Spitting Games
Encyclopedia
"Spitting Games" is the lead single from Snow Patrol
's third album, Final Straw
, released on 15 September 2003.
It was featured on the video game MVP Baseball 2004 and numerous Club Football 2005 titles. The track was also featured in "Everything Changes
", the first episode of the Doctor Who
spin-off Torchwood
, and later in the episode "Greeks Bearing Gifts
", in 2006. It was featured on an episode of the second season of the teen drama One Tree Hill
.
. To mark the release, the band made a previously unheard track for free download on their official site, titled "Half the Fun of It".
Snow Patrol were one of the acts chosen in AOL
Music's "Breakers" in December 2003, a program to promote bands for months leading up to the release of their respective albums in the United States. During the time of the band's promotion, lead UK single "Spitting Games" was downloaded a million times, and was released as a stand-alone single in March 2004 in the week of the band's appearance at South by Southwest
Festival.
, which called it a classic indie song. it praised the "British chugging guitar" and "bittersweet melodies". Irish Central called the song an alternative rock "masterpiece" and said it had made the band "cool".
's "Crazy In Love
", which was first performed on Zane Lowe
's BBC Radio 1
show and another cover of Will Oldham
's "New Partner", again from a Radio 1 Session for Steve Lamacq
in 2002. The song made the A lists of BBC Radio 1
, BBC Radio 2
and 95.8 Capital FM radio station of London. Due to heavy airplay by the radio stations, the single peaked at #6 on the UK Airplay Chart. It helped the album Final Straws sales, which reached #5, its highest chart placing after 23 weeks.
's Simon Ward reviewed the single positively, awarding it 7 stars out of 10, though he criticized the song for being "an indie anthem of the kind Ash used to make ten years ago." He praised the song's "nagging 'do-doo harmonies and driving guitars" though said that it wasn't "going to rewrite rock history." He still felt "it's competent indie-pop that will doubtless signal skies full of water and bouncing moshpits at the rest of the summer's festivals. Which is, frankly, all that's asked of it."
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
's third album, Final Straw
Final Straw
UK re-release bonus tracks*The AOL sessions feature frontman Gary Lightbody & lead guitarist Nathan Connolly being interviewed, and performing an acoustic rendition of "Run".*The dualdisc version does not include the UK bonus tracks....
, released on 15 September 2003.
It was featured on the video game MVP Baseball 2004 and numerous Club Football 2005 titles. The track was also featured in "Everything Changes
Everything Changes (Torchwood)
"Everything Changes" is the first episode of the British science fiction television programme Torchwood, which was first broadcast on 22 October 2006.-Synopsis:Police constable Gwen Cooper comes across the mysterious organisation known as Torchwood...
", the first episode of the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
spin-off Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
, and later in the episode "Greeks Bearing Gifts
Greeks Bearing Gifts (Torchwood)
"Greeks Bearing Gifts" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. It is the seventh episode of the first series, which was broadcast on 26 November 2006.-Synopsis:...
", in 2006. It was featured on an episode of the second season of the teen drama One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
.
Original release
Snow Patrol released the song during their first UK Tour during the Final Straw TourFinal Straw Tour
The Final Straw Tour was a concert tour by Northern Irish alternative rock band Snow Patrol. It was launched in support of the group's 2003 album Final Straw. The band visited numerous venues internationally from 2003 through 2005. The tour is the collective name of many smaller tours and festivals...
. To mark the release, the band made a previously unheard track for free download on their official site, titled "Half the Fun of It".
Snow Patrol were one of the acts chosen in AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
Music's "Breakers" in December 2003, a program to promote bands for months leading up to the release of their respective albums in the United States. During the time of the band's promotion, lead UK single "Spitting Games" was downloaded a million times, and was released as a stand-alone single in March 2004 in the week of the band's appearance at South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
Festival.
Track listing
- "Spitting Games" – 3:48
- "Steal" – 2:44
- "Brave" – 4:12
- "Spitting Games" (Video)
- 7" Vinyl:
- "Spitting Games" – 3:48
- "Steal" – 2:44
Reception
The single was reviewed positively by Music WeekMusic Week
Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
, which called it a classic indie song. it praised the "British chugging guitar" and "bittersweet melodies". Irish Central called the song an alternative rock "masterpiece" and said it had made the band "cool".
Re-release
"Spitting Games" was re-released on 12 July 2004, on both E-CD and 7" formats. The enhanced CD featured a cover of BeyoncéBeyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
's "Crazy In Love
Crazy in Love
"Crazy in Love" may refer to:*"Crazy in Love" *"Crazy in Love" *"Crazy in Love" , also recorded by Conway Twitty and Kenny Rogers*Crazy in Love , by Conway Twitty...
", which was first performed 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 BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show and another cover of Will Oldham
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
's "New Partner", again from a Radio 1 Session for Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
in 2002. The song made the A lists of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
and 95.8 Capital FM radio station of London. Due to heavy airplay by the radio stations, the single peaked at #6 on the UK Airplay Chart. It helped the album Final Straws sales, which reached #5, its highest chart placing after 23 weeks.
Track listing
- "Spitting Games" - 3:48
- "Crazy In Love" (BBC Live Version) - 4:25
- "New Partner" (BBC Live Version) - 4:05
- "Spitting Games" (Video version 2)
- 7" Vinyl:
- "Spitting Games" - 3:48
- "Wow (Acoustic)" - 3:09
- Promo CD
- "Spitting Games (AAA Mix)" - 3:28
Reception
Yahoo! MusicYahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
's Simon Ward reviewed the single positively, awarding it 7 stars out of 10, though he criticized the song for being "an indie anthem of the kind Ash used to make ten years ago." He praised the song's "nagging 'do-doo harmonies and driving guitars" though said that it wasn't "going to rewrite rock history." He still felt "it's competent indie-pop that will doubtless signal skies full of water and bouncing moshpits at the rest of the summer's festivals. Which is, frankly, all that's asked of it."
Charts
| Chart | Year | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Top 75 | (2003) | 54 |
| UK Singles Top 75 | (2004) | 23 |
| UK Airplay Chart | (2004) | 6 |
| Ireland Singles Top 50 | (2004) | 41 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks | (2004) | 39 |