Format 7"
12"
cassette
CD Genre Funk rock
dance-rock | Recorded 1985 Length 4:26 | |
B-side "Curtains" (UK)
"We Do What We're Told" (US) Released 1986 (1986) (US)
January 1987 (1987-01) (UK) | ||
"Big Time" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So. It was his second top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 8.
Contents
Music
"Big Time" alternates mode between A♭ minor (Aeolian) in the chorus and A♭ Dorian during the verses and is played at the speed of 116 bpm. The song’s bass guitar part is unique in that backing bassist Tony Levin and then-backing drummer Jerry Marotta teamed up for the main bassline. Using one of Levin's fretless basses, Levin handled the fingerings while Marotta hit his drumsticks on the strings, which is why the bass part sounds percussive. Inspired by this sound, Levin later invented funk fingers, which were little drumstick ends that could be attached to the fingers to achieve a similar bass guitar effect in concert. Police drummer Stewart Copeland plays drums on the song, and P. P. Arnold, Coral "Chyna Whyne" Gordon, and Dee Lewis, all of whom also sung on "Sledgehammer", performed backing vocals.
Personnel
Music video
The visual style was very similar to the "Sledgehammer" video, using stop motion claymation by David Daniels and strata-cut animation. The larger video was supervised by director Stephen R. Johnson and produced by Prudence Fenton. It was shot at Peter Wallach Studios. Graphic designer Wayne White contributed to the creation of the video.
Song information
"Curtains" is the title of the B-side to the "Big Time" single, as well as the B-side to the "Don't Give Up" single. It was used many years later in several re-recorded versions in the 2004 Ubisoft game Myst IV: Revelation.
"Big Time" was used as the main theme song for WrestleMania 22 in 2006.
Track listing
7" UK
- Big Time (7" edit)
- Curtains
12" UK
- Big Time (extended version)
- Big Time (7" edit)
- Curtains
Cassette single UK
- Big Time (extended version)
- Curtains
- No Self Control (live version)
- Across the river
CD-single UK
- Big Time (extended version)
- Curtains
- No Self Control
- Across the river
- Big Time (7" edit)
7" USA
- Big Time
- We Do What We're Told
12" USA
- Big Time (dance mix)
- In Your Eyes (special mix)
- We Do What We're Told
Remixes
Along with the two mixes found on different versions of the single, Big Time has been officially remixed by Electrokingdom. Although reputed to be more numerous, four mixes (Main Mix - Club Mix - Dub Mix - Acoustic Mix) can be downloaded on legal platforms.