Weak (Skunk Anansie song)

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"Weak"
Skunk anansie weak cd1.jpg
Single by Skunk Anansie
from the album Paranoid & Sunburnt
B-side "Tour Hymn"
Released15 January 1996 (1996-01-15) [1]
Length3:33
Label One Little Indian
Songwriters
Producers
Skunk Anansie singles chronology
"Charity"
(1995)		"Weak"
(1996)		"All I Want"
(1996)

"Weak" is a song by British rock band Skunk Anansie, released on 15 January 1996 as the fourth and final single from their debut album, Paranoid & Sunburnt (1995).

Contents

Composition

Skin wrote the core of the song based on a past abusive relationship experience. The band helped build this out. [2]

Recording

The song was produced by the band with Sylvia Massy. The band 'made a kind of “battle zone” in the studio for Skin, with all these banners and placards all over the place. She’d put on war paint.' [3]

Critical reception

Roy Wilkinson from Select wrote, "'Weak' could be their 'Under the Bridge', an understated, casually memorable verse leading into a chorus thas has as much to do with Heart as Metallica." [4]

Music video

The music video for "Weak" was directed by duo Hammer & Tongs. It is filmed primarily (with cutaways to third party views) from the point of view of a collapsed cameraman in what appears to be a restaurant carpark (Route 66). The cameraman collapses behind a car which then drives off to show Skin and the band forming to perform for the offset camera. The recording is interrupted by a little boy who, after being pulled out of the way of the camera abruptly, decides to run off with it and the band gives chase after him.

Track listings

#TitleLength
1."Weak"3:33
2."Selling Jesus"3:44
3."Tour Hymn"3:18
#TitleLength
1."Weak (Ackee And Saltfish Mix)"3:56
2."Charity (Clit Pop Mix)"4:34
3."100 Ways To Be A Good Girl (Anti Matter Mix)"4:32
4."Rise Up (Bonhamoon Mix)"5:00

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [14] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Later and cover versions

Skin performs a slower, more ballad-like version at many of her solo gigs.

The song was covered by Rod Stewart on his 1998 album, When We Were the New Boys .

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 13 January 1996. p. 31. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  2. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/06/skunk-anansie-how-we-made-weak
  3. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/06/skunk-anansie-how-we-made-weak
  4. ↑ Wilkinson, Roy (October 1995). "New Albums". Select . Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 13, no. 6. 10 February 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (6.4. – 12.4. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 April 1996. p. 60. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Skunk Anansie – Weak" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "Skunk Anansie – Weak". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 25. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  13. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "British single certifications – Skunk Anansie – Weak". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 30 October 2020.
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