Waking Up (song)
Encyclopedia
"Waking Up" is a song by the Britpop
group Elastica
. It was released as a single in February 1995 and reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart. It preceded the release of their self-titled debut album
, which came out the following month.
The song, written about being an underachiever, received positive critical reviews. However, it also prompted a lawsuit from the publishers of The Stranglers
, who claimed that Elastica took the song's riff from The Stranglers' "No More Heroes
". The case was settled out of court.
"exorcises her personal malaise" with the lines: "I'd work very hard but I'm lazy/I've got a lot of songs but they're all in my head/I'll get a guitar and a lover who pays me/If I can't be a star I won't get out of bed." Damon Albarn
contributed keyboards to the song.
The single was released in February 1995 with the b-side "Gloria". "Waking Up" was included as the 11th track on Elastica's 1995 self-titled album, and an alternate version was included on 2001's The Radio One Sessions
.
by the publishers of The Stranglers, Complete Music, who claimed that "Waking Up" resembled one of The Stranglers' songs, "No More Heroes". The case was settled out of court before Elastica's album was released. Elastica agreed to pay Complete Music 40 percent of the royalties from the album, and The Stranglers were also given a co-writing credit on the song.
One of the members of The Stranglers, JJ Burnel, later said, "Yes, it sounds like us, but so what? Of course there's plagiarism, but unless you live in a vacuum there's always going to be. It's the first thing our publishers have done for us in 20 years, but if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have bothered." Another member of The Stranglers, Jet Black
, even thanked Elastica in Melody Maker
for bringing attention to his old band.
of Allmusic wrote that the song "rework[ed] the Stranglers' "No More Heroes" into a more universal anthem that loses none of its punkiness
". In his review of the single, Jack Rabid wrote that "Waking Up" is a "great song" that "sounds like Wire
covering the Stranglers, with a sharp female singer."
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
group Elastica
Elastica
Elastica were an English alternative rock band that played punk rock-influenced music. They were best known for their 1995 album Elastica, which produced singles that charted in the US and the UK.-History:...
. It was released as a single in February 1995 and reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart. It preceded the release of their self-titled debut album
Elastica (album)
Elastica is the debut album by English alternative rock group Elastica, released in March 1995. At the time the fastest-selling debut album ever in the UK, Elastica was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. It hit #1 on the UK Albums Chart...
, which came out the following month.
The song, written about being an underachiever, received positive critical reviews. However, it also prompted a lawsuit from the publishers of The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
, who claimed that Elastica took the song's riff from The Stranglers' "No More Heroes
No More Heroes (The Stranglers song)
No More Heroes is a single by The Stranglers from the same-named album No More Heroes. It is one of the Stranglers' most successful singles , peaking at #8 in the Official UK Top 40 charts...
". The case was settled out of court.
Background
"Waking Up" is a song about being an underachiever, in which writer-vocalist Justine FrischmannJustine Frischmann
Justine Elinor Frischmann is an English singer and guitarist, best known for being the lead singer of the now defunct band Elastica...
"exorcises her personal malaise" with the lines: "I'd work very hard but I'm lazy/I've got a lot of songs but they're all in my head/I'll get a guitar and a lover who pays me/If I can't be a star I won't get out of bed." Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
contributed keyboards to the song.
The single was released in February 1995 with the b-side "Gloria". "Waking Up" was included as the 11th track on Elastica's 1995 self-titled album, and an alternate version was included on 2001's The Radio One Sessions
Elastica Radio One Sessions
The Elastica Radio One Sessions is a compilation of BBC Radio One sessions recorded by Britpop group Elastica. The album is notable for the appearance of several songs not included on any other Elastica release.-Track listing:...
.
Controversy
Elastica was sued for plagiarismPlagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
by the publishers of The Stranglers, Complete Music, who claimed that "Waking Up" resembled one of The Stranglers' songs, "No More Heroes". The case was settled out of court before Elastica's album was released. Elastica agreed to pay Complete Music 40 percent of the royalties from the album, and The Stranglers were also given a co-writing credit on the song.
One of the members of The Stranglers, JJ Burnel, later said, "Yes, it sounds like us, but so what? Of course there's plagiarism, but unless you live in a vacuum there's always going to be. It's the first thing our publishers have done for us in 20 years, but if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have bothered." Another member of The Stranglers, Jet Black
Jet Black
Jet Black is an English drummer and founder member of punk rock / new wave band The Stranglers.-Early years:...
, even thanked Elastica in Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
for bringing attention to his old band.
Critical reception
"Waking Up" received positive reviews from music critics. Louise Gray called it "magnificent". Stephen Thomas ErlewineStephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
of Allmusic wrote that the song "rework[ed] the Stranglers' "No More Heroes" into a more universal anthem that loses none of its punkiness
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
". In his review of the single, Jack Rabid wrote that "Waking Up" is a "great song" that "sounds like Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
covering the Stranglers, with a sharp female singer."
Chart performance
The song debuted on the UK charts at #13 on February 25, 1995. The following week, it dropped to #22; the week after, it was at #33; and finally, the single was at #54 on March 18. "Waking Up" stayed on the chart for four weeks in total. It did not chart in the US.Music video
The promotional music video for "Waking Up" features two different performances by the band. In both, the band members are wearing black clothing, and in one of the performances, they are surrounded by naked men sitting on the ground.Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles 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 ... |
13 |