Shock the Monkey
"Shock the Monkey" is a 1982 song by Peter Gabriel. It was released as a single and peaked at number 29 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 1 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart.[1] The song was Gabriel's first Top 40 hit in the US. In the UK, the song charted at number 58. It was included on Gabriel's fourth self-titled album, issued in the U.S. as Security. As well as its "relentlessly repeated hook" that "sounded nothing like anything else on the radio at the time",[2] the track is known for its popular and somewhat disturbing music video featuring Gabriel (in white face paint) and a frightened-looking macaque.
Interpretation
Due to its title and the content of the video, the song is frequently assumed to be either an animal rights song or a reference to the famous experiments by Stanley Milgram described in his book Obedience to Authority.[3] It is neither, although another Gabriel song, "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)", from his 1986 album So, does deal directly with Milgram. Gabriel himself has described "Shock the Monkey" as "a love song" that examines how jealousy can release one's baser instincts; the monkey is not a literal monkey, but a metaphor for one's feelings of jealousy.[4]
Releases
"Shock the Monkey" was released as a 7" picture disc in addition to the 7" and 12" black vinyl singles. Club DJ remix service Hot Tracks crafted an 8:12 version that intersperses verses and choruses sung by Gabriel in German with the more familiar English lyrics. A concert version of the song appears on Gabriel's album Plays Live (1983). It is also included on the compilation albums Shaking the Tree (1990) and Hit (2003). The music video appears on the DVD compilation Play (2004).
Remix contest
An online contest was held in September 2006 by Realworld Remixed in which musicians and engineers were invited to submit a remix of the song. The original tracks were made available for download, offering a rare opportunity to work with the raw material from a hit song. The winner was Multiman's "Simian Surprise".
Charts
Coal Chamber feat. Ozzy Osbourne version
The alternative metal band Coal Chamber covered "Shock the Monkey" on their 1999 album Chamber Music. The cover featured guest vocals by Ozzy Osbourne.
Track listing
- "Shock the Monkey" (Album Version)
- "Shock the Monkey" (Gorilla Mix)
- "El Cu Cuy" (Man-To-Monster Mix)
Music video
Directed by Dean Karr. It shows the band playing with Ozzy and it has shots of a Monkey.
Other cover versions
- Hawaiian recording artist Don Ho covered "Shock the Monkey" on the 2002 compilation album When Pigs Fly: Songs You Never Thought You'd Hear.
- Finnish metal band Suburban Tribe covered "Shock the Monkey" on their 2007 album Recollection.
- The Vitamin String Quartet featured the song on their Peter Gabriel tribute album
Use in other media
- "Shock the Monkey" is included in the opening sequence to the film, Project X.
- The song is used in the South Park episode "Raisins". After Wendy breaks up with Stan, he asks Wendy's friend Bebe how to win her back. She tells Stan to "stand outside her window, and play Peter Gabriel" (a reference to Lloyd Dobler's actions in the movie Say Anything), so he chooses this song to play on the boombox.
See also
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| Singles |
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Notes
References
- Martin C. Strong (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th Edition)