Nightmare (instrumental)

"Nightmare"
UK artwork
Single by Brainbug
Released	25 November 1996 (1996-11-25)
Genre	Dance [1] [2]
Length	6:19
Label	Strike Force Positiva
Songwriter(s)	Alberto Bertapelle
Producer(s)	Alberto Bertapelle
Brainbug singles chronology
"Nightmare" (1996) "Benedictus" (1997)
Audio
"Nightmare" (Sinister Strings mix) on YouTube

"Nightmare" is an instrumental composition written, produced, and performed by Italian dance musician Brainbug, released as his debut single. The track was first issued as a single on 25 November 1996 and was re-released in the United Kingdom on 21 April 1997. Following this re-release, the song became a chart hit, reaching number 11 in the United Kingdom, number 14 in Australia, and number 15 in Ireland.

In November 1997, the song was re-issued as a double A-side with Brainbug's next single, "Benedictus", this time reaching number 24 on the UK Singles Chart and number 25 on the Irish Singles Chart. Critically, "Nightmare" was highly praised. ^[1] In Australia, it was ranked at number 85 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 1997. ^[3]

Critical reception

Richard D of music website 909 Originals wrote that "Nightmare" was one of the most "sinister" dance tracks to become a chart hit while British columnist James Masterton wrote that the instrumental "owes more to the Sisters of Mercy than anything else", calling it a "chilling combination of strings and techo beats." ^{[1] [2]}

Track listings

"Nightmare"

Italian 12-inch single [4] A1. "Nightmare" (Mistericky version) – 6:27 A2. "Nightmare" (original mix) – 6:19 AA1. "Nightmare" (Isaac version) – 6:20 AA2. "Nightmare" (Oriental mix) – 6:15 UK 12-inch single (1996) [5] A. "Nightmare" (Sinister Strings mix) – 6:45 AA. "Nightmare" (A Synergetic mix) – 9:35 UK and Australian CD single [6] "Nightmare" (Sinister Strings radio edit) – 3:27 "Nightmare" (original Sinister Strings mix) – 6:47 "Nightmare" (Tall Paul remix) – 9:27 "Nightmare" (Burger Queens remix) – 7:48 "Nightmare" (Phat Manhattan mix) – 10:11 UK 12-inch single (1997) [7] A1. "Nightmare" (original Sinister Strings mix) – 6:47 A2. "Nightmare" (Phat Manhattan mix) – 10:11 AA1. "Nightmare" (Tall Paul remix) – 9:27 AA2. "Nightmare" (Burger Queens remix) – 7:48 UK cassette single [8] "Nightmare" (Sinister Strings radio edit) – 3:27 "Nightmare" (original Sinister Strings mix) – 6:47 "Nightmare" (Tall Paul remix) – 9:27

US maxi-CD single [9] "Nightmare" (Sinister Strings radio edit) – 3:27 "Nightmare" (original Sinister Strings mix) – 6:47 "Nightmare" (Tall Paul remix) – 9:27 "Nightmare" (Burger Queens remix) – 7:48 "Nightmare" (Phat Manhattan mix) – 10:11 "Nightmare" (Club 69 meets DJ Wild from Paris mix) – 6:51 "Nightmare" (Club 69 Future mix) – 6:59 US 12-inch single 1 [10] A1. "Nightmare" (Phat Manhattan mix) – 7:08 AA1. "Nightmare" (Sinister Strings mix) – 6:46 AA2. "Nightmare" (A Synergetic mix) – 9:32 US 12-inch single 2 [11] A1. "Nightmare" (Club 69 meets DJ Wild) – 6:51 A2. "Nightmare" (Club 69 Future mix) – 6:59 B1. "Nightmare" (Tall Paul mix) B2. "Nightmare" (Bonus Beats mix)

"Benedictus" / "Nightmare"

Italian and UK 12-inch single [12] [13] A1. "Benedictus" (Exitiale mix) – 7:18 (6:18 in UK) A2. "Benedictus" (Epicus Modi mix) – 7:40 (6:26 in UK) AA1. "Nightmare" (Dexterous remix) – 6:33 (5:37 in UK) AA2. "Nightmare" (Club 69 meets DJ Wild from Paris mix) – 7:05 (6:28 in UK) UK CD single [14] "Benedictus" (Exitiale edit) – 3:33 "Nightmare" (original Sinister Strings mix) – 6:47 "Benedictus" (Epicus Modi mix) – 6:26 "Nightmare" (Club 69 meets DJ Wild from Paris mix) – 6:28

UK cassette single [15] "Benedictus" (Exitiale edit) – 3:33 "Nightmare" (original Sinister Strings mix) – 3:25 "Nightmare" (Dexterous remix) – 5:39

Charts

Weekly charts "Nightmare" Chart (1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [16] 14 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [17] 46 Ireland (IRMA) [18] 15 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [19] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [20] 47 Scotland (OCC) [21] 10 UK Singles (OCC) [22] 11 UK Dance (OCC) [23] 1 US Dance Club Play ( Billboard ) [24] 4 US Maxi-Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [25] 14 "Benedictus" / "Nightmare" Chart (1997–1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [26] [27] 77 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [28] 70 Ireland (IRMA) [18] 25 Scotland (OCC) [29] 26 UK Singles (OCC) [30] 24 UK Dance (OCC) [31] 1 UK Club Chart ( Music Week ) [32] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Australia (ARIA) [33] 92 UK Club Chart (Music Week) [34] 64 US Dance Club Play (Billboard) [35] 49

Release history

Region	Version	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Italy	Solo release	1996	12-inch vinyl	Strike Force	[4]
United Kingdom		25 November 1996		Additive	[36]
United Kingdom (re-release)		21 April 1997	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Positiva	[37]
United Kingdom	with "Benedictus"	10 November 1997			[38]

References

1. Richard D (28 September 2017). "Throwback Thursday – Brainbug, Nightmare [November 1996]". 909 Originals. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
2. Masterton, James (27 April 1997). "Week Ending May 3rd 1997". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
3. "Hottest 100 1997". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 18 April 2022.
4. Nightmare (Italian 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brainbug. Strike Force. 1996. SF 496-04.
5. Nightmare (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brainbug. Additive Records. 1996. 12AD 007.
6. Nightmare (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Brainbug. Positiva Records. 1997. CDTIV-76, 7243 8 83892 2 8.
7. Nightmare (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brainbug. Positiva Records. 1997. 12TIV-76, 7243 8 83892 6 6.
8. Nightmare (UK cassette single sleeve). Brainbug. Positiva Records. 1997. TCTIV-76, 7 2438 8 38924 2.
9. Nightmare (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Brainbug. Groovilicious. 1997. GM027CD.
10. Nightmare (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brainbug. Groovilicious. 1997. GM 027.
11. Nightmare (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brainbug. Groovilicious. 1997. GM 032.
12. Benedictus / Nightmare (Italian 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brainbug. Volumex. 1997. VOL 197-08.
13. Benedictus / Nightmare (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brainbug. Positiva Records. 1997. 12TIV-86, 7243 8 84883 6 5.
14. Benedictus / Nightmare (UK CD single liner notes). Brainbug. Positiva Records. 1997. CDTIV-86, 7243 8 84883 2 7.
15. Benedictus / Nightmare (UK cassette single sleeve). Brainbug. Positiva Records. 1997. TCTIV-86.
16. "Brainbug – Nightmare". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 14, no. 19. 10 May 1997. p. 16.
18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Nightmare". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
19. "Tipparade-lijst van week 35, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 16 March 2023.
20. "Brainbug – Nightmare" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
23. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
24. "Hot Dance Music: Club Play". Billboard . Vol. 109, no. 30. 26 July 1997. p. 28.
25. "Hot Dance Music: Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 34. 23 August 1997. p. 29.
26. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 40.
27. "Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 22 Feb 1998". The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 February 1998. Retrieved 14 June 2022– via Imgur."Benedictus / Nightmare" is shown at number 85 on this week, with a peak of number 77.
28. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 48. 29 November 1997. p. 12.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
31. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
32. "The Club Chart 01.11.97" (PDF). Music Week, in RM (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1 November 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
33. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA . Retrieved 18 April 2022.
34. "The Club Top 100 of 1997" (PDF). Music Week, in RM (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 10 January 1998. p. 5. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
35. "The Year in Music 1997 – Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard . Vol. 109, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. YE-44. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 14 June 2022– via Google Books.
36. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 23 November 1996. p. 29.
37. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 19 April 1997. p. 35.
38. "Reviews – Records Out on November 10, 1997: Singles". Music Week. 1 November 1997. p. 16.