The Trooper
"The Trooper" | ||||
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Single by Iron Maiden | ||||
from the album Piece of Mind and Death on the Road | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 20 June 1983 15 August 2005 | |||
Recorded | 1983 24 November 2003 | |||
Genre | Heavy metal | |||
Length | 4:11 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Songwriter(s) | Steve Harris | |||
Producer(s) | Martin Birch | |||
Iron Maiden singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Trooper" on YouTube |
"The Trooper" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released as the second single on 20 June 1983 from the band's fourth studio album, Piece of Mind (1983). It was one of only a few songs to achieve frequent radio airplay in the United States, thus peaking at No. 28 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock.[1] It also achieved success in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Charts, as well as gaining a better reception than the band's previous single, "Flight of Icarus".[2] The song is one of their most popular and remains an essential track of heavy metal music.
A live version of the song, from Death on the Road, was issued in 2005.
Overview
Written by bassist and founding member Steve Harris, the song is based on the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava 1854, which took place during the Crimean War,[2] and inspired by Lord Tennyson's 1854 poem of the same name.[3][4] The track has been the subject of much praise since its release, with AllMusic describing it as "an all-time genre classic that boasts guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith's most memorable harmonized lead riff, plus that trademark galloping rhythm,"[5] while Mick Wall comments that it is the song "which most Maiden fans from those days still recall first when you mention the Piece of Mind album."[6] Despite the popularity of the song, it was the single's B-Side, a cover of Jethro Tull's "Cross-Eyed Mary", which managed to gain a substantial amount of airplay on US radio,[7] becoming one of the band's few tracks, along with previous single "Flight of Icarus",[6] to do so.
The single's accompanying music video included clips of a cavalry battle from the 1936 film The Charge of the Light Brigade, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland,[8] which the BBC refused to play unedited, deeming the footage too violent.[2] The band's manager, Rod Smallwood, has since criticised the decision, stating, "Anyone would think we'd killed the horses ourselves instead of using an old Errol Flynn movie."[2] In 2003, Iron Maiden released a Camp Chaos version for the song. The music video shows the never-before-seen clips of the band playing the song as well as the animated battle between Eddie and politicians Al Gore and George W. Bush to which Eddie ended the conflict in the video by killing both Bush, Gore and their team. The updated version came in 2008, this time, the two US politicians were replaced by Eddie's yellow skeleton allies and their red enemy skeletons.
A regular fixture in the band's concerts, vocalist
While the band were receiving criticism from Sharon Osbourne in 2005, at the time justifying her attack on the band at the 2005 Ozzfest, she accused Iron Maiden of disrespecting American troops, then fighting alongside the British in Iraq, for waving a Union Flag in the US, although Classic Rock magazine supported the band by pointing out that the song's subject bore no relation to the military activity then taking place in the Middle East.[9]
On 15 August 2005, a live version of the song was released from the then upcoming live album, Death on the Road.[11]
On 24 April 2016, during Iron Maiden's performance in Beijing (their first in China), Dickinson did not bring out a flag while performing "The Trooper" as part of the request from the Chinese government to allow Iron Maiden to perform in the country.[12] The flag was also omitted for a concert in Shanghai two days later.
In popular culture
The song has appeared in several
On top of this, the track has also been included in the
Iron Maiden created a beer called "
Northern Ireland
During the course of
Track listings
- 7" & 12" Single
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Trooper" | Steve Harris | 4:10 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
2. | " Ian Anderson | 3:52 |
- 2005 Enhanced CD
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Trooper" (Live at the Westfalenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, 24 November 2003) | Harris | 4:13 |
2. | "The Trooper" | Harris | 4:12 |
3. | "Prowler" (Live at Egilshöllin, Reykjavík, Iceland, 7 June 2005) | Harris | 4:24 |
4. | "The Trooper" (Video - Live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, 24 November 2003) | Harris | 4:12 |
5. | "The Trooper" (Video - Music video) | Harris | 4:10 |
- 2005 7" Blue Vinyl
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Trooper" (Live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, 24 November 2003) | Harris | 4:13 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
2. | "Another Life" (Live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland, 7 June 2005) | Harris | 3:43 |
- 2005 12" Picture Disc
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Trooper" (Live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, 24 November 2003) | Harris | 4:13 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Trooper" | Harris | 4:12 |
2. | "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (Live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland, 7 June 2005) | Harris | 3:33 |
- 2005 Digital Download
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Trooper" (Live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland, 7 June 2005) | Harris | 4:06 |
Personnel
Production credits are adapted from the 7-inch vinyl cover.[33]
Iron Maiden
- Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals
- Dave Murray – guitar
- Adrian Smith – guitar
- Steve Harris – bass guitar
- Nicko McBrain – drums
Production
- engineer
- Derek Riggs – cover illustration
Charts
Single | Chart (1983) | Peak position |
Album |
---|---|---|---|
"The Trooper" | Ireland (IRMA) | 12[34] | Piece of Mind |
UK ( Official Company Charts )
|
12[35] | ||
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[36] | 28 | ||
Single | Chart (1990) | Peak position |
Album |
"Flight of Icarus / The Trooper" | UK Albums Chart[note 1] | 7[37] | — |
Single | Chart (2005) | Peak position |
Album |
"The Trooper" (live) | Canada (Canadian Singles Chart) | 5[38] | Death on the Road |
Denmark ( Tracklisten )
|
7[39] | ||
Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista )
|
5[40] | ||
France ( SNEP )
|
100[41] | ||
Germany ( Media Control Charts)[42]
|
78 | ||
Greece (IFPI)[43] | 8 | ||
Ireland (IRMA) | 16[34] | ||
Italy (FIMI) | 8[44] | ||
Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 1[45] | ||
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 5[46] | ||
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 61[47] | ||
UK ( Official Company Charts )
|
5[48] | ||
UK Rock & Metal (OCC )
|
1[49] | ||
Single | Chart (2006) | Position | Album |
"The Trooper" (live) | Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 10[45] | Death on the Road |
Notes
- The First Ten Yearsbox set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart.
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-946391-84-X.
- ^ "Iron Maiden Like You've Never Heard Them Before!". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ISBN 978-3-11-051808-5.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
- ^ "Maiden Vinyl Facts - Part 2". ironmaiden.com. Iron Maiden. 29 October 2014. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- ^ Childers, Chad (24 May 2013). "Iron Maiden, 'The Trooper' – Songs About Soldiers". Loudwire. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Sabotage!". Classic Rock (85): 8. 1 October 2005.
- ^ "Iron Maiden Will Make 'At Least One More Album,' Says Bruce Dickinson". Blabbermouth.net. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Iron Maiden: More 'The Trooper' Single Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- TheGuardian.com. 29 April 2016.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Producer Bob Kulick Discusses Iron Maiden Tribute Album Numbers From The Beast". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Metallica, Machine Head, Avenged Sevenfold, Dream Theater featured on Maiden Heaven CD". Blabbermouth.net. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Threshold, Within Temptation Members Record Acoustic Versions Of Iron Maiden Classics". Blabbermouth.net. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Sentenced - The Trooper". Metal Storm. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Highland Glory- Forever Endeavour". Discogs. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Radio Cult Catalogue". Radio Cult. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Stryper: The Covering Album Pushed Back To Early 2011". Blabbermouth.net. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "Iced Earth - Dystopia Tour Edition To Be Available At Merch Stands On North American Tour". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "2Cellos Create A New Dimension With Celloverse Album". PR Newswire. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ^ Bozon, Mark (5 May 2009). "Guitar Hero Smash Hits: The Full Track List". IGN. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Iron Maiden Rock Band Downloadable Content Due In June". Blabbermouth.net. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ISBN 978-0957570023. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "Home".
- ^ Mural directory from Conflict Archive on the Internet
- ^ Union Jack Fury of Iron Maiden Fans; Point Crowd Boo at Flag Waving
- ^ "The Trooper" 7 Inch Single (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 20 June 1983.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Search the Charts". IRMA. Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ "Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 9 July 1983". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "Iron Maiden Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
- ^ "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive 24 March 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- Tracklisten. danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- The Official Finnish Charts. Finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- SNEP(in French). Lescharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ IFPI archive
- ^ "Iron Maiden Songs". FIMI. Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Iron Maiden - 'The Trooper' (Song)". PROMUSICAE. Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Discography Iron Maiden". Sverigetopplistan. Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Iron Maiden - 'The Trooper'". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 27 August 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "Rock Singles Chart Top 40". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on 2005-08-27. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "British single certifications – Iron Maiden – The Trooper". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 March 2021.