I See Red (Split Enz song)

Recording

Tim Finn said, "That's a one-off thing we did at Startling Studios which is Ringo Starr's studio - it used to be John Lennon's place. The engineer out there got to know us and liked us and gave us some free time when the studio wasn't being used."

Music video

The music video for "I See Red" begins with Tim Finn angrily ripping his hair out as he can see a woman out a window walking along (as the first line of the lyrics indicates "When my baby's walking down the street/I see red, I see red, I see red"). Finn then resumes his regular position with the band and sings the rest of the song with them. The band, including Finn, are all wearing grey suits with black markings on them with white shirts and red ties. The studio is low lit with a white or red spotlight on different members of the band, though occasionally lighting up a backdrop completely, though still predominantly keeping to white and red light. At the very end of the song, musically, the song silences very suddenly instead of fading out or being ended at the end of a bar, due to the tape running out during recording. In the music video at this moment, the band members disappear from the performance area leaving the space only with instruments in place.

Track listing

All songs written by Tim Finn.

7" vinyl

1. "I See Red" - 3:15

1. "Hermit McDermitt" - 3:42
2. "Message Boy" - 3:51

Coloured 7" vinyl reissue

Reissued in 1989 to coincide with the release of greatest hits album History Never Repeats - The Best Of Split Enz. Released with new artwork to match History Never Repeats. Live version recorded at Festival Hall, Melbourne, November 1984.

1. "I See Red" - 3:15
2. "I See Red" (live) - 4:15