Life in Mono (song)
Encyclopedia
"Life in Mono" is a song by UK band Mono
, which consisted of singer Siobhan de Maré
and musician Martin Virgo. It was released on the band's first EP in 1996 which contained various remixes, most notably two by the Propellerheads
. It was released again in 1997 on the band's only album, Formica Blues
.
The song was used as the theme to the 1998 version of the movie Great Expectations
(reportedly chosen by actor Robert De Niro
), as well as being used for the launch television advert for the new Rover 25. It was covered by Emma Bunton
in 2006 for her third album, also titled Life in Mono
.
Billboard
called the song's usage in Great Expectations an example of film music that "works", citing its "anguished" lyrics as complementary to Ethan Hawke
's character's predicaments, and comparing de Maré's voice to those of Roberta Flack
and Billie Holiday
.
The chorus consisted of "ingenue
, I just don't know what to do" repeated, and was noted for using the American/British pronunciation (and not the French pronunciation) of "ingenue"; the word was a late addition in songwriting, to rhyme with "I just don't know what to do".
In the U.S., Mercury Records
marketed the single in a campaign aimed to "build awareness at both the radio and club levels", shipping promotional singles to modern rock
-format radio stations on February 10, and to nightclub
s at about the same time. Promotion to Top 40 stations followed later on. The single's sales only allowed it to chart in the lower echelons of the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at number 70 (though it did reach at least 19 on the Top Heatseekers
chart), but radio airplay and requests allowed it to reach 26 on the Modern Rock Tracks
chart.
Mono (UK band)
Mono was a British electronic music duo which had a hit in the late 1990s with their song "Life in Mono". The group's music is often described as trip hop, based on its similarities to contemporary electronic music acts including Sneaker Pimps and Portishead...
, which consisted of singer Siobhan de Maré
Siobhan de Maré
Siobhan de Maré is a singer, mostly known from lending her voice to the album Formica Blues by the UK band Mono in 1997. In 2000, she joined Robin Guthrie to form Violet Indiana, which varies from shimmery wall of sound style with similarities to dreampop, to sparse single-guitar songs with less...
and musician Martin Virgo. It was released on the band's first EP in 1996 which contained various remixes, most notably two by the Propellerheads
Propellerheads
Propellerheads were a British big beat musical ensemble, formed in 1995 and made up of electronic producers Will White and Alex Gifford. The term propellerhead is slang for a nerd, and when Gifford and White heard a friend from California use this in a conversation, they thought it the perfect name...
. It was released again in 1997 on the band's only album, Formica Blues
Formica Blues
Formica Blues is an album from UK band Mono. It was first released in the UK in 1997. Four singles were released from the album, of which the lead single, "Life in Mono", was the most successful....
.
The song was used as the theme to the 1998 version of the movie Great Expectations
Great Expectations (1998 film)
Great Expectations is a 1998 contemporary film adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel of the same name, directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert De Niro, Anne Bancroft and Chris Cooper. It is known for having moved the setting of the original novel from 1861...
(reportedly chosen by actor Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
), as well as being used for the launch television advert for the new Rover 25. It was covered by Emma Bunton
Emma Bunton
Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice...
in 2006 for her third album, also titled Life in Mono
Life in Mono
Life in Mono is the third studio album by British pop singer Emma Bunton. The album was originally set for a November release in the UK, however it was later pushed back to the December 4, 2006. Life In Mono, much like her previous album, Free Me, experimented with elements of 1960s pop music...
.
Billboard
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...
called the song's usage in Great Expectations an example of film music that "works", citing its "anguished" lyrics as complementary to Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke
Ethan Green Hawke is an American actor, writer and director. He made his feature film debut in 1985 with the science fiction movie Explorers, before making a supporting appearance in the 1989 drama Dead Poets Society which is considered his breakthrough role...
's character's predicaments, and comparing de Maré's voice to those of Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
and Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
.
The chorus consisted of "ingenue
Ingenue (stock character)
See also Disingenuous, which is not quite the antonym that it may seem!The ingénue is a stock character in literature, film, and a role type in the theatre; generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome. Ingenue may also refer to a new young actress or one typecast in...
, I just don't know what to do" repeated, and was noted for using the American/British pronunciation (and not the French pronunciation) of "ingenue"; the word was a late addition in songwriting, to rhyme with "I just don't know what to do".
In the U.S., Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
marketed the single in a campaign aimed to "build awareness at both the radio and club levels", shipping promotional singles to modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
-format radio stations on February 10, and to nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s at about the same time. Promotion to Top 40 stations followed later on. The single's sales only allowed it to chart in the lower echelons of 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...
, peaking at number 70 (though it did reach at least 19 on the Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart), but radio airplay and requests allowed it to reach 26 on the 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.