Big Time (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Big Time" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Peter Gabriel | ||
| from the album So | ||
| B-side(s) | "Curtains", "Across the River" | |
| Released | January 1987 | |
| Format | 7", 12", CD | |
| Recorded | 1985 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:26 (6:14 Extended version) | |
| Label | Geffen | |
| Writer(s) | Peter Gabriel | |
| Producer(s) | Daniel Lanois | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Peter Gabriel singles chronology | ||
| "Don't Give Up" (1986) |
"Big Time" (1987) |
"In Your Eyes" (1987) |
"Big Time" is a pop rock song by Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So (see 1986 in music).
Contents |
[edit] Music
"Big Time" appears to be (at least partially) in A♭ melodic minor at 116 bpm. The song's bass guitar part is unique in that backing bassist Tony Levin and then-backing drummer Jerry Marotta teamed up for the main bassline. Using one of Levin's fretless basses, Levin handled the fingerings while Marotta hit his drumsticks on the strings, which is why the bass part sounds percussive. Inspired by this sound, Levin later invented Funk Fingers, which were little drumstick ends that could be attached to the fingers to achieve a similar bass guitar effect in concert.
[edit] Lyrics
The song, sung in the first person, describes a man from "a small town", who tires of the small people who "think so small, they use small words", and dreams of "making it" in the big city (the titular "big time") . As he lives in the city, his car, house, eyes, mouth, and bank account all increase in size. The song is a criticism of the greed and excess of the 1980s.
[edit] Music video
Gabriel, successful after his smash hit "Sledgehammer", used the similarly-up-tempo "Big Time" to create another visually stunning video. The visual style was very evocative of the "Sledgehammer" video, using stop motion and claymation to show Gabriel leaving his small town for the big city.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Single
- "Big Time (Extended version)" – (6:12)
- "Curtains" – (3:28)
- "No Self Control" – (3:54)
- "Across the River" – (7:12)
- "Big Time" (7" Version) – (4:26)
[edit] Other
- "Big Time" was the official theme song of WWE WrestleMania 22, a professional wrestling pay-per-view event held on April 2, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois.
- "Big Time" is currently being used for the upcoming film Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Lyrics And Through the Wire. Accessed April 19, 2006.
- ^ Track Listing AllMusic.com. Accessed February 7, 2006.
