The title refers to gamma rays,biologically hazardous energy emitted by radioactive decay. Despite its up-tempo beat,the song lyrics invoke nihilistic or apocalyptic themes,including melting ice caps,boredom,burning houses,crowns of thorns,and natural disasters. The song peaked at number 19 on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was also placed at number 6 on Rolling Stone 's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008. [2]
The single releases of the song feature a cover of the song by garage punk musician Jay Reatard and a non-album song entitled "Bonfire Blondes" as B-sides,both of which are available on iTunes. [3] [4] The song is included as a playable track in the video game Guitar Hero 5 and was used in Tony Hawk:Ride . Both the A side and B side album cover arts make use of a Houndstooth pattern.
The first version of the music video,directed by Jess Holzworth,features actress and style icon ChloëSevigny. The second version involves scenes of abstract imagery (most in black and white). There is film of Beck standing amidst many people dressed in white with white boxes on the heads. There is also film of mouths and eyes and a woman with an afro.
(A) [5]
(B) [6]
Chart (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [7] | 19 |
Beck David Hansen is an American musician,singer,songwriter,and record producer. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his experimental and lo-fi style,and became known for creating musical collages of wide-ranging genres. He has musically encompassed folk,funk,soul,hip hop,electronic,alternative rock,country,and psychedelia. He has released 14 studio albums,as well as several non-album singles and a book of sheet music.
Tracy Bonham is an American alternative rock musician,best known for her 1996 single "Mother Mother".
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" is a song by the English post-punk band Bauhaus. It was the band's first single,released on 6 August 1979 by record label Small Wonder. It is often considered the first gothic rock record.
"Crazy in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé,featuring a rap verse and ad-libs from her future husband Jay-Z from her debut solo studio album Dangerously in Love (2003). The song was released as her official debut single and as the album's lead single on May 14,2003,through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment. Both artists wrote and composed the song in collaboration with Rich Harrison and Eugene Record;the former also produced it with Beyoncé. Using samples from the Chi-Lites's 1970 song "Are You My Woman ","Crazy in Love" is a pop,hip hop and R&B love song that incorporates elements of soul,and 1970s-style funk music. Its lyrics describe a romantic obsession that causes the protagonist to act out of character.
"Mustang Sally" is a rhythm and blues (R&B) song written and first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965. It was released on the Blue Rock label (4014) in May 1965 with "Sir Mack Rice" as the artist. The song uses an AAB layout with a 24-bar structure.
James Lee Lindsey Jr.,known professionally as Jay Reatard,was an American musician from Memphis,Tennessee. He was signed to Matador Records. He released recordings as a solo artist and as a member of the Reatards and Lost Sounds.
"Conquest" is a song written and first recorded by Corky Robbins and popularized in the 1950s by Patti Page. "Conquest" was also covered by The White Stripes on their 2007 album Icky Thump,which features Regulo Aldama on trumpet. Patti Page's version of "Conquest" was featured on an eBay commercial in the autumn of 2007. The song was used in multiple commercials in 2013 including the Ram trucks "Got Away" advert and also the Machete Kills trailer.
Walking with Strangers is the third studio album by Canadian rock band The Birthday Massacre. The album was released on September 10,2007,in North America and September 21,2007,in Europe.
"Nine in the Afternoon" is a song by the American rock band Panic at the Disco,and the lead single from the group's second album Pretty. Odd.. It was the band's first song release that did not include the exclamation mark at the end of the "Panic" in the group's name. It was the fifth song written for the album.
Modern Guilt is the eleventh studio album by American musician Beck,released in 2008 by both DGC Records and XL Recordings. The album was produced by Beck and Danger Mouse and features two contributions by Cat Power.
"Used to Be" is a song by American dream pop band Beach House from their third studio album,Teen Dream. It was written by lead vocalist and keyboardist Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally and produced by them along with Chris Coady. The song was released on October 21,2008 as the album's lead single and features a B-side of a different version of "Apple Orchard",a song which featured on their self-titled debut album.
Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr.,better known by his stage name Jay Rock,is an American rapper,singer and songwriter from Los Angeles. He signed to indie label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE),in 2005. Under TDE,Rock secured a record deal in 2007 with Warner Bros. Records and later Asylum Records,but mergers fell through and Rock departed from the label shortly after. He then signed with fellow American rapper Tech N9ne's Strange Music,in a joint-venture deal with TDE. Apart from his solo career,Rock is also known for being a member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy,alongside fellow West Coast rappers and TDE label-mates Kendrick Lamar,Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul.
"Run This Town" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z. The song also features Rihanna and Kanye West. It was released on July 24,2009. It was written by the performing trio,with assistance from Ernest Wilson and Jeff Bhasker. Production of the track was made by West and Wilson. "Run This Town" was released as the second single from Jay-Z's eleventh studio album,The Blueprint 3.
Stronger with Each Tear is the ninth studio album from American R&B and soul singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. The album was released in the US on December 21,2009,under Blige's own imprint,Matriarch Records.
"Each Tear" is a song performed by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was released as the second international single from her ninth studio album,Stronger with Each Tear. The song is originally sung by just Blige on the US version of her album though on the re-release and on international releases the song is a featured duet to reflect each of the international markets.
American rapper Jay Rock has released three studio albums,10 mixtapes,12 singles and 30 music videos.
Hannah Montana Forever is the soundtrack album for the fourth and final season of the television series Hannah Montana,released on October 15,2010 by Walt Disney Records. All eleven tracks are performed by its primary actress Miley Cyrus,and are credited to her character Hannah Montana. Recording artists Billy Ray Cyrus,Iyaz,and Sheryl Crow appear as featured vocalists. The soundtrack is primarily a pop record,which sees additional influences from teen pop,pop rock,power pop,dance-pop,and country pop musical styles.
"Rolling in the Deep" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele for her second studio album,21 (2011). It is the lead single and opening track on the album. The song was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. The singer herself describes it as a "dark blues-y gospel disco tune". In 2011 it was reportedly the biggest crossover hit in the United States since 1985;"Rolling in the Deep" gained radio airplay from many different radio formats. It was first released on 29 November 2010 as the lead single from 21 in digital download format. The lyrics describe the emotions of a scorned lover.
"Disaster" is a song recorded by American recording artist JoJo recorded for her third studio album,then titled Jumping Trains. The song was written by Gino Barletta,along with JoJo,Marc Himmel,and Mario Marchetti. The song was Produced by Mario Marchetti. "Disaster" premiered as the album's first single on US radio on August 29,2011 via Interscope Records and it was made available for digital download on September 6,2011. Musically,"Disaster" is a mid-tempo pop rock ballad. The song's lyrics describe a relationship that has gone from happy and blissful to tumultuous and disastrous.
"Biking" is a song by American singer-songwriter Frank Ocean,released as a single on the third episode of Blonded Radio. It features guest vocals from American rappers Jay-Z and Tyler,the Creator. On 15 May 2017,a solo version of the track was released,following the sixth episode of Blonded Radio. It was featured in Season 2 of the HBO television series Insecure.