SHAKESPEARS SISTER - STAY

Llançament: 13 de gener de 1992

Posició a les llistes: Regne Unit: #1 (8 setmanes)

“Stay” és un single de Shakespears Sister, llançat el 1992 com el segon tema del seu àlbum “Hormonally Yours”. Escrita per Siobhan Fahey, Marcella Detroit i Dave Stewart, va esdevenir el major èxit del duet, arribant al número 1 del Regne Unit durant vuit setmanes i convertint-se en el quart single més venut del 1992 al país. La cançó també va encapçalar les llistes a Suècia i Irlanda i va tenir èxit als EUA (#4 Billboard Hot 100) i Canadà (#4 Canadian RPM 100).

“Stay” es va inspirar en el film de ciència-ficció de 1953 “Cat-Women of the Moon”, sobre astronautes que descobreixen dones seductores però perilloses a la Lluna. Siobhan Fahey i Marcella Detroit volien comprar-ne els drets per crear un vídeo-àlbum amb escenes originals i noves, però el projecte mai es va materialitzar. Tot i així, l’àlbum “Hormonally Yours” es va basar parcialment en aquest concepte, amb cançons com “Goodbye Cruel World”, “Catwoman”, “Moonchild” i “Hello (Turn Your Radio On)” inspirades en la pel·lícula.

El videoclip, dirigit per Sophie Muller, està ambientat en una nau espacial semblant a una habitació d’hospital, on Marcella Detroit cuida el seu amant moribund. A la part central de la cançó, Siobhan Fahey, interpretant la Mort, apareix en un portal dalt d’una escala, vestida amb un vestit brillant. Fahey es burla de Detroit, assegurant-li que no pot salvar l’home. A mesura que la Mort baixa les escales, Detroit lluita per despertar-lo. L’escena representa una batalla simbòlica entre la vida (Detroit) i la mort (Fahey). En el clímax, l’home es desperta i abraça Detroit, forçant la Mort a retirar-se, derrotada.

La manera desmanegada com Fahey baixa les escales va alimentar rumors que havia begut vodka després d’esperar 12 hores per rodar la seva part, però més tard va afirmar que era una decisió intencionada per reforçar la seva interpretació burleta i caòtica.

El vídeo també inclou una variació d’una frase de Macbeth, canviant “When shall we three meet again” per “When shall we two meet again”, en referència al conflicte central entre les dues protagonistes. El videoclip va guanyar el BRIT Award al Millor Vídeo de 1993.

SHAKESPEARS SISTER - STAY

Released: January 13, 1992

UK: #1 (8 wks) 

“Stay” is a 1992 single by Shakespears Sister, released as the second track from their album “Hormonally Yours”. Written by Siobhan Fahey, Marcella Detroit, and Dave Stewart, it became the duo’s biggest hit, reaching #1 in the UK for eight weeks and becoming the fourth-best-selling UK single of 1992. The song also topped the charts in Sweden and Ireland and was a transatlantic success, peaking at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.

“Stay” was inspired by the 1953 sci-fi film “Cat-Women of the Moon”, about astronauts discovering alluring but dangerous women on the Moon. Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit initially planned to buy the rights to the film and create a video album, mixing original footage with new scenes. The album “Hormonally Yours” was partially based on this concept, with other songs like “Goodbye Cruel World,” “Catwoman,” “Moonchild,” and “Hello (Turn Your Radio On)” also drawing from the movie. However, the plan to purchase the film never materialized.

Directed by Sophie Muller, the video for “Stay” is set in a spaceship resembling a hospital room, where Marcella Detroit tends to her dying lover. At the song’s bridge, Siobhan Fahey, playing the Angel of Death, emerges from a portal atop a staircase, dressed in a sparkling catsuit. She taunts Detroit, claiming she cannot save the man. As Death descends the stairs, Detroit desperately tries to wake him. A struggle ensues between the two women, symbolizing a battle between life (Detroit) and death (Fahey). In the climax, the man wakes up and embraces Detroit, forcing Death to retreat back up the staircase into the light, defeated.

Fahey’s awkward descent down the stairs fueled rumors that she had been drinking vodka after waiting 12 hours to film her part, though she later claimed it was part of her character’s drunken, mocking persona. 

The video also features a variation of the opening lines from Macbeth, changing “When shall we three meet again” to “When shall we two meet again”, referencing the story’s focus on the two women’s battle. The video won the 1993 BRIT Award for Best Video.

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION - PERFECT

Llançament: Març de 1988

Posicions a les llistes: Regne Unit: #1 (1 setmana)

“Perfect” va ser el senzill de debut de la banda britànica Fairground Attraction. Va tenir un èxit immediat, primer al Regne Unit i Irlanda, on va arribar al número 1, i després a nivell internacional, convertint-se en un èxit mundial. La cançó va ser escrita per Mark E. Nevin, que, després de la separació del grup el 1990, va continuar escrivint cançons per artistes com Morrissey, Carole King i David Bowie. “Perfect” va guanyar el Brit Award a Millor Single Britànic el 1989.

Fairground Attraction es va formar el 1987 amb Eddi Reader (veu), antiga corista de Eurythmics, The Waterboys i Alison Moyet, el guitarrista Mark E. Nevin, col·laborador de Kirsty MacColl, Simon Edwards (guitarrón) i Roy Dodds (bateria). La banda va desenvolupar un so únic, barrejant folk, country, pop i influències cajun per al seu àlbum debut, “First of a Million Kisses”. L’àlbum va assolir el número 2 al Regne Unit i va incloure dos senzills al Top 10 britànic: Perfect (#1) i la guitarra espanyola destacada de Find My Love (#7).

Tanmateix, l’èxit del grup va ser breu. El seu segon àlbum, “Ay Fond Kiss” (1990), només va arribar al número 55 al Regne Unit i va tenir poc impacte comercial, ja que la banda ja s’havia dissolt abans del seu llançament. Després de la separació, Eddi Reader va iniciar una carrera en solitari amb èxit, aconseguint el número 4 amb el seu segon àlbum “Eddi Reader”. L’any passat, la banda es va reformar amb els quatre membres originals per gravar un nou àlbum, “Beautiful Happening”.

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION - PERFECT

Released: March, 1988

Charts: UK: #1 (1 week)

 “Perfect” was the debut single by British band Fairground Attraction. It proved to be an immediate success, first in the UK and Ireland, where it topped the charts, and then internationally, where it became a worldwide hit. The song was written by Mark E. Nevin, who since the band split in 1990, has had songs recorded by the likes of Morrissey, Carole King and David Bowie. The song was awarded the Brit Award in 1989 for Best British Single.

Fairground Attraction formed in 1987 by former backing singer (Eurythmics, The Waterboys, Alison Moyet) Eddi Reader (vocals), former Kirsty MacColl collaborator Mark E. Nevin (guitar), Simon Edwards (guitarrón) and Roy Dodds (drums). They created a fairly unique sound, blending folk, country, pop and cajun influences, for their debut album, “First of a Million Kisses”. The album peaked at #2, supported by two UK top ten singles, “Perfect” (#1) and the Spanish guitar heavy “Find My Love” (#7). However, the band's success was brief, and their second album, 1990’s “Ay Fond Kiss” struggled to sell, making UK: #55. The band had already split at the time of release of that record, with Reader launching a successful solo career with her second, self-titled album making #4 in the UK charts. The band reformed last year with all four original members returning for the album “Beautiful Happening”. (Mozz Osborne)

PHIL COLLINS - ONE MORE NIGHT

Llançament: 24 de gener de 1985

Posicions a les llistes: Regne Unit: #4 EUA: #1 (2 setmanes)

“One More Night” és una cançó de Phil Collins, llançada com el primer senzill als EUA i el segon al Regne Unit del seu tercer àlbum d’estudi, “No Jacket Required”. Va esdevenir el segon número 1 de Collins als EUA, després de “Against All Odds”, i el quart senzill en el Top 10 del Regne Unit, arribant al número 4. Als EUA, va debutar al número 50 del Billboard Hot 100 el 9 de febrer de 1985 i va assolir el número 1 set setmanes després, mantenint-se al cim durant dues setmanes.

Phil Collins va començar a escriure la cançó amb una caixa de ritmes, inspirat en un tempo similar al d’una cançó de The Jacksons. Va explicar que, mentre experimentava amb la màquina, la frase “one more night” encaixava naturalment amb el ritme, i la resta de la cançó va sorgir ràpidament. Tot i que transmet un to melancòlic, Collins va descriure la lletra com a càlida i optimista, més que trista.

El videoclip, dirigit per Jim Yukich, mostra Phil Collins tocant el piano en un bar de centre urbà amb poca il·luminació. L’escenari és el The Princess Victoria, un pub de Shepherd’s Bush (Londres), propietat de Richard Branson en aquell moment. El vídeo es connecta directament amb el de “Sussudio”, i tots dos es poden veure conjuntament a “The Singles Collection”.

PHIL COLLINS - ONE MORE NIGHT

Released: January 24, 1985

Charts: UK: #4   US: #1 (2 weeks)

“One More Night” is a song by Phil Collins, released as the first U.S. single and second U.K. single from his third studio album, “No Jacket Required”. It became Collins’ second U.S. No. 1 hit, following “Against All Odds,” and his fourth top-ten single in the U.K., peaking at No. 4. In the U.S., the song debuted at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 9, 1985, and reached No. 1 seven weeks later, staying at the top for two weeks.

Phil Collins began writing it on a drum machine, inspired by a tempo similar to a Jacksons’ song. He explained that while experimenting with the machine, the phrase “one more night” naturally fit the rhythm, and the rest of the song came together quickly. While the song has a melancholic feel, Collins described the lyrics as more warm and optimistic rather than depressing.

The music video directed by Jim Yukich, features Phil Collins playing the piano in a dimly lit downtown bar. The bar, The Princess Victoria in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, was owned by Richard Branson at the time. The video serves as a continuation of Collins’ “Sussudio” video, with both clips seamlessly linked in The Singles Collection. 

 

PETER GABRIEL - DIGGING IN THE DIRT

Released: September 7, 1992

Charts:  US: #52   UK: #24 

“Digging in the Dirt” was released as the lead single from the album “Us”. It reached No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This is one of Peter Gabriel’s most personal and intense songs, exploring themes of self-examination, therapy, and repressed anger. Inspired by his own experiences with psychotherapy and the end of his relationship with Rosanna Arquette, the song reflects his efforts to confront his darker emotions. Gabriel also studied human psychology and violence, reading books like “Why We Kill” to understand destructive behavior. The song’s contrast between aggressive verses and a reflective chorus mirrors his inner conflict, making it a powerful exploration of personal growth and emotional struggle.

Musically, “Digging in the Dirt” blends electronic and organic elements, featuring percussion tracks by Egyptian musician Hossam Ramzy, originally recorded for “Zaar” from Gabriel’s “Passion” album. These rhythms were combined with electronic beats and a synth bass. The song was built around a rhythmic groove, but Gabriel struggled to complete it, initially finding it incomplete without a strong bass and drum foundation. Once the rhythm section was finalized, the track gained its full driving intensity.

The music video, directed by John Downer, was one of Peter Gabriel’s most visually intense and symbolic works. Like his earlier videos for .Sledgehammer” and “Big Time”, it relied heavily on stop-motion animation, requiring Gabriel to remain motionless for extended periods while each frame was painstakingly captured. It won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Short-Form Music Video.

Gabriel appears in various unsettling scenarios: being buried alive, overtaken by creeping vines, and struggling with a wasp, all of which symbolize inner conflicts, repressed emotions, and personal transformation. The imagery reflects the psychological and emotional struggles he was experiencing at the time. The final scene, featuring a vibrant meadow of flowers, offers a stark contrast to the earlier dark and claustrophobic visuals. 

MAROON 5 feat. CHRISTINA AGUILERA - MOVES LIKE JAGGER

Llançament: 21 de juny de 2011

Posició a les llistes: EUA: #1 (4 setmanes) Regne Unit: #2 

“Moves Like Jagger” és una cançó de Maroon 5 amb la col·laboració de Christina Aguilera, llançada el juny de 2011 com l’últim senzill de la reedició de l’àlbum “Hands All Over”. Escrita per Adam Levine, Ammar Malik, Benny Blanco i Shellback, amb producció de Blanco i Shellback, la cançó incorpora elements de disco modern, sintetitzadors i bateries electròniques. La lletra descriu un home que intenta impressionar la seva parella imitant els moviments de Mick Jagger, el llegendari líder dels Rolling Stones.

Adam Levine ha admès una gran admiració pel ball de Jagger, descrivint-se com un “estudiant de l’Escola de Moviments Interessants de Jagger” durant 17 anys. Segons ell, els moviments de Jagger són calculats però espasmòdics, fent-los impossibles d’imitar, fet que dona a la cançó un toc divertit. Mick Jagger mateix va trobar la cançó molt enganxosa i divertida, sobretot perquè agrada molt als nens, però va admetre que li afegia pressió quan ballava en públic. Levine gairebé no va llançar la cançó, perquè li feia respecte publicar un tema tan directament inspirat en una icona com Jagger.

“Moves Like Jagger” va debutar al #3 de les llistes britàniques el 21 d’agost de 2011, venent 56.000 còpies. Va arribar al #2 durant set setmanes consecutives, empatant el rècord de més temps al #2 sense assolir mai el #1. El 5 d’octubre de 2011, va arribar al #1 en la llista de mitja setmana, però finalment va ser bloquejada del cim per “We Found Love” de Rihanna. Al llarg de la seva trajectòria, sis cançons diferents li van tallar el pas per arribar al #1, però malgrat això, va acabar com el segon single més venut del 2011 al Regne Unit. El 2012, va ser la cançó més venuda de la història del Regne Unit que mai va arribar al #1, amb 1,54 milions de còpies venudes fins al setembre de 2017.

MAROON 5 feat. CHRISTINA AGUILERA - MOVES LIKE JAGGER

Released: June 21, 2011

US: #1 (4 wks) UK: #2 

“Moves Like Jagger” is a 2011 song by Maroon 5, featuring Christina Aguilera. Released on June 2011, as the final single from the re-release of their album “Hands All Over”, the song was written by Adam Levine, Ammar Malik, Benny Blanco, and Shellback, with the latter two also producing. The track incorporates modern disco elements, synths, and electronic drums. Lyrically, it describes a man impressing a love interest with his dance moves, which he compares to Mick Jagger, the legendary Rolling Stones frontman.

Adam Levine has long admired Mick Jagger’s unique dance style, jokingly calling himself a “student at the Jagger School of Interesting Movement” for 17 years. He describes Jagger’s moves as “calculated yet spastic,” making them impossible to imitate, which is part of the song’s fun appeal. Mick Jagger himself found the song “very catchy” and amusing, especially since young children enjoy it. However, he admitted it adds pressure when he dances in public. Levine almost didn’t release the song, telling Rolling Stone he was nervous about putting out a track so directly inspired by the Rolling Stones legend. 

“Moves Like Jagger” debuted at #3 on the UK Singles Chart on August 21, 2011, selling 56,000 copies. It peaked at #2 for seven consecutive weeks, tying the record for the longest stay at #2 without reaching #1. On October 5, 2011, it topped the mid-week chart but was blocked from #1 by Rihanna’s We Found Love. Throughout its run, it was repeatedly kept from the top spot by six different #1 debuts. Despite never reaching #1, it finished #2 on the 2011 UK year-end chart, outselling all the songs that had blocked it. By 2012, it was the biggest-selling song never to reach #1 and had sold 1.54 million copies in the UK by September 2017.