"Burn Baby Burn" is a song by

Ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...

, released as the second single from the ''

Free All Angels ''Free All Angels'' is the third studio album to be recorded by Northern Irish Rock music, rock band Ash (band), Ash. It was released on 23 April 2001 through Infectious Records and Home Grown. Due to the mixed reaction to the band's second stu ...

'' album on 2 April 2001, reaching number 13 on 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 ...

and number 20 in Ireland. It was released as a single CD (released on 2CD formats, the second of which being an enhanced CD) and as a 7" vinyl, and was also released for the first time on DVD format. The song can also be found on the ''

Intergalactic Sonic 7″s ''Intergalactic Sonic 7″s'' is a singles collection, released by punk-influenced band Ash on 9 September 2002. It is available in two formats, with and without the bonus disc, ''Cosmic Debris''. These are both available on CD and vinyl. It w ...

'' hits collection.

Background and release

"Burn Baby Burn" was originally written for "

Nu-Clear Sounds ''Nu-Clear Sounds'' is the second studio album by Northern Irish rock band Ash. It was released on 5 October 1998, through Infectious Records and Home Grown. Following the release of the band's debut studio album, ''1977'' (1996), guitarist ...

" but did not make the cut. However, Mark Hamilton liked the riff, and encouraged Wheeler to re-write parts of the song, namely the chorus. Wheeler came up with the chorus while driving back to his parents' house from

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

, and wrote it down when he got home. He said a personal breakup inspired the song. Originally the track was titled "This Is Slow Suicide", then simply "Slow Suicide", but was changed at the last minute to "Burn Baby Burn" to avoid radio censorship. "Burn Baby Burn" was the first ever song played on the BBC's

6 Music BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, specialising primarily in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years. It is available onl ...

station. For release in America, the song was remixed and features a new 'mid-song breakdown' during the final bridge, which reflects the band's live arrangement. "Burn Baby Burn" has been consistently in the band's set since the song's release. As such it appears on the ''Tokyo Blitz'' live DVD. "Burn Baby Burn" was also released as a DVD. The DVD featured the single, acoustic versions of the 1995 single " Girl from Mars" the ''

'' track "Someday", and "Chinese New Year" - later released as a b-side to "Polaris", and was the first episode of Ash's road movies. Entitled "Episode 1: Road Movie", it lasted 20 minutes and starred the band's usual rockstar antics, ensuring a Parental Guidance sticker for the DVD. The DVD was limited edition, and only 8,000 were produced. The track was released in a promo EP form in many countries. In Australia, it starred all of the b-sides from the 2CDs released for "Burn Baby Burn", as well as the song itself. Stephen Merchant spoke with Radio 2 Zoe Ball, where he stated that this was his favourite song of all time.

Music video

The video for "Burn Baby Burn" is directed by Jeff Thomas. It stars the band performing the song while basketball players play around them and cheerleaders dance. The video was shot in

Selsdon Selsdon is an area in South-East London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon, in the ceremonial county of Greater London. Prior to 1965 it was in the historic county of Surrey. It is located south of Coombe and Addiscombe, west o ...

High School, and starred carefully selected cheerleaders and the

London Towers London Towers were a professional basketball team based in London, England. They enjoyed considerable success in the 1990s and early 2000s, collecting 3 titles in the British Basketball League (BBL) as well as regularly competing in European c ...

basketball team and Brendan Hanlon. Ash claims it to be one of their favourite videos, and one of the most enjoyable they have shot. The cheerleaders in the video also performed with the band on "

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...

B-Sides

Both of the CD1 b-sides were recorded for BBC Radio 1's Evening Sessions. "13th Floor" is a fast-paced number left over from the "Free All Angels" sessions that also appears on the " Cosmic Debris" b-sides collection. The second CD1 b-side, "Only in Dreams", is a cover of the final song of

Weezer Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1992. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums, backing vocals), Scott Shriner (bass guitar, keyboards, backing v ...

's self-titled debut album, known as " The Blue Album". It is one of Ash's longest songs at just under 8 minutes. "Thinking About You" appears on the CD2 version of "Burn Baby Burn", as well as on " Cosmic Debris". A soft acoustic song, it's somewhat of a fan favourite due to its heart-string pulling lyrics, telling of a far-away love. Finally, the last b-side is a remix of "Free All Angels" track "Submission", written by drummer Rick McMurray.

Awards

The song won several awards, including: *

NME Awards The ''NME'' Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine ''NME'' (''New Musical Express''). The first awards show was held in 1953 as the ''NME'' Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of ...

2002: Best Single *

Q Awards The Q Awards were the UK's annual music awards run by the music magazine '' Q''. Since they began in 1990, the Q Awards became one of Britain's biggest and best publicised music awards. Locations for the awards ceremony included Abbey Road Studios ...

2002: Best Single *''91 Suns Greatest Song of All Time, revealed in December 2020.

Track listings

All tracks written and composed by Tim Wheeler; except where indicated. CD one # "Burn Baby Burn (Radio Edit)" # "13th Floor" # " Only in Dreams" (

Cuomo Cuomo ( , ) is an Italian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Politically involved Cuomo family, in the United States ** Mario Cuomo (1932–2015), governor of New York (19831995) ** Matilda Cuomo (born 1931), first lady of New Yor ...

) CD two (Enhanced) # "Burn Baby Burn (Album Version)" # "Thinking About You" # "Submission ( Arthur Baker Remix)" (McMurray/Wheeler) # "Burn Baby Burn" (Video) DVD # "Burn Baby Burn (DVD Audio)" # Episode 1- Road Movie # "Someday (Acoustic)" # "Girl From Mars (Acoustic)" Promo CD # "Burn Baby Burn (Radio Edit)" Australian CD # "Burn Baby Burn (Album Version)" # "13th Floor" # "Only in Dreams" (

) # "Thinking About You" # "Submission ( Arthur Baker Remix)" (McMurray/Wheeler) Japanese Promo CD # "Burn Baby Burn (Radio Edit)" # "Submission ( Arthur Baker Remix)" (McMurray/Wheeler) # " Shining Light (Radio Edit)" # "Thinking About You" # "Feel No Pain"

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burn Baby Burn (Song) 2001 singles Ash (band) songs Songs written by Tim Wheeler 2000 songs UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles