The Killing Moon
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- For the band see The Killing Moon (band)
| “The Killing Moon” | |||||
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| Single by Echo & the Bunnymen from the album Ocean Rain |
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| B-side | "Do It Clean" | ||||
| Released | 20 January 1984 | ||||
| Format | 7", 12" | ||||
| Recorded | Crescent Studio in Bath | ||||
| Genre | Post-punk | ||||
| Length | 5:47 | ||||
| Label | Korova | ||||
| Writer(s) | Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas | ||||
| Producer | The Bunnymen | ||||
| Echo & the Bunnymen singles chronology | |||||
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"The Killing Moon" is among the most popular songs by the band Echo & the Bunnymen. The lyrics were written and sung by the band's vocalist, Ian McCulloch, it was released on their 1984 album Ocean Rain. It is one of the band's highest-charting hits, reaching number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.
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[edit] Lyrics
According to the liner notes of Echo and the Bunnymen's Crystal Days box set, Ian McCulloch woke up one morning with the phrase "fate up against your will" in mind. He wrote it down and the remainder of the song fell in place from there.
Ian McCulloch once said in an interview with Smash Hits magazine that the song is about "A moon with a machine gun".[citation needed]
[edit] Appearances on film and television
- In 1998, the song appeared in the film Gia.
- The song was used quite prominently in the 2001 cult film Donnie Darko. Played over the opening sequence, it was in fact a last minute substitution by the film's director, Richard Kelly, when he could not obtain the rights to use INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart", which was later used in the director's cut. Instead "The Killing Moon" was played as originally intended during the Halloween party towards the end of the film.
- Another use of the song was in Grosse Pointe Blank at the scene when Martin Blank exits Debbie Newberry's radio-booth after a short interview in which we learn he stood her up at prom night and disappeared for 10 years.
- The song was also used in the film The Girl Next Door in the scene in which the protagonist first sees his new neighbour.
- "The Killing Moon" was used in Transworld's "First Love". It was the song used for Shiloh Greathouse's part.
- "The Killing Moon" was also used in a UK Promotional Spot for the TV series Supernatural.
[edit] Cover versions
"The Killing Moon" has been covered by many artists:[1] A version can be found on the 1998 compilation album New Wave Goes to Hell, sung by deathrock singer Eva O. In 1999, the American indie rock group Pavement released a live version on their Major Leagues EP. The Quakes, an American psychobilly group, recorded a version for their 2001 album Last of the Human Beings. American singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips recorded an acoustic version for his 2006 covers album, Nineteeneighties. French group Nouvelle Vague recorded a bossa nova version for their 2006 covers album, Bande à Part. Australian musician Wendy Rule recorded a version on the B-side of her single "Artemis". The Portuguese group Replicantes recorded a version sung in Portuguese called "A Lua Que Mata" on their album Go Ahead. The Australian rock group Something for Kate released a version on the B-side to their 2006 single "Cigarettes and Suitcases". Two versions of the song, the first performed by Resplandor and the second by Maydrim, are included on the 2005 Spanish tribute album Play the Game: Un Tributo a Echo & the Bunnymen.
[edit] Track listing
- UK 12"
- The Killing Moon (All Night Version)
- The Killing Moon
- Do It Clean (Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall London July 18th 1983)
[edit] References
- ^ The Ultimate Echo and the Bunnymen Resource. Villiers Terrace.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
[edit] External links
- Echo & The Bunnymen Official Website
- Lyrics at MTV.com
- Promotional video at the band's official website
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