| "Tattoo" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Siouxsie and the Banshees | |
| from the album Downside Up (compilation) | |
| Released | 23 September 1983 |
| Recorded | 1983 |
| Genre | Post-punk, proto-trip hop [1] |
| Label | Polydor |
| Songwriter(s) | Siouxsie Sioux, Steven Severin, Budgie |
| Producer(s) | Siouxsie and the Banshees, Mike Hedges |
"Tattoo" is a song written and recorded by Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1983. Its proto-trip-hop arrangements and production predated the trip-hop genre that would appear in the mid-1990s.
The song was first released as the B-side of the "Dear Prudence" single in 1983. [2] It was included on two compilation CDs: 2004's Downside Up and 2015's Spellbound : The Collection.
"Tattoo" was composed and performed as a three-piece by singer Siouxsie Sioux, bassist Steven Severin and drummer Budgie. [2] During this era, the band experimented other ways of recording and orchestration when they were in the studio to record extra-tracks for their singles. [2] For "Tattoo", producer Mike Hedges made them use the mixing desk as an instrument. [2]
Afer watching the movie Tattoo (1981), Siouxsie wrote out the lyrics and did the vocal. It was all done in one day. [2]
Siouxsie said in 1998 that it was her "all-time favourite Banshees track" and she played it that year with the Creatures. [3] Severin shared a similar view in 2004: "Probably my favourite B side of all." [2]
"Tattoo" is considered to be a proto trip hop track which helped Tricky to shape his style. [1] This track is often cited as inspirational in the development of the trip hop genre. [1] "Tattoo" was covered by Tricky in 1996 as the opening number of his second album, Nearly God . [4] Tricky not only covered it but he also sampled the original orchestration. [1] It was also covered by Jay Jay Johanson in 2022. [5]
NME retrospectively reviewed it as "spellbinding" in 2009 when reviewing Downside Up. [6]
In 2024, "Tattoo" was included on the vinyl compilation titled FIP Trip Hop - made by FIP and Radio France - about the trip hop genre, its roots and its history. [7]