"Special K" is a single by British
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
Placebo
A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures.
In general ...
, released on 19 March 2001 on CD and 12" vinyl, taken from their third
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
, ''
Black Market Music''. The title is slang for
Ketamine
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used medically for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It is also used as a recreational drug. It is one of the safest anesthetics, as, in contrast with opiates, ether, and propofol, it suppresses ne ...
, and the song itself is supposed to explore "the link between drugs and love," and "Special K" is uppers and the rush of falling in love."
Release plans and censorship changes
The band originally planned to release the single in the UK as a two part CD set as well as a 12" vinyl release. However, several radio stations refused to play the single due to its lyrical content, which would prevent the song from charting highly. Undeterred, the band reshuffled the release into one 7-track enhanced EP for CD, which would be ineligible for the charts. They issued a statement via their official fan club website, which read:
''"The British Music Industry which has recently been championing disposable, facile pop and music which promotes homophobia, misogyny and violence has in infinite wisdom, taken offence to the lyrical content of our new single 'Special K'.''
''"This combined with our ongoing dissatisfaction with the two CD system, since we feel it rips off genuine music fans, has forced us to take the decision to bypass the system completely. 'Special K' will therefore be released on one single, available at regular CD single price, and 8 items which will make it non chart eligible.''
''"We feel this is the best deal for our fans and that it drives home the statement that we don't care about chart positions.''
''"Take care and have respect for each other. Keep the faith and never let the sycophants and small minded people of this world get you down.''
''Sincerely,''
''Brian Molko''
''Stefan Olsdal''
''Steven Hewitt"''
Music video
The music video is reminiscent of such sci-fi films as ''
Fantastic Voyage
''Fantastic Voyage'' is a 1966 American science fiction adventure film directed by Richard Fleischer and written by Harry Kleiner, based on a story by Otto Klement and Jerome Bixby. The film is about a submarine crew who are shrunk to microscop ...
''; it depicts Brian Molko and the other members of the band in an undisclosed, scientific headquarters where Molko is shrunk down to microbiological proportions and accidentally dropped into the mouth of drummer Steve Hewitt. The music video in its entirety maintains a sci-fi aesthetic throughout. The video ends with a shrunken Molko being sucked out through Hewitts's tear duct.
Composition
The song was written and composed in
C♯ major
C-sharp major (or the key of C-sharp) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. It is enharmonically equivalent to D-flat major. Its key signature has seven sharps.
The C-sharp major scale is:
:
I ...
.
Track listing
;UK CD1 - Cancelled
#Special K - 3:51
#Dub Psychosis - 3:38
#Passive Aggressive (Brothers in Rhythm remix) - 9:03
;UK CD2 - Cancelled
#Special K (
Timo Maas
Timo Maas (born July 27, 1969, Bückeburg, West Germany) is a German DJ/ producer and remixer whose career in electronic music spans well over 30 years. His remix of Azzido Da Bass's single "Dooms Night" helped launch his career in 2000.
In ...
remix) - 7:30
#Little Mo - 3:02
#Slave to the Wage (I Can't Believe It's a Remix) - 3:30
#Special K
nhanced Video
;CD EP
#Special K - 3:51
#Dub Psychosis - 3:38
#Passive Aggressive (Brothers in Rhythm remix) - 9:03
#Special K (
Timo Maas
Timo Maas (born July 27, 1969, Bückeburg, West Germany) is a German DJ/ producer and remixer whose career in electronic music spans well over 30 years. His remix of Azzido Da Bass's single "Dooms Night" helped launch his career in 2000.
In ...
remix) - 7:30
#Little Mo - 3:02
#Slave to the Wage (I Can't Believe It's a Remix) - 3:30
#Special K (Timo Maas Dub mix) - 7:02
#Special K
nhanced Video
;CD Single - Europe
#Special K - 3:51
#Dub Psychosis - 3:38
#Passive Aggressive (Brothers in Rhythm remix) - 9:03
;CD Single - Australia
#Special K - 3:51
#Slave to the Wage (Radio Edit) - 3:46
#Slave to the Wage (I Can't Believe It's a Remix) - 3:30
#Johnny and Mary - 3:24
#Slave to the Wage
nhanced Video
;12" EP
#Special K - 3:51
#Dub Psychosis - 3:38
#Passive Aggressive (Brothers in Rhythm remix) - 9:03
#Special K (
Timo Maas
Timo Maas (born July 27, 1969, Bückeburg, West Germany) is a German DJ/ producer and remixer whose career in electronic music spans well over 30 years. His remix of Azzido Da Bass's single "Dooms Night" helped launch his career in 2000.
In ...
remix) - 7:30
#Little Mo - 3:02
#Slave to the Wage (I Can't Believe It's a Remix) - 3:30
Charts
References
{{Authority control
2001 singles
Placebo (band) songs
Songs about drugs
2000 songs
Hut Records singles
Virgin Records singles
Songs written by Steve Hewitt
Songs written by Brian Molko
Songs written by Stefan Olsdal
Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh