Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
Encyclopedia
"Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" is the first single from Editors
' second album An End Has a Start
. It was released as a digital download on June 11, 2007 and as a physical single through cd
and vinyl
on June 18, 2007 in the UK. It peaked at number 7 in the UK Singles Chart
in its first week of physical release. A single was also released in the US on June 26, 2007. The song was set to debut on Zane Lowe
's show on April 30; however, the song leaked on the internet a few days preceding.
, under the supervision of producer Jacknife Lee
. Lead vocals, rhythm guitar and piano were provided by Tom Smith, lead guitar and synth by Chris Urbanowicz
, bass guitar by Russell Leetch
and percussion by Ed Lay. Smith and Lay were also part of the choir, along with producer Jacknife Lee, audio engineer Tom McFall and singer Anne Struther, all of whom were chosen purely because they were in the studio at the time. When performed live, the choir vocals are provided by Smith, Lay and Leetch, rather than using a pre-recorded backing track
.
, enter. The piano part plays a continual progression
of three chords: G, C and E minor. At the end of the first verse, the piano is replaced by a short guitar solo, by Chris Urbanowicz
, which continues the progression. The second verse returns to piano, which segue
s into a distorted rhythm guitar part for the chorus.
The chorus itself has two parts: the first part is four lines long and uses the chord progression of D, E minor, A minor, while the second part is two lines long, but repeated twice, and uses G, D, E minor, C. After the second chorus, the song enters a bridge
, consisting of just piano and vocals, with a faint synthesised accompaniment. Following the end of the vocal part, the song moves into a break
as a bass guitar enters, leading up to a reprise of the guitar solo, accompanied by a choir
who repeat the lyrics of the bridge. The song ends with Smith singing the second part of the chorus, accompanied by the lead guitar, with an abrupt fade out on the final syllable.
on the Vltava
, and depicts, in a nonlinear manner, a young girl with the ability to walk on water
escaping from a hospital, escaping via railway lines, a red light district
and a Romani encampment to the river Vltava where she attempts to row away, only to run back across the water surface to avoid a police boat, all intercut with clips of the Editors playing the song in an abandoned ship. The video ends with Tom Smith
at a dockyard meeting the girl, who runs away in fright.
The woman that helps hide the runaway, presumably a prostitute (the woman), changes in appearance. The runaway's hood is alternately flipped up and down and the dog that runs with her might also be different in different scenes. This is all to signify that the runaway has escaped many times before.
The video was directed by Siggi Kinski and Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson of production company Arni & Kinski, who based the video on a bad childhood experience of a hospital. The video was originally to be filmed in London
. After this proved prohibitively expensive, production moved to Prague with an entirely new cast.
described the song as "audacious, certainly, and very good to boot", adding that "Editors have found their life force in death itself", while MusicOMH stated that "at 5 minutes long it's worth every second." However, some reviews were less favourable; Stereogum described the song as "mildly warmed over post-Coldplay
arena rock
" and described the percussion of the song as the "incessant, downbeat crash cymbal bashing of every band trying to sound 'big'."
UK CD single: SKXCD93
7" vinyl #1: SKX932
7" vinyl #2: SKX93
US CD single: 88697 12171 2
European CD single: P.I.L.086CD 449.3086.122
Kitchenware Promo: SKCD93P
FADER Promo:
Production
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
' second album An End Has a Start
An End Has a Start
An End Has a Start is the second album by British indie rock band Editors. It was released on June 25, 2007 in the UK and on July 17, 2007 in the US. The album was certified Platinum in the UK on the same day it was released....
. It was released as a digital download on June 11, 2007 and as a physical single through cd
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...
and vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
on June 18, 2007 in the UK. It peaked at number 7 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 ...
in its first week of physical release. A single was also released in the US on June 26, 2007. The song was set to debut on Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
's show on April 30; however, the song leaked on the internet a few days preceding.
Production
The song was recorded at Grouse LodgeGrouse Lodge
Grouse Lodge is a recording studio in County Westmeath, Ireland. Designed by Andy Munro it has two studios and living quarters in nine stone outhouses, integrating the existing 275 year old stone structure...
, under the supervision of producer 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:...
. Lead vocals, rhythm guitar and piano were provided by Tom Smith, lead guitar and synth by Chris Urbanowicz
Chris Urbanowicz
Christopher Dominic Urbanowicz is the lead guitarist and synthesizer player of the British indie rock band Editors. He studied music technology at Staffordshire University for three years with the other members of Editors...
, bass guitar by Russell Leetch
Russell Leetch
Russell Jonathan Leetch is the bass guitarist for Birmingham-based indie rock band Editors. He studied music technology at Staffordshire University where he met his fellow Editors band members. He went to secondary school at Arden School, Knowle.He used to work with bandmate Tom Smith in a call...
and percussion by Ed Lay. Smith and Lay were also part of the choir, along with producer Jacknife Lee, audio engineer Tom McFall and singer Anne Struther, all of whom were chosen purely because they were in the studio at the time. When performed live, the choir vocals are provided by Smith, Lay and Leetch, rather than using a pre-recorded backing track
Backing track
A backing track is an audio or MIDI recording that musicians play or sing along to in order to add parts to their music which would be impractical to perform live.-Uses:...
.
Structure
The intro of the song is an unaccompanied drum beat played for 8 seconds, at which point the lead vocals and piano, both by Tom SmithTom Smith (musician)
Thomas Michael Henry Smith is an English musician. He is lead singer, lyricist, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for the Birmingham-based indie rock band Editors....
, enter. The piano part plays a continual progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
of three chords: G, C and E minor. At the end of the first verse, the piano is replaced by a short guitar solo, by Chris Urbanowicz
Chris Urbanowicz
Christopher Dominic Urbanowicz is the lead guitarist and synthesizer player of the British indie rock band Editors. He studied music technology at Staffordshire University for three years with the other members of Editors...
, which continues the progression. The second verse returns to piano, which segue
Segue
A segue is a smooth transition from one topic or section to the next.-In music:In music, segue is a direction to the performer. It means continue without a pause. It comes from the Italian "it follows". The term attacca is also used in classical music.For written music it implies a transition...
s into a distorted rhythm guitar part for the chorus.
The chorus itself has two parts: the first part is four lines long and uses the chord progression of D, E minor, A minor, while the second part is two lines long, but repeated twice, and uses G, D, E minor, C. After the second chorus, the song enters a bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
, consisting of just piano and vocals, with a faint synthesised accompaniment. Following the end of the vocal part, the song moves into a break
Break (music)
In popular music, a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
as a bass guitar enters, leading up to a reprise of the guitar solo, accompanied by a choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
who repeat the lyrics of the bridge. The song ends with Smith singing the second part of the chorus, accompanied by the lead guitar, with an abrupt fade out on the final syllable.
Music video
The music video for "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" was filmed in and around PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
on the Vltava
Vltava
The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník...
, and depicts, in a nonlinear manner, a young girl with the ability to walk on water
Walking on water
Jesus' walks on water, or Jesus walking on water, is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. Accounts of the miracle appear in three Gospels: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52 and...
escaping from a hospital, escaping via railway lines, a red light district
Red Light District
Red Light District may refer to:* Red-light district - a neighborhood where prostitution is common* The Red Light District - the title of the 2004 album by rapper Ludacris* Red Light District Video - a pornography studio based in Los Angeles, California...
and a Romani encampment to the river Vltava where she attempts to row away, only to run back across the water surface to avoid a police boat, all intercut with clips of the Editors playing the song in an abandoned ship. The video ends with Tom Smith
Tom Smith (musician)
Thomas Michael Henry Smith is an English musician. He is lead singer, lyricist, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for the Birmingham-based indie rock band Editors....
at a dockyard meeting the girl, who runs away in fright.
The woman that helps hide the runaway, presumably a prostitute (the woman), changes in appearance. The runaway's hood is alternately flipped up and down and the dog that runs with her might also be different in different scenes. This is all to signify that the runaway has escaped many times before.
The video was directed by Siggi Kinski and Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson of production company Arni & Kinski, who based the video on a bad childhood experience of a hospital. The video was originally to be filmed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After this proved prohibitively expensive, production moved to Prague with an entirely new cast.
Reception
Most initial reviews were positive: NMENME
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...
described the song as "audacious, certainly, and very good to boot", adding that "Editors have found their life force in death itself", while MusicOMH stated that "at 5 minutes long it's worth every second." However, some reviews were less favourable; Stereogum described the song as "mildly warmed over post-Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
arena rock
Arena rock
Arena rock is a term used to describe rock music that utilised large arena venues, particularly sports venues, for concerts or series of concerts linked in tours...
" and described the percussion of the song as the "incessant, downbeat crash cymbal bashing of every band trying to sound 'big'."
Track listings
Digital download:- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" – 4:56
UK CD single: SKXCD93
- Card sleeve
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" – 4:56
- "An Eye for an Eye" – 4:25
7" vinyl #1: SKX932
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" – 4:56
- "Some Kind of Spark" – 4:26
7" vinyl #2: SKX93
- Clear vinyl, shiny metallic cover with silver sleeve, limited to 10,000 copies
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" – 4:56
- "The Picture" – 3:50
US CD single: 88697 12171 2
- Regular jewel case
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" – 4:56
- "An Eye for an Eye" – 4:25
- "The Picture" – 3:50
European CD single: P.I.L.086CD 449.3086.122
- Slimline jewel case
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" (Radio Edit) – 4:56
- "An Eye for an Eye" – 4:25
- "The Picture" – 3:50
- "Some Kind of Spark" – 4:26
Kitchenware Promo: SKCD93P
- Card sleeve
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" (Radio Edit) – 4:09
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" (Full) – 4:56
FADER Promo:
- Slimline jewel case
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" (Radio Edit) – 4:09
- "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" (Full) – 4:56
Personnel
Personnel- Lead vocals by Tom SmithTom Smith (musician)Thomas Michael Henry Smith is an English musician. He is lead singer, lyricist, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for the Birmingham-based indie rock band Editors....
- Rhythm Guitar by Tom Smith.
- Piano by Tom Smith
- Lead Guitar and Synthesiser by Chris UrbanowiczChris UrbanowiczChristopher Dominic Urbanowicz is the lead guitarist and synthesizer player of the British indie rock band Editors. He studied music technology at Staffordshire University for three years with the other members of Editors...
- Bass Guitar by Russell LeetchRussell LeetchRussell Jonathan Leetch is the bass guitarist for Birmingham-based indie rock band Editors. He studied music technology at Staffordshire University where he met his fellow Editors band members. He went to secondary school at Arden School, Knowle.He used to work with bandmate Tom Smith in a call...
- Drums by Ed Lay
- Backing vocals by Russell Leetch,Ed Lay
Production
- Produced by Jacknife Lee
- Recorded by Tom McFall, Jon Gray, Jacknife Lee, Sam Bell
- Mixed by Cenzo TownsendCenzo TownsendCenzo Townshend is an English music producer, mixer, and audio engineer. Townshend has collaborated with both mainstream and underground artists, including The Stranglers, Hothouse Flowers, New Order, Sleeper, Kaiser Chiefs, Northside, The Cranberries, Snow Patrol, as well as U2 and Echo & the...