"Over" is the second single from English
electronic music
Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroa ...
band
Portishead's
self-titled second album (1997). It peaked at number 25 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 has been used in numerous TV shows and movies. The promotional black-and-white
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...
directed by Chris Bran featured lead singer
Beth Gibbons
Beth Gibbons (born 4 January 1965) is an English singer and songwriter. She is the singer and lyricist for the band Portishead, which has released three albums. She released an album with Rustin Man, '' Out of Season'', in 2002, followed by an ...
singing to the camera in the middle of the darkness and occasionally running from one spotlight to another.
Critical reception
British magazine ''
Music Week
''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future.
History
Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...
'' gave the song three out of five, adding, "Typical of the mood of the parent album, this second spin-off single finds the quartet in very dark emotional waters, though still featuring all the classic Portishead sonic cues. Further listening reaps rewards."
Track list
* Original British CD
#"Over"
#"Over Remix"
#"Over Instrumental"
* British CD "Over 2"
#"Over"
#"Half Day Closing" (NYC)
#"Humming" (NYC)
Personnel
* Beth Gibbons – vocals, production
* Adrian Utley – guitar, bass, production
* Geoff Barrow – drums, samples, turntables, programming, production
* Dave McDonald – production
Charts
Cover versions
Ecuadorian electronic duo ''The Bunnies'' included a live version of the song in their 2016 eponymous
EP.
Musician
Steve Adey covered the song on his 2017 LP ''Do Me a Kindness''.
The track was sampled by
RZA on the track "Kiss of a Black Widow".
References
1997 singles
Portishead (band) songs
1997 songs
Go! Discs singles
Songs written by Geoff Barrow
Songs written by Beth Gibbons
Songs written by Adrian Utley
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