Released 5 January 1993 Genre Funk rock | Recorded 1989–1992 Label Geffen Records | |
Format 7", 12", CD Single, Cassette Length 6:03 (album version)
4:44 (single edit version) | ||
"Steam" is the second single from English rock musician Peter Gabriel's 1992 album Us. It reached number 10 on the UK singles chart, #32 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Contents
Peter Gabriel has said that the song is about a relationship in which the woman is sophisticated, bright, cultured, and knows everything about anything and that the man knows nothing about anything, except, he does know about the woman, and she doesn't know much about herself.
An alternative version of this song called "Quiet Steam" was a B-side on the "Digging in the Dirt" single. It is a very lo-fi take on the popular version that appeared on the album. On Secret World Live, "Steam" is preceded for a minute or so by the "Quiet Steam" version.
Video
The video for "Steam" was directed by Stephen R. Johnson, who also directed the videos for Gabriel's earlier hits "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time." The director said he wanted to cram the video with as many "things" as possible. The video features digital imagery and numerous instances of sexual symbolism.
The "Steam" video won a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 1994, as well as two MTV Video Music Awards in 1993, for Best Special Effects in a Video and Best Editing in a Video.
Track listing
All songs written by Peter Gabriel.
- "Steam (LP version)" – 6:02
- "Games Without Frontiers (Massive / DB mix)" – 5:19
- "Steam (Oh, Oh, Let Off Steam mix 12")" – 6:44
- "Steam (Oh, Oh, Let Off Steam mix dub)" – 5:44