You Surround Me
Encyclopedia
"You Surround Me" is a song by Erasure
that was issued in 1989 by Mute Records
as the second single from the band's fourth studio album Wild!
. The song was not released in the United States
.
, peaking at #15. It reached #10 on the Irish singles chart
, and became a Top 40 hit in Germany
, where it reached #38.
The track, a love song, was written by Erasure members Vince Clarke
and Andy Bell
and is a heavily-synthesized ballad
with a dramatic chorus featuring Bell's falsetto
. Clarke has stated that this song was his attempt at writing a James Bond film theme.
This release has become more notable for the B-sides that were included with "You Surround Me". First was a cover version
of Cerrone
's environmental anthem "Supernature
". The song, also previously recorded by Lene Lovich
, led to a collaboration between Erasure and Lovich for the song "Rage", which later appeared on a PETA
benefit album. Erasure's recording was remix
ed by William Orbit
and became a popular hit in dance clubs.
Also included on the single as a B-side is "91 Steps", an instrumental with complex synthesizer programming and unusual time signature
which prompted listeners to think their CD players were skipping. The track utilizes repeating cycles in which the first seven bars use a 7/4 time signature, followed by one bar in 3/4 time.
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
that was issued in 1989 by Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
as the second single from the band's fourth studio album Wild!
Wild!
Wild! is the fourth studio album by British band Erasure. Released in 1989, it was the follow-up album to their 1988 breakthrough The Innocents...
. The song was not released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Upon release, "You Surround Me" became Erasure's tenth consecutive Top 20 hit on the UK singles chartUK 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 ...
, peaking at #15. It reached #10 on the Irish singles chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
, and became a Top 40 hit in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where it reached #38.
The track, a love song, was written by Erasure members Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
and Andy Bell
Andy Bell (singer)
Andrew Ivan "Andy" Bell is the lead singer of the English synthpop duo Erasure. He also has a solo career, with the albums Non-Stop and Electric Blue.-Early life:Andy Bell originates from the Dogsthorpe area in Peterborough...
and is a heavily-synthesized ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
with a dramatic chorus featuring Bell's falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
. Clarke has stated that this song was his attempt at writing a James Bond film theme.
This release has become more notable for the B-sides that were included with "You Surround Me". First was a cover version
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...
of Cerrone
Cerrone
Marc Cerrone is a French disco drummer, singer-songwriter and record producer.Marc Cerrone has sold over thirty million albums and has often performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people at huge concerts and events such as The 2005 Dance Party Live in Versailles and The 2000 Los Angeles...
's environmental anthem "Supernature
Supernature (Cerrone song)
Supernature is the title track of Cerrone's 1977 album. "Supernature ", along with the tracks "Give Me Love" and "Love is Here", hit #1 on the disco/dance charts early in 1978. The single crossed over to both the pop charts, where it peaked at #70 and the soul charts, where it peaked at #72...
". The song, also previously recorded by Lene Lovich
Lene Lovich
Lene Lovich is an American singer based in England, who first gained attention as part of the New Wave music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her most popular hit single was "Lucky Number", first released in 1979.-Early years:...
, led to a collaboration between Erasure and Lovich for the song "Rage", which later appeared on a PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
benefit album. Erasure's recording was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed by William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
and became a popular hit in dance clubs.
Also included on the single as a B-side is "91 Steps", an instrumental with complex synthesizer programming and unusual time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
which prompted listeners to think their CD players were skipping. The track utilizes repeating cycles in which the first seven bars use a 7/4 time signature, followed by one bar in 3/4 time.
12" single (12MUTE99) / CD single (CDMUTE99)
- "You Surround Me" (Syrinx Mix)
- "Supernature"
- "91 Steps" (+24 Mix)
Limited 12" single (L12MUTE99) / Limited CD single (LCDMUTE99)
- "You Surround Me" (Remix)
- "Supernature" (William Orbit Remix)
- "91 Steps" (6 Pianos Mix)
Limited "Supernature" 12" single (XL12MUTE99)
- "Supernature" (Daniel Miller & Phil Legg Mix)
- "You Surround Me" (Gareth JonesGareth Jones (music producer)Gareth Jones is an English music producer and engineer notable for working with Depeche Mode, Einstürzende Neubauten, Wire and Erasure.-Background:Gareth Jones is married and currently living in North London....
Mix) - "Supernature" (Mark SaundersMark SaundersMark Saunders, is a British record producer who has worked on a number of albums. He relocated to New York City in 1996 and currently works from his facility in Manhattan - Beat360 Studios....
Mix)
Chart performance
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 38 | 10 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 10 | 5 |
| UK Singles Chart | 15 | 9 |