Stand Above Me

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"Stand Above Me"
Stand above Me.jpg
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Liberator
B-side "Can I Believe You"
Released3 May 1993 (1993-05-03) [1]
Studio The Pink Museum, The Ministry (Liverpool, England)
Genre Synth-pop
Length3:33
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Andy McCluskey
  • Phil Coxon
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"Call My Name"
(1991)
"Stand Above Me"
(1993)
"Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme)"
(1993)
Music video
"Stand Above Me" on YouTube

"Stand Above Me" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released by Virgin Records as the first single from their ninth album, Liberator (1993) (released a few weeks ahead of the album), and their 26th single overall. It was the last OMD single released on a 12-inch format before the group took a break in 1996. The next 12-inch to be released under the OMD name was "Metroland" in March 2013.

Contents

An "anonymous" club 12-inch was released as "Liberator: Stand Above Me". It appeared to be credited to the act "Liberator". The song peaked at number five on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number six on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart.

Reception

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner named "Stand Above Me" their "Single of the Week", observing "a strong slice of synth-pop with a grinding bass swell". [2] Billboard wrote, "For public tastes that run to infectiously upbeat bubblegum pop with some muscle, this track, from the chronically overlooked venerable British pop outfit, will do the trick. Features fat, raspy synths, a rollicking beat, and sweet, strong vocal harmonies." [3] Music Week scored the single 3/5 but considered it "bland" in comparison to OMD's earlier work. [4] Everett True of Melody Maker was negative in his review, stating it was "for people who like their pop pre-digested" and asking, "Is it possible to sound any more soulless?" [5]

Track listings

  1. "Stand Above Me" – 3:33
  2. "Can I Believe You" – 3:52
  1. "Stand Above Me" (Transcendental Constant Viper Trip mix)
  2. "Stand Above Me"
  3. "Stand Above Me" (A 10 Minute Therapy Session into Hyperlife mix)
  1. "Stand Above Me" – 3:33
  2. "Stand Above Me" (Transcendental Constant Viper Trip mix) – 10:15
  3. "Stand Above Me" (Hypnofunk mix) – 5:58
  4. "Can I Believe You" – 3:52

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [6] 29
Europe (European Hot 100) [7] 53
Europe (European Hit Radio) [8] 19
Germany (Official German Charts) [9] 33
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [10] 39
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [11] 28
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 21
UK Airplay ( Music Week ) [13] 5
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [14] 11
US Dance Club Play ( Billboard ) [15] 6
US Modern Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [16] 5

Related Research Articles

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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band formed in the Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978. The group consists of founding duo and principal songwriters Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, along with Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw (drums). Regarded as pioneers of electronic music, OMD combined an experimental, minimalist ethos with pop sensibilities, becoming key figures in the emergence of synth-pop; McCluskey and Humphreys also introduced the "synth duo" format to British popular music. In the United States, the band were an early presence in the MTV-driven Second British Invasion.

<i>Junk Culture</i> 1984 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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<i>Liberator</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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<i>The OMD Singles</i> Extended play by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The OMD Singles is a singles compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1998. It reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart. Originally, the compilation was to include a second disc of new remixes; however, this idea was abandoned due to budget limitations. The few remixes that were produced were released separately as The OMD Remixes. In 2003, The OMD Singles was reissued in France with the remix disc finally included, comprising the 1998 remixes as well as additional remixes. In the same year Virgin also released a two-disc box set comprising The OMD Singles and Navigation: The OMD B-Sides.

<i>The Best of OMD</i> 1988 compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The Best of OMD is a compilation album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released in 1988; marking a decade since the band's beginnings. The record essentially delineates the group's experimental early years from their pop-oriented later work: side one features recordings from 1979 to 1984, while side two is drawn from the group's 1984–1988 efforts.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Call My Name (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1991 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing on the Seven Seas</span> 1991 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Sailing on the Seven Seas" is a song by English electronic music band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 18 March 1991 by Virgin as the first single from their eighth studio album, Sugar Tax (1991). Along with 1981's "Souvenir", it is the band's highest-charting UK hit to date, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It also charted at number three in Austria and Sweden, number five in Ireland and number nine in Germany. The single was the first to be released by OMD without co-founder Paul Humphreys, who had left to form his own band the Listening Pool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandora's Box (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1991 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messages (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1980 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dream of Me (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1993 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1993 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Everyday" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released in 1993 as the third and final single from their ninth album, Liberator (1993). Co-founder Paul Humphreys, who had left the group four years prior, is credited as a co-writer. "Everyday" was the only single from Liberator to miss the UK top 25, charting at number 59. The accompanying music video features Sara Cox, who would later be known as a BBC Radio DJ.

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"Talking Loud and Clear" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 4 June 1984 as the second single from their fifth studio album Junk Culture (1984). The single was a European hit, reaching the Top 10 in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, and No. 11 in the UK. It also charted at No. 18 in Germany. The song was edited for its 7" single release.

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"Tesla Girls" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the third single from their fifth studio album, Junk Culture (1984). It peaked at No. 21 in the UK and Ireland, and No. 8 on the Dutch Top 40. Although only moderately successful on the charts, it became one of the group's biggest club hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Forever) Live and Die</span> 1986 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"(Forever) Live and Die" is a 1986 song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their seventh studio album The Pacific Age. Paul Humphreys sings lead vocals on the track. The single peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It was a top 10 hit in Canada and several European territories, and a top 20 hit in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

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"Dreaming" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark initially released in January 1988 as a single from their compilation album The Best of OMD.

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References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 1 May 1993. p. 23.
  2. "Record Reviews". Huddersfield Daily Examiner . 5 June 1993. p. 17 (Weekend, p. 3).
  3. "Stand Above Me" review. Billboard . 12 June 1993. p.70. Archived at Google Books. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  4. "Mainstream: Singles". Music Week . 8 May 1993. p. 12.
  5. True, Everett (8 May 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker . p. 29.
  6. "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Stand Above Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 22. 29 May 1993. p. 35. OCLC   29800226 via World Radio History.
  8. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 27. 3 July 1993. p. 38. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  9. "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Stand Above Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  10. "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Stand Above Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  11. "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Stand Above Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  12. "OMD: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  13. "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . 5 June 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  14. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard . Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  15. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  16. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.