| "Sub-culture" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by New Order | ||||
| from the album Low-Life | ||||
| Released | November 1985 | |||
| Format | 7", 12" | |||
| Genre | Synthpop | |||
| Length | 4:57 (on Low-Life) 7:26 (12" remix) |
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| Label | Factory - FAC 133 | |||
| Writer(s) | Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert | |||
| Producer | New Order | |||
| New Order singles chronology | ||||
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"Sub-culture" released in November 1985, is the tenth single by New Order.
Contents |
It was the second and final single that also appeared on the group's album release of the same year, Low-Life. The B-side is a remix of the A-side titled "Dub-vulture". A seven inch edit of the Robie remix taken from the Benelux version of the "Sub-culture" single appears on the group's 1987 compilation, Substance.
The song has stirred some controversy with attempts to understand the lyrics being unsubstantiated by the group itself, particularly the use of the word shaft with its possible sexual connotations; i.e. "You'll realize you can't shaft without someone else".
John Robie's 12" and 7" single mixes provides a significant departure from the album version, using prominent vocals which feature Ish Ledesma of Foxy and Oxo with female backing singers. The version of the song Bernard sings in the remix has an altered line (whether it was intentional or not is unclear), changing the second verse's line "A view without a room" into "A room without a view". The remix was not very well received and garnered more attention for Robie's extensive rework, that managed to be less-club friendly than the original album version despite his attempts to input greater melodic range. In spite of the poor reaction and sales, New Order and Robie collaborated for the band's next two singles "Shellshock" and "State of the Nation" B-side "Shame of the Nation".
"Sub-culture" has only a regular black sleeve, as graphic designer Peter Saville reportedly deemed the mix of the song unworthy of his talents.[1] Saville's input was present only in a P/S/A (Peter Saville Associates) credit for typography.
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[2] | 29 |
| UK Singles Chart[3] | 63 |
| UK Independent Singles Chart[4] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[5] | 35 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[5] | 18 |