"Anthem for a Lost Cause" is a song by Welsh

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...

band

Manic Street Preachers Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Welsh Rock music, rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Blackwood in 1986. The band consists of cousins James Dean Bradfield (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Sean Moore (musician ...

. It is the second single released from the band's eleventh studio album, ''

Rewind the Film ''Rewind the Film'' is the eleventh studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was recorded in 2013 and released on 16 September 2013 by record label Columbia. The sound is very different from previous records and is ...

''.

Background

Both song and lyrics were written by singer James Dean Bradfield. In an interview, Bradfield stated that the song was about the question of if lyrics today are as important as they were before. The music video features Tori Lyons, who previously starred in the video for "

Show Me the Wonder "Show Me the Wonder" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album, ''Rewind the Film'', on 9 September 2013. Critical reception The song received posit ...

", reprising her role as a miner's wife in the

1984 miners' strike Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast As ...

. The band stated that

Kieran Evans Kieran John Evans (born 8 February 1969) is a Welsh film director and screenwriter whose work includes music videos, film and documentaries. His 2012 film '' Kelly + Victor'', produced by Janine Marmot, saw Evans awarded the BAFTA Award for Ou ...

was important for this video as they wanted to capture the feeling of the 80s and how women dealt with the strike. In the video, we see a woman that is trying to survive without her husband.

Release

The song was made available by digital download on 25 November 2013, backed up by two songs ''Death of a Digital Ghost'' and ''See It Like Sutherland''. A live version of

She Is Suffering "She Is Suffering" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in October 1994 by record label Epic as the third and final single from the band's third studio album, ''The Holy Bible''. It was their last singl ...

at the O₂ Arena in 2011 was also in the single digital download. It peaked on number 200 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

Track listing

Personnel

; Manic Street Preachers * James Dean Bradfield – lead vocals, guitar *

Nicky Wire Nicholas Allen Jones (born 20 January 1969), known as Nicky Wire, is a Welsh musician and songwriter, best known as lyricist, bassist and secondary vocalist of the Welsh alternative rock band, Manic Street Preachers. Prior to the group, Wire s ...

– bass guitar * Sean Moore – drums ;Other personnel * Loz Williams - production, keyboards *

Gavin Fitzjohn Adequate Seven were a Welsh band who blended music styles such as hip hop, hardcore, punk, and funk. They formed in 2000 and split in December 2006. History Adequate Seven formed in November 2000 and played their first gig only four weeks lat ...

- horn arrangement, trumpets * Sean Read - horn arrangement, trumpets

Charts

References

External links

The Quietus article on the song

Exclaim! article on the song
{{authority control Manic Street Preachers songs 2013 singles Songs based on actual events Columbia Records singles Songs written by James Dean Bradfield Songs written by Nicky Wire Songs written by Sean Moore (musician) 2013 songs