Lucky Man

Single infobox
Name = Lucky Man


Artist = The Verve
from Album = Urban Hymns
Released = 24 November 1997
Format = CD
Studio = Olympics Studios, London
Genre = Britpop, rock
Length = 4:53
Label = Hut
Producer = Youth, The Verve
Chart position =

• #7 (UK Singles Chart)

• #16 (US Modern Rock 100)

• #65 (U.S.)

Reviews =
Last single = "The Drugs Don't Work"
(1997)
This single = "Lucky Man"
(1997)
Next single = "Sonnet" (1998) |

"Lucky Man" is a song by the rock band The Verve and is featured on their third album, "Urban Hymns". It was released 24 November 1997 as the third single from the album, charting at #7 in the UK Singles Chart (see 1997 in British music). The song was also the band's second, and so far last Top 20 hit in the USA.

The final b-side on CD 2 of the UK release, "Happiness More or Less", was a remix of the title track made by guitarist Nick McCabe after another b-side was needed for the release. All of the guitar and most of the vocal parts were taken out, leaving the drums, bass and strings. Another b-side on CD 2, "MSG", was an alternate version of Bitter Sweet Symphony, which featured the percussion and bass line from that song, with psychedelic soundscapes added.

An earlier single from the band, "History" was included as a b-side on CD 1.

The track featured prominently in the prom scene at the final climax of the 2004 film "The Girl Next Door."

Anastacia "borrowed" the melody and hook of this song for her hit "Cowboys & Kisses" in 2001, but Richard Ashcroft received no credit for it.

U2 frontman Bono recognized "Lucky Man" as one of six songs that he wished he had written from the last 20 years of music. Fact|date=February 2007

FOX used the song as background music in a Super Bowl pregame piece on New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin

Music video

The UK version of the video sees the band in the Thames Wharf complex; this is situated near Hammersmith, West London in post code W6 9HA. Richard Ashcroft sings the song whilst playing an acoustic guitar; the rest of the band look on. The Thames Wharf Complex designed by Sir Richard Rogers. The US version was shot in New York, featuring the band in an apartment and then travelling to a mountain top.

The Verve did not allow the video for this single to be played on the UK music show The Chart Show. The show has recently been re-designed and attracted much critisism; the band also critisized it, and refused to allow the song to be played unless the show was re-designed again just for the band, as the message claimed, and/or if the show played the video clean without any graphics overlaying it.Fact|date=July 2008 The Chart Show didn't agree to this and in the Top Ten and Indie Chart, a message appeared explaining why the video wasn't shown. The show maintained a lighthearted approach to the situation by saying such things as "In the words of Vanilla... No Way, No Way, Ma Numma Nah".Fact|date=July 2008

Track listings

*CD1 HUTDG92
#"Lucky Man" (4:57)
#"Never Wanna See You Cry" (4:31)
#"History" (5:08)
*CD2 HUTDX92
#"Lucky Man" (4:57)
#"MSG" (7:00)
#"Longest Day" (7:21)
#"Lucky Man (Happiness More Or Less)" (4:57)