Released January 29, 1990 Label Slash | Format CD, cassette, vinyl | |
Recorded December 1988 – January 1989, Studio D, Sausalito, California Genre Rap metal
funk metal
alternative metal Length 4:54 (Album Version)
4:18 (Edit)
3:59 (Radio Remix Edit)
3:45 (Mexican Edited Version) | ||
"Epic" is a song by the American rock band Faith No More. It was released in 1989 as the second single from their third album The Real Thing in US and in 1990 as their second single from that album in the UK and Europe. The song was a breakthrough hit. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 (the band's only Top Ten hit in the United States), and their first Number One single on the Australian charts. It is among the band's most popular songs and a staple in their concerts.
Contents
- Music video
- Reception
- In pop culture
- UK International release
- American release
- Australian release
- UK International reissue
- Official Versions
- Covers
- References
"Epic" was ranked number 30 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs, number 67 on their 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders list, in 2009, it was named the 54th best hard rock song of all time also by VH1, also in 2009 it charted number 46 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time, the largest music poll in the world.
Music video
Directed by Ralph Ziman, the music video for "Epic" which featured surreal images combined with performance footage of the band soaked by an artificial rainstorm on a sound stage, was subject to controversy because of the treatment of a fish, who is out of water and appeared to be dying on camera.
During an interview, the band joked that the fish seen flopping around in the music video belonged to Icelandic singer Björk, who at the time was the singer for the band The Sugarcubes, and they claimed to have stolen it from her at a party. There are also stories of Björk giving the fish to the keyboardist Roddy Bottum after a poetry reading in San Francisco. This was confirmed by the singer who defended the group, saying that "I know those guys, I know they wouldn't do anything to harm [him]. But I know, if I had gone home with MY fish, which was given to ME, none of this would have ever happened."
Guitarist Jim Martin was a schoolmate, close friend and fan of the late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. In the video he can be seen wearing a T-shirt with a photo of Cliff with the words "A Tribute to Cliff Burton". In addition, Mike Patton can be seen wearing a Mr. Bungle shirt that reads "There's A Tractor In My Balls Again".
Reception
"Epic" was the band's most successful single in U.S and was generally well-received; according to Rolling Stone, it set a standard that Faith No More did not match with its later albums. Both the Philadelphia Daily News and Los Angeles Times praised the song, citing the song as "radio-ready" and "radical," respectively. However, the New York Times also cited Faith No More as "style-crunching," using "Epic" as their example. The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual year-end critics' poll ranked "Epic" at number five on their poll of the best singles of 1990, tying with Lisa Stansfield's "All Around the World". Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers would later accuse Patton of stealing his style in the form of this video and numerous performances.
In pop culture
UK & International release
The initial release of "Epic", released in the UK, Germany, Japan and Internationally. The 7" editions only had Tracks One, Two, and occasionally Three. Track Five was exclusive to Japanese issues.
American release
This version was released in America as a "Slash sticker" labelled 7" and as a cassette with a "Burning Splash" sleeve.
Australian release
The 7" and cassette versions of this release only had tracks 1 & 2, unlike the 12" which featured all 3.
UK & International reissue
Reissue version of the single "Epic". The 7" vinyl and cassette versions only had the first two tracks.
Official Versions
Covers
"Epic" has been covered both in concerts and on the Kerrang! Higher Voltage CD, a compilation of artists covering other songs. Such artists include the Welsh rock band The Automatic; the CD was released June 20, 2007. The metalcore band Atreyu also covered the song on their album Lead Sails Paper Anchor, and the Swedish indie band Love is All covered the song on the B-side to their What's Your Rupture? 7" "Wishing Well." An arrangement by Mateo Messina was featured in the 2011 film Young Adult.