Queer (Garbage song)
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| "Queer" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Garbage | ||
| from the album Garbage | ||
| Released | 1995 | |
| Length | 4:36 | |
| Label | Almo Sounds & Mushroom UK | |
| Producer(s) | Garbage | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Garbage singles chronology | ||
| "Only Happy When It Rains" 1995 |
"Queer" 1996 |
"Stupid Girl" 1996 |
"Queer" is a song released by Garbage which appears on their eponymous first album. It was written and recorded at Smart Studios during the 1994-1995 sessions for the debut album.
With its suggestive title and subdued trip-hop feel, "Queer" quickly became a word-of-mouth success for the fledgling band. The song samples the drum beat from Single Gun Theory's "Man of Straw". The band had wanted to use a Frank Sinatra sample for "Queer", but the idea was abandoned because it would have been too expensive.
Bass on "Queer" was played by Mike Kashou, additional drums by Clyde Stubblefield and clarinet by Les Thimming.
Contents |
[edit] Single release
"Queer" was issued as a single in Australia and Europe as an EP in October 1995, and the following month the song was issued in the UK on a 2xCD set and vinyl to coincide with the band's debut UK show. The song was also issued as an airplay single in the US in late 1995.
"Queer" was the band's first top 20 UK single, peaking at number 13 in December 1995 & remained on the UK chart for 8 weeks. At one point in the midweeks charts the single had hit the UK Top Ten, but by the end of the week sales had levelled off and settled at the #13 spot.
In the UK, the vinyl format for "Queer" was issued in a perspex case, with a crystal G on the front and back. Limited to 11,000 copies, some copies came in a bubble-wrap bag for protection, these were either clear or a very light pink.
The original idea by the group for the "Queer" single vinyl format was to have it issued in a jade velvet sleeve with 'Garbage' and 'Queer' burned into the velvet, however Mushroom Records vetoed the idea due to the cost.
[edit] Music video
The video for "Queer" was shot in Los Angeles by Stephane Sednaoui in August 1995. The black-and-white clip features Shirley and the boys luring a young man into an old house before attacking him and shaving off his hair.
The video exists in two edits. The complete version is available on the "Garbage Video" release. An edited version, which obscures the more violent aspects of the video as well as some of the strobe effects, was aired during day-time showings of the clip.
The video for "Queer" was nominated for 'Best Breakthrough Video' at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.
In 2005, the retrospective DVD release The Work of Director Stéphane Sednaoui was released containing the full unedited "Queer" video clip, and showed Sednaoui and Shirley Manson talking about their time making the video. The DVD booklet also includes an out-take picture of the film crew on the set of the "Queer" video.
[edit] Music video: credits and personnel
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[edit] Remixes
A radio edit of "Queer" was issued for airplay use on radio.
Alternate "Queer" remixes were completed by Florida's dance act Rabbit In The Moon, UK DJ Adrian Sherwood, Depeche Mode's Martin Gore and by NY producer Danny Saber.
[edit] Live performances
"Queer" was first performed live at Garbage's first gig in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 5 November 1995. For the 1996 tour the song was remixed for live concerts and that version was performed throughout the 'Garbage' and 'Version 2.0' tours.
"Queer" was not played during the 'beautifulgarbage' tour, but Shirley performed a verse and a chorus of the song a cappella at some concerts.
On the 'Bleed Like Me' tour, "Queer" was re-introduced to the set as the show opener, to the delight of most Garbage fans. The version they band played on the tour was closer to the album version than the version they had played since 1996.
On some live performances Shirley introduced this song by either dedicating the song to the crowd at the show, or by saying "A's queer 'cept thee and me and sometimes even thee's queer, but most of the time, I'm completely bonkers!"
"Queer" had also been performed live on UK music show Top Of The Pops.
[edit] Queer quote, unquote
Butch Vig: "With "Queer", I was reading this novel about this woman who was hired to go and make this guy's son "a man". The kid is missing a few marbles. But then he realises that the woman who came to his room is also fucking his father."
[edit] Chart positions
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Queer" | UK Singles Chart | #13 |
| 1995 | "Queer" | US Hot 100 Airplay | #57 |
| 1995 | "Queer" | US Modern Rock Tracks | #12 |
| 1995 | "Queer" | Australian singles chart | #55 |
| Garbage |
| Butch Vig | Shirley Manson | Duke Erikson | Steve Marker |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums and extended plays: Garbage | Version 2.0 | beautifulgarbage | Bleed Like Me | Absolute Garbage |
| Singles: "Vow" | "Subhuman" | "Only Happy When It Rains" | "Queer" | "Stupid Girl" | "Milk" | "#1 Crush" | "Push It" | "I Think I'm Paranoid" | "Special" | "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" | "When I Grow Up" | "You Look So Fine" | "The World Is Not Enough" | "Androgyny" | "Cherry Lips" | "Breaking Up the Girl" | "Shut Your Mouth" | "Why Do You Love Me" | "Bleed Like Me" | "Sex Is Not the Enemy" | "Run Baby Run" |
| Videography |
| Videos and DVDs: Garbage Video | Live at Eagles Ballroom 2002 |
| Related articles |
| Alternative rock | Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie | Angelfish | The World Is Not Enough | Mushroom Records | Almo Sounds | Interscope Records |
