Tempted
Encyclopedia
"Tempted" was the second single
released from Squeeze's fourth album, East Side Story. Though it failed to crack the Top 40 in any country it was released (UK #41, Canada #45, US #49, Australia #90), over the years "Tempted" has become one of Squeeze's most well known songs, especially in North America, thanks to its use in various TV commercials and in modern video games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
. Unlike other Squeeze songs, which are usually sung by guitarist/songwriter Glenn Tilbrook
, the song's lead vocal is mainly by keyboardist Paul Carrack
, though Tilbrook and producer Elvis Costello
also sing for a few lines in the second verse. The song was written by Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.
Tilbrook considers this one of his favorite songs. He told Songfacts: “It was our first song. It was when we grew up, really, as a band. When we finished it I couldn't quite believe it was us.”
Tempted has been covered
numerous times, including versions by Sting, Richard Thompson, Joe Cocker
, The Georgetown Chimes
, and Rockapella
. Jools Holland
also covered this song on his album Lift The Lid, which was a nod to Jools' history with the band.
In 1993, Squeeze remixed and overdubbed the original recording to create a 'new' version of the song for the soundtrack
to the film Reality Bites
. This version received some radio airplay and was dubbed "Tempted '94."
In 2002, the song reached a new audience as part of the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
soundtrack, and in 2008 as downloadable content for the music video game
series Rock Band
.
In 2010, the song appeared in re-recorded form on Spot the Difference
, a retrospective of Squeeze hits performed by many of the original artists.
In May, 2011 the song was released by American Idol Finalist Sanjaya Malakar as a download on iTunes, Amazon.com and on Malakar's site www.sanjayamalakar.com. This version was produced by Billy Joel's former bass player, Larry Russell (Muzikjakit.com)
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
released from Squeeze's fourth album, East Side Story. Though it failed to crack the Top 40 in any country it was released (UK #41, Canada #45, US #49, Australia #90), over the years "Tempted" has become one of Squeeze's most well known songs, especially in North America, thanks to its use in various TV commercials and in modern video games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 open world action computer and video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the second 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise and sixth original title overall...
. Unlike other Squeeze songs, which are usually sung by guitarist/songwriter Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Martin Tilbrook is the lead singer and guitarist of the English band Squeeze, a band formed in the mid 1970s who broke through in the new wave era at the decade's end. He generally wrote the melody for Squeeze, while his writing partner, Chris Difford, wrote the lyrics...
, the song's lead vocal is mainly by keyboardist Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
, though Tilbrook and producer Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
also sing for a few lines in the second verse. The song was written by Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.
Tilbrook considers this one of his favorite songs. He told Songfacts: “It was our first song. It was when we grew up, really, as a band. When we finished it I couldn't quite believe it was us.”
Tempted has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
numerous times, including versions by Sting, Richard Thompson, Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
, The Georgetown Chimes
The Georgetown Chimes
Founded in 1946, The Georgetown Chimes are Georgetown University's oldest a cappella singing group. They are all male.- History :The Georgetown Chimes are an accident of Yale's and GU's athletic policies from the time of World War II. Yale senior and back-up quarterback Francis E...
, and Rockapella
Rockapella
Rockapella is an American a cappella musical group formed in 1986 in New York City. Their name is derived from the words "rock" and "a cappella". They sing original vocal music and a cappella covers of pop and rock songs; over time, their sound has evolved from high-energy pop and world music...
. Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
also covered this song on his album Lift The Lid, which was a nod to Jools' history with the band.
In 1993, Squeeze remixed and overdubbed the original recording to create a 'new' version of the song for the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the film Reality Bites
Reality Bites
Reality Bites is a 1994 American romantic comedy-drama film written by Helen Childress and featuring the directorial debut of Ben Stiller. It stars Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Stiller, with major supporting roles played by Janeane Garofalo and Steve Zahn. The film was shot on location in Austin...
. This version received some radio airplay and was dubbed "Tempted '94."
In 2002, the song reached a new audience as part of the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 open world action computer and video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the second 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise and sixth original title overall...
soundtrack, and in 2008 as downloadable content for the music video game
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
series Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
.
In 2010, the song appeared in re-recorded form on Spot the Difference
Spot the Difference (Squeeze album)
Spot The Difference is a 2010 album by the British New Wave group Squeeze. It is the band's thirteenth studio album, and consists entirely of new recordings of older Squeeze songs...
, a retrospective of Squeeze hits performed by many of the original artists.
In May, 2011 the song was released by American Idol Finalist Sanjaya Malakar as a download on iTunes, Amazon.com and on Malakar's site www.sanjayamalakar.com. This version was produced by Billy Joel's former bass player, Larry Russell (Muzikjakit.com)