Wikipedia

More than This (Roxy Music song)

"More than This"is a song by the EnglishrockbandRoxy Music.It was released in March 1982 as the first single from their eighth and final studio album,Avalon(1982). "More than This" was the group's last top-10 UK hit, peaking atNo.6 on theUK Singles Chart,and also charted in the United States, reaching No. 58 on theBillboardRock Top Trackschart.

"More than This"
SinglebyRoxy Music
from the albumAvalon
B-side"India"
ReleasedMarch 1982(1982-03)[1]
Genre
Length
Label
Songwriter(s)Bryan Ferry
Producer(s)
Roxy Musicsingles chronology
"Jealous Guy"
(1981) 		"More than This"
(1982) 		"Avalon"
(1982)

"More than This" has become one of Roxy Music's most popular tracks.[8]Americanalternative rockband10,000 Maniacsreleased acover versionin 1997 that peaked at No. 25, and British singerEmmiereleased a cover that reached No. 5 in the UK in January 1999. The cover of the single's release is the paintingVeronica Veronese,byDante Gabriel Rossetti,which was completed in 1872 withAlexa Wildingas the model.

Composition

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The song was written by lead vocalistBryan Ferry,who has stated in interviews that he began writing the songs forAvalonwhile on the western coast ofIreland,which he believes contributed to the dark melancholy of the album.[9]"More than This" is somewhat unusual for apopsong in that Ferry's lead vocals end at 2:45 minutes, leaving the last 1:45 minutes as asynthesizer-driven instrumental outro.[10][11]

Personnel

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Musicians

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "More Than This"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Gold 400,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

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In 1997, a cover performed by10,000 ManiacswithMary Ramseyon lead vocals was a single from their albumLove Among the Ruinsand became a US hit when it reached No. 25 on theBillboardHot 100on the week ending 29 August 1997.[28]The version also debuted at its peak position, No. 87, on theUK Singles Charton the week ending 28 September 1997.[29]The video for the cover was filmed atHouse on the Rock.A live version was also included on their 2016 albumPlaying Favorites.

English singer-songwriterEmmierecorded a cover of the song and released it as a single on 11 January 1999.[30]Produced by Mark Hadfield and Adam Carter-Ryan, her version of the song peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart,[31]No. 25 on theIrish Singles Chart,[14]and No. 39 in theFlandersregion of Belgium.[32]

Bill Murray's character Bob Harris performs akaraokeversion of "More Than This" in the 2003Sofia CoppolafilmLost in Translation.[33]This version is available as a hidden track at the end of the film'ssoundtrack album.[34]Sofia CoppolaandBill Murrayselected the song for inclusion during the filming of the movie.[35]As Tom Nicholson wrote inEmpire,"It's absolutely perfect. [Murray] makes for a weary, fragile kind of Bryan Ferry, thelounge lizardwho's lost the ability to really connect. He takes a shot before his first line then barely opens his mouth to sing, either too exhausted or too numb to really let go. "[36]

References

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  1. ^Strong, Martin C. (2006).The Essential Rock Discography.Edinburgh: Canongate Books. p. 931.ISBN1-84195-860-3.
  2. ^Peake, Steve."Top Soft Rock Songs of the 1980s".LiveAbout.
  3. ^Pitchfork Staff (24 August 2015)."The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s".Pitchfork.Retrieved18 October2022.Pop songs are very rarely as lush and unabashedly romantic as "More Than This"... "More Than This" is a high peak of the New Romantic moment of early 1980s UK pop...
  4. ^Lynch, Joe (28 March 2019)."Roxy Music's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks".Billboard.Retrieved6 April2023.
  5. ^Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Roxy Music". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.).The New Rolling Stone Album Guide(4th ed.).Simon & Schuster.pp.705–706.ISBN0-7432-0169-8.
  6. ^Gibbs, Ryan (15 November 2022)."An introduction to Sophisti-pop".In Between Drafts.Retrieved12 October2024.
  7. ^de Visé, Daniel."Thirteen New Wave Album Classics".AllMusic.Retrieved7 May2023.
  8. ^Topham, Michelle (24 February 2022)."Roxy Music's 'More Than This' played on Pam & Tommy, Episode 6 — Listen!".Leo Sigh.Retrieved20 March2023.
  9. ^"Roxy Music - Songs - on VivaRoxyMusic.com".www.vivaroxymusic.com.Retrieved7 May2022.
  10. ^James, Emily St (21 March 2017)."The Americans says hello to some old friends in" The Midges "".Vox.Retrieved20 March2023.
  11. ^"The old ennui: what's gained from what's Lost in Translation".In A Lonely Place.1 May 2013.Retrieved20 March2023.
  12. ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992.Australian Chart Book.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^"Roxy Music – More Than This "(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  14. ^ab"The Irish Charts – Search Results – More Than This ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  15. ^"Ultimate Music Database".Umdmusic.com.Retrieved5 November2016.
  16. ^"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 1982"(in Dutch).Dutch Top 40.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  17. ^"Roxy Music – More Than This "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  18. ^"Roxy Music – More Than This ".Top 40 Singles.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  19. ^"Roxy Music – More Than This ".VG-lista.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. ^Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005).Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002(1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE.ISBN84-8048-639-2.
  21. ^"Roxy Music – More Than This ".Singles Top 100.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  22. ^"Roxy Music – More Than This ".Swiss Singles Chart.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  23. ^"Roxy Music: Artist Chart History".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  24. ^"Roxy Music Chart History (Mainstream Rock)".Billboard.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  25. ^"Offiziellecharts.de – Roxy Music – More Than This "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  26. ^"National Top 100 Singles for 1982".Kent Music Report.3 January 1983.Retrieved22 January2023– viaImgur.
  27. ^"British single certifications – Roxy Music – More Than This".British Phonographic Industry.Retrieved5 April2024.
  28. ^"10,000 Maniacs – Chart History".Billboard.Retrieved6 December2020.
  29. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100: 28 September 1997 – 04 October 1997".Official Charts.Retrieved6 December2020.
  30. ^"New Releases: Singles"(PDF).Music Week.9 January 1999. p. 17.Retrieved16 July2021.
  31. ^"Emmie".Official Charts Company.Retrieved21 November2020.
  32. ^"Ultratop.be – Emmie – More Than This"(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved21 November2020.
  33. ^"Lost in Translation: The Sounds of Silence".the-artifice.com.27 July 2020.Retrieved20 March2023.
  34. ^Simpson, Ernest (10 April 2004)."Various Artists: Lost in Translation".Treble.Retrieved25 May2024.
  35. ^Chumo, Peter N. II (January–February 2004). "Sofia Coppola".Creative Screenwriting.11(1):60–61.ISSN1084-8665.
  36. ^Nicholson, Tom (12 September 2023)."Forget The Whisper – Lost In Translation's Karaoke Bar Scene Is Its Real Heart".Empire.Retrieved25 May2024.
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