Get the Message (song)

Last updated

"Get the Message"
Fac287.jpg
The first British 12-inch
Single by Electronic
from the album Electronic
B-side "Free Will"
Released15 April 1991 (1991-04-15)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Bernard Sumner
  • Johnny Marr
Electronic singles chronology
"Getting Away with It"
(1989)		"Get the Message"
(1991)		"Tighten Up"
(1991)
Remix 12-inch
Fac287r.jpg
The second British 12-inch

"Get the Message" is a song by Electronic, the English band formed by Bernard Sumner of New Order and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. "Get the Message" was the second single from their 1991 debut album, Electronic , and was a commercial success around the world. It is an example of Marr and Sumner's original concept of mixing the synthesizers of New Order with the Smiths' guitar sound.

Contents

Composition

Marr composed the music then Sumner wrote the lyric as engineer Owen Morris played him the song every four bars. [1] Marr was reluctant to layer multiple guitar parts as he was wary of treading ground, but Sumner convinced him otherwise. [2] During recording, Primal Scream vocalist Denise Johnson added a vocal at the end of the song. [3] She went on to provide additional vocals on a number of songs on Electronic's second album Raise the Pressure five years later. [4] [lower-alpha 1]

Artwork

The first releases were packaged by Johnson/Panas (the moniker of Trevor Johnson), who also designed Electronic's then imminent first album Electronic . Each format bore a unique colour scheme, all versions featuring the artist and single name with a bold number "2" underneath, signifying its place in Electronic's discography. [5] The only format which differed from this theme was the second British 12-inch release, designed by 3a (who also oversaw third single "Feel Every Beat").

Release

"Get the Message" is the seventh track on the British version of Electronic and the eighth on most of the international editions. [lower-alpha 2] It later became the title track of the band's career-spanning compilation in 2006. The single was issued in the United Kingdom on 7-inch, 12-inch, CD and cassette by Factory Records on 15 April 1991 (and two weeks later as a second 12-inch comprising two additional remixes by DNA) and as a three-format maxi single and standard cassette by Warner Bros. Records in the United States.

"Get the Message" appears as a remixed 7-inch edit on most of the formats and in its original, full-length version on the first UK 12-inch. Later pressings of the UK 7-inch and the German CD maxi single feature an edit of the album version, which was also used for the music video. This was because Bernard Sumner objected to the earlier mix, having heard it on a Manchester radio station prior to the release of the single. [6] The US and German maxi singles compiled all of these versions collectively; the only recordings from this single that remain scarce are edits of the two DNA remixes, which were released on promos, namely a British 7-inch and a US CD maxi single.

Like its predecessor "Getting Away with It", "Get the Message" includes a non-album track as its B-side: "Free Will", a mercurial, sample-heavy dance track. This appears in an edited form on the 7-inch releases and in its original six-minute form on all the others. (The German CD maxi single included both) An edited version is included on the 2013 re-release of the album Electronic .

Reception

Commercially, "Get the Message" reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, becoming one of Electronic's highest positions. It also performed strongly in the United States, where it reached the top of the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number eight on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Critical reaction to "Get the Message" was generally positive. Writing in the NME , Andrew Collins called the song "draught genius" and concluded that "New Order can now split up", [7] while David Quantick stated that "nothing anyone has ever done has sounded even vaguely like 'Get the Message'" in the same publication a month later. [8] Phil Sutcliffe in Q was less enthusiastic, suggesting it "almost slip[s] from identity into identikit", [9] while Melody Maker described listening to the track as "Like watching a pony chew on a carrot for half an hour". [10]

"Get the Message" is consistently cited as a defining track by Electronic. AllMusic picks it as a highlight of the Electronic album in a 4/5 review, [11] while bbc.co.uk states that "the excellent 'Get the Message' still holds its own alongside the best of early '90s Mancunian tunes". [12] In 2007 Johnny Marr said it was "...maybe the track I'm most proud of out of my whole career", [13] and in June 2009 reiterated that it is "the best song I've written". [14]

Music video

Marr and Sumner in the music video. Gtmvideo.jpg
Marr and Sumner in the music video.

The single was promoted by a music video in which Marr and Sumner strolled through the Philippines [15] and atop the still-active Taal Volcano — which Marr narrowly missed falling into. [16] It was directed by Gunther Deichmann, [17] whose published photographs had impressed Electronic. [1] At least two versions of this film exist: one with phrases from the song lyrics punctuating the scenic shots (and lower-case letters spelling out 'electronic') and another more simple edit without any words. The former version is available on the Get the Message DVD.

Live versions

"Get the Message" was first played live in 1990 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, when Electronic supported Depeche Mode on 4 and 5 August. [18] It was also performed at their first British gig the following January at the Haçienda nightclub in Manchester; [19] the Cities in the Park festival in the same city seven months later; and at each of the three gigs on their short tour of Europe in December. [20] Electronic also promoted the single with appearances on Top of the Pops in April and May 1991, miming to the album edit and the edit of the "DNA Groove Mix" respectively.

Track listings

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [21] 71
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [22] 27
Germany (Official German Charts) [23] 37
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [24] 60
UK Singles (OCC) [25] 8
US 12-inch Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [26] 15
US Dance Club Play ( Billboard ) [27] 8
US Modern Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [28] 1

Appearances

The song received some exposure in 2003 when it was used in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , [29] which has featured other songs by Bernard Sumner, under his band New Order. It has also appeared on a handful of various artists compilations. [30]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Raise the Pressure was mainly recorded in 1995.
  2. ↑ Most of the international editions of Electronic included "Getting Away with It" as the fifth track, thus shifting "Get the Message" down one place.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic (band)</span> English alternative dance group

Electronic were an English alternative dance supergroup formed by singer/guitarist Bernard Sumner and guitarist Johnny Marr. They co-wrote the majority of their output between 1989 and 1998, collaborating with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys on three tracks in their early years, and former Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos on nine songs in 1995.

<i>Electronic</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Electronic

Electronic is the debut studio album by the British group Electronic, consisting of Bernard Sumner, the former guitarist and keyboardist of Joy Division and the lead singer and guitarist of New Order and Johnny Marr, the former guitarist of the Smiths. It was first released in May 1991 on the Factory label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxi single</span> Music single release with more than two songs

A maxi single, or maxi-single, is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an A-side song and a B-side song.

From October 26, 1974 until August 28, 1976, Billboard's Disco Action section published weekly single retail sales charts from various local regions along with Top Audience Response Records in their magazine. Billboard debuted its first national chart devoted exclusively to 12-inch Singles Sales in their issue dated March 16, 1985. This record type is most commonly used in disco and dance music genres where DJs use them to play in discos or dance clubs because of the exclusive extended remixes that are often only made available on this format, but Billboard's 12-inch Single Sales chart ranks releases by artists from all styles of music that release maxi-singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Feel You</span> 1993 single by Depeche Mode

"I Feel You" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 15 February 1993 by Mute as their 27th UK single and the first single from their eighth studio album, Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993). The song peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and also made number one and number three on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It is one of the band's highest-charting singles worldwide. The accompanying music video was directed by Anton Corbijn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human After All (song)</span> 2005 song by Daft Punk

"Human After All" is a song by electronic music duo Daft Punk. It is the title track from their third studio album of the same name and the third single from the album, released on 21 October 2005. The single release includes remixes of the song which appeared in the album Human After All: Remixes. "Human After All" peaked at number 93 on the French Singles Chart.

<i>Raise the Pressure</i> 1996 studio album by Electronic

Raise the Pressure is Electronic's second studio album, released in July 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charly (song)</span> 1991 single by the Prodigy

"Charly" is the debut single released by the British electronic act the Prodigy, later included on their debut album, Experience (1992), although the version featured on the album is the significantly different "Trip into Drum & Bass" remix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breath of Life (Erasure song)</span> 1992 single by Erasure

"Breath of Life" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released as the fourth and final single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991), in March 1992. It was written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell with additional input from Pat O'Brien. An uptempo synth-pop song, its dance music elements were strongly accentuated for the club remixes. For the single release, it was remixed slightly, including a shortened intro. In the United States, it was the third single released from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Getting Away with It</span> 1989 Single by Electronic

"Getting Away with It" is the first single by the English band Electronic, which comprised Bernard Sumner of New Order, ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, and guesting vocalist Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys. It was first released in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel Every Beat</span> 1991 single by Electronic

"Feel Every Beat" was the third single by the English band Electronic. It was released in the UK on 9 September 1991 by Factory Records and was a modest commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disappointed (Electronic song)</span> 1992 single by Electronic

"Disappointed" is the fourth single released by English alternative dance group Electronic. Like their first single "Getting Away with It", it features Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys as well as founding members Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner. It was released on 22 June 1992 on Parlophone soon after the demise of Factory Records. The single was assigned the Factory catalogue number FAC 348, and the logo of the label remained on the artwork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forbidden City (song)</span> 1996 single by Electronic

"Forbidden City" is a song by English band Electronic, comprising Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr, with guesting co-writer Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk, released as the lead single from their second album Raise the Pressure, and their first new release in almost exactly four years, the last being the stand-alone single "Disappointed".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For You (Electronic song)</span> 1996 single by Electronic

"For You" is a song by English band Electronic, comprising Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr, with guesting co-writer Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk, released as the second single from their second album Raise the Pressure. "For You" reached #16 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Nature (Electronic song)</span> 1997 single by Electronic

"Second Nature" is a song by Electronic, released as the group's seventh single. It has an autobiographical lyric by Sumner which concerns his youth and growing up, while the music has a groovy shuffle which contrasts with the stricter dance tracks on its parent album Raise the Pressure. "Second Nature" reached #35 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Vivid" is a song by Electronic, the eighth single released by the group. It was released in April 1999 by Parlophone in Britain and by Virgin in Germany. "Vivid" reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inside (Monica song)</span> 1999 single by Monica

"Inside" is a song from American singer Monica's second studio album, The Boy Is Mine. It was released only in Europe as the album's fourth single in April 1999. The video, directed by Earle Sebastian only received airplay in Europe as promotion for the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Alert (song)</span> 1999 single by Basement Jaxx

"Red Alert" is a song by English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. It was released on 19 April 1999 by record label XL as the first single from their debut album, Remedy (1999). The vocals from the track were provided by Blu James. It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and became their first number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. As of September 2023, the single has sold and streamed 600,000 units in the United Kingdom, allowing it to receive a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

<i>Year Zero Remixed</i> 2007 remix album by Nine Inch Nails

Year Zero Remixed is the third remix album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released in the United States on November 20, 2007, and in the United Kingdom six days later. It features remixed versions of tracks from the band's previous studio album Year Zero, created by various producers and recording artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someday (CeCe Rogers song)</span> 1987 single by CeCe Rogers

"Someday" is a song by American singer-songwriter CeCe Rogers. It is well-known for its recognisable piano riff and widely acclaimed for its influence on electronic music culture. Marshall Jefferson wrote the lyrics to "Someday" and recruited Rogers to sing the vocals after seeing him in a show with 'Ce Ce & Company'. Jefferson recorded Rogers' warm up vocal. When Rogers said he was ready to start recording the first take, Jefferson told him they had already finished. It was the greatest vocal performance Jefferson had heard on a dance record, but Rogers wanted to re-record it and he did it. Rogers was signed to Atlantic Records, making "Someday" the first house-music song released by a major label. The track went on to sell millions, a landmark release for house music. British band M People released a cover of the song in 1992.

References

  1. 1 2 Select , November 1997
  2. ↑ Electronic's Greatest Hits (VH1, October 2006)
  3. ↑ "rhino.com". Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  4. ↑ artistdirect.com
  5. ↑ FAC461 Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album (2006)
  6. ↑ NME , December 1990
  7. ↑ NME, 20 April 1991
  8. ↑ NME, 25 May 1991
  9. ↑ Q, July 1991
  10. ↑ Uncut , April 1999
  11. ↑ allmusic
  12. ↑ bbc.co.uk, September 2006
  13. ↑ Q, September 2007
  14. ↑ bbc.co.uk, Talking Shop: Johnny Marr
  15. ↑ Select, June 1991
  16. ↑ Melody Maker, 13 April 1991
  17. ↑ "deichmann-photo.com". Archived from the original on 16 May 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  18. ↑ "Manchester District Music Archive". Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
  19. ↑ Melody Maker, 19 January 1991
  20. ↑ NME, 21 December 1991
  21. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 20. 18 May 1992. p. 19.
  23. ↑ "Electronic – Get the Message" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "Electronic – Get the Message" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  25. ↑ "Electronic: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  26. ↑ "Dance Singles Sales" . Billboard . 13 July 1991. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Dance Club Songs" . Billboard. 13 July 1991. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  28. ↑ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 22 June 1991. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  29. ↑ "CSIguide.com". Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
  30. ↑ Discogs
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.