Rise (Public Image Ltd song)
| "Rise" | |||||||
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| Single by Public Image Ltd | |||||||
| from the album Album | |||||||
| A-side | "Rise" | ||||||
| B-side | "Rise (Instrumental)" | ||||||
| Released | January 21, 1986 (UK) | ||||||
| Format | 7" & 12" vinyl | ||||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||||
| Length |
6:05 (album version) 4:27 (7" edit) | ||||||
| Label | Virgin VS 841 | ||||||
| Producer(s) | John Lydon, Bill Laswell | ||||||
| Public Image Ltd singles chronology | |||||||
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"Rise" is a single released by post-punk group Public Image Ltd in 1986. It was the first single from their fifth studio album, Album.
The song was written by John Lydon about apartheid in South Africa and specifically about Nelson Mandela, as Lydon stated in a 2013 Glastonbury interview,[1] a prevalent issue in the 1980s. Lydon also referred to Northern Irish RUC interrogation techniques, such as electric torture, in an MTV interview in 1987. [2] It was one of the group's biggest commercial hits, peaking at #11 on the UK Singles Chart and being featured on albums in both the Hits and Now That's What I Call Music! series in the UK. The song contains the phrase 'May The Road Rise With You', which is an old Irish blessing.
"Rise" was featured in the films "The Rules of Attraction", "The Promotion", and "Remarkable Power".
Steve Vai contributes his guitar work to the track while former Miles Davis drummer Tony Williams contributes drums, Jonas Hellborg plays fretless bass and Shankar plays violin.
In 2014, NME ranked it at number 206 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, 38 spaces higher than "Public Image", the only other PiL song in the chart.[3] Liam Howlett of The Prodigy included it on his instalment of the Back to Mine mix album series.
Cover versions
The song was covered by Australian Industrial Metal band Jerk on their debut album When Pure Is Defiled. It was also covered by Tripping Daisy on the EP Time Capsule (1997). It has also been covered on Adrian Edmondson's folk band the Bad Shepherds' debut album, Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! (2009). Brazilian rock band Legião Urbana covered it on their MTV Acústico album and DVD. British band Love Amongst Ruin released a cover of the song as a free download in July 2012.[4]
Personnel
- John Lydon - lead vocals
- Steve Vai - electric guitars
- Jonas Hellborg - fretless bass
- Tony Williams - drums
- L. Shankar - violin
Chart performance
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 35 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 10 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 29 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] | 11 |
References
- ↑ Video on YouTube
- ↑ Video on YouTube
- ↑ http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_songs_2014.htm
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/loveamongstruin/posts/328867733865256
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Public Image Ltd. – Rise" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Public Image Ltd. – Rise". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 1986-02-22" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
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