Watching the Top Of The Pops programme about 1996 recently I was struck by how much of an impact A Design For Life had on me. I was never a huge fan of the Manic Street Preachers- I own a few odds and ends, Generation Terrorists on vinyl, a CD compilation with a bonus disc of remixes and a handful of singles. A Design For Life is the peak for me, a song where everything comes together- their lives and backgrounds, the loss of Richey Edwards, Nicky Wire's lyrics, the power of their music and the addition of the string quartet. They said at the time the song rescued them from the despair they all felt after Richey went missing. If nothing else, it was a heck of a way to return, from the famous opening line about libraries giving us power to the many memorable lines that follow- 'I wish I had a bottle', 'a shallow piece of dignity', 'we don't talk about love/ we only want to get drunk/ and we are not allowed to spend/ as we are told that this is the end'- Nicky Wire found a way to be concise and powerful and moving, writing about class, identity, work, socialism, rejection and pride. James' guitar part and slightly strangled vocals add to the drama as do the strings and the swell into the chorus is huge and moving.
It's a world away from what other British guitar bands were doing in 1996, none of the flag waving, shallow, arch, nod and a wink patriotism of a lot of the Britpop songs. This remix strips things back, a violin part leading the tune, Nicky's bass pumping away and James' vocal isolated. Slower and less anthemic but still hitting the mark. Stealth Sonic Orchestra were otherwise known as Apollo 440, formed in Liverpool in 1990 and responsible for a slew of Manic's remixes.
A Design For Life (Stealth Sonic Orchestra Remix)
8 comments:
Agree with every word of this.
Superb words, SA (and song) and I've been really enjoying these 'Top Of The Pops Story of...' programmes, especially because of the way they delve behind the scenes to bring some real insights. Plus I love seeing people as they are now and hearing what they have to say about things looking back now - always find it very heartening and often surprising too.
100% in agreement with you. I connected with The Manics during this period in a way I never have before or since. A really great album, a series of inspired remixes and a memorable tour.
A great post, Adam. I loved this song when I first heard it and was especially impressed by the Stealth Sonic Orchestra remix of this and the subsequent singles. Kind of made me wish at the time that the Manics had 'done a Massive Attack' and got SSO to remix their entire album, in the way that Mad Professor had done with MA's Protection a couple of years before.
Yes, completely agree, to me the Manics were a bit embarassing at times, over intense, gauche and even a little charmless, and a singles comp was all I ever needed but this song is just undeniably great. Fab remix here too.
That's actually something I really liked about them, they really meant what they said. No archness, or put on irony. Richey's silly 4 Real razoring into his arm and his subsequent apologies for casting the medical services time some them up nicely. Oh, and great tunes too.
F-ing predictive text
Definitely seems to be one of those songs that cut through. Agree Michael- their lack of irony was endearing.
Post a Comment