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{{short description|1994 single by Manic Street Preachers}}
{{Infobox Single |
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
Name = Faster/P.C.P. |
{{Infobox song
Cover = FasterPCP.jpg|
Artist = [[Manic Street Preachers]] |
| name = Faster
| cover = FasterPCP.jpg
from Album = [[The Holy Bible (album)|The Holy BIble]] |
Released = [[June 6]], [[1994]] |
| alt =
| type = single
Format = [[compact disc|CD]], [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]] |
Recorded = Early [[1994]] |
| artist = [[Manic Street Preachers]]
Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] |
| album = [[The Holy Bible (album)|The Holy Bible]]
| released = {{Start date|1994|5|31|df=y}}
Length = 3 [[minute|min]] 55 [[second|s]] ("Faster") <br> 3 [[minute|min]] 55 [[second|s]] ("P.C.P.")|
Label = [[Epic Records|Epic]] |
| recorded = 1994
Producer = [[Steve Brown]] |
| studio =
| venue =
Chart position = <ul><li>#16 <small>([[UK Singles Chart|UK]])</small></li></ul> |
| genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[hard rock]]|{{nowrap|[[punk rock]]}}|[[post-punk]]}}
Reviews = <nowiki></nowiki>
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=55}}
* N/A|
Last single = "[[Roses in the Hospital]]"<br />([[1993 in music|1993]]) |
| label = [[Epic Records|Epic]]
| writer = [[James Dean Bradfield]], [[Nicky Wire]], [[Sean Moore (musician)|Sean Moore]], [[Richey Edwards]]
This single = '''"Faster/P.C.P."'''<br />([[1994 in music|1994]]) |
| producer = Manic Street Preachers
Next single = "[[Revol]]"<br />([[1994 in music|1994]]) |}}
| prev_title = [[Life Becoming a Landslide]]
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = [[Revol (song)|Revol]]
| next_year = 1994
}}
"'''Faster'''" is a song by [[Wales|Welsh]] [[alternative rock]] band [[Manic Street Preachers]]. It was released in 1994 by record label [[Epic Records|Epic]] as the first single from the band's third studio album, ''[[The Holy Bible (album)|The Holy Bible]]''.


The single reached number 16 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="UK chart2">{{cite web |title=Manic Street Preachers <nowiki>|</nowiki> Official Charts Company |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/20086/MANIC-STREET-PREACHERS/ |access-date=18 March 2015 |website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]]}}</ref> "Faster" is the only song featured on ''The Holy Bible'' that was included on their 2002 compilation album ''[[Forever Delayed]]''.
'''"Faster/P.C.P."''' is the [[double A-side]] lead single released by [[Manic Street Preachers]] from their third studio album, ''[[The Holy Bible (album)|The Holy Bible]]''.


== Details ==
The title '''"Faster"''' can both be interpreted as one who abstains from eating (a personal issue of lyricist [[Richey James Edwards]]) or in regards to quick speed, which the song heavily benefits from. The spoken word introduction ("I hate purity...") is taken from the [[1984 (film)|film version]] of [[George Orwell]]'s ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four|1984]]''. The lyric, ''"if you stand up like a nail then you will be knocked down"'' is an old chinese proverb, meaning one must not attempt to be alternative but just be who they are.
=== Influences and writing ===
Drummer [[Sean Moore (musician)|Sean Moore]] has stated that the template for the song was "[[From Out of Nowhere (song)|From Out of Nowhere]]", a 1989 track by American band [[Faith No More]]. [[James Dean Bradfield]] has also cited the [[Sex Pistols]]' ''[[Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols|Never Mind the Bollocks]]'' as a musical influence on the song, in particular with regard to his vocals: "Sometimes the way Johnny Rotten’s voice goes down the middle of a song and barely changes, it’s about the twists and phrases and the commitment to the words. And that’s exactly what it needed, that straight line through the middle".<ref name="LS172">{{cite news |last1=Wilding |first1=Philip |date=12 December 2017 |title=The Manic Street Preachers: Their best songs in their own words |work=LouderSound |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-manic-street-preachers-their-best-songs-in-their-own-words |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref>


=== Music and lyrics ===
'''"P.C.P."''' is thought to be a protest against politically correct censorship. The title P.C.P. stands for police constable and Political Correctness (P.C.), in combination with conservative party (c.p.). In addition, P.C.P. is also a drug: [[Phencyclidine]], which causes its users to be delusional and agitated. The lyric, ''"Be pure, be vigilant, behave"'', is from the U.K. cult sci-fi comic book series 'Nemesis the Warlock, 2000 AD'. The comics deal with modern politics and the way censorship works, and therefore relate to the other lyrics in the song.
"Faster" has been categorised under the genres [[alternative rock]],<ref name="Spin2">{{cite web |title=Manic Street Preachers, "Faster" |url=http://www.spin.com/2014/08/100-best-alternative-rock-songs-1994-alt/1g4po0lbokokii844e0eac0mi4ie/ |access-date=20 December 2015}}</ref> [[hard rock]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Long live the Manics' almighty racket |url=http://www.herald.ie/lifestyle/long-live-the-manics-almighty-racket-30834662.html |access-date=21 December 2015 |work=Herald.ie}}</ref> [[punk rock]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Mayer Nissim |date=17 December 2014 |title=Manic Street Preachers live review: The Holy Bible in full is worth the wait |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/live-reviews/review/a617079/manic-street-preachers-live-review-the-holy-bible-in-full-is-worth-the-wait/ |access-date=20 December 2015 |work=Digital Spy}}</ref> and [[post-punk]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Andrew Trendell |title=Manic Street Preachers kick off UK tour and debut new material |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/89741/manic-street-preachers-kick-off-uk-tour-and-debut-new-material |access-date=20 December 2015 |work=gigwise.com}}</ref> Rhythm guitarist [[Richey Edwards]] and bass guitarist [[Nicky Wire]] wrote the lyrics of both "P.C.P." and "Faster". Interviewed around the time of the single's release, Wire described "P.C.P." as being about how "[[Political correctness|PC]] followers take up the idea of being [[Liberalism|liberal]], but end up being quite the opposite". He also said that he was "completely confused" by "Faster", although Edwards had told him that it was about self-abuse.{{sfn|Price|1999}}


==Track listing==
=== Samples ===
The quote "I hate purity. Hate goodness. I don't want virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone corrupt" played at the start of "Faster" comes from [[Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984 film)|the movie based on George Orwell's novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'']], featuring the voice of [[John Hurt]].
===CD===


The quote at the end of "P.C.P.", "227 'Lears' and I can't remember the first line", was spoken by [[Albert Finney]] in the 1983 film [[The Dresser (1983 film)|''The Dresser'']].
#"Faster"
#"P.C.P."
#"Sculpture Of Man"
#"New Art Riot (Live In E Minor At Clapham Grand, London, 2nd March 1994)"


== Release ==
==External links/Source==
"Faster" was released on 31 May 1994 by record label Epic as the first single from the band's third studio album, ''The Holy Bible''. It reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UK chart2" />
[http://www.manics.nl] Site with interpretations of [[Manic Street Preachers]] lyrics.


==Reception==
{{Manic Street Preachers}}
"Faster" was ranked as the 80th best alternative rock song of 1994 by Kyle McGovern at ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', who state "Underproduced vocals aside, "Faster" is one of those songs that holds up way better than you'd ever imagine possible."<ref name="Spin2" /> Emily Mackay named it as the 5th best Manic Street Preachers song at ''[[The Guardian]]''. Mackay opined "Its darkly rushing chorus is a perfect example of how Bradfield's music lifted Edwards' lyrics into something that, though harsh, was also full of an almost joyous energy, a mile-a-minute thrill and a sense of limitless audacity."<ref>{{cite web |author=Emily Mackay |title=Manic Street Preachers: 10 of the best |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/dec/10/manic-street-preachers-10-of-the-best |access-date=20 December 2015 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> James Forryan of [[HMV]] selected the song as one of the band's 5 highlights, who regarded it as among the best examples of Edwards' "peak of his powers as lyricist."<ref>{{cite web |title=Where To Start With... Manic Street Preachers |url=http://www.hmv.com/music/where-to-start-with-manic-street-preachers |access-date=20 December 2015 |work=HMV}}</ref>


In 2011, ''[[NME]]'' ranked the song number two on their list of the 10 greatest Manic Street Preachers songs,<ref>{{cite web |last=Elan |first=Priya |date=7 October 2011 |title=Manic Street Preachers – Their 10 Best Tracks |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/manic-street-preachers-their-10-best-tracks-763351 |accessdate=24 April 2022 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref> and in 2022, ''[[The Guardian]]'' ranked the song number one on their list of the 30 greatest Manic Street Preachers songs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=10 February 2022 |title=Manic Street Preachers' 30 greatest songs – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/10/manic-street-preachers-30-greatest-songs-ranked |accessdate=24 April 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In 2014, ''NME'' ranked the song 217th in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time – 300-201 |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-300-201-1421856 |website=NME}}</ref> They later placed it at number 1 in their list of 40 Essential Manic Street Preachers Tracks, with [[James Dean Bradfield]] saying "It's one of Richey's soothsaying lyrics. There's a lot of prophesy, in terms of the acceleration of everything, joy, pain, death, consumerism."<ref>{{cite web |title=40 Essential Manic Street Preachers Tracks |url=https://www.nme.com/list/40-essential-manic-street-preachers-tracks-1339 |website=NME}}</ref>
[[Category: 1994 singles]]

[[Category: Manic Street Preachers songs]]
== ''Top of the Pops'' performance ==
The band performed "Faster" on the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', with lead singer [[James Dean Bradfield]] wearing an [[PIRA|IRA]]-style balaclava with his first name scrawled over his forehead and the rest of the band wearing military [[regalia]]. Many viewers interpreted this as a show of support for the IRA,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-03 |title=Top of the Pops a decade on: 10 stunning moments from the legendary pop show – BBC Music |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/45a86d9b-1e3e-4612-90ce-d7b525450897 |access-date=2019-01-29 |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> and the BBC told the band that a record number of complaints (over 25,000) had been received.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 July 2006 |title=The Ten <nowiki>'</nowiki>''Top of the Pops''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Shows <nowiki>| Music |</nowiki> The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/16/32 |access-date=18 March 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

== Track listing ==

; CD

# "Faster" – 3:54
# "P.C.P." – 3:53
# "Sculpture of Man" – 1:53
# "New Art Riot (In E Minor)" – 3:00

; 10" vinyl

# "Faster" – 3:54
# "P.C.P." – 3:53
# "Sculpture of Man" – 1:53

; 7" vinyl / Cassette

# "Faster" – 3:54
# "P.C.P." – 3:53

== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for "Faster"
!scope="col"|Chart (1994)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row" | [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="UK chart2" />
| align="center" | 16
|}

== References ==
<references group="" responsive="1"></references>

=== Sources ===
* {{cite book |last=Price |first=Simon |title=Everything (A Book About Manic Street Preachers) |publisher=Virgin Books |place=London |isbn=0-7535-0139-2 |year=1999}}

{{Manic Street Preachers}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1994 singles]]
[[Category:British punk rock songs]]
[[Category:Epic Records singles]]
[[Category:Manic Street Preachers songs]]
[[Category:Political songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by James Dean Bradfield]]
[[Category:Songs written by Nicky Wire]]
[[Category:Songs written by Richey Edwards]]
[[Category:Songs written by Sean Moore (musician)]]
[[Category:1994 songs]]

Latest revision as of 20:28, 30 May 2024

"Faster"
Single by Manic Street Preachers
from the album The Holy Bible
Released31 May 1994 (1994-05-31)
Recorded1994
Genre
Length3:55
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore, Richey Edwards
Producer(s)Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers singles chronology
"Life Becoming a Landslide"
(1993) 		"Faster"
(1994) 		"Revol"
(1994)

"Faster" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in 1994 by record label Epic as the first single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible.

The single reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] "Faster" is the only song featured on The Holy Bible that was included on their 2002 compilation album Forever Delayed.

Details

[edit]

Influences and writing

[edit]

Drummer Sean Moore has stated that the template for the song was "From Out of Nowhere", a 1989 track by American band Faith No More. James Dean Bradfield has also cited the Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks as a musical influence on the song, in particular with regard to his vocals: "Sometimes the way Johnny Rotten’s voice goes down the middle of a song and barely changes, it’s about the twists and phrases and the commitment to the words. And that’s exactly what it needed, that straight line through the middle".[2]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

"Faster" has been categorised under the genres alternative rock,[3] hard rock,[4] punk rock[5] and post-punk.[6] Rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards and bass guitarist Nicky Wire wrote the lyrics of both "P.C.P." and "Faster". Interviewed around the time of the single's release, Wire described "P.C.P." as being about how "PC followers take up the idea of being liberal, but end up being quite the opposite". He also said that he was "completely confused" by "Faster", although Edwards had told him that it was about self-abuse.[7]

Samples

[edit]

The quote "I hate purity. Hate goodness. I don't want virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone corrupt" played at the start of "Faster" comes from the movie based on George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, featuring the voice of John Hurt.

The quote at the end of "P.C.P.", "227 'Lears' and I can't remember the first line", was spoken by Albert Finney in the 1983 film The Dresser.

Release

[edit]

"Faster" was released on 31 May 1994 by record label Epic as the first single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible. It reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Reception

[edit]

"Faster" was ranked as the 80th best alternative rock song of 1994 by Kyle McGovern at Spin, who state "Underproduced vocals aside, "Faster" is one of those songs that holds up way better than you'd ever imagine possible."[3] Emily Mackay named it as the 5th best Manic Street Preachers song at The Guardian. Mackay opined "Its darkly rushing chorus is a perfect example of how Bradfield's music lifted Edwards' lyrics into something that, though harsh, was also full of an almost joyous energy, a mile-a-minute thrill and a sense of limitless audacity."[8] James Forryan of HMV selected the song as one of the band's 5 highlights, who regarded it as among the best examples of Edwards' "peak of his powers as lyricist."[9]

In 2011, NME ranked the song number two on their list of the 10 greatest Manic Street Preachers songs,[10] and in 2022, The Guardian ranked the song number one on their list of the 30 greatest Manic Street Preachers songs.[11] In 2014, NME ranked the song 217th in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.[12] They later placed it at number 1 in their list of 40 Essential Manic Street Preachers Tracks, with James Dean Bradfield saying "It's one of Richey's soothsaying lyrics. There's a lot of prophesy, in terms of the acceleration of everything, joy, pain, death, consumerism."[13]

Top of the Pops performance

[edit]

The band performed "Faster" on the BBC's Top of the Pops, with lead singer James Dean Bradfield wearing an IRA-style balaclava with his first name scrawled over his forehead and the rest of the band wearing military regalia. Many viewers interpreted this as a show of support for the IRA,[14] and the BBC told the band that a record number of complaints (over 25,000) had been received.[15]

Track listing

[edit]
CD
  1. "Faster" – 3:54
  2. "P.C.P." – 3:53
  3. "Sculpture of Man" – 1:53
  4. "New Art Riot (In E Minor)" – 3:00
10" vinyl
  1. "Faster" – 3:54
  2. "P.C.P." – 3:53
  3. "Sculpture of Man" – 1:53
7" vinyl / Cassette
  1. "Faster" – 3:54
  2. "P.C.P." – 3:53

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Faster"
Chart (1994) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[1] 16

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Manic Street Preachers | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. ^ Wilding, Philip (12 December 2017). "The Manic Street Preachers: Their best songs in their own words". LouderSound. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Manic Street Preachers, "Faster"". Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Long live the Manics' almighty racket". Herald.ie. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  5. ^ Mayer Nissim (17 December 2014). "Manic Street Preachers live review: The Holy Bible in full is worth the wait". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  6. ^ Andrew Trendell. "Manic Street Preachers kick off UK tour and debut new material". gigwise.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  7. ^ Price 1999.
  8. ^ Emily Mackay. "Manic Street Preachers: 10 of the best". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Where To Start With... Manic Street Preachers". HMV. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  10. ^ Elan, Priya (7 October 2011). "Manic Street Preachers – Their 10 Best Tracks". NME. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  11. ^ Petridis, Alexis (10 February 2022). "Manic Street Preachers' 30 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  12. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time – 300-201". NME.
  13. ^ "40 Essential Manic Street Preachers Tracks". NME.
  14. ^ "Top of the Pops a decade on: 10 stunning moments from the legendary pop show – BBC Music". BBC. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  15. ^ "The Ten 'Top of the Pops' Shows | Music | The Guardian". The Guardian. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

Sources

[edit]
  • Price, Simon (1999). Everything (A Book About Manic Street Preachers). London: Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0139-2.
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