Richard III (song)
Encyclopedia
"Richard III" is a song by the band Supergrass
. It was the second single to be released from In It for the Money
, the band's second album. The single was preceded by "Going Out
", which was released over a year before. "Richard III" was released in March 1997, and reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
, their highest since "Alright
".
Both the 2nd CD (of the CD release format) and the 7" vinyl format have the "Richard III" cover design but with the colours altered instead.
The song's name comes from the band's method of creating working titles for songs - giving them people's names. This was the third called "Richard" and the band liked the reference to the king Richard III
and the Shakespeare
play Richard III
in which the king is depicted as a dark and evil character, as it matched the menacing tone of the song. Neither the king, nor the play are mentioned in the song.
A Peel session of the song was released on the CD single for Mary.
3. "Sometimes We're Very Sad" (2:21)
CD2 CDRS6461
LTD. ED. Yellow 7" R6461 / TC TCR6461
The music video, like many others in Supergrass' career, was directed by Nic (drummer Danny Goffey
's brother) and Dom. It shows the band playing "Richard III" in a basement, with a slight feel of unease and possibly hate about them. Mick Quinn
tries to run away, but is pulled back with a guitar lead by Danny. Mick then falls to the floor, his nose bleeding. He stares at the TV, and Rob Coombes
is playing the theremin
. It then goes back to Gaz Coombes
and Danny playing the song, and then a drop of water hits an electrical wire, causing a massive electrical burst and in so doing, prompts the beginning of the guitar solo. The video then ends with the opening sequence played in reverse.
Nic and Dom joked in the Supergrass Is 10
DVD that this music video was "one of the occasions where we nearly killed the band". The reason for this is that they covered the room with Fuller's Earth
, which they later found out to be harmful to humans. The earth can be seen being knocked from Danny's drums whenever he hits them.
Gaz Coombes
plays his red Gibson SG
guitar in the video.
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
. It was the second single to be released from In It for the Money
In It for the Money
In It for the Money is the second album by Supergrass, released in 1997. NME called it "more fun than watching a wombat in a washing machine" and named it the 10th best album of the year. In 1998, Q readers voted it the 68th greatest album of all time, while in 2000 the same magazine placed it at...
, the band's second album. The single was preceded by "Going Out
Going Out
"Going Out" was the first single to be taken from In It for the Money, the second album by Britpop band Supergrass. It was released in February 1996, and reached 5 in the UK Charts. Apparently the song was originally written in the key of E, because the engine of Supergrass' tour bus would tick at...
", which was released over a year before. "Richard III" was released in March 1997, and reached #2 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 ...
, their highest since "Alright
Alright/Time
"Alright" is a song by British alternative rock band Supergrass. It was released with "Time" as a double A-side single from their debut album I Should Coco on 3 July 1995...
".
Both the 2nd CD (of the CD release format) and the 7" vinyl format have the "Richard III" cover design but with the colours altered instead.
The song's name comes from the band's method of creating working titles for songs - giving them people's names. This was the third called "Richard" and the band liked the reference to the king Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
and the Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
play Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
in which the king is depicted as a dark and evil character, as it matched the menacing tone of the song. Neither the king, nor the play are mentioned in the song.
A Peel session of the song was released on the CD single for Mary.
Track listing
CD1 CDR6461- "Richard III" (3:14)
- "Sometimes I Make You Sad" (2:48)
- The guitar solo in "Sometimes I Make You Sad" was written during the recording of In It For The MoneyIn It for the MoneyIn It for the Money is the second album by Supergrass, released in 1997. NME called it "more fun than watching a wombat in a washing machine" and named it the 10th best album of the year. In 1998, Q readers voted it the 68th greatest album of all time, while in 2000 the same magazine placed it at...
; it was recorded at half speed then sped up to achieve the mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
-like sound. - The only use of percussion in the song is a cymbal; the drum noises were instead simulated by members of the band making 'grunting' noises. These were then put on a loop.
- The guitar solo in "Sometimes I Make You Sad" was written during the recording of In It For The Money
3. "Sometimes We're Very Sad" (2:21)
- This wasn't a song, but was actually audio of the band, attempting to record the grunting noises heard on "Sometimes I Make You Sad" without laughing. Gaz CoombesGaz CoombesGaz Coombes is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the English alternative rock band, Supergrass. He first entered the music scene aged sixteen as the lead singer of the band The Jennifers which featured Supergrass band mate Danny Goffey...
is also heard at the end saying how badly the recording is going, by explaining how they'd "murdered Mickey's song" and how "his arse hurts."
CD2 CDRS6461
- "Richard III" (3:14)
- "Nothing More's Gonna Get In My Way" (4:02)
- "20ft Halo" (3:18)
LTD. ED. Yellow 7" R6461 / TC TCR6461
- "Richard III" (3:14)
- "Nothing More's Gonna Get In My Way" (4:02)
Music video
- DirectorMusic video directorA music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
: Dom and NicDom and Nicdom&nic is the working name of directors Nic Goffey and Dominic Hawley. They have been directing notable music videos and commercials since 1994....
The music video, like many others in Supergrass' career, was directed by Nic (drummer Danny Goffey
Danny Goffey
Daniel Robert Goffey Daniel Robert Goffey Daniel Robert Goffey (born 7 February 1974 in Slough, Buckinghamshire (now Berkshire) is an English musician and singer-songwriter best known as the drummer and backing vocalist for the English Britpop band, Supergrass...
's brother) and Dom. It shows the band playing "Richard III" in a basement, with a slight feel of unease and possibly hate about them. Mick Quinn
Mick Quinn
Mick Quinn is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as founding member of English rock band Supergrass. He formed the DB Band with bassist Paul Wilson, formerly of Shake Appeal in 2010 and released début EP "Stranger In The Alps" on the 17th September 2011...
tries to run away, but is pulled back with a guitar lead by Danny. Mick then falls to the floor, his nose bleeding. He stares at the TV, and Rob Coombes
Rob Coombes
Rob Coombes was the keyboard player for Supergrass.He is the older brother of Gaz Coombes and was the newest member of Supergrass, officially joining in 2002...
is playing the theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
. It then goes back to Gaz Coombes
Gaz Coombes
Gaz Coombes is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the English alternative rock band, Supergrass. He first entered the music scene aged sixteen as the lead singer of the band The Jennifers which featured Supergrass band mate Danny Goffey...
and Danny playing the song, and then a drop of water hits an electrical wire, causing a massive electrical burst and in so doing, prompts the beginning of the guitar solo. The video then ends with the opening sequence played in reverse.
Nic and Dom joked in the Supergrass Is 10
Supergrass Is 10
Supergrass Is 10 is a compilation album celebrating the first 10 years of the band Supergrass. It includes singles from their first release, "Caught by the Fuzz" , to their then latest release, "Kiss of Life" ....
DVD that this music video was "one of the occasions where we nearly killed the band". The reason for this is that they covered the room with Fuller's Earth
Fuller's earth
Fuller's earth is any non-plastic clay or claylike earthy material used to decolorize, filter, and purify animal, mineral, and vegetable oils and greases.-Occurrence and composition:...
, which they later found out to be harmful to humans. The earth can be seen being knocked from Danny's drums whenever he hits them.
Gaz Coombes
Gaz Coombes
Gaz Coombes is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the English alternative rock band, Supergrass. He first entered the music scene aged sixteen as the lead singer of the band The Jennifers which featured Supergrass band mate Danny Goffey...
plays his red Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
guitar in the video.