Laid (song)
Encyclopedia
"Laid" is the title song from Manchester
alternative rock band James
' 1993 album Laid
. Emotionally evocative and featuring the risqué lyrics "This bed is on fire with passionate love, the neighbours complain about the noises above, but she only comes when she's on top", it quickly gained popularity on American
college radio and remains the group's best known song in that country. Because of the lyrics, the music video
of the song replaced the infamous line with "she only sings when she's on top" (although Tim Booth
clearly lip-syncs the original line, and is accompanied by a subtitle reading "hums", possibly an oblique reference to the edit). Today, a number of alternative rock stations, including Boston's WBOS
and WFNX
, will play "Laid" with the original controversial line.
While the song did chart on the Billboard Hot 100
, its initial peak was #61. It made it on to the chart thanks to its cult status as a popular college song, which is what helped it to peak at #3 on the Modern Rock Tracks
chart. The song was much more successful in the band's native United Kingdom
, where it peaked at #24, becoming another Top 40 hit for the band.
series of comedy films, with a cover by Matt Nathanson
featuring on the third
, fourth
, and eighth installment's
soundtracks. When performed by Matt Nathanson live he often creates a lot of banter over the vocals after the second verse, where he encourages the audience to sing along with him, which often proves to be a big hit. The seventh installment in the franchise, The Book Of Love, contains a new cover of "Laid" by singer Aidan Hawken
. (As of March 2010, it still has yet to be released on any album or as a single.)
"Laid" was also covered by New Orleans alt-rock
band Better Than Ezra
on their greatest hits compilation.
It has also been covered by the Butch Walker
-led band 1969. It is a hidden track on their album Maya.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
alternative rock band James
James (band)
James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
' 1993 album Laid
Laid
Laid is the sixth studio album by British alternative rock band James. It was released on October 5, 1993. It was the first of several collaborations between the group and Brian Eno, who produced all but one of the album's tracks – in Stuart Maconie's authorised biography of the group, Folklore,...
. Emotionally evocative and featuring the risqué lyrics "This bed is on fire with passionate love, the neighbours complain about the noises above, but she only comes when she's on top", it quickly gained popularity on American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college radio and remains the group's best known song in that country. Because of the lyrics, the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of the song replaced the infamous line with "she only sings when she's on top" (although Tim Booth
Tim Booth
Timothy John Booth is an English singer, dancer, and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.-1980s:Booth was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and attended Shrewsbury School...
clearly lip-syncs the original line, and is accompanied by a subtitle reading "hums", possibly an oblique reference to the edit). Today, a number of alternative rock stations, including Boston's WBOS
WBOS
WBOS is a commercial radio station located in Brookline, Massachusetts, broadcasting to the Greater Boston area on 92.9 FM. The station airs a mainstream rock format branded as "Radio 92.9"...
and WFNX
WFNX
WFNX is a New England commercial alternative rock radio station. The station began broadcasting on Monday, April 11, 1983. It was one of the first American commercial stations to play alternative rock and has become a leading radio station for breaking new alternative music.WFNX broadcasts on 101.7...
, will play "Laid" with the original controversial line.
While the song did chart on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, its initial peak was #61. It made it on to the chart thanks to its cult status as a popular college song, which is what helped it to peak at #3 on the 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. The song was much more successful in the band's native United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where it peaked at #24, becoming another Top 40 hit for the band.
In popular culture
In recent years the song gained some additional exposure and popularity when it was used in the marketing for the American PieAmerican Pie (film)
American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
series of comedy films, with a cover by Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson is an American singer-songwriter whose work is a blend of folk and rock music. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic and electric guitar, and has played both solo and with a full band. His work includes the platinum-selling song "Come On Get Higher".-Early life and college...
featuring on the third
American Wedding
American Wedding is a 2003 comedy film that is a sequel to American Pie and American Pie 2 as part of the American Pie series. It was written by Adam Herz and directed by Jesse Dylan...
, fourth
American Pie: Band Camp
#Andrew W.K. - "She Is Beautiful"#Breaking Benjamin - "Forget It"#Snow Patrol - "How To Be Dead"#Matt Nathanson - "Laid"#Treble Charger - "American Psycho"#Good Charlotte - "The Anthem"#Paul Locke - "Paul's Drums"#Jimmy Eat World - The Middle...
, and eighth installment's
American Reunion
For the fourth installment in the American Pie series, see American Pie Presents: Band CampAmerican Reunion is an upcoming comedy film written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg...
soundtracks. When performed by Matt Nathanson live he often creates a lot of banter over the vocals after the second verse, where he encourages the audience to sing along with him, which often proves to be a big hit. The seventh installment in the franchise, The Book Of Love, contains a new cover of "Laid" by singer Aidan Hawken
Aidan Hawken
Aidan Hawken is an American singer-songwriter and musician from San Francisco, CA.-Life and career:Aidan Alexander Hawken was born in San Anselmo, California to Anna and Paul Hawken, environmentalist, entrepreneur and author of such books as “The Ecology of Commerce. Harper Collins, 1993...
. (As of March 2010, it still has yet to be released on any album or as a single.)
"Laid" was also covered by New Orleans alt-rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Better Than Ezra
Better Than Ezra
Better Than Ezra is an American alternative rock trio based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Formation and early success:Better Than Ezra was formed in 1988 by its four original members - vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin; Joel Rundell, the lead guitarist; bassist Tom Drummond; and drummer, Cary...
on their greatest hits compilation.
It has also been covered by the Butch Walker
Butch Walker
Butch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
-led band 1969. It is a hidden track on their album Maya.
Charts
| Chart (1993-1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 40 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 61 |
| UK Singles Chart | 25 |