Burning Benches
Encyclopedia
"Burning Benches" is a song by English
rock
band
Morning Runner
and was the fourth track on their 2006 debut album
Wilderness Is Paradise Now
. The song was also released as the lead single
from that album on 20 February 2006, peaking at #19 in the UK Singles Chart
(see 2006 in British music
).
The single enjoyed a large amount of success on the radio, reaching the BBC Radio 1
B List, as well as being made single of the week by Steve Lamacq
, Scott Mills
, and Colin and Edith
.
The song was, according to the band, not so much about love as it was about obsession. Lead singer Matthew Greener said, "It sounded a bit too lovely, which is why we made it louder towards the end, we wanted to mess it up a bit." It was inspired by the surreal David Lynch
horror film
Eraserhead
, in which the main character Henry Spencer watches and listens to the Lady in the Radiator sing about finding happiness in heaven.
'Impossible is Nothing' advertising campaign.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Morning Runner
Morning Runner
Morning Runner was an alternative rock band from Reading, England. They released one album, Wilderness Is Paradise Now, following top 20 single "Burning Benches", before their split in late 2007 due to commercial pressures from their record label, Parlophone.- Origin and early years :Morning...
and was the fourth track on their 2006 debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Wilderness Is Paradise Now
Wilderness Is Paradise Now
Wilderness Is Paradise Now was the debut and only album by Reading based English rock band Morning Runner. Preceded by the release of single "Burning Benches", the album was released on 6 March 2006, and, despite failing to make a significant impact commercially, it gained generally favourable...
. The song was also released as the lead single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from that album on 20 February 2006, peaking at #19 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(see 2006 in British music
2006 in British music
This is a summary of 2006 in music in the United Kingdom including the official single and album charts.-Summary:*At both ends of the year, the chart was dominated by acts from series 2 and series 3 of the television show The X Factor...
).
The single enjoyed a large amount of success on the radio, reaching the BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
B List, as well as being made single of the week by Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
, Scott Mills
Scott Mills
Scott Robert Mills is a British radio DJ, television presenter and occasional actor, best known for presenting The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1...
, and Colin and Edith
Colin and Edith
Colin and Edith was a radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 1 until August 2006, hosted by radio personalities Edith Bowman and Colin Murray. The show began in 2003 and was scheduled on the station's weekend morning shift. In April 2004, following the departure of Mark and Lard, the show was...
.
The song was, according to the band, not so much about love as it was about obsession. Lead singer Matthew Greener said, "It sounded a bit too lovely, which is why we made it louder towards the end, we wanted to mess it up a bit." It was inspired by the surreal David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
Eraserhead
Eraserhead
Eraserhead is a 1977 American surrealist film and the first feature film of David Lynch, who wrote, produced and directed. Lynch began working on the film at the AFI Conservatory, which gave him a $10,000 grant to make the film after he had begun working there following his 1971 move to Los Angeles...
, in which the main character Henry Spencer watches and listens to the Lady in the Radiator sing about finding happiness in heaven.
Track listings
- 7" R6683
- "Burning Benches" (radio edit) - 4:08
- "People Line Up the Halls" (demo) - 4:25
- CD CDR6683
- "Burning Benches" (radio edit) - 4:08
- "Them Folk" - 2:53
- Maxi-CD CDRS6683
- "Burning Benches" (radio edit) - 4:08
- "Them Folk" - 2:53
- "Burning Benches" (acoustic) - 4:06
- "Burning Benches" (video)
Uses in other media
In 2007 the song was used as part of the AdidasAdidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
'Impossible is Nothing' advertising campaign.