Many of Horror
Encyclopedia
"Many of Horror" is an alternative rock
song written by Simon Neil
of Scottish band Biffy Clyro
for their fifth studio album Only Revolutions. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on 18 January 2010. The song was recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA and mastered at Masterdisk. The lyrics of the song concern Neil's wife and family. Jacknife Lee
, who previously remixed "Silhouettes
" for the Biffy Clyro and Sucioperro
side project Marmaduke Duke
, recorded a remix for the song.
Matt Cardle
, winner of the 2010 series
of The X Factor
, recorded a studio version of the song under the title "When We Collide" and released it as his debut single, after having performed it in the final of the competition. Biffy Clyro fans launched an internet campaign to get the original track "Many of Horror" to the festive charts, with fans joining a Facebook campaign urging people to buy Biffy Clyro's original single rather than Cardle's cover version. This resulted in the Biffy Clyro version reaching number 8 in the UK Singles Chart
, its highest position ever, and Cardle's version became the UK Christmas number 1.
The song is featured on the deluxe edition soundtrack
to the film Transformers: Dark of the Moon and is played during the end credits.
Jamie Fullerton of NME
called "Many of Horror" a "perfect rock ballad". Tim Newbound of Rock Sound
described it as "beautifully serene" and stated it balances out more aggressive songs on the album. Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic described the song as "mellow".
Thom Gibbs of Drowned in Sound
was critical of the song, calling it a "so-so ballad" and describing it as "too emo
".
7" Blue Vinyl 14FLR41
7" Red Vinyl 14FLR41X
iTunes Digital EP
. Occasionally, lead singer Simon Neil
's face appears distorted.
, the 2010 winner of the seventh series of The X Factor
. His version has been re-titled "When We Collide". It was made available as a download on 12 December 2010 shortly after the show had ended, with a physical CD single
being released on 15 December 2010.
In December 2010, Cardle stated that "I know there are some Biffy
fans that are like, 'What have you done to that song?'...It's a great song. I'm hoping that I've done it justice." Referring to the Facebook
campaign to make the original version of the song number 1 in the chart, Cardle said "If that happens then great - it's a great song". On 19 December 2010, it charted number 1 in the UK Singles Chart
, beating "What's My Name
" by Rihanna
featuring Drake
and "Surfin' Bird
" by The Trashmen
, whilst the Biffy Clyro original of Many of Horror re-entered the chart at number 8. The song is the second best-selling single of 2010 according to the UK Singles Chart
"Top 100 Selling Singles of 2010" with 815,000 copies sold during that year; the number 1 being "Love the Way You Lie
" by Eminem
featuring Rihanna
with sales of 854,000 copies during 2010.
CD single
praised Cardle's vocals, stating he delivered "the violence-tinged lyrics with an appealing sense of intimacy, navigating the inevitable key change with ease and really smashing it on the final note". Rachael Patan of Femalefirst.com and The Beat Review applauded the song choice with the latter stating "his untimely cover of Biffy Clyro’s ‘Many of Horror’ is a very clever and risque thing to do and we applaud him for that".
Fraser McAlpine of the BBC
Chart Blog, was much more negative. He stated, "on the evidence of this song, he sure as hell can't sing." Unrealityshout.com agreed, stating "I actually find it very hard to listen to such a heroically valiant vocal from the Biffy Clyro clan get turned into a whimpering, reedy, falsetto-ridden snoozefest".
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
song written by Simon Neil
Simon Neil
Simon Alexander Neil is a Scottish vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, known for his work in the bands Biffy Clyro and Marmaduke Duke.-Biffy Clyro:...
of Scottish band Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
for their fifth studio album Only Revolutions. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on 18 January 2010. The song was recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA and mastered at Masterdisk. The lyrics of the song concern Neil's wife and family. Jacknife Lee
Jacknife Lee
Garret "Jacknife" Lee is an Irish music producer and mixer. He has worked with a variety of artists, including The Cars, U2, R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, AFI, The Hives, Weezer, Vega4 and Editors.-Biography:...
, who previously remixed "Silhouettes
Silhouettes (Marmaduke Duke)
"Silhouettes" is a song written by the Scottish experimental rock group Marmaduke Duke. It is included on their second album 'Duke Pandemonium and was released as a single on 6 July 2009. The single release of Silhouettes will be a remix version by Jacknife Lee...
" for the Biffy Clyro and Sucioperro
Sucioperro
Sucioperro are a Scottish rock band from Ayrshire, formed in 2002. The band's name is a rough Spanish translation of "dirty dog".-Random Acts of Intimacy:...
side project Marmaduke Duke
Marmaduke Duke
Marmaduke Duke are a conceptual rock duo from Ayrshire, Scotland, comprising Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and JP Reid of Sucioperro. Within the band, the pair perform under the pseudonyms The Atmosphere and The Dragon. According to Neil, the band, and its albums, are "based on a trilogy of unreleased...
, recorded a remix for the song.
Matt Cardle
Matt Cardle
Matthew Sheridan "Matt" Cardle is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to fame after winning the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010. He received a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music by winning, and his debut number one single "When We Collide" was released immediately...
, winner of the 2010 series
The X Factor (UK series 7)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, recorded a studio version of the song under the title "When We Collide" and released it as his debut single, after having performed it in the final of the competition. Biffy Clyro fans launched an internet campaign to get the original track "Many of Horror" to the festive charts, with fans joining a Facebook campaign urging people to buy Biffy Clyro's original single rather than Cardle's cover version. This resulted in the Biffy Clyro version reaching number 8 in 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 ...
, its highest position ever, and Cardle's version became the UK Christmas number 1.
The song is featured on the deluxe edition soundtrack
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – The Album
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – The Album is a compilation album of various artists music from the 2011 live-action Transformers: Dark of the Moon movie. The first official single from the album is "Iridescent" by Linkin Park...
to the film Transformers: Dark of the Moon and is played during the end credits.
Critical reception
Critical reception of "Many of Horror" was generally positive.Jamie Fullerton of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
called "Many of Horror" a "perfect rock ballad". Tim Newbound of Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
described it as "beautifully serene" and stated it balances out more aggressive songs on the album. Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic described the song as "mellow".
Thom Gibbs of Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
was critical of the song, calling it a "so-so ballad" and describing it as "too emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
".
Track listing
CD Single 14FLR41CD- "Many of Horror" – 4:21
- "Toottoottoot" – 4:16
7" Blue Vinyl 14FLR41
- "Many of Horror" – 4:21
- "Lonely Revolutions" – 2:32
7" Red Vinyl 14FLR41X
- "Many of Horror" – 4:21
- "Creative Burns" – 2:33
iTunes Digital EP
- "Many of Horror" – 4:21
- "Toottoottoot" – 4:16
- "Lonely Revolutions" – 2:32
- "Creative Burns" – 2:33
Music video
The video for the song features the band playing in Battersea Power StationBattersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
. Occasionally, lead singer Simon Neil
Simon Neil
Simon Alexander Neil is a Scottish vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, known for his work in the bands Biffy Clyro and Marmaduke Duke.-Biffy Clyro:...
's face appears distorted.
Chart performance
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|
Credits
- Artwork (Cover design, photography) – Stormstudios
- Music – Biffy Clyro
- Songwriter (Song lyrics) – Simon Neil
- Producer – Biffy Clyro, Gggarth (tracks: 1)
Matt Cardle version
"When We Collide" is the debut single by Matt CardleMatt Cardle
Matthew Sheridan "Matt" Cardle is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to fame after winning the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010. He received a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music by winning, and his debut number one single "When We Collide" was released immediately...
, the 2010 winner of the seventh series of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK series 7)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
. His version has been re-titled "When We Collide". It was made available as a download on 12 December 2010 shortly after the show had ended, with a physical CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
being released on 15 December 2010.
In December 2010, Cardle stated that "I know there are some Biffy
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
fans that are like, 'What have you done to that song?'...It's a great song. I'm hoping that I've done it justice." Referring to the Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
campaign to make the original version of the song number 1 in the chart, Cardle said "If that happens then great - it's a great song". On 19 December 2010, it charted number 1 in 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 ...
, beating "What's My Name
What's My Name? (Rihanna song)
"What's My Name?" is mid-tempo electro-R&B song, produced by Norwegian producers, StarGate, who return Rihanna to the "Island-pop" of her early career with a backing track consisting of "heavy reggae" and ska beats with synthesised organs. Bill Lamb from About.com noted that before Rihanna's vocals...
" by Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
featuring Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
and "Surfin' Bird
Surfin' Bird
"Surfin' Bird" is a song performed by the American surf rock band The Trashmen; it is also the name of the album that featured this hit single. It was released in 1963 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" by The Trashmen
The Trashmen
The Trashmen are a rock and roll band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1962. The group's original lineup was Tony Andreason on lead guitar and vocals, Dal Winslow on guitar and vocals, Steve Wahrer on drums and vocals, and Bob Reed on bass guitar...
, whilst the Biffy Clyro original of Many of Horror re-entered the chart at number 8. The song is the second best-selling single of 2010 according to 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 ...
"Top 100 Selling Singles of 2010" with 815,000 copies sold during that year; the number 1 being "Love the Way You Lie
Love the Way You Lie
"Love the Way You Lie" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his seventh studio album, Recovery . It was released as the album's second single on August 9, 2010, by Interscope-Geffen-A&M. The song features vocals by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. According to her, its theme...
" 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...
featuring Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
with sales of 854,000 copies during 2010.
Track listing
Digital download- "When We Collide"
- Matt's thank you message
CD single
- "When We Collide"
- "Just the Way You AreJust the Way You Are (Bruno Mars song)"Just the Way You Are" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, and is the lead single from his debut studio album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans. It was released in the United States on July 20, 2010. It has also received airplay from AOL Radio's New Pop First station. The song was written by...
" - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your FaceThe First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. MacColl and Seeger included the song in their...
" - "Nights in White SatinNights in White Satin"Nights in White Satin" is a 1967 single by The Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward and first featured on the album Days of Future Passed.It is in the key of E minor Aeolian.-Single releases:...
"
Critical reception
Critical reception of Cardle's version of the song was mostly positive although many reviewers noted they preferred the original version. Nick Levine of Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
praised Cardle's vocals, stating he delivered "the violence-tinged lyrics with an appealing sense of intimacy, navigating the inevitable key change with ease and really smashing it on the final note". Rachael Patan of Femalefirst.com and The Beat Review applauded the song choice with the latter stating "his untimely cover of Biffy Clyro’s ‘Many of Horror’ is a very clever and risque thing to do and we applaud him for that".
Fraser McAlpine of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Chart Blog, was much more negative. He stated, "on the evidence of this song, he sure as hell can't sing." Unrealityshout.com agreed, stating "I actually find it very hard to listen to such a heroically valiant vocal from the Biffy Clyro clan get turned into a whimpering, reedy, falsetto-ridden snoozefest".
Chart positions
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scotland (The Official Charts Company) | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| Irish Singles (IRMA Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... ) |
1 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 2 |