Wide Open Space (song)
Encyclopedia
"Wide Open Space" is a song by Chester
rock band Mansun
, released as a single on 25 November 1996. The song was the lead track of Four EP. The single's success led to alternate versions appearing on four of the next five Mansun singles. These versions were one live, one acoustic, and two remixes, the first and most popular by Perfecto and a NRG
version by The Trouser Enthusiasts. A completely different version credited to longtime engineer Mike Hunter was included as a hidden bonus track on their compilation Kleptomania
. The song also appears on The Sound of Gran Turismo, a soundtrack album
based on Gran Turismo
.
– but it propelled the group's career and is their most well known song. It was also the only single that gained significant exposure in the US, and reached number 25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
chart in 1997. Paul Draper later wrote that he was the sole writer and performer of the song. In the liner notes of Legacy: Best Of
, Draper explained having recorded the entire song sans the vocals six months before he wrote the lyrics.
Two promo videos were filmed to promote the single. The first was directed by Paul Cunningham and featured the band playing in a small dilapidated room while Martino Lazzeri (Joe Williams from BBC
's Grange Hill
) walks around a city alienated and paranoid amidst vampiresque overtones. A second, simpler video was recorded for the US market, directed by Nigel Dick.
"Wide Open Space" became a dance anthem after being remix
ed by DJ
and producer
Paul Oakenfold
(under the production alias Perfecto). This remix was included on Oakenfold's compilation Resident: Two Years of Oakenfold at Cream, as an indicator of being one of the most played songs at major UK nightclub Cream
, as well as in nightclub
s around the world, over the 1997–1999 period.
infused track was initially called "I Lust You". It was an electronic composition with a heavy synth bass. The lyrics are mostly unchanged, apart from the chorus which emphasises the refrain 'I Lust You'.
"Skin Up Pin Up" was the group's first single for a proper label. It was originally released as a double 'A' side with "Flourella". The latter song was rerecorded for the "She Makes My Nose Bleed
" single release. The version of "Skin Up Pin Up" is unchanged. A remixed version was created for the film Spawn: The Soundtrack
. The remix was produced by 808 State
.
"Moronica" and "Lemonade Secret Drinker" appeared on CD2 as acoustic versions, and had previously appeared on the Groups first two EPs (One EP and Two EP).
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
rock band Mansun
Mansun
Mansun were an English alternative rock band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003....
, released as a single on 25 November 1996. The song was the lead track of Four EP. The single's success led to alternate versions appearing on four of the next five Mansun singles. These versions were one live, one acoustic, and two remixes, the first and most popular by Perfecto and a NRG
NRG
NRG may refer to:*In various electronic music genres and band names, NRG is an abbreviation for energy**Hi-NRG, an early evolution of new-style disco**Hard NRG, a hard form of dance music**NU NRG, two Italian DJs*NRG , a Korean music group...
version by The Trouser Enthusiasts. A completely different version credited to longtime engineer Mike Hunter was included as a hidden bonus track on their compilation Kleptomania
Kleptomania (album)
-Disc two:-Disc three:-Personnel:Disc One Credits* All songs written by Paul Draper* Produced by Richard Rainey and Paul Draper* Engineered by Cenzo Townshend, except tracks 9 and 10 engineered by Barney Chase.Disc Two Credits...
. The song also appears on The Sound of Gran Turismo, a soundtrack album
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
based on Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo (video game)
is a racing simulator designed by Kazunori Yamauchi. Gran Turismo was developed by Polyphony Digital and first published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1997 for the PlayStation video game console...
.
History
"Wide Open Space" was not the group's most successful single in terms of sales or UK chart position – only reaching number 15 in the UK Singles ChartUK 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 ...
– but it propelled the group's career and is their most well known song. It was also the only single that gained significant exposure in the US, and reached number 25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart in 1997. Paul Draper later wrote that he was the sole writer and performer of the song. In the liner notes of Legacy: Best Of
Legacy: Best Of
Legacy: Best Of is the first official 'best of' collection from Mansun. It collects all the bands Parlophone lead-EP tracks and selected album tracks which were compiled by Paul Draper and Dominic Chad...
, Draper explained having recorded the entire song sans the vocals six months before he wrote the lyrics.
Two promo videos were filmed to promote the single. The first was directed by Paul Cunningham and featured the band playing in a small dilapidated room while Martino Lazzeri (Joe Williams from BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Grange Hill
Grange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
) walks around a city alienated and paranoid amidst vampiresque overtones. A second, simpler video was recorded for the US market, directed by Nigel Dick.
"Wide Open Space" became a dance anthem after being remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed by DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
(under the production alias Perfecto). This remix was included on Oakenfold's compilation Resident: Two Years of Oakenfold at Cream, as an indicator of being one of the most played songs at major UK nightclub Cream
Cream (nightclub)
Cream, based at the Nation nightclub in Liverpool, is one of the best-known night clubs in the UK. Cream began life as a weekly house music night at Nation, and ran in this format for 10 years, from October 1992 to June 2002...
, as well as in nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s around the world, over the 1997–1999 period.
B-sides
"Vision Impaired" began life as a demo for Draper's previous group; Grind. The GlamGlam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
infused track was initially called "I Lust You". It was an electronic composition with a heavy synth bass. The lyrics are mostly unchanged, apart from the chorus which emphasises the refrain 'I Lust You'.
"Skin Up Pin Up" was the group's first single for a proper label. It was originally released as a double 'A' side with "Flourella". The latter song was rerecorded for the "She Makes My Nose Bleed
She Makes My Nose Bleed
"She Makes My Nose Bleed" is a song by UK band Mansun. It was released as a single in 1997 from the group's debut album, Attack of the Grey Lantern...
" single release. The version of "Skin Up Pin Up" is unchanged. A remixed version was created for the film Spawn: The Soundtrack
Spawn (film)
Spawn is a 1997 American superhero film loosely based on the comic book of the same name, by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics. Directed and co-written by Mark A.Z. Dippé , the film stars Michael Jai White in the leading role...
. The remix was produced by 808 State
808 State
808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...
.
"Moronica" and "Lemonade Secret Drinker" appeared on CD2 as acoustic versions, and had previously appeared on the Groups first two EPs (One EP and Two EP).
CD1
- "Wide Open Space" – 4:32
- "Rebel Without A Quilt" – 4:09
- "Vision Impaired" – 2:39
- "Skin Up Pin Up" – 3:40
CD2 Limited Edition
- "Wide Open Space" – 4:32
- "The Gods of Not Very Much" – 4:39
- "Moronica (Acoustic Version)" – 3:14
- "Lemonade Secret Drinker (Acoustic Version)" – 2:47
Promo 12"
- "Wide Open Space (PerfectoPerfecto-People:*Gregorio Perfecto , Filipino journalist, politician and jurist*Martín Perfecto de Cos , 19th-century Mexican general*Perfecto de Castro , multi-awarded Filipino musician*Saint Perfecto -People:*Gregorio Perfecto (1891–1949), Filipino journalist, politician and jurist*Martín Perfecto de Cos...
Mix)" - 7:16 - "Wide Open Space (Trouser Enthusiasts Hermaphrodite Mix)" - 8:49
- Released 1998.