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Connection (Elastica song)

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"Connection"
Single by Elastica
from the album Elastica
B-side
  • "See That Animal"
  • "Blue" (Donna's 4-track demo)
  • "Spastica"
Released10 October 1994 (1994-10-10)
Genre
Length2:21
Label
Songwriter(s)Justine Frischmann
Producer(s)Elastica
Elastica singles chronology
"Line Up"
(1994) 		"Connection"
(1994) 		"Waking Up"
(1995)

"Connection" is a song by Britpop group Elastica. It was originally released on 10 October 1994 as a single and included on their self-titled debut album in 1995. The song debuted and peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the few Britpop songs to gain popularity in North America, reaching number 53 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number nine on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. In an interview with Zane Lowe, Damon Albarn mentions playing the synthesizer intro on a Yamaha QY10 handheld sequencer.[4]

The song was the subject of controversy due to its overt similarity to another band's work. The intro synthesizer part (later repeated as a guitar figure) is lifted from the guitar riff in Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba" and transposed down a semitone. A judgment resulted in an out-of-court settlement and the credits were rewritten.[5] Jonathan Perry writing for The Phoenix noted the similarities to Wire. He included the song in a list of the 90 best songs of the 90s, writing: "'Connection', Elastica's obsessively catchy stateside breakthrough, nicked its signature opening riff from Wire's 'Three Girl Rhumba' – an overzealous (and uncredited) 'homage' that proved that though imitation may indeed be the highest form of flattery, it can also cost in publishing royalties. Great song, though."[6]

Reception

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Pitchfork said, "Elastica crafted one of the marvels of the Britpop era: art-rock reconfigured as a carnal rallying cry. All leftward hooks and innuendo, "Connection" never hits its target squarely. The single sounds simple, even primal, as Elastica bashes their dive-bomb riff with enthusiasm."[7] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine observes that on its release, "Connection" was criticized "for taking the keyboard riff from Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba,"[8] though he also notes that "Elastica can make the rigid artiness of Wire into a rocking, sexy single with more hooks than anything on Pink Flag."[9]

Track listings

[edit]

UK CD and 12-inch single[10][11]

  1. "Connection"
  2. "See That Animal"
  3. "Blue" (Donna's 4-track demo)
  4. "Spastica"

UK cassette and limited-edition 7-inch single[12][13]

  1. "Connection"
  2. "See That Animal"

European and Australian CD single[14][15]

  1. "Connection"
  2. "Rockunroll" (John Peel Session)
  3. "Annie" (John Peel Session)
  4. "See That Animal"

Charts

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Usage in media

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The song was used in the opening credit sequence of the 2023 biographical comedy BlackBerry, playing over a montage depicting the history of mobile phone technology. Later that year, it was used in the horror film Five Nights at Freddy's, during a sequence in which the characters build a fort. It also appears in the 2019 movie Captain Marvel, which takes place largely in 1995. The song was used as the opening/closing theme of the TV show Trigger Happy TV.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 10 October 1994
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Deceptive [26]
United States 18 April 1995 Contemporary hit radio Geffen [27]

References

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  1. ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie (11 June 2014). "The 50 Best Britpop Songs". Paste. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  2. ^ Bradley, Megan (2 October 2015). "Before One Direction: A Look Back on Britpop". VH1. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  3. ^ Molanphy, Chris (12 May 2023). "Champagne Supernova Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. ^ Damon Albarn: Studio Tour, 'Cracker Island' & Coachella | Apple Music, 23 February 2023, retrieved 15 March 2023
  5. ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides Ltd. p. 332. ISBN 1-85828-457-0. Connection Elastica 1994.
  6. ^ Perry, Jonathan (30 December 1999). ""Connection" Elastica". The Phoenix. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. ^ Eric Torres (27 September 2022). "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Elastica Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Elastica - Elastica | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  10. ^ Connection (UK CD single liner notes). Elastica. Deceptive Records. 1994. BLUFF 010CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Connection (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Elastica. Deceptive Records. 1994. BLUFF 010T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Connection (UK cassette single sleeve). Elastica. Deceptive Records. 1994. BLUFF 010C.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Connection (UK limited 7-inch single sleeve). Elastica. Deceptive Records. 1994. BLUFF 010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Connection (European CD single liner notes). Elastica. Geffen Records. 1994. GED 21953.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Connection (Australian CD single liner notes). Elastica. Geffen Records. 1994. GEFDM-21953.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 2 Jul 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via Imgur. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9224." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9238." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 44. 29 October 1994. p. 18. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  22. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 27 May 1995. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. 24 June 1995. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 6 May 1995. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  25. ^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  26. ^ "Dave Grohl goes BritPop with a cheeky cover of Elastica's Connection". Louder Sound. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1090. 14 April 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
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