"Forbidden City" is a song by English band

Electronic Electronic may refer to: *Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor * ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal *Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device *Electronic co ...

, comprising

Bernard Sumner Bernard Sumner (born 4 January 1956) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is a founding member of the bands Joy Division, New Order, and Electronic. Sumner was an early force in several areas, including the post ...

and

Johnny Marr Johnny Marr (born John Martin Maher, 31 October 1963) is an English musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has since performed with numerous ...

, with guesting co-writer

Karl Bartos Karl Bartos (born 31 May 1952) is a German musician and composer known for his contributions to the electronic band Kraftwerk. Career Karlheinz Bartos was born on 31 May 1952 in Marktschellenberg, Germany, named after his grandfathers Karl and ...

Kraftwerk Kraftwerk (, "power station") is a German band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk were among the first successful acts to popularize the ...

, released as the lead single from their second album ''

Raise the Pressure Raise may refer to: Music *''Raise!'', the name of a 1981 album by Earth, Wind, and Fire * '' Raise'' (album), the name of a 1991 album by Swervedriver Place names * Raise, Cumbria, England * Raise (Lake District), the name of the 12th highe ...

'', and their first new release in almost exactly four years, the last being the stand-alone single " Disappointed".

Composition

The track was one of the fastest to be written and recorded on the album, with most of the music by Marr and the lyrics by Sumner (much like " Get the Message" and " Make It Happen"). It is a guitar pop/rock song with a heavily distorted guitar solo by Marr; lyrically it is about a young man who has an abusive relationship with his father but wants to return home despite this antagonism.

Single

As well as a UK release, "Forbidden City" was also issued in Australia and Germany on Compact Disc, and in the US as a 1-track

radio promo A promotional recording, or promo, or plug copy, is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as ...

. The commercial releases came with two non-album

B-sides The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...

: "Imitation of Life" (an edited version of which would appear on ''

Get the Message - The Best of Electronic Get or GET may refer to: * Get (animal), the offspring of an animal * Get (divorce document), in Jewish religious law * GET (HTTP), a type of HTTP request * "Get" (song), by the Groggers * Georgia Time, used in the Republic of Georgia * Get AS, a ...

'' ten years later) and "A New Religion", which featured Denise Johnson providing backing vocals. All three songs were written with Karl Bartos. The Australian CD omitted "A New Religion" in favour of "

Getting Away with It "Getting Away with It" is the first single by the English band Electronic, which comprised Bernard Sumner of New Order, ex- Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, and guesting vocalist Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys. It was first released in 1989. Comp ...

". The song was not a huge hit (#14 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 ...

) but did receive substantial radio play in Britain. It remains one of Johnny Marr's favourite Electronic songs,jmarr.com Q&A
/ref> and opened up the

best of A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...

in 2006, with stills from its Tom Merriton-directed video used for the front cover and inside the booklet.

Track listings

UK 7" and MC

# "Forbidden City" # "Imitation of Life"

UK/EU CD

# "Forbidden City" # "Imitation of Life" # "A New Religion"

Australian CD

# "Forbidden City" # "Imitation of Life" # "Getting Away with It"

References

External links

feel every beat (unofficial website)

{{authority control Electronic (band) songs 1996 singles Songs written by Karl Bartos Songs written by Johnny Marr Songs written by Bernard Sumner 1996 songs Parlophone singles