E=MC2 (song)
| "E=MC2" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Big Audio Dynamite | ||||
| from the album This Is Big Audio Dynamite | ||||
| Released | March 1986 | |||
| Format | 7", 12" | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Alternative dance | |||
| Length | 5:55 | |||
| Label | CBS | |||
| Writer(s) | Mick Jones, Don Letts | |||
| Producer | Mick Jones | |||
| Big Audio Dynamite singles chronology | ||||
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"E=MC2" is a 1985 single by Big Audio Dynamite, released as the second single from their debut album This is Big Audio Dynamite. The song was the group's first Top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at #11. Additionally, it peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States. The song features prominent dialog samples from the 1970 film Performance.
Contents |
[edit] History
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This song was inspired by films directed by Nicolas Roeg, including Performance (written & co-directed by Donald Cammell), Walkabout, Don't Look Now, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Insignificance. Its lyrics refer directly to many of them. For example:
- "Took a trip to Powis Square, Pop star dyed his hair . . . When mobsters came to flush him out. Gangland slaying underground, New identity must be found. . .Insanity Bohemian style" refers to the two main characters in Performance, a retired rock star (played by Mick Jagger) and a gangster on the run (played by James Fox)
- "King of brains" - refers to Albert Einstein a lead character in Insignificance (note also the reference to "relativity" in the chorus)
- "Queen of the sack" - refers to Marilyn Monroe, a lead character in Insignificance
- "Hall of fame baseball" - refers to Joe Dimaggio, a lead character in Insignificance
- "Senator's a hoodlum" - refers to Joe McCarthy, a lead character in Insignificance
- "Don't like no aborigine" - refers to one of the main characters in Walkabout, an Aborigine
- "Space guy fell from the sky" refers to The Man Who Fell to Earth starring David Bowie
- The 2nd verse (from "Met a dwarf who was no good" to "Gets to take the funeral ride") describes Don't Look Now Starring Donald Sutherland
Included throughout the song are dialogue samples taken directly from the 1970 film Performance. These include:
- - "Why don't you play us a tune, pal?" - "I don't like music." - "Comical little geezer. You'll look funny when you're fifty." (Dialogue between Chas and Turner)
- "You know, I don't think I'm going to let you stay in the film business." (Chas)
- "Time for a change!" (Chas)
- "I like a bit of a cavort, I don't send 'em solicitor's letters. I apply a bit of pressure." (Chas)
- "Who do you think you are, the Lone Ranger? (...) You're Jack the Lad!" (Harry Flowers)
- "Putting a little stick about. Putting the frighteners on flash, little twerps." (Chas)
- "He's an ignorant boy. An out of date boy." (Flowers's associate)
- "United we stand, divided we're lumbered." (Harry Flowers)
- "At the death, who is left holding the sodding baby?" (Chas)
- "I know a thing or two about the clientèle. They're a bunch of liars and wrigglers. (...) Give 'em a bit of stick." (Chas)
[edit] Music video
The music video for the song (directed by Don Letts) features clips from movies made by Nicolas Roeg.
[edit] Mick Jones and Hard-Fi
"E=MC2" has been performed live by Mick Jones a few times with indie rock band Hard-Fi. One notable performance of this (mentioned on NME's website) was at Brixton Academy on 15 May 2006, a gig also guested by Billy Bragg and Paul Weller.[1]
No official (or bootleg) recording of this cover is known to exist at present. On 18 May 2006, at the end of Hard-Fi's record-equalling five night residency of Brixton Academy (a record matched by The Clash amongst others) they were joined onstage by Mick Jones one song into their three song encore for their final performance of "E=MC2".[1]
[edit] Track listing
- 7 Inch Single (CBS A 6963)
- "E=MC2" – 5:58
- "This is Big Audio Dynamite" – 3:39
- 12 Inch Single (CBS TA 6963)
- "E=MC2 (Extended Remix)" – 6:18
- "This is Big Audio Dynamite" – 5:40
[edit] Chart positions
| Chart (1986) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart[2] | 47 |
| Irish Singles Chart [3] | 11 |
| U.K. Singles Chart [4] | 11 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[5] | 37 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[5] | 41 |
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Hard-Fi team up with very special guest | News | NME.COM
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW, Australia: Australian Chart Book. pp. 34. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "The Irish Charts". IRMA. http://www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ^ "Chart Stats - Big Audio Dynamite". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=4482. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ^ a b "Big Audio Dynamite > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3668. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
