Blur - Bang
Genre:
Rock
Style:
Brit Pop, Indie Rock
Year:
1991
Notes:
The third single from Blur's debut album, Leisure, it was considered a logical follow-up to the success of "There's No Other Way" in that it was similarly "baggy" and danceable. Stephen Street produced this single as well as "There's No Other Way", so it was surprising to Food Records when "Bang" did not do as well in the UK Singles Chart as its immediate predecessor, despite the fact that it followed the same pop formula. Blur soon grew to dislike the song for its contrived, formulaic nature and what Damon Albarn considered his most banal lyrics. This single is purposefully left off Blur's "Best Of" compilation and all but the most complete collections of singles (the "Anniversary Box Set").
Blur's U.S. record company, SBK Records, had the track remixed months later without authorization of the group and released the resulting remixes in two promotional formats for Blur's disastrous 1992 U.S. tour: the "Mindwarp Mutations" remix 12" and the "Blur-ti-go" remix/live CD EP. Blur intensely disliked the remixes and the fact that these releases would be extant at many radio stations they would stop at for promotional events irritated the band greatly—adding to the already chaotic, depressing tour.
Blur's U.S. record company, SBK Records, had the track remixed months later without authorization of the group and released the resulting remixes in two promotional formats for Blur's disastrous 1992 U.S. tour: the "Mindwarp Mutations" remix 12" and the "Blur-ti-go" remix/live CD EP. Blur intensely disliked the remixes and the fact that these releases would be extant at many radio stations they would stop at for promotional events irritated the band greatly—adding to the already chaotic, depressing tour.
Versions
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bang (CD, Single) | Food, Parlophone | CDFOOD 31, 2044122 | UK | 1991 | |
| Bang (12", Single) | Food | 12 FOOD 31 | UK | 1991 | |
| Bang (7") | Food, Parlophone | FOOD 31, 20 4412 7 | Germany | 1991 | |
| Bang (7", Single) | Food | FOOD 31 | UK | 1991 | |
| Bang / She's So High (The "MindWarp Mutations" Remixes) (12", Promo, Maxi) | SBK Records | SPRO-05456 | US | 1992 |
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Reviews & Discussion
referencing Bang / She's So High (The "MindWarp Mutations" Remixes), 12", Promo, Maxi, SPRO-05456
Blur notoriously hated this release; their US record company had the songs remixed without the band's approval and released the 12" as a promo just as the band was touring the US for the very first time. (This is paraphrased from the official Blur biography, "3862 Days".) However, it's a fairly enjoyable, solid enough representation of middle-of-the-road remixes from that era — slightly ravey with some Shamen samples and a bit of deep house tossed in. The remix of "She's So High" is really the selling point on this, it keeps much of the flavor of the original while adding some heavy, trippy drums and moany voices.