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{{Short description|2003 single by Placebo}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = The Bitter End
| name = The Bitter End
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| artist = [[Placebo (band)|Placebo]]
| artist = [[Placebo (band)|Placebo]]
| album = [[Sleeping with Ghosts]]
| album = [[Sleeping with Ghosts]]
| B-side = {{hlist|"[[Daddy Cool (Boney M. song)|Daddy Cool]]"|"[[Teenage Angst (song)|Teenage Angst]]"|"Evalia"|"Drink You Pretty"}}
| B-side =
* "[[Daddy Cool (Boney M. song)|Daddy Cool]]"
* "[[Teenage Angst (song)|Teenage Angst]]"
* "Evalia"
* "Drink You Pretty"
| released = 10 March 2003
| released = {{start date|2003|3|10|df=y}}
⚫
| recorded =
| format = {{hlist|[[Gramophone record|7"]]|[[12-inch single|12"]]|[[CD single|CD]]}}
⚫
| recorded = 2002–2003
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[post-punk revival]]}}
| length = 3:10
| length = 3:10
| label = {{hlist|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|[[Hut Recordings|Hut]]}}
| label =
* [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
* [[Hut Recordings|Hut]]
| writer = {{hlist|[[Steve Hewitt]]|[[Brian Molko]]|[[Stefan Olsdal]]}}
| writer =
* [[Steve Hewitt]]
* [[Brian Molko]]
* [[Stefan Olsdal]]
| producer = [[Jim Abbiss]]
| producer = [[Jim Abbiss]]
| prev_title = [[Black Eyed]]
| prev_title = [[Black Eyed]]
Line 24: Line 32:
| next_year = 2004
| next_year = 2004
}}
}}
"'''The Bitter End'''" is a song by British [[alternative rock]] band [[Placebo (band)|Placebo]]. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''[[Sleeping with Ghosts]]'' (2003), on 10 March 2003.
"'''The Bitter End'''" is a song by British [[alternative rock]] band [[Placebo (band)|Placebo]]. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''[[Sleeping with Ghosts]]'' (2003), on 10 March 2003. "The Bitter End" and "[[Every You Every Me]]" are the two most often played songs in the Placebo's live shows.

The song is based on the novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' by [[George Orwell]]. There are several references to it throughout the song, one of the most noticeable being the reference to 2 May - the date on which the two main characters, Winston and Julia, first spend the night together.

It was featured on the soundtrack of "Radio Big" in the 2003 video game ''[[SSX 3]]''. It was also released as downloadable content for ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour]]''.

In 2010, [[Hikaru Utada|Utada]] covered the song on her first US Tour, ''[[Utada: In the Flesh 2010]]''.

"The Bitter End" and "[[Every You Every Me]]" are the two most often played songs in the Placebo's live shows.


==Critical response==
==Critical response==
Line 44: Line 44:
The [[music video]] sees the band playing in the dish of the [[Lovell Telescope]], one of the largest radio telescopes. Halfway through the video, it displays an [[infrared]] image of a couple chasing after each other. They eventually catch each other up and kiss against a wall. Near the end of the video, the band is rained upon. It was filmed close to [[Stockport]] in [[Cheshire]], [[England]].
The [[music video]] sees the band playing in the dish of the [[Lovell Telescope]], one of the largest radio telescopes. Halfway through the video, it displays an [[infrared]] image of a couple chasing after each other. They eventually catch each other up and kiss against a wall. Near the end of the video, the band is rained upon. It was filmed close to [[Stockport]] in [[Cheshire]], [[England]].


==Track listing==
==Track listings==
'''CD 1'''

===CD 1===
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = The Bitter End
| title1 = The Bitter End
Line 55: Line 54:
}}
}}


===CD 2===
'''CD 2'''
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = The Bitter End
| title1 = The Bitter End
Line 62: Line 61:
}}
}}


===7" vinyl===
'''7-inch vinyl'''
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = The Bitter End
| title1 = The Bitter End
Line 69: Line 68:


==Formats==
==Formats==
"The Bitter End" was released on 10 March 2003 via Elevator Music/Hut Records,<ref name="BitterEndOfficial">Singles from 'Sleeping with Ghosts'. "The Bitter End", at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090216124440/http://placeboworld.co.uk/discography/singles4.html PlaceboWorld.co.uk]; last accessed 16 January 2016.</ref> the first single to be culled from ''Sleeping with Ghosts''. Two CD singles offering differing B-sides were issued, as well as a single in 7" vinyl format.<ref name="BitterEndOfficial" /> Later, "The Bitter End" saw inclusion on the November 2004 compilation ''[[Once More with Feeling (Placebo album)|Once More with Feeling: The Singles]]''.
"The Bitter End" was released on 10 March 2003 via Elevator Music/Hut Records,<ref name="BitterEndOfficial">Singles from 'Sleeping with Ghosts'. "The Bitter End", at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090216124440/http://placeboworld.co.uk/discography/singles4.html PlaceboWorld.co.uk]; last accessed 16 January 2016.</ref> the first single to be culled from ''Sleeping with Ghosts''. Two CD singles offering differing B-sides were issued, as well as a single in 7-inch vinyl format.<ref name="BitterEndOfficial" /> Later, "The Bitter End" saw inclusion on the November 2004 compilation ''[[Once More with Feeling (Placebo album)|Once More with Feeling: The Singles]]''.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 94: Line 93:
|
|
|-
|-
| align="left" | 7" single (UK, Elevator Music)
| align="left" | 7-inch single (UK, Elevator Music)
| B
| B
| D
| D
Line 110: Line 109:
*DP - "Drink You Pretty"
*DP - "Drink You Pretty"


==Notes==
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "The Bitter End"
! scope="col"| Chart (2003)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|47|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|15|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|39|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=21|issue=15|page=13|date=5 April 2003}}</ref>
|35
|-
{{single chart|Finland|19|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|France|31|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|34|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|songid=5527|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
!scope="row"|Greece ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|title=Top 50 Singles: Εβδομάδα 29/03 – 04/04|publisher=[[IFPI Greece]]|language=el|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030414005703/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|archive-date=14 April 2003|access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref>
|6
|-
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|9|year=2003|week=13|rowheader=true|access-date=19 January 2024}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland3|39|artist=Placebo|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Italy|16|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|96|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
!scope="row"|Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=21|issue=14|page=12|date=29 March 2003}}</ref>
|1
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|14|date=20030316|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Spain|19|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|53|artist=Placebo|song=The Bitter End|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|12|date=20030316|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Placebo}}
{{Placebo}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitter End, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitter End, The}}
[[Category:Placebo (band) songs]]
[[Category:Placebo (band) songs]]
[[Category:2003 singles]]
[[Category:2003 singles]]
⚫
[[Category:2003 songs]]
⚫
[[Category:Number-one singles in Portugal]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jim Abbiss]]
[[Category:Songs written by Brian Molko]]
[[Category:Songs written by Brian Molko]]
[[Category:Songs written by Stefan Olsdal]]
[[Category:Songs written by Stefan Olsdal]]
⚫
[[Category:2003 songs]]
⚫
[[Category:Virgin Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Steve Hewitt]]
[[Category:Songs written by Steve Hewitt]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jim Abbiss]]
[[Category:Virgin Records singles]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh]]

Latest revision as of 08:36, 19 January 2024

"The Bitter End"
Single by Placebo
from the album Sleeping with Ghosts
B-side
Released10 March 2003 (2003-03-10)
Length3:10
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jim Abbiss
Placebo singles chronology
"Black Eyed"
(2001) 		"The Bitter End"
(2003) 		"This Picture"
(2004)

"The Bitter End" is a song by British alternative rock band Placebo. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Sleeping with Ghosts (2003), on 10 March 2003. "The Bitter End" and "Every You Every Me" are the two most often played songs in the Placebo's live shows.

Critical response

[edit]

Critics generally praised the single upon its release. Reviewing Sleeping with Ghosts, BBC.co.uk's rock/indie reviewer Dan Tallis described "The Bitter End" as "a good pop tune",[1] having "just the right amount of dark, gothic atmosphere to please their fans and enough radio friendly guitars to please the new generation of indie kids."[1] The Times thought the song "ramped up the energy level to devastating effect."[2]

Rock Sound reasoned that the track's "kick ass romp"[3] reinforces "their status as purveyors of pure indie pop in the vein of The Smiths."[3] However, NME saw differing influences woven in the track, reporting that "The Bitter End" "sees Placebo powering along with a relentless U2- chasing-after-The Cure melody that's as infectious as 24."[4]

Summarising Placebo's 2004 singles collection, Once More with Feeling, BBC.co.uk's Nottingham music reviewer Jaime Gill stated that "each song stems from a songwriter so instinctive and precise that when he writes a song called "The Bitter End", that's exactly what it sounds like."[5]

Music video

[edit]

The music video sees the band playing in the dish of the Lovell Telescope, one of the largest radio telescopes. Halfway through the video, it displays an infrared image of a couple chasing after each other. They eventually catch each other up and kiss against a wall. Near the end of the video, the band is rained upon. It was filmed close to Stockport in Cheshire, England.

Track listings

[edit]

CD 1

No.TitleLength
1."The Bitter End" 
2."Daddy Cool" 
3."Teenage Angst (Piano Version)" 
4."The Bitter End" (video) 

CD 2

No.TitleLength
1."The Bitter End" 
2."Evalia" 
3."Drink You Pretty" 

7-inch vinyl

No.TitleLength
1."The Bitter End" 
2."Daddy Cool" 

Formats

[edit]

"The Bitter End" was released on 10 March 2003 via Elevator Music/Hut Records,[6] the first single to be culled from Sleeping with Ghosts. Two CD singles offering differing B-sides were issued, as well as a single in 7-inch vinyl format.[6] Later, "The Bitter End" saw inclusion on the November 2004 compilation Once More with Feeling: The Singles.

Format Track number
1 2 3 4
The Bitter End
CD1 single (UK, Elevator Music) B D T BV
CD2 single (UK, Elevator Music) B E DP
7-inch single (UK, Elevator Music) B D

Key

  • B - "The Bitter End"
  • D - "Daddy Cool"
  • T - "Teenage Angst (piano version)"
  • BV - "The Bitter End video"
  • E - "Evalia"
  • DP - "Drink You Pretty"

Charts

[edit]
Weekly chart performance for "The Bitter End"
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 47
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[8] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 39
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 35
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 19
France (SNEP)[12] 31
Germany (GfK)[13] 34
Greece (IFPI)[14] 6
Hungary (Single Top 40)[15] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 39
Italy (FIMI)[17] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 96
Portugal (AFP)[19] 1
Scotland (OCC)[20] 14
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[21] 19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 53
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 12

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Tallis, Dan. "Placebo, Sleeping with Ghosts", album review, March 2003, at BBC.co.uk; last accessed 8 January 2007.
  2. ^ Sinclair, David. "Keep Taking the Placebos", album review, 21 March 2003, The Times.
  3. ^ a b Perrone, Pierre. "Sleeping with Ghosts", album review, March 2003, Rock Sound magazine.
  4. ^ Watson, Ian. "Placebo : The Bitter End", single review, March 2003, at NME.com; last accessed 8 January 2007.
  5. ^ Gill, Jaime. "Placebo - Once More With Feeling (The Singles)", album review, 2 November 2004, at BBC.co.uk Archived 22 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine; last accessed 8 January 2007.
  6. ^ a b Singles from 'Sleeping with Ghosts'. "The Bitter End", at PlaceboWorld.co.uk; last accessed 16 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 15. 5 April 2003. p. 13.
  11. ^ "Placebo: The Bitter End" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Top 50 Singles: Εβδομάδα 29/03 – 04/04" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 14 April 2003. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Placebo". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Top National Sellers". Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 14. 29 March 2003. p. 12.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Placebo – The Bitter End". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
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