"Close to Me" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released in September 1985 as the second and final single from their sixth album, The Head on the Door.
Three versions of "Close to Me" were released in 1985: the original album version, the 7" single mix version and the 12" extended mix version. The album version does not feature the brass section part present on all of the other versions, which was adapted from a traditional New Orleans funeral march melody and played by horn section Rent Party for the single mix.
The 7" version also includes a long creaking sound of a door closing at the beginning: this originated from the music video shot for the song by director Tim Pope, which features the band trapped in a wardrobe falling off a cliff into the English Channel.
Music video
The music video is written and directed by the band's frequent music video director Tim Pope. It consists of the band all inside a wardrobe on the edge of a cliff at Beachy Head. Following the musical scheme of the song, which builds up instrumentally, all the band members are inside the wardrobe, but not playing instruments. Boris Williams is clapping to the beat, keyboardist Lol Tolhurst is playing a very small, handheld keyboard, and Porl Thompson on the top shelf is plucking a comb to represent the short high sounds in the song. Bassist Simon Gallup does not play, and instead appears to be tied up. Tim Pope later revealed that Gallup had a light bulb in his mouth to create a "lit from within" feel, and the cloth was there to hide the wire. Robert Smith then comes from the back of the wardrobe and sings, also playing with finger puppets, which appear to be voodoo dolls of the band members, as when he moves them, the corresponding member moves. He then becomes more violent with the dolls, shaking them around heavily, which in turn causes the band members to hit into the sides of the wardrobe, which eventually results in the wardrobe falling off the cliff and into the sea. As they go into the sea, the wardrobe fills up slowly with water, like a capsized ship, but the band members continue to play their "instruments." The video ends with the wardrobe full of water and a band member pushing a rubber duck across the screen.
The music video was rated 13th on the "20 to 1: Amazing Moments in Music" TV show, aired on Australia's Nine Network on 4 March 2007, which rated the most distinctive music videos.
Release
"Close to Me" was released on 9 September 1985 as the second single from the band's sixth album, The Head on the Door.
The single peaked at number 4 in Ireland, and also reached number 7 in Australia and number 24 in the UK Singles Chart. It was remixed in 1990 for their remix album Mixed Up, and the remix was released as a single, peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US in January 1991.
Track listing
- 7" single
- "Close to Me (Remix)" â€" 3:38
- "A Man Inside My Mouth" â€" 3:07
- 10" single
- "Close to Me (Remix)" - 3:38
- "A Man Inside My Mouth" - 3:07
- "New Day" - 4:08
- "Stop Dead" - 3:21
- 12" single
- "Close to Me (Extended Remix)" â€" 6:35
- "A Man Inside My Mouth" â€" 3:07
- "Stop Dead" â€" 3:21
Personnel
- Robert Smith â€" vocals
- Lol Tolhurst â€" keyboards
- Porl Thompson â€" keyboards
- Simon Gallup â€" bass guitar
- Boris Williams â€" drums
- Rent Party â€" brass section (credited as "horns")
Chart positions
Close to Me · Remix
"Close to Me · Remix" is the name given to the remixed version of the song, released as a single in October 1990 to promote the album Mixed Up. It was made available in two different versions, the "Closer Mix", included on the 12" and the limited edition CD single, and the "Closest Mix", included on the 7" and the regular edition CD single. Both versions were available together on the cassette release. The "Closest Mix" was also included on the singles compilation Galore in 1997. It reached number 13 in the UK and 97 in the US.
Track listing
- 7"
- "Close to Me (Closest Mix)"
- "Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix)"
- 12" and CD
- "Close to Me (Closer Mix)"
- "Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix)"
- "Primary (Red Mix)"
- Cassette single
- "Close to Me (Closer Mix)"
- "Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix)"
- "Close to Me (Closest Mix)"
- "Primary (Red Mix)"
Music video
There is also a music video for the version of the song that appeared on Mixed Up. The video picked up where the original video ended, with the wardrobe crashing down the cliffside and sinking to the bottom of the sea. Robert exits first and is attacked by an octopus (seen playing the horns later in the video). After his struggle, the other band members try to flee as well, and are attacked by a starfish. The video ends without any of the band members reaching the surface, though they could see a boat overhead.
Chart positions
References
External links
- "Close to Me" at Discogs (list of releases)
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics