Weak (Skunk Anansie song)
1996 single by Skunk Anansie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Weak" is a song by British rock band Skunk Anansie, released on 15 January 1996, by One Little Indian, as the fourth and final single from their debut album, Paranoid & Sunburnt (1995). It reached number two in Iceland and became a top-20 hit in Sweden and on the UK Singles Chart.
| "Weak" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Skunk Anansie | ||||
| from the album Paranoid & Sunburnt | ||||
| B-side | "Tour Hymn" | |||
| Released | 15 January 1996[1] | |||
| Length | 3:33 | |||
| Label | One Little Indian | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Skunk Anansie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Composition
Recording
The song was produced by the band with Sylvia Massy. The band 'made a kind of “battle zone” in the studio for Skin, with all these banners and placards all over the place. She’d put on war paint.'[3]
Critical reception
Roy Wilkinson from Select wrote, "'Weak' could be their 'Under the Bridge', an understated, casually memorable verse leading into a chorus thas has as much to do with Heart as Metallica."[4]
Music video
The music video for "Weak" was directed by duo Hammer & Tongs. It is filmed primarily (with cutaways to third party views) from the point of view of a collapsed cameraman in what appears to be a restaurant carpark (Route 66). The cameraman collapses behind a car which then drives off to show Skin and the band forming to perform for the offset camera. The recording is interrupted by a little boy who, after being pulled out of the way of the camera abruptly, decides to run off with it and the band gives chase after him.
Track listings
- CD single – CD1
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Weak" | 3:33 |
| 2. | "Selling Jesus" | 3:44 |
| 3. | "Tour Hymn" | 3:18 |
| Total length: | 10:35 | |
- CD single – CD2
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Weak (Ackee And Saltfish Mix)" | 3:56 |
| 2. | "Charity (Clit Pop Mix)" | 4:34 |
| 3. | "100 Ways To Be A Good Girl (Anti Matter Mix)" | 4:32 |
| 4. | "Rise Up (Bonhamoon Mix)" | 5:00 |
| Total length: | 18:02 | |
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Later and cover versions
Skin performs a slower, more ballad-like version at many of her solo gigs.
The song was covered by Rod Stewart on his 1998 album, When We Were the New Boys.