Atmosphere (Joy Division song)

Infobox Single |
Name = Atmosphere


Artist = Joy Division
from Album =
Released = 1980, 1988
Format = 7"
Recorded =
Genre = Post-punk
Length =
Label = Factory Records
Producer = Martin Hannett and Joy Division
Chart position =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =

"Atmosphere" is a song by the band Joy Division. It was originally released in 1980 as a France-only single under the title "Licht Und Blindheit" with "Dead Souls" as the B-side. Atmosphere was the "A" side for the UK release but the "B" side for the US release. Peter Hook formerly of Joy Division has saidFact|date=September 2007 he regards the song as the band's greatest.

Re-releases

It featured on the Joy Division compilation albums "Substance", "Permanent" and was released as a single in 1988. In New Zealand in 1981 it reached number one on the singles charts.

In popular culture

*It featured in UK television adverts for First Direct bank.

*It also featured on the film "24 Hour Party People" just after Ian Curtis' suicide is portrayed.

*The song is used at the end of the Ian Curtis biopic "Control".

*The song was used on the closing credits of 2007 Grant Gee's documentary "Joy Division".

*In August 2004 British television station Five used "Atmosphere" for promotional segments for their coverage of Liverpool F.C.'s UEFA Champions League qualifying game against Austria's Grazer AK. Liverpool eventually won the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final with a dramatic fight back against Italy's A.C. Milan on the 25th May 2005.

*The song was used on the closing credits of the BBC's coverage of England's defeat to Portugal at the 2006 football World Cup.

* A cover of the song by Ola Podrida was featured extensively throughout the film The Signal (film).

Video

The video released with the song's re-release in 1988 contained characters wearing black hooded cloaks and white burial shrouds that look similar to how the grim reaper is portrayed in the media.

It was directed by Anton Corbijn, who also directed the Ian Curtis biopic Control.