The Return of Pan

Last updated

"The Return of Pan"
The Waterboys The Return of Pan 1993 Single Cover.jpg
Single by the Waterboys
from the album Dream Harder
B-side "Karma"
Released3 May 1993 (1993-05-03) [1]
Length4:19
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s) Mike Scott
Producer(s)
The Waterboys singles chronology
"Fisherman's Blues"
(1991)		"The Return of Pan"
(1993)		"Glastonbury Song"
(1993)

"The Return of Pan" is a song by British band the Waterboys, released in May 1993 by Geffen Records as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Dream Harder (1993). It was written by Mike Scott, and produced by Scott and Bill Price. The song reached No. 24 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. [2] [3]

Contents

Background

"The Return of Pan" is the Waterboys' second ode to the Greek deity, following "The Pan Within", a track from their third studio album This Is the Sea (1985). [4] Speaking of the musical similarities between the two songs, Scott told NME in 1993, "It's the same chord sequence, and those chords signify 'Pan' to me." [5]

Speaking of the song's lyrical influence, Scott revealed to NME in 1993, "He's a really great guy, yeah, but everybody's got a bit of Pan in them, and it's all about finding the Pan in yourself. Pan is wildness, freedom, the natural world, a sense of abandonment – the very opposite, really, of modern urban living. I'm non-denominational, but I'm interested in all religions. I believe there's one creator, but there are gods for different aspects of creation, and Pan represents a particular aspect." [5] In 1996, Scott described the song as "mischievous". [6]

Release

The 12-inch and CD formats of the single included an acoustic demo version of "The Return of Pan", recorded in Scott's front room, as a hidden fourth track. [7]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Everett True of Melody Maker noted that "The Return of Pan" "possesses a certain windswept epic feel that I figured Mike Scott had lost after This Is the Sea ". He added, "I'm not saying I actively enjoy Bill Price's BMP production, I'm not saying this isn't anything but an ordinary-to-good song buoyed up by bracing guitars... but hell. This isn't too bad at all." [8] The Accrington Observer awarded the single a five out of five star rating. The reviewer described the "typically majestic track" as a "a much slower version" of the band's 1985 track "The Pan Within" from This Is the Sea and added that it "is arguably the best single of the year so far". [9]

George Byrne of the Irish Independent criticised the track for "sounding for all the world like a Chris de Burgh song played with a middling degree of urgency". He added, "It's 1993 and Mike Scott is singing about ancient gods with cloven hooves... not even the crusties will fall for that." [10] Johnny Dee of NME was also negative in his review, calling it "fraggle cack from the bowels of Hippyhell". [11]

In the US, Larry Flick of Billboard described the song as a "tough, well-produced track that neatly balances raucous electric guitars with the Celtic folk the band has long made a specialty". [12] Randy Clark of Cash Box wrote, "This single from the upcoming Waterboys album could have just as easily appeared on an Al Stewart record. Just add a bigger beat and a lengthy, screaming guitar solo." [13]

In a review of Dream Harder, CD Review commented, "'The Return of Pan' finds [Scott] singing about mythological gods and although romanticism is neat stuff, it's most effective when shaded with a touch of reality." [14] Audio noted the song "point[s] to Scott's fondness for other kinds of supreme beings". [15]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Jeff Stein and features Carla Azar on drums. [16] It was the Waterboys' first video since 1985's "The Whole of the Moon" and Scott's debut video for Geffen Records. Scott had previously refused to shoot videos for most of the Waterboys' singles. He considered the medium to taint the listener's relationship with a song and spoil their imagination of it by presenting imagery that was often "shallow and moronic". By 1993, he decided to give making videos a try again to maximise the potential of the new material reaching a big audience. [17]

Prior to shooting any video for Geffen, Scott received some training from the acting teacher and theatre director Stephen Jobes on how to present himself in front of a camera and remain composed in front of a film crew. Meanwhile, a number of directors drew up their ideas for videos for "The Return of Pan", but Scott rejected all of the ideas for either being clichéd or misinterpreting the song. Geffen eventually suggested the director Jeff Stein and after Scott met him in a coffee shop along Sixth Avenue, he agreed for him to direct the video for "The Return of Pan". [17]

Scott wished to control the vision for the video to "ensure [it] conformed to my sense of the song" and did not misinterpret it with an "irrelevant storyline". Stein obliged with Scott's suggestion of a performance-based video with Scott sitting down performing the song with a gold guitar, the concept of which was based on a photograph taken for the Dream Harder sleeve. Scott also suggested featuring some goats in the video, but the resulting footage presented them as "goofy, like wacky pets at a children's zoo" rather than "wild and Pan-like". The final sequence, featuring Scott surrounded by goats and with his guitar raised over his head, was shot at The Palisades of the lower Hudson River. Scott recalled in his autobiography of seeing the final result, "I realised the folly of controlling the content myself; though the video was well shot by Jeff it was stiff and kooky, a thousand miles from the intent of the song". [17]

Formats

7-inch and cassette single
No.TitleLength
1."The Return of Pan" (LP version)4:19
2."Karma"2:47
12-inch and CD single
No.TitleLength
1."The Return of Pan" (LP version)4:19
2."Karma"2:47
3."Mister Powers"7:00
4."The Return of Pan" (demo version, hidden track)1:14

Personnel

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [18] 64
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [19] 89
Europe (European Hit Radio) [20] 34
Ireland (IRMA) [21] 28
Portugal (AFP) [22] 10
UK Singles (OCC) [23] 24
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [24] 10

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Waterboys</span> British-Irish folk rock band

The Waterboys are a British-Irish folk rock band formed in London in 1983 by Scottish musician and songwriter Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Mike Scott has remained the only constant member throughout the band's career. They have explored a number of different styles, but their music is mainly a mix of folk music with rock and roll. They dissolved in 1993 when Scott departed to pursue a solo career. The group reformed in 2000, and continue to release albums and to tour worldwide. Scott emphasises a continuity between the Waterboys and his solo work, saying that "To me there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys; they both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions."

<i>Dream Harder</i> 1993 studio album by the Waterboys

Dream Harder is the sixth studio album by the Waterboys, released by Geffen Records on 24 May 1993. Led by Scottish singer-songwriter-instrumentalist Mike Scott, the album features none of the earlier UK-based band members and instead finds Scott backed by American session musicians. It was the last Waterboys album before Scott spent seven years pursuing a formal solo career, with Bring 'Em All In (1995) and Still Burning (1997). The album reached position 171 on the Billboard Top 200 charts, surpassing the previous Waterboys album Room to Roam, in spite of a less-than-enthusiastic response from critics to the album's sound.

<i>This Is the Sea</i> 1985 studio album by the Waterboys

This Is the Sea is the third studio album by the Waterboys, released on 16 September 1985 by Ensign Records. The last of their "Big Music" albums, it is considered by critics to be the finest album of the Waterboys' early rock-oriented sound, described as "epic" and "a defining moment". It peaked at number 37 in the UK Albums Chart. Steve Wickham makes his Waterboys recording debut playing violin on "The Pan Within" and subsequently joined the band. This Is the Sea is the last Waterboys album with contributions from Karl Wallinger, who left the group to form his own band, World Party.

<i>Fishermans Blues</i> 1988 studio album by the Waterboys

Fisherman's Blues is the fourth studio album by the Waterboys, released by Ensign Records in October 1988. The album marked a change in the band's sound, with them abandoning their earlier grandiose rock sound for a mixture of traditional Irish music, traditional Scottish music, country music, and rock and roll. Critics were divided on its release with some disappointed at the change of direction and others ranking it among the Waterboys' best work. The album was the Waterboys' best selling album, reaching a number 13 placing on the U.K. charts on release, and 76 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Scott (Scottish musician)</span> Scottish songwriter and musician

Michael Scott is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and musician. He is the founding member, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of rock band The Waterboys. He has also produced two solo albums, Bring 'Em All In and Still Burning. Scott is a vocalist, guitarist and pianist, and has played a large range of other instruments, including the bouzouki, drums, and Hammond organ on his albums. Scott is also a published writer, having released his autobiography, Adventures of a Waterboy, in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loser (Beck song)</span> 1993 single by Beck

"Loser" is a single by American musician Beck. It was written by Beck and record producer Carl Stephenson, who both produced the song with Tom Rothrock. "Loser" was initially released as Beck's second single by independent record label Bong Load Custom Records on 12-inch vinyl format with catalog number BL5 on March 8, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Spreads</span> 1994 single by the Stone Roses

"Love Spreads" is a song by British alternative rock group the Stone Roses, released on 21 November 1994 as the first single from their second album, Second Coming. The record reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, the highest peak for any song by the band, as well as number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number 67 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The single also reached the top 10 in Ireland and the top 20 in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)</span> 1988 single by the Proclaimers

"I'm Gonna Be " is a song written and performed by Scottish duo the Proclaimers, and first released in August 1988 by Chrysalis as the lead single from their second album, Sunshine on Leith (1988). The song reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart on its initial release and topped the charts of Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy Holly (song)</span> 1994 single by Weezer

"Buddy Holly" is a song by the American rock band Weezer. The song was written by Rivers Cuomo and released by DGC as the second single from the band's debut album, Weezer (1994). The lyrics reference the song's namesake, 1950s rock-and-roll singer Buddy Holly, and actress Mary Tyler Moore. Released on September 7, 1994—which would have been Holly's 58th birthday—the song reached number two on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. Outside the US, the song peaked at number six in Canada, number 12 in the United Kingdom, number 13 in Iceland, and number 14 in Sweden. The song's music video, directed by Spike Jonze, earned considerable exposure when it was included as a bonus media file in Microsoft's initial successful release of the operating system, Windows 95.

<i>Room to Roam</i> 1990 studio album by the Waterboys

Room to Roam is the fifth studio album by the Waterboys, released by Ensign Records on 2 October 1990. It continued the folk rock sound of 1988's Fisherman's Blues, but was less of a commercial success, reaching #180 on the Billboard Top 200 after its release in September 1990. Critical response continues to be mixed. Allmusic describes it both as "not quite as [musically] successful" as Fisherman's Blues, but also as a "Celtic rock classic". The front and back covers were designed by Simon Fowler based upon photography by Stefano Giovannini and Sean Jackson.

<i>A Rock in the Weary Land</i> 2000 studio album by the Waterboys

A Rock in the Weary Land is the seventh studio album by the Waterboys, released in 2000 by BMG International. It was their first album after a seven-year break, but mostly continues the hard rock vein of the previous album Dream Harder (1993). The album cover photography is by Steve Gullick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easy (Commodores song)</span> 1977 single by the Commodores

"Easy" is a song by American band Commodores from their fifth studio album, Commodores, released on the Motown label. Group member Lionel Richie wrote "Easy" with the intention of it becoming another crossover hit for the group given the success of a previous single, "Just to Be Close to You", which spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisherman's Blues (song)</span> 1988 single by The Waterboys

"Fisherman's Blues" is a song from folk rock band The Waterboys, which was released in 1988 as the lead single from their fourth studio album of the same name. It was written by Mike Scott and Steve Wickham, and produced by Scott. The song reached number 3 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, number 13 in Ireland and number 32 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And a Bang on the Ear</span> 1989 single by the Waterboys

"And a Bang on the Ear" is a song from Scottish-Irish folk rock band the Waterboys, released as the second single from their fourth studio album Fisherman's Blues. It was written by Mike Scott, and produced by John Dunford and Scott. The song reached No. 1 in Ireland and No. 51 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glastonbury Song</span> 1993 single by the Waterboys

"Glastonbury Song" is a song by British band the Waterboys, released in July 1993 as the second single from their sixth studio album, Dream Harder (1993). It was written by Mike Scott and produced by Scott and Bill Price. The song reached number 29 in the UK Singles Chart and number 12 in the Irish Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Princes</span> 1992 single by Spin Doctors

"Two Princes" is a song by American rock group Spin Doctors, released in 1992 by Epic as the second single from the group's debut album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite (1991). The song peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Cash Box Top 100. Outside of the US, it topped the charts in Iceland and Sweden, and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The song earned them a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. The group filmed two different music videos for "Two Princes"; one of them was in black-and-white. One of the videos was directed by Richard Murray and premiered in February 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Whole of the Moon</span> 1985 single by the Waterboys

"The Whole of the Moon" is a song by Scottish band the Waterboys, released as a single from their album This Is the Sea in October 1985. It is a classic of the band's repertoire and has been consistently played at live shows ever since its release. Written and produced by Mike Scott, the subject of the song has inspired some speculation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Long Will I Love You?</span> 1990 single by the Waterboys

"How Long Will I Love You?" is a song by folk rock band the Waterboys from their fifth studio album, Room to Roam (1990). Written by Mike Scott, it was released as the album's lead single. The song was subsequently covered by English singer Ellie Goulding and released as the second single from her album Halcyon Days (2013). Goulding's version is included on the soundtrack to the 2013 film About Time, which also features a different cover by Jon Boden, Sam Sweeney and Ben Coleman.

<i>Modern Blues</i> (album) 2015 studio album by the Waterboys

Modern Blues is the eleventh studio album by the Waterboys, released on the independent label Harlequin and Clown in 2015. It was produced by Mike Scott, with two tracks being co-produced with Paul Brown. Modern Blues reached No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 2 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rare, Precious and Gone</span> 1998 single by Mike Scott

"Rare, Precious and Gone" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Mike Scott, released as the second single from his second solo album Still Burning. It was written by Mike Scott, and produced by Scott and Niko Bolas. "Rare, Precious and Gone" reached No. 74 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1998.

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 1 May 1993. p. 23.
  2. ↑ "WATERBOYS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "The Waterboys The Return Of Pan Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  4. ↑ "Ireland-Related Featured Articles - Google Books" . Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  5. 1 2 Taylor, Sam (7 August 1993). "Dream-Age Panclub". New Musical Express . p. 20.
  6. ↑ "Interview: Mike Scott (Bring 'Em All In, 1995) | Peter T. Chattaway". Patheos.com. 12 March 1996. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. ↑ Mayo, Simon (14 May 1993). "Hidden extras" . Nottingham Evening Post . p. 49. Retrieved 5 May 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ True, Everett (8 May 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker . p. 29.
  9. ↑ GR (7 May 1993). "Singles... singles... singles" . Accrington Observer . p. 31. Retrieved 5 May 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ Byrne, George (11 May 1993). "Entertainment: And finally..." . Irish Independent . p. 24. Retrieved 5 May 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ Dee, Johnny (8 May 1993). "Singles". New Musical Express . p. 16.
  12. ↑ Flick, Larry (22 May 1993). "Billboard". Billboard. p.  110 . Retrieved 19 January 2019– via Internet Archive. waterboys return of pan.
  13. ↑ Cash Box magazine - 15 May 1993 - Pop Singles: Reviews - page 13
  14. ↑ "CD Review - Google Books". 1993. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "Audio - Google Books". 17 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Billboard". Billboard. 12 June 1993. p.  74 . Retrieved 19 January 2019– via Internet Archive. waterboys return of pan.
  17. 1 2 3 Scott, Mike (2017). Adventures of a Waterboy. Jawbone. pp. 195–198. ISBN   978-1911036357.
  18. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2179." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  19. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 21. 22 May 1993. p. 27. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  20. ↑ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 23. 5 June 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Return of Pan". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  22. ↑ "Top 10 sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 20. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  23. ↑ "The Waterboys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  24. ↑ "The Waterboys Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
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.