We Are the People
Encyclopedia
"We Are the People" was the first and only top 40 single from Feeder
's sixth studio album, Silent Cry
. The single was released on 9 June 2008, receiving its first radio play on Kerrang! Radio
, two months before on 14 April. It charted at #25 in the UK becoming Feeder's landmark 20th top 40 single, but also their last to date after follow-up "Tracing Lines / Silent Cry
" missed the top 200 alongside being their least successful lead single
from any of their albums since 1999. "We Are the People" is also the first Feeder single since 1997's "Crash
", to miss the BBC Radio 1
playlist and also the first of their singles since that one to only spend one week on the UK top 75. It was included on XFM
's top 100 tracks of 2008 list.
-based radio station XFM
, ran a competition for an extra to appear in the video. The winner had to be available at a London West End
address, with the details disclosed to them. In a blog posted by the bands then drummer Mark Richardson
on their official website, it was revealed the director used the traditional blue screen
chroma key
technique (also used for the "Feeling a Moment
" video).
The video involves a mysterious hooded character, their face hidden in darkness. At the beginning of the video the mysterious character walks past singer Grant Nicholas, from this point Grant disappears and the person in the hood displays the face of Grant Nicholas. As the video goes on he continues to display the faces of everyone whom the mysterious character walks past (these people also vanish as they walk past the hooded figure), the faces constantly change as the character sings. The video ends with this hooded figure throwing all the faces in the air as he watches them float to the ground as if made from paper, the face of Grant Nicholas floats to the ground at the end of the video. Bassist Taka Hirose
and Mark also make an appearance. The video has been given heavy criticism for being weak in its themes and ideas.
The Video is directed by David Mould. Some of the people who made an appearance within the video were competition winners, including some who knew the band through working for them at the time.
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
's sixth studio album, Silent Cry
Silent Cry
Silent Cry is the sixth full studio album by rock band Feeder. It was released by Echo, on 16 June 2008, on CD, deluxe CD, vinyl, and digital download. It was the follow-up to 2005's Pushing the Senses and in terms of all albums, the highly successful singles album in 2006...
. The single was released on 9 June 2008, receiving its first radio play on Kerrang! Radio
Kerrang! 105.2
Kerrang! Radio is a specialist rock music radio station broadcasting to the West Midlands, England. The station's format mixes modern & classic rock with speech programmes targeted at young people and an adult rock audience. Broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands and DAB & Freeview and online,...
, two months before on 14 April. It charted at #25 in the UK becoming Feeder's landmark 20th top 40 single, but also their last to date after follow-up "Tracing Lines / Silent Cry
Tracing Lines / Silent Cry
Tracing Lines and Silent Cry are the double a-side singles from Feeder, and was released on August 24, 2008. It was meant to be released on the 25th , but it appeared on the UK iTunes store a day early as all downloads in the UK charts as well as physical sales include those on a Sunday.Both songs,...
" missed the top 200 alongside being their least successful lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from any of their albums since 1999. "We Are the People" is also the first Feeder single since 1997's "Crash
Crash (Feeder song)
"Crash" was the third single from Feeder's critically acclaimed 1997 album Polythene.It made #48 in mid August of the same year, giving Feeder their first top 50 hit despite the band still yet to appear on Radio 1's playlist at the time...
", to miss 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...
playlist and also the first of their singles since that one to only spend one week on the UK top 75. It was included on XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
's top 100 tracks of 2008 list.
Music video
LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based radio station XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, ran a competition for an extra to appear in the video. The winner had to be available at a London West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
address, with the details disclosed to them. In a blog posted by the bands then drummer Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson (musician)
Mark Richardson is an English drummer, of the UK rock band Skunk Anansie and formerly of Little Angels and Feeder.-Personal life:...
on their official website, it was revealed the director used the traditional blue screen
Blue screen
Blue screen may refer to:*Blue Screen of Death, a fatal system error screen in Microsoft Windows*Blue white screen is an assay useful in biotechnology*Blue screen compositing, a technique for combining two still images or video frames...
chroma key
Chroma key
Chroma key compositing is a technique for compositing two images together. A color range in the top layer is made transparent, revealing another image behind. The chroma keying technique is commonly used in video production and post-production...
technique (also used for the "Feeling a Moment
Feeling A Moment
"Feeling a Moment" is a song by Welsh rock band Feeder, from their 2005 album Pushing the Senses. It was released as the second single from the album, and reached #13 in the UK Singles Chart and #32 in Australia. At the end of 2005, it was voted 98th best song of the year by the readers of Q...
" video).
The video involves a mysterious hooded character, their face hidden in darkness. At the beginning of the video the mysterious character walks past singer Grant Nicholas, from this point Grant disappears and the person in the hood displays the face of Grant Nicholas. As the video goes on he continues to display the faces of everyone whom the mysterious character walks past (these people also vanish as they walk past the hooded figure), the faces constantly change as the character sings. The video ends with this hooded figure throwing all the faces in the air as he watches them float to the ground as if made from paper, the face of Grant Nicholas floats to the ground at the end of the video. Bassist Taka Hirose
Taka Hirose
Takashi "Taka" Hirose is a Japanese musician who is the current bass guitarist for the rock band, Feeder.-Biography:...
and Mark also make an appearance. The video has been given heavy criticism for being weak in its themes and ideas.
The Video is directed by David Mould. Some of the people who made an appearance within the video were competition winners, including some who knew the band through working for them at the time.
EP (iTunes)
- "We are the People" (single edit) - 3:50
- "We are the People" (extended version) - 4:46
- "We are the People" (acoustic version) - 3:54