Round & Round
Encyclopedia
"Round & Round" is a song by New Order
and the second single from their 1989 album Technique
. It was re-recorded for single release with Stephen Hague
, who had previously worked with the group on their hit "True Faith". It is one of the group's most dance-centred songs, with few guitar or bass lines. Like the majority of New Order songs, the song's title is not mentioned in its lyrics. The song was selected for single release by Factory Records
' Tony Wilson
over the wishes of the band, who wanted to issue "Vanishing Point" (also from Technique) instead.
, the owner of Factory Records which was the group's label at the time. On the documentary "New Order Story", Bernard Sumner discusses that he didn't originally intend the song to be about Tony Wilson and the tension between Wilson and the group, but Sumner admits that growing tension between the two men ultimately was channelled into the song when it was being written.
These versions and other remixes were distributed on over twenty 7", 12", and CD single formats, many with exclusive artwork. "Round & Round" has also appeared in various forms on New Order compilations. In 1994, "Round & Round" was remixed once again by Stephen Hague with Mike 'Spike' Drake for the compilation (the best of) New Order
. This version revised Hague's 1989 seven inch remix removing many of the echoed refrains.
During the filming of the various models, it was decided to film additional footage of one model (Patty de Silva) for an alternative cut of the video that features only de Silva and the brief one-second color intercuts. Bernard's second wife, Sarah, is also rumoured to have appeared in the video; however, as she is rarely seen in public, it is difficult to confirm which one she is.
Veronica Webb
is featured with a dreadlock hairstyle in the video. Elaine Irwin Mellencamp
is the last model shown.
album cover, but uses a different statue with a red or blue (depending on which version is owned) background. With the single following the New Order tradition of not including the title within the lyrics, the line "The picture you see is no portrait of me" was stickered on varying sleeves.
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
and the second single from their 1989 album Technique
Technique (album)
Technique is the fifth studio album by New Order, released in 1989 via Factory Records. Partly recorded on the island of Ibiza, it incorporates Balearic beat and acid house influences into the group's electro/rock sound...
. It was re-recorded for single release with Stephen Hague
Stephen Hague
Stephen Hague is an American music producer most active with various British acts in the 1980s. He was an influential figure in the synthpop movement.-Early career:...
, who had previously worked with the group on their hit "True Faith". It is one of the group's most dance-centred songs, with few guitar or bass lines. Like the majority of New Order songs, the song's title is not mentioned in its lyrics. The song was selected for single release by Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
' Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
over the wishes of the band, who wanted to issue "Vanishing Point" (also from Technique) instead.
Lyrics
The song is about New Order's then-souring relationship with Tony WilsonTony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
, the owner of Factory Records which was the group's label at the time. On the documentary "New Order Story", Bernard Sumner discusses that he didn't originally intend the song to be about Tony Wilson and the tension between Wilson and the group, but Sumner admits that growing tension between the two men ultimately was channelled into the song when it was being written.
Versions
The band recorded three versions:- The album version (4:29), which appears on Technique, emphasises drums and bass for a hard dance feel. It concludes with a cold ending in which the sequencers are run through phasers before then cutting out abruptly.
- The 7" version (3:59) co-produced with Stephen Hague emphasizes the melody, synth pads, and vocals. It has a similar structure to the album track but replaces the instrumental break with a repeat of the intro, and fades out in conclusion. This is the version used in the video. Sumner remarked in a radio interview with Terry ChristianTerry ChristianTerry Christian is a British television and radio presenter whose credits include Channel 4's late night Youth Entertainment show The Word and ITV1 moral issues talk show It's My Life...
on Key 103Key 103Key 103 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the city of Manchester and the north west of England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. Formerly owned by Trans World Communications, EMAP and now by Bauer Radio, Key 103 is part of Bauer's Place Network of...
that he was not fond of the plethora of "Round & Round" remixes and named the 'Stephen Hague Radio-Remix' as his favourite. - The 12" version (6:50) has a 2:45 intro sequence and stops cold before proceeding much as in the 7". It has a wash of synthesizers and a keyboard solo midway through the song. Also, the line "It makes me act like a child" repeats several times as the song ends. instead of fading out like the seven inch version, it ends in a manner closer to the original album version though less discordant.
These versions and other remixes were distributed on over twenty 7", 12", and CD single formats, many with exclusive artwork. "Round & Round" has also appeared in various forms on New Order compilations. In 1994, "Round & Round" was remixed once again by Stephen Hague with Mike 'Spike' Drake for the compilation (the best of) New Order
The Best of New Order
- Video release :# "True Faith-94"# "Regret"# "Run"# "Bizarre Love Triangle"# "Fine Time"# "The Perfect Kiss"# "Shellshock"# "Confusion"# "Blue Monday-88"# "Round & Round-94"# "World"# "Ruined in a Day"# "State of the Nation"...
. This version revised Hague's 1989 seven inch remix removing many of the echoed refrains.
Video
The video for "Round & Round" features a series of eight successive black-and-white head-and-shoulder shots of young, female models, casually sitting in front of a camera as it records them, with the women occasionally talking (though what they say is not heard in the video). Randomly intercut into the footage of the women are various colorized one-second clips of flowers or marbles.During the filming of the various models, it was decided to film additional footage of one model (Patty de Silva) for an alternative cut of the video that features only de Silva and the brief one-second color intercuts. Bernard's second wife, Sarah, is also rumoured to have appeared in the video; however, as she is rarely seen in public, it is difficult to confirm which one she is.
Veronica Webb
Veronica Webb
Veronica Webb is an American model, actress, writer, journalist and television personality. Webb was the first African-American to have a major cosmetics contract...
is featured with a dreadlock hairstyle in the video. Elaine Irwin Mellencamp
Elaine Irwin Mellencamp
Elaine Irwin Mellencamp is an American model, and formerly worked as the face of Almay Cosmetics and Ralph Lauren.-Early life and career:...
is the last model shown.
Artwork
The artwork by Peter Saville Associates mirrors the TechniqueTechnique (album)
Technique is the fifth studio album by New Order, released in 1989 via Factory Records. Partly recorded on the island of Ibiza, it incorporates Balearic beat and acid house influences into the group's electro/rock sound...
album cover, but uses a different statue with a red or blue (depending on which version is owned) background. With the single following the New Order tradition of not including the title within the lyrics, the line "The picture you see is no portrait of me" was stickered on varying sleeves.
12" 2 single FAC 263R
- "Round & Round" (Club Mix) – 7:07
- "Round & Round" (Detroit Mix) – 6:29
5" CD single FAC 263-12
- "Round & Round" (Seven Inch) – 4:02
- "Vanishing Point" (Instrumental Making Out Mix) – 5:13
- "Round & Round" (Twelve Inch) – 6:52
- "Best & Marsh" (Seven Inch) – 3:34
3" CD single FACD 263R Round & Remix
- "Round & Round" (Club Mix) – 7:07
- "Round & Round" (Twelve Inch Mix) – 6:52 (Not to be confused with CD1 track 3 or 12" 1 track 1)
- "Round & Round" (Detroit Mix) – 6:29
Chart positions
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
10 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... Singles Chart |
13 |
| UK Singles Chart UK 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 ... |
21 |
| UK Independent Singles Chart UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... |
2 |
| U.S. 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... |
64 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes... |
5 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 6 |