International Blue

Last updated
"International Blue"
InternationalBlue.jpg
Single by Manic Street Preachers
from the album Resistance Is Futile
Released8 December 2017
RecordedNovember 2017
Genre
Length3:51
Label Sony
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Dave Eringa
Manic Street Preachers singles chronology
"Together Stronger (C'mon Wales)"
(2016)
"International Blue"
(2017)
"Distant Colours"
(2018)

"International Blue" is a song by Manic Street Preachers, released as a single in December 2017. [3] This song is the first single for the album Resistance Is Futile (2018), written by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore. [4]

Contents

An alternative version called "International Blue" (the Bluer Skies version) was released on 9 February 2018. [5]

Background

Influences

The song is inspired on the artist Yves Klein, with Wire saying that "There was a joy to 'International Blue' that we weren't sure we could convey any more, the feeling of being in love with something like Yves Klein, to pass on the joy of that colour and that vividness – we weren't sure if we still had it in us. It sounds quite young." [6] The band further added that there was a certain naive energy and widescreen melancholia on the song that is reflected through the whole album, comparing it to "Motorcycle Emptiness". Furthermore, the album focused on "(...)things that make your life feel a little bit better. Rather than my internalised misery, I tried to put a sense of optimism into the lyrics by writing about things that we find really inspiring." [4]

Music and themes

Stephen Dalton of LouderSound commented that "International Blue" was a "lithe and melodic rocker" and simultaneously "muscular" yet "light on its feet". [2] Darren Burke of Doncaster Free Press labelled the single as a "hefty slab of power pop". [1]

Bradfield added that the song "could have been on Futurology but there always comes a cut-off point where we go, 'We've got what we need, let's just improve on what we've got. This lyric is another travelogue-style inspiration. He [Nicky] went to Nice on a break and then he delved a little deeper and discovered new things, artists, and their lives. It's just that whole thing of discovering, moving forward – that's what our process is all about. It's passing the baton, running with it then passing it on again. It's that whole cumulative effect. The fact that it's about a place, it's about a painter, it's about a colour – it's all the things that inspire Nick in his lyric writing that then inspires us to put music to it." [7]

Video

About the music video, Bradfield outlined that: "Kieran and Nick said that the backdrop just had to be Nice. It had to be another part of that thing where you have an idea of life and what it should be, if you have an aesthetic then if the visual source is already there then just go for it. When Nick gave me the lyric I just sensed that sense of freedom. And when he came back from holiday – he went to Nice for his wedding anniversary – he said he felt completely free when he was there with his wife." [8]

Release

James Dean Bradfield during a performance of "International Blue" at the First Direct Arena in Leeds in May 2018. Manic Street Preachers at First Direct Arena, Leeds (2nd May 2018) 001.jpg
James Dean Bradfield during a performance of "International Blue" at the First Direct Arena in Leeds in May 2018.

The track was released as a digital download on 8 December 2017. It was announced that there would be a limited edition blue 7" vinyl release available exclusively with independent record store pre orders of the album Resistance Is Futile. This was released on the 13 April 2018. [3] The vinyl version of the single topped the official vinyl chart in the same week as the album was released. [9]

Critical reception

The song received praise from music critics with PopMatters saying that "is the glue that holds the album together", finishing with "It is as if the band are holding a mirror up to their own classic, "Motorcycle Emptiness" as the riff glides in the opposite direction and James Dean Bradfield reflects the same youthful passion for the guitar. In an alternate reality, you could reasonably expect to hear it all over the radio in the same way 'Design For Life' dominated the airwaves in the 1990s." [10]

Meanwhile the NME said that the song "showcases their idiosyncratic knack of writing arena-ready anthems that smuggle in curveball cultural references. This time, it's honouring the vision of French artist Yves Klein, and it's a greatest hit for a band with too many to mention." [11]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."International Blue"3:51
Digital download – The Bluer Skies Version
No.TitleLength
1."International Blue" (the Bluer Skies version)4:32
7" vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."International Blue"3:51
2."Holding Patterns"2:55

Personnel

Manic Street Preachers

Charts

Chart (2017–18)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [12] 41
Scotland (OCC) [13] 78
UK Official Chart Singles (Vinyl)1 [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manic Street Preachers</span> Welsh rock band

Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Welsh rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, in 1986. The band consists of Nicky Wire and cousins James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore. They form a key part of the 1990s Welsh Cool Cymru cultural movement.

<i>Generation Terrorists</i> 1992 album by Manic Street Preachers

Generation Terrorists is the debut studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 10 February 1992 through record label Columbia.

<i>Everything Must Go</i> (Manic Street Preachers album) 1996 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Everything Must Go is the fourth studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 20 May 1996, through Epic Records, and was the first record released by the band following the disappearance of lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards.

<i>Know Your Enemy</i> (Manic Street Preachers album) 2001 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Know Your Enemy is the sixth studio album by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 19 March 2001 by record label Epic. It was supported by four singles; two of them, "So Why So Sad" and "Found That Soul", were released on the same day for promotional purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Stole the Sun from My Heart</span> 1999 single by Manic Street Preachers

"You Stole the Sun from My Heart" is a song by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 8 March 1999 as the third single from their fifth studio album, This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998). All three members of the band—James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire—share the writing credits. The song reached number five on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Design for Life</span> 1996 single by Manic Street Preachers

"A Design for Life" is a single by Welsh band Manic Street Preachers from their fourth studio album, Everything Must Go (1996). It was written by James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire, and produced by Dave Eringa and Mike Hedges. Released on 15 April 1996 by Epic Records, the song debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Pedro Romhanyi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revol (song)</span> 1994 single by Manic Street Preachers

"Revol" is a song by the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in August 1994 by the Epic record label as the second single from their third studio album, The Holy Bible, which was released later in the month. The song reached number 22 in the UK Singles Chart on 13 August 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle Emptiness</span> 1992 single by Manic Street Preachers

"Motorcycle Emptiness" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 1 June 1992 through Columbia Records. It was the fifth single to be released from their debut album, Generation Terrorists.The song reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart on 13 June 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motown Junk</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Motown Junk" is the second single by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 21 January 1991.

<i>Journal for Plague Lovers</i> 2009 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Journal for Plague Lovers is the ninth studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 18 May 2009 by record label Columbia. Recorded between October 2008 and February 2009 and produced by Steve Albini and Dave Eringa, it features exclusively posthumously published lyrics by Richey Edwards, who disappeared on 1 February 1995 and was presumed deceased in 2008. It is the only Manic Street Preachers album in which the lyrics for every song were written solely by Edwards.

<i>Futurology</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Futurology is the twelfth studio album by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 7 July 2014, through record label Columbia. The album features collaborations with Green Gartside, Nina Hoss, Georgia Ruth, Cian Ciaran and Cate Le Bon.

<i>Resistance Is Futile</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

Resistance Is Futile is the thirteenth album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 13 April 2018 through Columbia Records.

"People Give In" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers. It was released in July 2018 as the sixth single from their thirteenth album Resistance Is Futile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distant Colours</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Distant Colours" is the second single taken from the Manic Street Preachers' thirteenth album Resistance Is Futile (2018). It was released on 16 February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan & Caitlin</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Dylan & Caitlin" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers, released on 9 March 2018, taken from the album Resistance Is Futile (2018), and written by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool Revisited</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Liverpool Revisited" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers, it was the fourth single taken from their album Resistance Is Futile. Written by Nicky Wire, it was released on 6 April 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Me Like a Heaven</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Hold Me Like a Heaven" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers, the single, it was the fifth taken from the album Resistance Is Futile, was released on 4 May 2018.

<i>The Ultra Vivid Lament</i> 2021 studio album by Manic Street Preachers

The Ultra Vivid Lament is the fourteenth studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 10 September 2021 through Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Secret He Had Missed</span> 2021 single by Manic Street Preachers

"The Secret He Had Missed" is a song by Manic Street Preachers presented as the second single from their 14th studio album The Ultra Vivid Lament. It was released on 16 July 2021, alongside an official YouTube video, directed by Kieran Evans and filmed in Tenby and Newport's Dolman Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orwellian (song)</span> Song by Manic Street Preachers

"Orwellian" is a song by Manic Street Preachers, released as the lead single from their 14th studio album, The Ultra Vivid Lament, on 14 May 2021, alongside a YouTube lyric video.

References

  1. 1 2 Burke, Darren (5 April 2018). "Resistance Is Futile Review". Doncaster Free Press.
  2. 1 2 Dalton, Stepehn (13 April 1995). "Manic Street Preachers - Resistance is Futile album review". LouderSound. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 "International Blue by Manic Street Preachers". iTunes . Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Manics: 'New single 'International Blue' is the new 'Motorcycle Emptiness'". NME . Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  5. "INTERNATIONAL BLUE (THE BLUER SKIES VERSION)'". www.manicstreetpreachers.com. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. "Melancholy Optimism: Manic Street Preachers Interviewed".
  7. "Music interview – Manic Street Preachers: 'We never thought we'd get to this point 25 years ago'".
  8. "Painted With Fire: Manic Street Preachers Interviewed" . Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  9. "Official Vinyl Singles Chart Top 40" . Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  10. "'Resistance Is Futile' Is Manic Street Preachers' Pop Album with Some of Their Most Immediate Songs Ever".
  11. Trendell, Andrew (4 April 2018). "Manic Street Preachers – 'Resistance Is Futile' Review" . Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  12. "Manic Street Preachers – International Blue" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  14. "The UK's biggest selling vinyl singles" . Retrieved 23 April 2018.