Wikiwand AI

Under the God

Song by Tin Machine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Under the God" is the first official single released by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine, taken from their eponymous debut album in June 1989.

ReleasedJune 1989
RecordedMontreux; Nassau,
August 1988 - early 1989
Quick facts Single by Tin Machine, from the album Tin Machine ...
"Under the God"
Single by Tin Machine
from the album Tin Machine
B-side"Sacrifice Yourself"
ReleasedJune 1989
RecordedMontreux; Nassau,
August 1988 - early 1989
GenreRock
Length4:06
LabelEMI
SongwriterDavid Bowie
Producers
Tin Machine singles chronology
"Under the God"
(1989)
"Tin Machine"
(1989)
Close

Song information

"Under the God", which came from a demo originally called "Night Train", was a song that excoriated Neo-Nazism.[1]

Although "Heaven's in Here" was actually the album's first single, it was only released promotionally, which made "Under the God" the first official single, released after the album was already available.[2]

Critical reception

Jerry Smith, reviewer of British music newspaper Music Week, reviewed the single positively, saying that it reminds him of Bowie's "Panic in Detroit" and expressed the assurance that it "should ignite the charts".[3]

Music video

The band elected not to create music videos for the album's singles, and instead created a 13-track megamix video for the entire album. The video, directed by Julien Temple, presented edits of each song in vignette form, and included "Under the God" masqueraded as a performance, with the audience storming the stage.[4]

Live performances

"Under the God" was performed live on both the 1989 Tin Machine Tour and 1991-92's It's My Life Tour. A live performance of the song, recorded in Sapporo, Japan in 1992, was included on the live album Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992).

Track listing

7" version
  1. "Under the God" (Bowie) – 4:06
  2. "Sacrifice Yourself" (Bowie, Sales, Sales) – 2:08
10"/12"/CD version
  1. "Under the God" (Bowie) – 4:06
  2. "Sacrifice Yourself" (Bowie, Sales, Sales) – 2:08
  3. "The Interview" (An interview with the band) – 12:23

Credits and personnel

Producers

Musicians

Chart performance

More information Chart (1989), Position ...
Chart (1989) Position
Australian Singles Chart[5] 97
UK Singles Chart[6] 51
US Billboard Alternative Songs[7] 4
US Mainstream Rock[8] 8
Close

References

Notes

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks