Big Time (Peter Gabriel song)

"Big Time" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So. It was his second top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 8.[5]

"Big Time"
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album So
B-side
  • "Curtains" (UK)
  • "We Do What We're Told" (US)
ReleasedFebruary 1987 (UK)[1]
Genre
Length4:26
Label
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)Daniel Lanois and Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"In Your Eyes"
(1986)		 "Big Time"
(1987)		 "Red Rain"
(1986)

Music

The song's bass guitar part is unique in that backing bassist Tony Levin and then-backing drummer Jerry Marotta teamed up for the main bassline. Using one of Levin's fretless basses, Levin handled the fingerings while Marotta hit his drumsticks on the strings, which is why the bass part sounds percussive. Inspired by this sound, Levin later invented funk fingers, which were little drumstick ends that could be attached to the fingers to achieve a similar bass guitar effect in concert. Police drummer Stewart Copeland plays drums on the song, and P. P. Arnold, Coral "Chyna Whyne" Gordon, and Dee Lewis, all of whom also sang on "Sledgehammer", performed backing vocals.

Music video

The visual style was very similar to the "Sledgehammer" video, using stop motion claymation by David Daniels and strata-cut animation. The larger video was supervised by director Stephen R. Johnson and produced by Prudence Fenton. It was shot at Peter Wallach Studios. Artist Wayne White contributed to the creation of the video.

"Big Time" was used in 2006 by WWE as the main theme for WrestleMania 22.[6]

"Curtains" is the title of the B-side to the "Big Time" single, as well as the B-side to the "Don't Give Up" single. It was used many years later in several re-recorded versions in the 2004 Ubisoft game Myst IV: Revelation.

Track listing

7" UK

  1. Big Time (7" edit)
  2. Curtains

12" UK

  1. Big Time (extended version)
  2. Big Time (7" edit)
  3. Curtains

Cassette single UK

  1. Big Time (extended version)
  2. Curtains
  3. No Self Control (live version)
  4. Across the River
CD-single UK
No.TitleLength
1."Big Time (Extended Version)"6:14
2."Curtains"3:28
3."No Self Control"3:54
4."Across the River"7:12
5."Big Time (Seven Inch Version)"4:26
Total length:25:14

7" USA

  1. Big Time
  2. We Do What We're Told

12" USA

  1. Big Time (dance mix)
  2. In Your Eyes (special mix)
  3. We Do What We're Told

Remixes

Along with the two mixes found on different versions of the single, Big Time has been officially remixed by Electrokingdom in various mixes, included the version by Frenk DJ & Niky D. Although reputed to be more numerous, four mixes (Main Mix - Club Mix - Dub Mix - Acoustic Mix) can be downloaded on legal platforms.

Chart performance

References
  1. Easlea, Daryl (2013). "Peter Gabriel UK Discography". Without Frontiers: The Life & Music of Peter Gabriel. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857128607.
  2. "Peter Gabriel – Big Time (4:24)". Billboard. Vol. 98 no. 47. 22 November 1986. p. 79. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. Randall, Mac (10 July 2002). "Gabriel, Beck and Miller Struggle With Gravity". The New York Observer. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  4. Grant, Steven; Robbins, Ira. "Peter Gabriel". Trouser Press. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  5. Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 160. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  6. "WWE Takes "Big Time" Approach to Marketing Blitz for WrestleMania 22". WWE Corporate. Stamford, Connecticut. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 120. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Peter Gabriel – Big Time" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0784." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Peter Gabriel – Big Time". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Big Time". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  12. "Indice per Interprete: G" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Peter Gabriel - Big Time" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Peter Gabriel – Big Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  15. "Charts.nz – Peter Gabriel – Big Time". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  17. "So – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  18. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 7, 1987". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012.
  19. "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Vol. 47 no. 12. 26 December 1987. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  20. "Top 100 Hits for 1987". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
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