Close to Me
Encyclopedia
"Close to Me" is a 1985 single by The Cure
from their album The Head on the Door
.
The song was used as the theme music for the BBC sitcom The Smoking Room
, for the BBC food programme A Taste of My Life presented by Nigel Slater
and plays over the closing credits for the 2007 film Son of Rambow
.
On its original release, the single was most successful in Ireland
, peaking at #4, also reaching #7 in Australia
. It was remixed in 1990, which itself was released as a single, peaking at #13 on the UK singles chart
and #97 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in the US in January 1991.
while the version with brass instruments is a remix that was released as a single and appears on Staring at the Sea: the Singles. The instrumental brass section appearing on the single versions is actually adapted from a traditional New Orleans funeral march. The 12" extended mix contains an extended arrangement of the brass section, featuring original material not found on other versions. The versions with brass instruments also include a long creaking sound of a door closing at the beginning. This sound comes from the beginning of the music video that was shot for "Close to Me", which features the band trapped in a wardrobe that is falling off of a cliff into an ocean. The lyrics contain the words "If only I was sure/that my head on the door was a dream", which inspired the title for the album.
12" Single
, written and directed by the band's frequent music video director Tim Pope
, was featured on a compilation of the best music videos on VH1
.
It consists of the band all inside a wardrobe
on the edge of a cliff. Following the musical scheme of the song, which builds up instrumentally (starting with just drums, then adding the bass, then keyboard etc. etc.), all the band members are inside the wardrobe, but not playing the instruments they would actually be playing, for obvious reasons. Boris Williams
is simply clapping to the beat, keyboardist Lol Tolhurst is playing a very small, handheld keyboard, and Porl Thompson
on the top shelf is plucking a comb
to represent the short high sounds in the song. Bassist Simon Gallup
does not play, and instead appears to be tied up and gagged. Tim Pope later revealed that Gallup had a light bulb in his mouth to create a "lit from within" feel, and the cloth was there to hide the wire. Robert Smith
then comes from the back of the wardrobe and sings, also playing with finger puppets, which appear to be voodoo dolls of the band members, as when he moves them, the corresponding member moves. He then becomes more violent with the dolls, shaking them around heavily, which in turn causes the band members to hit into the sides of the wardrobe, which eventually results in the wardrobe falling off the cliff and into the sea. As they go into the sea, the wardrobe fills up slowly with water, like a capsized ship, but the band members continue to play their "instruments." The video ends with the wardrobe full of water and a band member pushing a rubber duck across the screen.
The music video was rated 13th on "20 to 1
Amazing Moments in Music" aired on Australia's Nine Network 4 March 2007. Essentially the show rated the most distinctive music videos (won by Peter Gabriel
's Sledgehammer
).
ed version of the "Close to Me" single, released in 1990 to promote the album Mixed Up. It was made available in two different versions, the "Closer Mix" included on the 12" and the limited edition CD single, and the "Closest Mix" included on the 7" and the regular edition CD single. Both versions were available together on the cassette release. The "Closest Mix" was also included on the singles compilation Galore in 1997.
Chart positions: #13 (UK); #97 (USA)
12" single
Regular edition CD single
Limited edition CD single
Cassette single
recorded a cover version of the song on his album Je dis aime
in 1999. The lyrics were translated into French, with the exception of the words "close to me" which were kept in English. A high-octane, up-tempo live performance of this version appears on the -M- album Le Tour de M.
The song was recorded by The Get Up Kids
and is on their compilation album Eudora
.
Canadian hip-hop artist Buck 65
, has been known to freestyle over this song at his live show.
Indie rock/rap band Why? has recently covered the song, which can currently be found on their Myspace page, and I Was A Cub Scout
covered the song on the single "The Hunters Daughter".
British rapper Lady Sovereign
's release "So Human
" not only contains heavy sampling of the song, but also features use of the original's lyrics.
In 2002, German Reggae
Label Germaican released a popular Dancehall
riddim
named "Cure Riddim", based on the "Close To Me" theme, which features Jamaican top artists like Ce'Cile
, Sizzla
or T.O.K.
as well as German acts like Seeed
and Nosliw.
Kaki King
's cover of "Close to Me" is used by Nivea for the female deodorant adverts airing in the United Kingdom, April 2010.
The German trio Jahcoozi released a cover of "Close to Me" on their 2010 album Barefoot Wanderer.
Filipino
hip hop group Mastaplann used the melody of "Close to Me · Remix" for their song "Is It Tyme?".
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
from their album The Head on the Door
The Head on the Door
The Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1985. The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, it also features the return of Simon Gallup and is Porl Thompson's first album as an official member....
.
The song was used as the theme music for the BBC sitcom The Smoking Room
The Smoking Room
The Smoking Room is a British television sitcom written by Brian Dooley, who won a BAFTA for the series in 2005. The first series, consisting of eight episodes, was originally transmitted on BBC Three between 29 June and 17 August 2004. The Christmas Special was first transmitted on the same...
, for the BBC food programme A Taste of My Life presented by Nigel Slater
Nigel Slater
Nigel Slater is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. He has written a column for The Observer Magazine for over a decade and is the principal writer for the Observer Food Monthly supplement. Prior to this, Slater was food writer for Marie Claire for five years...
and plays over the closing credits for the 2007 film Son of Rambow
Son of Rambow
Son of Rambow is a 2008 comedy-drama film written and directed by Garth Jennings. The film premiered January 22, 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival. It was later shown at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Glasgow Film...
.
On its original release, the single was most successful in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, peaking at #4, also reaching #7 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was remixed in 1990, which itself was released as a single, peaking at #13 on 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 ...
and #97 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in the US in January 1991.
History
There are two versions of "Close to Me", one with a brass section and one without. The version without the brass section is the original album version on The Head on the DoorThe Head on the Door
The Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1985. The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, it also features the return of Simon Gallup and is Porl Thompson's first album as an official member....
while the version with brass instruments is a remix that was released as a single and appears on Staring at the Sea: the Singles. The instrumental brass section appearing on the single versions is actually adapted from a traditional New Orleans funeral march. The 12" extended mix contains an extended arrangement of the brass section, featuring original material not found on other versions. The versions with brass instruments also include a long creaking sound of a door closing at the beginning. This sound comes from the beginning of the music video that was shot for "Close to Me", which features the band trapped in a wardrobe that is falling off of a cliff into an ocean. The lyrics contain the words "If only I was sure/that my head on the door was a dream", which inspired the title for the album.
Track listing
7" Single- "Close to Me" (Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
) - "A Man Inside My Mouth"
12" Single
- "Close to Me [Extended]"
- "A Man Inside My Mouth"
- "Stop Dead"
Members
- Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
- vocals - Lol Tolhurst - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Porl ThompsonPorl ThompsonPorl Thompson is an English musician best known for his work with The Cure.-Life and work:Thompson is the oldest of four children; he has two brothers and one sister...
- keyboards - Simon GallupSimon GallupSimon Jonathon Gallup is an English musician and bassist of the post-punk band The Cure.-Early years:...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Boris WilliamsBoris WilliamsBoris Peter Bransby-Williams is an English drummer best known for his extensive work with The Cure . He had previously worked with various artists, including Thompson Twins, Kim Wilde, Strawberry Switchblade and Tomato City...
- 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 ....
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, written and directed by the band's frequent music video director Tim Pope
Tim Pope
Timothy Michael Pope is a film director most famous for his music videos, having directed feature films, and for a brief pop career.-Early life and career:...
, was featured on a compilation of the best music videos on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
It consists of the band all inside a wardrobe
Wardrobe
A Wardrobe is a cabinet used for storing clothes.Wardrobe may also refer to:* Wardrobe , a full set of multiple clothing items* Wardrobe , part of royal administration in medieval England...
on the edge of a cliff. Following the musical scheme of the song, which builds up instrumentally (starting with just drums, then adding the bass, then keyboard etc. etc.), all the band members are inside the wardrobe, but not playing the instruments they would actually be playing, for obvious reasons. Boris Williams
Boris Williams
Boris Peter Bransby-Williams is an English drummer best known for his extensive work with The Cure . He had previously worked with various artists, including Thompson Twins, Kim Wilde, Strawberry Switchblade and Tomato City...
is simply clapping to the beat, keyboardist Lol Tolhurst is playing a very small, handheld keyboard, and Porl Thompson
Porl Thompson
Porl Thompson is an English musician best known for his work with The Cure.-Life and work:Thompson is the oldest of four children; he has two brothers and one sister...
on the top shelf is plucking a comb
Comb
A comb is a toothed device used in hair care for straightening and cleaning hair or other fibres. Combs are among the oldest tools found by archaeologists...
to represent the short high sounds in the song. Bassist Simon Gallup
Simon Gallup
Simon Jonathon Gallup is an English musician and bassist of the post-punk band The Cure.-Early years:...
does not play, and instead appears to be tied up and gagged. Tim Pope later revealed that Gallup had a light bulb in his mouth to create a "lit from within" feel, and the cloth was there to hide the wire. Robert Smith
Robert Smith (musician)
Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
then comes from the back of the wardrobe and sings, also playing with finger puppets, which appear to be voodoo dolls of the band members, as when he moves them, the corresponding member moves. He then becomes more violent with the dolls, shaking them around heavily, which in turn causes the band members to hit into the sides of the wardrobe, which eventually results in the wardrobe falling off the cliff and into the sea. As they go into the sea, the wardrobe fills up slowly with water, like a capsized ship, but the band members continue to play their "instruments." The video ends with the wardrobe full of water and a band member pushing a rubber duck across the screen.
The music video was rated 13th on "20 to 1
20 to 1
20 to 1 is an Australian television series, currently hosted by Bert Newton that counts down an undefined "top 20" of elements or events of popular culture, such as films, songs, sporting scandals. Previously the show was hosted by Charles "Bud" Tingwell and narrated by David Reyne...
Amazing Moments in Music" aired on Australia's Nine Network 4 March 2007. Essentially the show rated the most distinctive music videos (won by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's Sledgehammer
Sledgehammer (song)
"Sledgehammer" is a song by British musician Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So. It hit number one in Canada on 21 July 1986 where it spent four weeks; number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States on 26 July 1986; and number four in the UK singles chart, thanks in part to a...
).
Close to Me · Remix
"Close to Me · Remix" is the name given to the remixRemix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed version of the "Close to Me" single, released in 1990 to promote the album Mixed Up. It was made available in two different versions, the "Closer Mix" included on the 12" and the limited edition CD single, and the "Closest Mix" included on the 7" and the regular edition CD single. Both versions were available together on the cassette release. The "Closest Mix" was also included on the singles compilation Galore in 1997.
Chart positions: #13 (UK); #97 (USA)
Track listing
7" single- "Close to Me" (Closest Mix)
- "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy Mix)
12" single
- "Close to Me" (Closer Mix)
- "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy Mix)
- "Primary" (Red Mix)
Regular edition CD single
- "Close to Me" (Closest Mix)
- "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy Mix)
- "Primary" (Red Mix)
Limited edition CD single
- "Close to Me" (Closer mix)
- "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy mix)
- "Why Can't I Be You?" (Extended mix)
- This release also included a free poster.
Cassette single
- "Close to Me (Closer Mix)"
- "Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix)"
- "Close to Me (Closest Mix)"
- "Primary (Red Mix)"
Music video
There was also a music video for the version of the song that appeared on Mixed Up. The video picked up where the original video ended, with the wardrobe crashing down the cliffside and sinking to the bottom of the sea. Robert exits first and is attacked by an octopus (seen playing the horns later in the video). After his struggle, the other band members try to flee as well, and are attacked by a starfish. The video ends without any of the band members reaching the surface, though they could see a boat overhead.Cover versions
French recording act -M-Matthieu Chedid
Matthieu Chedid is a French rock singer-songwriter and guitar player.-Biography:...
recorded a cover version of the song on his album Je dis aime
Je dis aime
Je dis aime is the second studio album by French singer-song-writer Matthieu Chedid in his persona as -M-, described by reviewers as a "conceptual icon to rival Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane". The album manages to take a remarkable variety of musical directions and pull them together...
in 1999. The lyrics were translated into French, with the exception of the words "close to me" which were kept in English. A high-octane, up-tempo live performance of this version appears on the -M- album Le Tour de M.
The song was recorded by The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
and is on their compilation album Eudora
Eudora (album)
Eudora is The Get Up Kids' third full-length CD/LP. Released on November 27, 2001, it is a collection of B-Sides, Rarities, and Covers released on Vagrant Records....
.
Canadian hip-hop artist Buck 65
Buck 65
Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...
, has been known to freestyle over this song at his live show.
Indie rock/rap band Why? has recently covered the song, which can currently be found on their Myspace page, and I Was A Cub Scout
I Was a Cub Scout
I Was a Cub Scout was a two-man synth-pop/indie rock band from Long Bennington and Collingham, England, consisting of William Bowerman and Todd Marriott. They were formed in 2006, and split on 5 June 2008.-New Bands:...
covered the song on the single "The Hunters Daughter".
British rapper Lady Sovereign
Lady Sovereign
Louise Amanda Harman , better known by the stage name Lady Sovereign, is an English rapper & grime artist. She is noted for her professional success in performing styles of music generally dominated by males...
's release "So Human
So Human
"So Human" is a single by the English rapper Lady Sovereign. The song was the second single off her second album Jigsaw. The single was released on and has so far reached 38 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by Louise Harman and Gabriel Olegavich. The song was produced by Lukasz...
" not only contains heavy sampling of the song, but also features use of the original's lyrics.
In 2002, German Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
Label Germaican released a popular Dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
named "Cure Riddim", based on the "Close To Me" theme, which features Jamaican top artists like Ce'Cile
Ce'Cile
Ce'Cile, born Cecile Charlton is a Musician from Kingston, she is one of the best known current Dancehall artists.-Biography:...
, Sizzla
Sizzla
Sizzla Kalonji, or simply Sizzla in are de reggae musician. He is one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists and is well-known for his above-average prolificacy...
or T.O.K.
T.O.K.
T.O.K. is a dancehall group hailing from Kingston, Jamaica. The group consists of Alistaire "Alex" McCalla, Roshaun "Bay-C" Clarke, Craig "Craigy T" Thompson, and Xavier "Flexx" Davidson...
as well as German acts like Seeed
Seeed
Seeed is a German reggae/dancehall band from Berlin. Founded in 1998, they have become notable in Germany and its neighboring countries. Seeed and Cologne's singjay Gentleman are among Germany's most popular reggae musicians....
and Nosliw.
Kaki King
Kaki King
Kaki King is an American guitarist and composer. King is known for her percussive and jazz-tinged melodies, energetic live shows, use of multiple tunings on acoustic and lap steel guitar, and her diverse range in different genres.In February 2006, Rolling Stone released a list of "The New Guitar...
's cover of "Close to Me" is used by Nivea for the female deodorant adverts airing in the United Kingdom, April 2010.
The German trio Jahcoozi released a cover of "Close to Me" on their 2010 album Barefoot Wanderer.
Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
hip hop group Mastaplann used the melody of "Close to Me · Remix" for their song "Is It Tyme?".