Faster (Manic Street Preachers song)

"Faster"
Single by Manic Street Preachers
from the album The Holy Bible
B-side
  • "P.C.P."
  • "Sculpture of Man"
  • "New Art Riot (In E Minor)"
Released 6 June 1994
Format CD, vinyl record (10"), cassette
Recorded Early 1994
Genre Punk rock, post-punk
Label Epic
Writer(s) Manic Street Preachers
Producer(s) Steve Brown
Manic Street Preachers singles chronology
"Roses in the Hospital"
(1993)		 "Faster"
(1994)		 "Revol"
(1994)

"Faster" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in 1994 by record label Epic as the first single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible.

The single reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] "Faster" is the only song featured on The Holy Bible that was included on their 2002 compilation album Forever Delayed.

Content

Music and lyrics

Rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards and bass guitarist Nicky Wire wrote the lyrics of both "P.C.P." and "Faster". Interviewed around the time of the single's release, Wire described "P.C.P." as being about how "PC followers take up the idea of being liberal, but end up being quite the opposite". He also said that he was "completely confused" by "Faster", although Edwards had told him that it was about self-abuse.

Samples

The quote "I hate purity. Hate goodness. I don't want virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone corrupt" played at the start of "Faster" comes from the movie based on George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, featuring the voice of John Hurt.

The quote at the end of "P.C.P.", "227 'Lears' and I can't remember the first line", was spoken by Albert Finney in the 1983 film The Dresser.

Release

"Faster" was released on 6 June 1994 by record label Epic as the first single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible. It reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Top of the Pops performance

The band performed "Faster" on the BBC's Top of the Pops, with lead singer James Dean Bradfield wearing an IRA-style balaclava with his first name scrawled over his forehead and the rest of the band wearing military regalia. Many viewers interpreted this as a show of support for the IRA, and the BBC told the band that a record number of complaints (over 25,000) had been received.[2]

Track listing

CD
  1. "Faster" – 3:54
  2. "P.C.P." – 3:53
  3. "Sculpture of Man" – 1:53
  4. "New Art Riot (In E Minor)" – 3:00
10" vinyl
  1. "Faster"
  2. "P.C.P."
  3. "Sculpture of Man"
Cassette
  1. "Faster"
  2. "P.C.P."

Charts

Chart (1994) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 16[1]
UK Top 40
Week 01 02
Position
16
36

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Manic Street Preachers | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Ten 'Top of the Pops' Shows | Music | The Guardian". The Guardian. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 18 March 2015.