Special Cases
Encyclopedia
"Special Cases" is a song on English trip hop
collective Massive Attack
's fourth full-length album, 100th Window
. It was released as the first single from this album on 24 February 2003, reaching #15 in the UK Singles Chart
. Featuring Sinéad O'Connor
on vocals, it was for many fans of the band their first exposure to the new album.
In addition to a radio edit
of the original song, the single release contains a remix by Canadian electronica artist Akufen
, as well as "I Against I", a song performed with Mos Def
that appeared on the soundtrack of the 2002 film Blade II
. 12" vinyl releases contained an additional remix of "Special Cases" by Vladislav Delay
, who is credited as "Luomo" for this release.
The song was also made into two separate videos. The Enhanced CD contains one of these, and the other video is on a rare DVD release of the single.
12" (VST1839)
DVD (VSDVD1839)
Trip hop
Trip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
collective Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
's fourth full-length album, 100th Window
100th Window
-Personnel:* Robert "3D" Del Naja* Neil Davidge* Horace Andy – Vocals* Sinéad O'Connor – Vocals* Alex Swift – Additional programming and keyboards* Angelo Bruschini – Guitars* Jon Harris – Bass* Damon Reece – Drums...
. It was released as the first single from this album on 24 February 2003, reaching #15 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 ...
. Featuring Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
on vocals, it was for many fans of the band their first exposure to the new album.
In addition to a radio edit
Radio edit
In music, a radio edit is a modification to make a song more suitable for airplay, whether it be adjusted for length, profanity, subject matter, instrumentation, or form...
of the original song, the single release contains a remix by Canadian electronica artist Akufen
Akufen
Marc Leclair, better known by his stage name Akufen, is a Canadian electronic musician. His music is electronic music that is often described as minimal house, minimal techno, glitch, or microhouse....
, as well as "I Against I", a song performed with Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
that appeared on the soundtrack of the 2002 film Blade II
Blade II
Blade II is a 2002 superhero vampire film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Blade. It is the sequel of the Blade film series. It was written by David S. Goyer, who also wrote the previous film...
. 12" vinyl releases contained an additional remix of "Special Cases" by Vladislav Delay
Vladislav Delay
Vladislav Delay is one of the pseudonyms of Sasu Ripatti , a Finnish electronic musician. He has also recorded as Luomo, Sistol, Uusitalo and Conoco.-Background:...
, who is credited as "Luomo" for this release.
The song was also made into two separate videos. The Enhanced CD contains one of these, and the other video is on a rare DVD release of the single.
Track listing
CD (VSCDT1839)- "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
- "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56
- "I Against I" (featuring Mos DefMos DefDante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
)– 5:40 - "Special Cases" (video version 2) – 5:09
12" (VST1839)
- "Special Cases (Akufen remix)" – 9:56
- "Special Cases (Luomo's Casing)" – 7:56
DVD (VSDVD1839)
- "Special Cases" (video version 1) – 5:09
- "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
- "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56
- "Special Cases" (Luomo's Casing edit) – 4:43