Changes (Black Sabbath song)
Encyclopedia
"Changes" is a song by Black Sabbath
. It first appeared on Black Sabbath, Vol. 4
which was released in 1972. It is a ballad about relationship loss. The song was quite different from Black Sabbath's previous songs, given that this one was characterized by a melodic and downbeat soft rock
vibe in sharp contrast to the hard guitar-driven sound the band had become famous for creating.
Black Sabbath never played this song live in the 1970s. The first time ever that the band played this song live was in the 1990s with Tony Martin on vocals. This song was sampled in Going Through Changes, by Eminem
.
and Overkill
. In 1993, Ozzy Osbourne
(Black Sabbath's lead vocalist) re-recorded the song himself as a single (taken from the Live and Loud
album). The single peaked at number 9 on Billboard's
Mainstream Rock Tracks
but failed to chart in the UK
. The opening track from UNKLE
's second album "Never, Never, Land
" features a prominent sample from the chorus and loops of the mellotron.
Eminem
uses the song as the basis for his track "Going Through Changes" from his album Recovery.
as a duet. The revised lyrics for this version, released in 2003, reflect the moments of their life together. The single reached #1 in the UK. It also reached the top spot on the London Fashion Chart for three weeks, #1 on the Kerrang!
UK Download Chart. It also became Birmingham's Big One and was nominated for a Grammy.
The song has sold 470,000 copies in the UK as stated by the Official UK Charts Company.
certification
(United Kingdom)
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. It first appeared on Black Sabbath, Vol. 4
Black Sabbath, Vol. 4
Black Sabbath Vol. 4 is the fourth album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in September 1972. The album was originally to be titled Snowblind, after one of several songs referring to cocaine use, and features several Sabbath classics, such as "Tomorrow's Dream," "Snowblind,"...
which was released in 1972. It is a ballad about relationship loss. The song was quite different from Black Sabbath's previous songs, given that this one was characterized by a melodic and downbeat soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
vibe in sharp contrast to the hard guitar-driven sound the band had become famous for creating.
Black Sabbath never played this song live in the 1970s. The first time ever that the band played this song live was in the 1990s with Tony Martin on vocals. This song was sampled in Going Through Changes, by Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
.
Personnel (original version)
- Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
: vocals - Tony IommiTony IommiAnthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
: pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, mellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music... - Geezer ButlerGeezer ButlerGeezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
: bass, mellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
Other versions
The song has been covered by numerous artists, including The CardigansThe Cardigans
The Cardigans are a Swedish rock band formed in the town of Jönköping in October 1992.Their debut album Emmerdale gave them a solid base in their home country and enjoyed some success abroad, especially in Japan. It was not until their second album Life that an international reputation was secured...
and Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
. In 1993, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
(Black Sabbath's lead vocalist) re-recorded the song himself as a single (taken from the Live and Loud
Live and Loud
Live & Loud is a live album recorded by Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 28 June 1993 . At the time, it was to be Osbourne's final album....
album). The single peaked at number 9 on Billboard's
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
but failed to chart in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The opening track from UNKLE
UNKLE
Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
's second album "Never, Never, Land
Never, Never, Land
Never, Never, Land is the second album by the British electronic music act UNKLE, released on . On an expanded edition entitled Never, Never, Land Revisited was released. The original album debuted at #71 in Australia...
" features a prominent sample from the chorus and loops of the mellotron.
Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
uses the song as the basis for his track "Going Through Changes" from his album Recovery.
Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne version
Three decades later, Ozzy recorded yet another version of the song, this time with his daughter, Kelly OsbourneKelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne...
as a duet. The revised lyrics for this version, released in 2003, reflect the moments of their life together. The single reached #1 in the UK. It also reached the top spot on the London Fashion Chart for three weeks, #1 on the Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
UK Download Chart. It also became Birmingham's Big One and was nominated for a Grammy.
The song has sold 470,000 copies in the UK as stated by the Official UK Charts Company.
Charts
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Changes" (Felix Da Housecat Remix) | U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 43 |
| "Changes" | 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... |
7 | |
| 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 ... |
1 |
Sales accomplishments
BPIBritish Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
certification
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
(United Kingdom)
| Date | Designation | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2004 | Silver | 200,000 |
| January 23, 2004 | Gold | 400,000 |