The Killing Moon

Infobox Single
Name = The Killing Moon


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Echo & the Bunnymen
Album = Ocean Rain
A-side =
B-side = "Do It Clean"
Released = 20 January 1984
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded = Crescent Studio in Bath
Genre = Post-punk
Length = 5:47
Label = Korova
Writer = Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas
Producer = The Bunnymen
Last single = "Never Stop"
(1983)
This single = "The Killing Moon"
(1984)
Next single = "The Sound of Echo"
(1984)
Misc =

"The Killing Moon" is among the most popular songs by the band Echo & the Bunnymen. The lyrics were written and sung by the band's vocalist, Ian McCulloch, it was released on their 1984 album "Ocean Rain". It is one of the band's highest-charting hits, reaching number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.

Lyrics

According to the liner notes of Echo and the Bunnymen's "Crystal Days" box set, Ian McCulloch woke up one morning with the phrase "fate up against your will" in mind. He wrote it down and the remainder of the song fell in place from there.

Ian McCulloch once said in an interview with Smash Hits magazine that the song is about "A moon with a machine gun".Fact|date=October 2007

Appearances on film and television

*In 1998, the song appeared in the film "Gia".
*The song was used quite prominently in the 2001 cult film "Donnie Darko". Played over the opening sequence, it was in fact a last minute substitution by the film's director, Richard Kelly, when he could not obtain the rights to use INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart", which was later used in the director's cut. In the director's cut "The Killing Moon" was played as originally intended during the Halloween party towards the end of the film.
*Another use of the song was in "Grosse Pointe Blank" at the scene when Martin Blank exits Debbie Newberry's radio-booth after a short interview in which we learn he stood her up at prom night and disappeared for 10 years.
*The song was also used in the film "The Girl Next Door" in the scene in which the protagonist first sees his new neighbour.
*"The Killing Moon" was used in Transworld's "First Love". It was the song used for Shiloh Greathouse's part.
*"The Killing Moon" was also used in a UK Promotional Spot for the TV series "Supernatural".

Cover versions

"The Killing Moon" has been covered by many artists: [cite web | title = The Ultimate Echo and the Bunnymen Resource | url = http://www.villiersterrace.com/covers.htm | publisher = Villiers Terrace.com | accessdate = 2008-05-21 ] A version can be found on the 1998 compilation album "New Wave Goes to Hell", sung by deathrock singer Eva O. In 1999, the American indie rock group Pavement released a live version on their "Major Leagues" EP. The Quakes, an American psychobilly group, recorded a version for their 2001 album "Last of the Human Beings". American singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips recorded an acoustic version for his 2006 covers album, "Nineteeneighties". French group Nouvelle Vague recorded a bossa nova version for their 2006 covers album, "Bande à Part". Australian musician Wendy Rule recorded a version on the B-side of her single "Artemis". The Brazilian group Replicantes recorded a version sung in Portuguese called "A Lua Que Mata" on their album "Go Ahead". The Australian rock group Something for Kate released a version on the B-side to their 2006 single "Cigarettes and Suitcases". Two versions of the song, the first performed by Resplandor and the second by Maydrim, are included on the 2005 Spanish tribute album "Play the Game: Un Tributo a Echo & the Bunnymen".

Track listing

*UK 12"
# The Killing Moon (All Night Version)
# The Killing Moon
# Do It Clean (Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall London July 18th 1983)

References

External links

* [http://www.bunnymen.com/ Echo & The Bunnymen Official Website]
* [http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/echo_and_the_bunnymen/3579420/lyrics.jhtml Lyrics at MTV.com]
* [http://www.bunnymen.com/Killing.swf Promotional video at the band's official website]