This World Over
| "This World Over" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover art of 7-inch single | ||||
| Single by XTC | ||||
| from the album The Big Express | ||||
| B-side | "Blue Overall" | |||
| Released | 29 October 1984 | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Andy Partridge | |||
| Producer(s) | David Lord, XTC | |||
| XTC singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "This World Over" on YouTube | ||||
"This World Over" is a song by the English rock band
Background and lyrics
"This World Over" is a song protesting the use of nuclear weapons[1] as a reaction to recent speeches by Ronald Reagan, which instigated Partridge's fears of another Cold War.[2] According to Partridge, "My first child was on the way and [I] just thought that, if I survived, how terrible it would be to have to tell her what life used to be like, that there was once a place called London and it was a fantastic place but it's not there anymore."[2] It is one of two politically-charged songs on the album, the other being "Reign of Blows".[3]
Recording
All of the drum sounds are pre-recorded samples.[2] One of the guitar parts is a slew of sustained feedback notes played through a Marshall amplifier. The "high stratospheric squeaking noises in the last verse", Partridge said, are viola harmonics played by session musician Stuart Gordon, who "saws the bow over at a harmonic point, very whistly, and that was put into a [Roland] Chorus Echo. Glorious, reminiscent of birds and ... grand things."[4]
Reception
In the magazine Smash Hits, guest writer Morrissey penned a review of the song that stated "XTC have stepped back from music industry machinations and are making better records."[5]
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| 99 |
References
- ^ Jennings, Dave (18 October 2014). "XTC: The Big Express – A Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration – album reappraisal". Louder Than War. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Farmer 1998, p. 169.
- ^ Farmer 1998, pp. 169, 171.
- ^ Gregory, Dave; Moulding, Colin; Partridge, Andy (November 1984). "Recording The Big Express". One Two Testing (16).
- ^ Morrissey (October 1984). "Singles Reviewed By". Smash Hits. p. 19.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
Works cited
- ISBN 190092403X.