Released 19 November 1984 Length 3:52 | Recorded 1984 Label MCA | |
Format 7", 12", Cassette Single Genre Synthpop, Pop rock, new wave | ||
"The Riddle" is a song by the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw. It was released in 1984 as the lead single from the album of the same name. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.
Contents
Lyrics
The "riddling" lyrics caused much puzzlement and speculation among listeners as to their meaning; Kershaw claims that there is in fact no meaning at all, simply being a "guide vocal" thrown together to fit the music. Kershaw has stated: "In short, 'The Riddle' is nonsense, rubbish, bollocks, the confused ramblings of an 80s popstar."
Music video
The music video to "The Riddle" depicts Kershaw walking through a house shaped like a question mark, making his way through certain obstacles and looking through drawers while singing. The video depicts many references to Lewis Caroll's book Alice in Wonderland with an appearance of young girl exiting the room through a small door, two portly gentlemen who resemble Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee and an observation made by Kershaw to Through the Looking Glass.
At the beginning of the music video Kershaw is seen trying to get through a door with a screwdriver. The video ends with the camera moving up away from Kershaw to reveal that the question mark is lying in the street, at which point a man in a green costume seen earlier in the video comes and picks it up. The green man is the Riddler, a villain from the Batman comics. Kershaw claimed the video was inspired by his love for post-modern artistic expressionism.
Track listing
7" Single (WEA NIK 6)
A The Riddle - 3:52
B Progress (Live) - 3:02
12" Single (WEA NIKT 6)
A The Riddle (Extended Riddle) - 5:08
B Progress (Live) - 3:02
Cassette Single (WEA NIKC 6)
A1 The Riddle - 3:52
A2 Interview
A3 Progress (Live) - 3:02
B1 I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Extended Mix)
B2 Wouldn't It Be Good (Extended Mix)
Credits
The Riddle
Produced by Peter Collins
Progress
Recorded Live at Hammersmith Odeon.
Mixed by Simon Boswell
The Riddle (Extended Riddle)
Produced by Peter Collins
The extended mix is named "Special Extended Mix" on the cover & "Extended Riddle" on the label.
Gigi D'Agostino version
"The Riddle" was covered as a dance song by Gigi D'Agostino with uncredited vocals by Armenian singer and house producer Andrew Sarkeesian, who would also work with D'Agostino on La Passion. This version was released on D'Agostino's album, L'Amour Toujours. The same lyrics are used as in Kershaw's song, but the order is changed and the tempo is faster.
Music video
The music video, which was made by Andreas Hykade, features La Linea styled animation like the Bla Bla Bla music video (both of which feature the same humanoid character), taking place entirely with white lines on a light green background and features the aforementioned character fighting a dragon on a mountainous terrain. The length of the video is 3:25 but the track on L'Amour Toujours lasts 4:45.
Jack Holiday & Mike Candys version
"The Riddle" was covered as a dance song by Swiss DJs Mike Candys and Jack Holiday. It was titled The Riddle Anthem and was released in November 2012.
Other cover versions
Ukrainian band Скрябін used the song's intro melody in their song "Любити платити" (to love to pay) in 2002 with Nik Kershaw accompanying on keyboard. Other covers have been performed by Young Talent Team, Thunderstone, DJ Patjoo.com, Prezioso feat. Marvin, De Heideroosjes, Death Angel, and Cécile Corbel.