Discothèque (song)
Encyclopedia
"Discothèque" is the lead single from Irish rock
band U2
's 1997
album, Pop. It peaked at number one in many countries' charts, including the UK Singles Chart
. The song received mixed reviews from critics.
on 26 October 1996. By 27 December, the entire track had been leaked, after which U2 moved up the release date. "Discothèque" debuted at #3 on the US Modern Rock Tracks
chart, and hit #1 the following week. It was certified Gold by the RIAA
on 7 April 1997. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100
at #10, but dropped off the charts after only four weeks in the Top 40. It was also the band's sixth (and last) top ten single in the US. It debuted at #1 on the UK singles chart
, remaining on top for one week and spending a total of eleven weeks in the chart.
The song was remixed for U2's The Best of 1990-2000
greatest hits album, released in 2002. The new version features a longer intro and subtle use of the techno-sounding drum beat that figured prominently in the opening of the original track. The 'new' "Discotheque" was similar in sound to how U2 performed the song during the PopMart Tour
in 1997 and 1998.
The version featured on most versions of the single was the 12" version, which altered the introduction's instrumentation and vocals. It was also slightly shorter than the album version.
A somewhat abbreviated form of "Discothèque" was played during the first two legs of U2's Elevation Tour
in 2001, normally containing the snippets of "Staring at the Sun" and INXS
's "Devil Inside
". A more rock-sounding version of the song was played twice on the Vertigo Tour
accompanied by an elaborate stage lightshow. It has not been played full since September 20, 2005. In the 2010 European leg of the U2 360° Tour
, the band began performing an extended snippet of Discothèque during their remixed version of "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
", with Bono singing several verses of the song during the intro and the outtro, and Edge mixing its guitar riff in at the end.
, which was directed by Frenchman Stéphane Sednaoui
, the band performed in atmosphere approximating the inside of a mirrorball
. They alluded to several elements of the disco
era, including disco-style dancing and the film Saturday Night Fever
. U2 further and directly alluded to the Village People
, a popular disco era band, by similarly adopting the guises of various professions: a motorcycle police officer (Bono
), a gay-fetish biker (The Edge
), an American sailor (Adam Clayton
), and a cowboy (Larry Mullen, Jr.).
remixes used as B-sides, suggesting that it was an attempt to gain credibility. However Stephen Thomas believed it to be indicative of the growing influence of remixes in music. Commercials for the 2003 Toyota Matrix
used the Hexadecimal remix.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's 1997
1997 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
album, Pop. It peaked at number one in many countries' charts, including 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 ...
. The song received mixed reviews from critics.
Release history
A 30-second sample of "Discothèque" was leaked to the InternetInternet leak
An Internet leak occurs when a party's confidential information is released to the public on the Internet. Various types of information and data can be, and have been, "leaked" to the Internet, the most common being personal information, computer software and source code, and artistic works such...
on 26 October 1996. By 27 December, the entire track had been leaked, after which U2 moved up the release date. "Discothèque" debuted at #3 on the US Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart, and hit #1 the following week. It was certified Gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on 7 April 1997. The song debuted 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...
at #10, but dropped off the charts after only four weeks in the Top 40. It was also the band's sixth (and last) top ten single in the US. It debuted at #1 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 ...
, remaining on top for one week and spending a total of eleven weeks in the chart.
The song was remixed for U2's The Best of 1990-2000
The Best of 1990-2000
The Best of 1990–2000 is the second greatest hits compilation album by Irish rock band U2. The album was released on 5 November 2002 by Island Records, except in the United States where the album was released on the Interscope label as a single-disc CD compilation...
greatest hits album, released in 2002. The new version features a longer intro and subtle use of the techno-sounding drum beat that figured prominently in the opening of the original track. The 'new' "Discotheque" was similar in sound to how U2 performed the song during the PopMart Tour
Popmart Tour
The PopMart Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 1997 album, Pop, the tour's concerts were performed in stadiums and parks from 1997 through 1998...
in 1997 and 1998.
The version featured on most versions of the single was the 12" version, which altered the introduction's instrumentation and vocals. It was also slightly shorter than the album version.
A somewhat abbreviated form of "Discothèque" was played during the first two legs of U2's Elevation Tour
Elevation Tour
The Elevation Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind, the tour visited arenas in 2001. After the band's previous two extravagant stadium tours, Zoo TV and PopMart, the Elevation Tour returned the...
in 2001, normally containing the snippets of "Staring at the Sun" and INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
's "Devil Inside
Devil Inside (INXS song)
"Devil Inside" is a song by Australian band INXS. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence and is one of INXS's best known songs.It was released as a single in February 1988...
". A more rock-sounding version of the song was played twice on the Vertigo Tour
Vertigo Tour
The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the band visited arenas and stadiums from 2005 through 2006. The Vertigo Tour consisted of five legs that alternated between indoor arena shows in...
accompanied by an elaborate stage lightshow. It has not been played full since September 20, 2005. In the 2010 European leg of the U2 360° Tour
U2 360° Tour
The U2 360° Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2009 album No Line on the Horizon, the tour visited stadiums from 2009 through 2011. It was named for a stage configuration that allowed the audience to almost completely surround the stage...
, the band began performing an extended snippet of Discothèque during their remixed version of "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
"I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" is the fifth song from U2's 2009 album No Line on the Horizon. The song was released as the album's third single in a digital format on 25 August 2009 and in a physical version released on 7 September 2009...
", with Bono singing several verses of the song during the intro and the outtro, and Edge mixing its guitar riff in at the end.
Music video
The accompanying 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...
, which was directed by Frenchman Stéphane Sednaoui
Stéphane Sednaoui
Stéphane Sednaoui is a French-American photographer, director and producer whose work includes music videos, art projects, photographic essays, portrait photography, fashion photography and photojournalism....
, the band performed in atmosphere approximating the inside of a mirrorball
Disco ball
A disco ball is a roughly spherical object that reflects light directed at it in many directions, producing a complex display...
. They alluded to several elements of the disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
era, including disco-style dancing and the film Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 drama film directed by John Badham and starring: John Travolta as Tony Manero, an immature young man whose weekends are spent visiting a local Brooklyn discothèque; Karen Lynn Gorney as his dance partner and eventual friend; and Donna Pescow as Tony's former dance...
. U2 further and directly alluded to the Village People
Village People
Village People is a concept disco group that formed in the United States in 1977, well known for their on-stage costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics....
, a popular disco era band, by similarly adopting the guises of various professions: a motorcycle police officer (Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
), a gay-fetish biker (The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
), an American sailor (Adam Clayton
Adam Clayton
Adam Charles Clayton is a musician, best known as the bassist of the Irish rock band U2. Clayton has resided in County Dublin since the time his family moved to Malahide when he was five years old in 1965...
), and a cowboy (Larry Mullen, Jr.).
Reception
U2 were criticized by some reviewers for the large number of dance musicDance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
remixes used as B-sides, suggesting that it was an attempt to gain credibility. However Stephen Thomas believed it to be indicative of the growing influence of remixes in music. Commercials for the 2003 Toyota Matrix
Toyota Matrix
The Toyota Matrix, sometimes officially referred to as the Toyota Corolla Matrix, is a compact hatchback manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation in Canada, to be sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico...
used the Hexadecimal remix.
Track listings
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 3 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart |
2 |
| Canadian RPM Alternative 30 Canadian rock/alternative chart The Canadian rock/alternative chart was first published on June 11, 1995 by RPM magazine under the name Alternative 30. The song which held the number-one spot on this first chart was "More Human than Human" by White Zombie... |
1 |
| 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... |
1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 2 |
| 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 |
| U.S. 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... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 40 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | Gold | April 7, 1997 | 500,000 |
| UK | Silver | February 1, 1997 | 200,000 |
See also
- List of covers of U2 songs - Discothèque
- List of RPM Rock/Alternative number-one singles (Canada)
- List of number-one singles of 1997 (Ireland)
- List of number-one singles in 1997 (New Zealand)
- List of number-one singles from the 1990s (UK)
- List of number-one modern rock hits (United States)
- Number one modern rock hits of 1997Number one modern rock hits of 1997These are the Billboard magazine Modern Rock Tracks number one hits of 1997....