Identify (song)

"Identify"
Single by Natalie Imbruglia
from the album Stigmata O.S.T and Left of the Middle (Taiwanese Edition)
B-side	Call-out Hook
Released	22 March 1999
Format	CD single
Recorded	1998–1999
Genre	Alternative
Length	4:08 (Radio Edit) 4:48 (LP Version)
Label	Virgin Records
Writer(s)	Billy Corgan, Mike Garson, Nigel Godrich
Producer(s)	Henry Binns, Sam Hardaker
Natalie Imbruglia singles chronology
"Smoke" (1998) "Identify" (1999) "That Day" (2001)

"Identify" is a pop–ballad written by Billy Corgan and performed by Natalie Imbruglia for the soundtrack to the film Stigmata. The track was released as a single from the soundtrack on 22 March 1999. The single was only released promotionally, and was therefore ineligible to chart. The track also appears on the Taiwanese edition of Imbruglia's debut studio album Left of the Middle, and later as a bonus track on the Japanese version of her greatest hits compilation, Glorious: The Singles 1997-2007.

Critical reception

In terms of the Stigmata soundtrack, Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic gave the song the following review: "It's too bad that the soundtrack for the much-delayed supernatural religious horror film Stigmata opens with an industrial-metal remix of Chumbawamba's "Mary Mary," since it gives the misleading impression that the record will be a dark, gloomy noise-fest. Well, the album may be dark and gloomy, but it's not always noisy – at its best, it's eerily evocative. And it's at its best on the second half of the album, which is devoted to Billy Corgan and Mike Garson's rich, disquieting score. This is mood music of the highest order, seamlessly flowing between orchestral moments, electronic soundscapes, dissonance, and light. It's unfortunate that the entire album wasn't entirely instrumental, since it would have been a more satisfying listen. That's not to say that the first half of the album is terrible – there's quite a few good songs there, actually, highlighted by Björk's "All is Full of Love", Afro Celt Sound System & Sinead O'Connor's "Release," and the Corgan-Garson written and Natalie Imbruglia performance "Identify." "The Pretty Things are Going to Hell," a sneak preview of David Bowie's upcoming hours..., is an embarrassing excursion into post-NIN industrial-metal schlock, and the only truly weak selection on the record. However, it doesn't fit with the second half, which feels more like the film and is a more satisfying listen on its own terms.^[1]

Music video

Although the single was only released promotionally, Imbruglia did film a music video for it. The video, directed by Samuel Bayer, is featured as an extra on the Stigmata DVD. The video sees Imbruglia performing the song in a dark, broody style cavern, surrounded by ghosts and tombs. The video is seen as a departure from Imbruglia's usual sound, however, remains a fan favourite. The video was not included on the DVD release of Glorious: The Singles 1997–2007.

Track listing

CD single^[2]

1. "Identify" (Edit) – 4:08
2. "Identify" (LP Version) – 4:45
3. "Identify" (Call-out Hook) – 0:23

References