The Passenger (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Passenger" is a song by Iggy Pop
and Ricky Gardiner
, recorded and released by Iggy Pop on the Lust for Life
album in 1977. It was also released as the B-side of the album's only single, "Success". In the summer of 2007 alternative rock radio stations around the USA resumed playing the song in accordance with Iggy Pop and The Stooges tour in that country.
The lyrics, written by Iggy Pop allegedly aboard Berlin's S-Bahn
, have been interpreted as embodying the nomadic spirit of the punk outcast. Guitarist Ricky Gardiner composed the music. While it possesses a distinctive riff, "The Passenger" is perhaps most recognizable by its chorus, on which David Bowie
sings back-up.
, the television show 30 Days, the film Jarhead
and the 2002 video game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2
. More recently, the films Up in the Air
and The Weather Man
featured the song on its teaser trailer, and is played in a shop early in the film. It can also be heard in Kurt Cobain About a Son, the documentary exploration of the life and influences of the late musician
. Scarface: The World Is Yours
includes the song on its music selection menu. It was also used in a series of Kohl's
commercials advertising the new "Simply Vera" line of clothing designed by Vera Wang
. Guinness
used the song for a television advertisement featuring an airplane flying through a pint-glass-shaped valley with clouds representing the beer's foamy head. The instrumental lead-in riff of this song is also the intro theme music for the CNN
program Anderson Cooper 360. The song is also included in the music/rhythm game Lego Rock Band
, complete with a Lego-style avatar of Iggy Pop at vocals.
In 2009, New Zealand
broadband internet provider Orcon
held a promotion where eight fans re-recorded the song via the internet. The recording featured instruments foreign to the original, such as piano and a flute.
The song has been used in various TV commercials around the world such as for the Avensis
car in 1998 and Captain Morgan
in 2011. It was re-released as a single in the UK in 1998 in the wake of the Toyota Avensis commercial, peaking at #22.
It was also included in the book The Pitchfork Media
500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present published in 2008.
In 2010 the German mobile phone provider T-Mobile
launched their "Welcome Home" flash-mob advert on British television. Amongst the songs performed using only voices was "The Passenger", sung by local Brighton resident George Ikediashi.
band Siouxsie and the Banshees covered
"The Passenger" for their all-cover-versions album Through the Looking Glass. The group revamped the song by adding brass
arrangements. Released as the second single from that album, it peaked at #41 in the UK singles chart
.
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
and Ricky Gardiner
Ricky Gardiner
Ricky Gardiner is a guitarist and composer.He has played in his own outfit, Beggars Opera, and also with David Bowie and Iggy Pop. For Bowie he played lead guitar on the 1977 album Low. He worked with Pop on Lust for Life the same year. The album included "The Passenger", regarded as one of Pop's...
, recorded and released by Iggy Pop on the Lust for Life
Lust for Life (album)
Lust for Life is a 1977 album by Iggy Pop, his second solo release and his second collaboration with David Bowie, following The Idiot earlier in the year. As well as achieving critical success, it was Pop's most commercially popular album to date, and remains his highest-charting release in the UK...
album in 1977. It was also released as the B-side of the album's only single, "Success". In the summer of 2007 alternative rock radio stations around the USA resumed playing the song in accordance with Iggy Pop and The Stooges tour in that country.
The lyrics, written by Iggy Pop allegedly aboard Berlin's S-Bahn
Berlin S-Bahn
The Berlin S-Bahn is a rapid transit system in and around Berlin, the capital city of Germany. It consists of 15 lines and is integrated with the mostly underground U-Bahn to form the backbone of Berlin's rapid transport system...
, have been interpreted as embodying the nomadic spirit of the punk outcast. Guitarist Ricky Gardiner composed the music. While it possesses a distinctive riff, "The Passenger" is perhaps most recognizable by its chorus, on which David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
sings back-up.
In the media
The song has been featured in the movie Radiofreccia, TV spots for the film Waking LifeWaking Life
Waking Life is an American animated film , directed by Richard Linklater and released in 2001. The entire film was shot using digital video and then a team of artists using computers drew stylized lines and colors over each frame.The film focuses on the nature of dreams, consciousness, and...
, the television show 30 Days, the film Jarhead
Jarhead (film)
Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama war film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 1991 Gulf War memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with co-stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to...
and the 2002 video game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2
Mat Hoffman Pro BMX 2 is the sequel to Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX. It was made available for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.-Gameplay:...
. More recently, the films Up in the Air
Up in the Air (film)
Up in the Air is a 2009 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and co-written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. It is a film adaptation of the 2001 novel of the same name, written by Walter Kirn. The story is about a corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham and his travels...
and The Weather Man
The Weather Man
The Weather Man is a 2005 American comedy-drama film, directed by Gore Verbinski. Written by Steve Conrad, it stars Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and Hope Davis and tells the story of a weatherman in the midst of a mid-life crisis....
featured the song on its teaser trailer, and is played in a shop early in the film. It can also be heard in Kurt Cobain About a Son, the documentary exploration of the life and influences of the late musician
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
. Scarface: The World Is Yours
Scarface: The World is Yours
Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's...
includes the song on its music selection menu. It was also used in a series of Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
commercials advertising the new "Simply Vera" line of clothing designed by Vera Wang
Vera Wang
Vera Ellen Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections.-Personal life:...
. Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
used the song for a television advertisement featuring an airplane flying through a pint-glass-shaped valley with clouds representing the beer's foamy head. The instrumental lead-in riff of this song is also the intro theme music for the CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
program Anderson Cooper 360. The song is also included in the music/rhythm game Lego Rock Band
Lego Rock Band
Lego Rock Band is a music video game and part of the Rock Band series developed by Harmonix Music Systems, but also incorporates elements from other Lego video games as developed by Traveller's Tales. The game is published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and MTV Games...
, complete with a Lego-style avatar of Iggy Pop at vocals.
In 2009, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
broadband internet provider Orcon
Orcon Internet Limited
Orcon Internet Limited , is a state-owned New Zealand telecommunications company. It is currently New Zealand's fourth largest ISP.-History:...
held a promotion where eight fans re-recorded the song via the internet. The recording featured instruments foreign to the original, such as piano and a flute.
The song has been used in various TV commercials around the world such as for the Avensis
Toyota Avensis
The Toyota Avensis is a large family car built in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by Japanese carmaker Toyota since 1997. It is the direct successor to the Carina E and is available as a four-door saloon, five-door liftback and estate...
car in 1998 and Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan is a brand of rum produced by alcohol conglomerate Diageo. It is named after the 17th-century, Welsh privateer of the Caribbean, Sir Henry Morgan...
in 2011. It was re-released as a single in the UK in 1998 in the wake of the Toyota Avensis commercial, peaking at #22.
It was also included in the book The Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present published in 2008.
In 2010 the German mobile phone provider T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
launched their "Welcome Home" flash-mob advert on British television. Amongst the songs performed using only voices was "The Passenger", sung by local Brighton resident George Ikediashi.
Cover versions
- 1987 Siouxsie and the Banshees, on the covers album Through the Looking Glass (see below).
- 1989 Pidżama PornoPidzama PornoPidżama Porno is a Polish punk rock/reggae/ska band. It was disbanded on December 9, 2007, after 20 years of existence.-History:The band was founded in December 1987 in Poznań, by Krzysztof "Grabaż" Grabowski and Andrzej "Kozak" Kozakiewicz, students of Adam Mickiewicz University, who originally...
, on discs "Ulice jak stygmatyUlice jak stygmatyUlice jak stygmaty – Pidzama Porno's first album. Released in 1989. It was recorded at Ośrodek Kultury "Słońce" in Poznan.-Track listing:-The band:* Krzysztof "Grabaż" Grabowski - vocal* Ropuch - guitar* Andrzej "Kozak" Kozakiewicz - bass guitar, vocal...
" and "FuturistaFuturistaFuturista is the title of Pidzama Porno's second album, released in 1996 by MAMI Tapes. Earlier, since 1990 the matherial was circulating on piratical tapes...
", with Polish lyrics written by Krzysztof GrabowskiKrzysztof GrabowskiKrzysztof „Grabaż” Grabowski – Polish poet, singer, author of lyrics and music for songs by bands Pidżama Porno, Strachy Na Lachy, Ręce Do Góry and Lavina Cox....
, called Pasażer ("passenger" in Polish). - 1991 Brazilian band Capital InicialCapital InicialCapital Inicial is a Brazilian rock band that flourished in the 1980s, saw a resurgence in the late '90s, and extended into the 2000s.-History:...
recorded a Portuguese version of the song (whose lyrics follow nearly to letter the original) for their album Eletricidade. An acoustic version appeared in their MTV UnpluggedMTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
album in 2000. - 1994 KultKult (band)-History:Kult was formed in 1982 from Kazik Staszewski’s previous band, Novelty Poland.In July 1982 the band performed at its first concert at the Remont Club in Warsaw....
, on the disc "Muj wydafcaMuj wydafca-Track listing:* all tracks by Kult and Kazik Staszewski except where noted.# "Ręce do góry" – 3:22 # "Lewe lewe loff" – 3:54# "Keszitsen kepet onmagarol" – 4:02# "Onyx" – 4:50# "Gaz na ulicach" – 2:22...
" - 1994-5 Deborah HarryDebbie HarryDeborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
played it many times during her DebravationDebravationDebravation is the fourth solo album by Deborah Harry. Released in 1993, the album reached no. 24 in the UK. It was also the final album Harry made whilst signed to the Chrysalis label, thus ending a successful partnership that began with Blondie and had endured for over 15 years.The first single...
Tour. - 1995 Phil ShöenfeltPhil ShoenfeltPhil Shoenfelt is an English musician and author who lived for many years in New York and who now lives in Prague, Czech Republic....
in collaboration with Czech band Tichá DohodaTicha dohodaThe Czech independent pop-rock band Tichá dohoda - pioneers of Czech indie scene in the nineties headed by songwriter, guitarist and producer Dan Šustr and with the frontwoman & singer Blanka Šrůmová. Their stubbornness, attitudes and opinions on sex and drugs and rock n roll labelled the band...
, on the album "Live In Prague!" - 1995 Michael HutchenceMichael HutchenceMichael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
, of INXSINXSINXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, on the Batman ForeverBatman ForeverBatman Forever is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is a sequel to Batman Returns , with Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton as Batman...
soundtrack - 1996 Die Toten HosenDie Toten HosenDie Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
, on the live album "Im Auftrag des Herrn" - 1996 Big CycBig CycBig Cyc is a Polish rock band formed in 1988.The band is well known in Poland for their controversial behaviour. The cover of their first album, Z partyjnym pozdrowieniem , was an image of Vladimir Lenin with a Mohawk hairstyle...
, on the "Z gitarą wśród zwierzątZ gitara wsród zwierzatZ gitarą wśród zwierząt - is a studio album of the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1996....
" album, sung by Jarosław Janiszewski - 1996 Vlado KreslinVlado KreslinVlado Kreslin in Beltinci, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia is a Slovenian folk rock musician.Kreslin was born in the village of Beltinci in the Prekmurje region of Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia. He began his musical career in his student years, first coming to acclaim as the lead singer with the rock...
, on the album Pikapolonica - 1998 R.E.M.R.E.M.R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
covered the song during their first performance on the BBC TV show Later with Jools HollandLater with Jools HollandLater... with Jools Holland is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 1992 and is a part of BBC Two's late-night line-up, usually at around 11pm to 12 midnight...
; the live recording was released later that year as a B-side to the R.E.M. single "At My Most BeautifulAt My Most Beautiful"At My Most Beautiful" is a song by R.E.M. and the third single from the album Up. With a heavy influence from the Beach Boys and the Beatles, lyricist Michael Stipe wanted it to be the most romantic song he'd ever written....
" - 2006 MC LarsMC LarsAndrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
used a sampleSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
from "The Passenger" for the track "Download This SongDownload This Song"Download This Song" is the second single from MC Lars' fifth studio album, The Graduate, and features Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup. The song uses sampling from Iggy Pop's "The Passenger"....
", on his album The Graduate - LunachicksLunachicksLunachicks were an all-women punk rock band from New York City. The band formed in 1987 and has been on hiatus since 2000. Their music was described as "a frenzied mix of punk, metal, pop and rock". The band claimed influences including The Ramones, Kiss, and the MC5.- Biography :Theo Kogan, Gina...
did a cover for the We Will Fall: The Iggy Pop Tribute album - 2006 BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
group Absynthe MindedAbsynthe MindedAbsynthe Minded is a Belgian rock band, around frontman, vocalist and guitarist Bert Ostyn. Their tracks have been known to contain a mix of thirties jazz, with a touch of funky soul, Balkan beats and Merseyside pop....
did a cover for the Windkracht 10 soundtrack album - 2007 Mark Vidler of Go Home Productions released a mashupMashup (music)A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
called "Peggy Lee vs. Iggy Pop - Passenger Fever" on his album Mashed - BauhausBauhaus (band)Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
often performed a cover version of "The Passenger" in live shows - 2009 DJ Gollum, a german dance music producer, made a remix of "The Passenger"
- 2010 Jamaican group The Jolly Boys recorded a mentoMentoMento is a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music. It has its roots in calypso and other Jamaican folk music. Mento typically features acoustic instruments, such as acoustic guitar, banjo, hand drums, and the rhumba box — a large mbira in the...
version on their album Great Expectation. This version was featured in the British television series SkinsSkins (TV series)Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
, Season 5 episode 08. - 2011 Kid LocoKid LocoJean-Yves Prieur, aka Kid Loco is a French electronic musician, DJ, remixer and producer. He was born on June 16, 1964 in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France. Allmusic considers his style to be similar to Air and Dimitri from Paris...
, on the album Confessions Of A Belladonna Eater
Siouxsie and the Banshees version
English rockRock 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 Siouxsie and the Banshees covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
"The Passenger" for their all-cover-versions album Through the Looking Glass. The group revamped the song by adding brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
arrangements. Released as the second single from that album, it peaked at #41 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 ...
.