Numb, Luna Park as Singles: What's the Point?

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ChoonHound · #1 Post by **ChoonHound** » Sun 28 May 2006, 6:41 am

Why do we, the super-fans, want singles anyway?

It’s not airplay, is it? Why do we care about airplay? Sure, I guess it’s nice to see our benefactors rewarded by larger acceptance and appreciation, but do we really care?

And deep down don’t we all secretly want our Boys to garner critical yet not commercial acclaim? Don’t we like having a little club? Our secret pleasure unshared by the pedestrians?

As I see it, we want singles for the following reasons:

• B Sides
• Remixes
• ..something to collect, perhaps?

That said, why are so many so interested in tracks like Numb and Luna Park as singles?

I mean, no matter what is released we’ll get B sides, that’s a given, and as far as remixes are concerned anyone who likes these songs so much will hate any remixes! Plus they’re bound to suck anyway, that’s not the kind of tracks they are in the first place.

I guess my point is this: as fans it only makes sense to hope for singles with great remix potential, as that is the only real benefit they offer us.

Discuss.

Lucas.

Zog · #2 Post by **Zog** » Sun 28 May 2006, 6:44 am

As a fan, I want singles for more tracks and more remixes!!!

-Zog

Propertius · #3 Post by **Propertius** » Sun 28 May 2006, 8:23 am

Lucas has a good point. There is a bit of sportting interesting just in seeing which songs are thought (by the Boys) to be the best, or at least most worth promoting, so we get a bit of a vindication if one of our personal faves is chosen. But in the main, it doesn't matter a great deal.

I do think "Numb" is strong enough to be a single, and it would be interesting to see whether the Diane Warren chart magic would work for the Boys (but then, does she have such an impressive record in the UK, besides the ubiquitous Aerosmith stuff?).

"Psychological" is very remixable (miscible?), but probably couldn't carry a single. Too bad.

Janet Street-Porter · Sun 28 May 2006, 11:45 am

I think that Luna Park would be a brilliant single because I love the song and Gus Van Sant could direct the video which would show lots of shots of arid Americana.

Ultimately our personal choices are simply based on which songs we prefer, aren't they? I'd have liked To step aside to be a single, for instance, because I like the funky gypsy sample and the lyrics are rather beautiful but plenty of other people think it's a load of tosh. It's completely subjective.

btw, can we have another thread about imaginary PSB videos? It's still my favourite thread ever and the Infernal video reminds me of dannii's Neil and Chris moto wet dream.

! · #5 Post by ! » Sun 28 May 2006, 11:48 am

I want Numb to be a single (3rd/final) and I like remixes! Although, I wouldn't like any of that particular track.
As for Luna Park, I could imagine Air and Goldfrapp doing some nice remixes for it.

E-Mail Vampire · #6 Post by **E-Mail Vampire** » Sun 28 May 2006, 2:25 pm

I have grown to love Numb and I'd love to have it as the third but not final single (I'd like 4 singles but I doubt it will happen). I don't really like mixes that much so I'd want singles for B-Sides/additional tracks.

CroMagnon · #7 Post by **CroMagnon** » Sun 28 May 2006, 2:32 pm

On a purely selfish basis, you're right of course. All we want is B-sides and decent remixes (PSB extended mixes please!).

However, the nice, altruistic part of me wants to welcome others into the magical world of PSB for their own personal enlightenment . . . . . and singles are the gateway to that world for the unenlightened majority.

OK, I've woken up now. I just want great B-sides and decent remixes (PSB extended mixes please!)

discotex · #8 Post by **discotex** » Sun 28 May 2006, 3:31 pm

Why wouldn't it be possible to do mixes of Numb or LP? Can't you see it now...Numb (Richard X remix) or Luna Park (Thin White Duke's Confession mix)? Just a joke, really, but not completely out of the realm of possibility (and now that it's been suggested, it may happen).

That being said, it seems like we're destined for mostly b-sides anyway (a good thing), while most remixes will be left to online downloading (there are quite a few bad mixes being done these days, although PSB maxi mixes are very good and much of Fundamentalism is enjoyable--Sodom, Minimal, etc).

Bang · #9 Post by **Bang** » Sun 28 May 2006, 3:58 pm

Dead easy.No commercial success for singles equals less album publicity and sales which in turn means less likelyhood of new albums in the future. Therefore accessible singles liable to be bought by as many non psb fans as possible are very important, even if they arn't the best works on the album.

Firthy2002 · #10 Post by **Firthy2002** » Sun 28 May 2006, 3:58 pm

I like single releases for the b-sides and remixes.

TrasTornado · #11 Post by **TrasTornado** » Sun 28 May 2006, 11:01 pm

Videos
and... if lucky enough:
Airplay --> promotion --> success --> more singles/videos --> album success --> next album faster and a bigger world tour reaching far away countries.
That's a lot of hoping and being too optimistic, but it's fine if you don't get obsessive with that.

Monty-- · #12 Post by **Monty--** » Mon 29 May 2006, 10:29 am

What else? B-sides are sometimes better than the A sides!

psb-freak · #13 Post by **psb-freak** » Mon 29 May 2006, 1:00 pm

For b-sides and remixes.
And the singles after Minimal haven´t been confirmed yet

ChoonHound · #14 Post by **ChoonHound** » Wed 31 May 2006, 4:49 am

Propertius wrote:Lucas has a good point. There is a bit of sportting interesting just in seeing which songs are thought (by the Boys) to be the best, or at least most worth promoting, so we get a bit of a vindication if one of our personal faves is chosen.

That it exactly. Neil and Chris and I have the same taste in singles.... aren't they dreamy??

Propertius wrote: I do think "Numb" is strong enough to be a single, and it would be interesting to see whether the Diane Warren chart magic would work for the Boys (but then, does she have such an impressive record in the UK, besides the ubiquitous Aerosmith stuff?).

I wonder if she "gave" them the song BECAUSE it would a single, humm....

Lucas.

glennjridge · #15 Post by **glennjridge** » Wed 31 May 2006, 5:12 am

I think they would release diane warrens song simply because they wouldnt want to be 80 years old looking back and regretting not giving the proven hitmakers song a chance to see what would happen.