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The Circus (song)

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Released
  
September 21, 1987

Recorded
  
1986

Length
  
5:30 (LP)3:50 (7")

Format
  
12", 7", CD

Genre
  
Synthpop, new wave

Label
  
Mute (UK)Sire (U.S.)

"The Circus" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in September 1987 as the band's seventh single overall. It is also the title track on their second album, The Circus.

Contents

The album version clocks at 5.30 minutes, so the song was remixed for single release to a much more radio-friendly 3:50 minutes. Mute Records issued it as the fourth and final single from the album.

Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, "The Circus" was a departure from the shiny pop of their six previous singles, creating a more down-tempo and melancholy mood. Essentially a synthpop track, the music is accentuated by acoustic guitar and a continuous circus-like accordion. The lyrics touch on social issues, rare for the duo, and centre on the lament of "working men", whose bright futures and job securities are left shattered in the modern world of greedy corporations and technology.

The song's distinctive and unusual sound is said to have been inspired by Bell hearing a record being played backwards.

Despite its haunting quality and dark lyrical content, "The Circus" became Erasure's third UK Top 10 hit, peaking at number six.

7" single (MUTE66)

  1. "The Circus" (Remix)
  2. "The Circus" (Decay Mix)

12" single #1 (1-12MUTE66)

  1. "Victim of Love" (Live)
  2. "If I Could" (Live)
  3. "The Circus" (Live)
  4. "Spiralling" (Live)

12" single #2 (2-12MUTE66)

  1. "It Doesn't Have To Be" (Live)
  2. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Live)
  3. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (Live)
  4. "The Circus" (Bareback Rider Mix)

12" single #3 (3-12MUTE66)

  1. "Sometimes" (Live)
  2. "Say What" (Live)
  3. "Oh L'amour" (Live)
  4. "The Circus" (Gladiator Mix)

12" single (Sire 20822-0)

  1. "The Circus" (Gladiator Mix) - 6:07
  2. "The Circus" (Decay Mix) - 5:32
  3. "The Circus" (Bareback Mix) - 6:35
  4. "The Circus" (DJ Mix) - 3:50

CD single (CDMUTE66)

  1. "The Circus" (Remix)
  2. "The Circus" (Decay Mix)
  3. "If I Could" (Live)
  4. "It Doesn't Have To Be" (Live)
  5. "Say What" (Live)
  6. "The Circus" (Live)

References

The Circus (song) Wikipedia


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