"Confusion" is the sixth single by British group New Order, originally released in August 1983 on

Factory Records Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label founded in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus. The label featured several important acts on its roster, including Joy Division, New Order (band), New Order, A Certain Ra ...

with the catalogue number FAC 93.The catalogue number given here is for the UK version. For other countries, se
New Order - Confusion at discogs.com
Retrieved 6 August 2009 The follow-up to their breakthrough hit " Blue Monday", it was produced and co-written by influential New York DJ Arthur Baker, charting at No. 1 on the

UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the ...

, No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and the top 10 in Ireland and New Zealand, as well as reaching No. 5 on ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

Dance Club Songs The Dance Club Songs (also known as National Disco Action, Hot Dance/Disco Club Play, and Hot Dance Club Play) was a chart published weekly between 1976 and 2020 by ''Billboard'' magazine. It used club disc jockeys set lists to determine the mos ...

Content

The song was recorded in New York with producer Arthur Baker. Three remixes served as B-sides on the initial 12" release: "Confused Beats", "Confusion Instrumental" and "Confusion Rough Mix". The two tracks on side A ("Confusion" and "Confused Beats") are mixed together, which when played in sequence, act as a thirteen and half minute long remix by Arthur Baker. The "Rough Mix" on side B is the original song mixed by New Order.

Music video

The

video Video is an Electronics, electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving picture, moving image, visual Media (communication), media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, whi ...

for the single features live footage of the band in concert, intercut with images of nightlife in New York City, specifically at the "Fun House", and producer Arthur Baker and DJ John "Jellybean" Benitez at work.

Other versions

An edit of the Rough Mix represents the single on the 2005 compilation '' Singles''. A re-recorded "Confusion" as well as the original "Confusion Instrumental" appear on the group's 1987 ''Substance'' release. The track reappeared on the 1995 remix collection '' The Rest of New Order'' as an acid techno remix by Pump Panel, which was used in 1998 as part of the soundtrack for the film ''

Blade A blade is the Sharpness (cutting), sharp, cutting portion of a tool, weapon, or machine, specifically designed to puncture, chop, slice, or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they a ...

''. Samples from The Pump Panel remix are featured on the tracks " Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" by

Public Domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...

, "Play It Louder" by Randy Katana and "Phatt Bass" by Warp Bros and Aquagen. The 2016 re-release of ''Singles'' includes the promo 7" edit of "Confusion".

Critical reception

Considered a disappointing follow-up to " Blue Monday" upon its release, the song has retrospectively gained critical acclaim. ''The Guardian'' placed the song 29th on their list of the 30 best New Order songs, stating that "Confusion" has "improved with age", and that "its wholehearted, charmingly gauche embrace of electro illustrates the impact of New York’s nightlife on the band."

Track listing

*Released in 2004.

Chart positions

* – Whacked Records re-release

References

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Confusion (New Order Song) 1983 songs 1983 singles Factory Records singles New Order (band) songs Song recordings produced by Arthur Baker (musician) Songs written by Arthur Baker (musician) Songs written by Gillian Gilbert Songs written by Peter Hook Songs written by Stephen Morris (musician) Songs written by Bernard Sumner UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles