Enola Gay (song)

"Enola Gay" is a song by British synthpop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (normally abbreviated to OMD). It was written by frontman Andy McCluskey, and appears on the band's second album, Organisation (DinDisc/Virgin, 1980). It was released as a 7" single on 26 September 1980, and reached number 8 in the UK chart ^[1] , also topping the charts in several European countries. An early version with a slightly different arrangement appears on the group's Peel Sessions 1979-1983 album.

In 1998 David Guetta & Joachim Garraud and Sash! made remixed versions of the song for the intended second disc of The OMD Singles. The second disc was dropped, and eventually only the Sash! remix appeared on The OMD Remixes EP's. In 2003 the double disc version was released in France only, which included the remixed versions by Guetta and Garraud as well. The Guetta and Garraud remixes were released on a limited 12" to promote the compilation album.

A live performance of this song, recorded at Guildhall, Portsmouth, England on September 19, 1980 (1980-09-19), is featured in the film Urgh! A Music War. ^[2]

1 Title
2 Lyrics
3 Track listing
4 Chart positions
5 Cover versions
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Title

The song is named after the aeroplane, a USAAF B-29 Superfortress called Enola Gay which dropped "Little Boy" the first atomic bomb to be used in an act of War on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, to bring an end to the Second World War.

[edit] Lyrics

The lyrics attack the decision to use the bomb, making use of sardonic black humour ("Is mother proud of Little Boy today?") and suggesting that the bombing was unnecessary ("It shouldn't ever have to end this way").^[3]

[edit] Track listing

"Enola Gay" – 3:33
"Annex" – 4:33

Unusually, the 12" single contained no additional material or alternative mixes, only the same tracks as on the 7".

[edit] Chart positions

Chart (1980)	Peak position
French Singles Chart	1
Irish Singles Chart ^[4]	14
Italian Singles Chart	1
Portuguese Singles Chart	1
Swiss Singles Chart ^[5]	2
UK Singles Chart	8
US Hot Dance Club Play	34

[edit] Cover versions

The song was covered several times in 2007. Swedish artist Sommarkillen made a cover of the song called Sommartjej with new Swedish lyrics; the Danish electro-pop trio, Oliver North Boy Choir (formerly called Pierre) also recorded it. This track was posted on many MP3 blogs. In June 2007, José Galisteo released his cover of it on his debut album, Remember. German techno group Scooter also covered the song on their 2007 album Jumping All Over the World. There was also a 2007 dance version (with multiple remixes) of the single recorded by a French band Digital Air. In 2008, York band One Night Only produced "Just for Tonight" which arguably uses the same melody and bassline.