Standing in the Way of Control (song)
Encyclopedia
"Standing in the Way of Control" is a single
by the American
indie rock
band The Gossip
from the album of the same name
. The remix by Le Tigre
was released in 2005, the original was then released as a single in 2006, and was re-released again on February 26, 2007. The 2006 issue had climbed up to #13 in the UK Singles Chart
in early 2007 on download sales, but the 2007 re-release was under a new catalogue number, meaning that their 6-place climb to #7 on March 4 was listed as a new entry rather than as a climber. But it reached the top spot in the UK Indie Chart
for one week.
The Soulwax
Nite Versions remix of the song featured heavily in the advertising campaign for the 2007 E4
television
drama, Skins
. This version is also on the series' soundtrack album.
In May 2007, NME
magazine placed "Standing In The Way Of Control" at number 23 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 34 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
as a response to the Federal Marriage Amendment
which would have constitutionally outlawed same-sex marriage
in the United States. She says of the song:
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band The Gossip
The Gossip
Gossip is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control . A follow-up, Music for...
from the album of the same name
Standing in the Way of Control
Standing in the Way of Control is an album by the American indie rock band Gossip, which was released on January 24, 2006. It reached number 1 on the UK indie chart. The title track serves as the unofficial theme song to the British teen drama Skins, as its use in the DVD menu and promotional...
. The remix by Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Le Tigre is an American electroclash band, formed by Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run...
was released in 2005, the original was then released as a single in 2006, and was re-released again on February 26, 2007. The 2006 issue had climbed up to #13 in the 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 ...
in early 2007 on download sales, but the 2007 re-release was under a new catalogue number, meaning that their 6-place climb to #7 on March 4 was listed as a new entry rather than as a climber. But it reached the top spot in the UK Indie 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...
for one week.
The Soulwax
Soulwax
Soulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, are an alternative rock/electronic band from Ghent, Belgium. Next to the Dewaele brothers, Soulwax consists of bassist Stefaan Van Leuven and drummer Steve Slingeneyer. They were first noticed after the release of their album Much Against Everyone's...
Nite Versions remix of the song featured heavily in the advertising campaign for the 2007 E4
E4 (TV)
E4 is a channel on British digital television, launched as a pay-TV companion to Channel 4 on 18 January 2001. The "E" stands for entertainment, and the channel is mainly aimed at the lucrative 15–35 age group...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
drama, Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
. This version is also on the series' soundtrack album.
In May 2007, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
magazine placed "Standing In The Way Of Control" at number 23 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 34 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Song meaning
The song was written by lead singer Beth DittoBeth Ditto
Mary Beth Patterson, known by her stage name Beth Ditto , is an American singer-songwriter, most famous for her work with the indie rock band Gossip.-Personal life:...
as a response to the Federal Marriage Amendment
Federal Marriage Amendment
The Federal Marriage Amendment H.J. Res. 56 was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would have limited marriage in the United States to unions of one man and one woman...
which would have constitutionally outlawed same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
in the United States. She says of the song:
Le Tigre Remix 12" track listing
- "Standing in the Way of Control"
- "Standing in the Way of Control Remix" (Le TigreLe TigreLe Tigre is an American electroclash band, formed by Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run...
remix)
UK CD single track listing
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Radio edit)
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Le Tigre remix)
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Album version)
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Video CD Rom)
UK 12" single track listing
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Headman remix)
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Soulwax Nite version)
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Playgroup remix)
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Tronik Youth remix)
2007 UK CD single track listing
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Radio Edit)
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Soulwax Nite Version)
- "Coal To Diamonds"
- "Standing in the Way of Control" (Video)
Personnel
- Beth DittoBeth DittoMary Beth Patterson, known by her stage name Beth Ditto , is an American singer-songwriter, most famous for her work with the indie rock band Gossip.-Personal life:...
– Vocalist - Brace Paine – GuitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Hannah BlilieHannah BlilieHannah Blilie is the drummer of the American band Gossip and formerly Shoplifting. She has also performed with Sarah Dougher, Chromatics, Stiletto, Mr Yuk, The Lumpies, Vade, The Vogue, and Soiled Doves. She is the fraternal twin sister of Jordan Blilie, one of the two lead vocalists of...
– DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
External links
- PUNKCAST#840 "Standing in the Way of Control" live @ Knitting Factory NYC, Sep 16 2005. (RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
, mp4)