"Burning Benches" is a song by
English rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
band
Band or BAND may refer to:
Places
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* Band-e Majid Khan, a village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, ...
Morning Runner
Morning Runner were an English alternative rock band, formed in 2003 in Reading, Berkshire. The band comprised vocalist/guitarist Matthew Jonathan Greener, drummer Ali Clewer, bassist Tom Derrett and pianist Chris "Fields" Wheatcroft.
They re ...
and was the fourth track on their 2006 debut
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
''
Wilderness Is Paradise Now''.
The song was also released as the lead
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
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* "Single", by ...
from that album on 20 February 2006, peaking at #19 in the
UK Singles Chart (see
2006 in British music
This is a summary of 2006 in music in the United Kingdom.
Events
*18 February – The Rolling Stones give a free concert to two million people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
*22 February – The one billionth song is downloaded on iTunes; the son ...
).
The single enjoyed a large amount of success on the radio, reaching the
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including ...
B List, as well as being made single of the week by
Steve Lamacq
Stephen Paul Lamacq (born 16 October 1964), sometimes known by his nickname Lammo (given to him by John Peel), is an English disc jockey, currently working with BBC Radio 6 Music.
Lamacq was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire ( ...
,
Scott Mills
Scott Robert Mills (born 28 March 1973) is an English radio DJ, television presenter and occasional actor. He is best known for presenting the '' Scott Mills'' show on BBC Radio 1 from 2004 to 2022 and since then, on BBC Radio 2, where he has be ...
, and
Colin and Edith.
The song was, according to the band, not so much about love as it was about obsession.
Lead singer
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
Matthew Greener said, "It sounded a bit too lovely, which is why we made it louder towards the end, we wanted to mess it up a bit." It was inspired by the surreal
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...
''
Eraserhead
''Eraserhead'' is a 1977 American independent surrealist body horror film written, directed, produced, and edited by David Lynch. Lynch also created its score and sound design, which included pieces by a variety of other musicians. Shot in bl ...
'', in which the main character Henry Spencer watches and listens to the Lady in the Radiator sing about finding happiness in heaven.
Track listings
* 7"
R6683
# "Burning Benches" (radio edit) - 4:08
# "People Line Up the Halls" (demo) - 4:25
* CD
CDR6683
# "Burning Benches" (radio edit) - 4:08
# "Them Folk" - 2:53
*Maxi-CD
CDRS6683
# "Burning Benches" (radio edit) - 4:08
# "Them Folk" - 2:53
# "Burning Benches" (acoustic) - 4:06
# "Burning Benches" (video)
Music video
The official music video depicts in
reverse motion
Reverse motion (also known as reverse motion photography or reverse action) is a visual effect in cinematography whereby the action that is filmed is shown backwards (i.e. time-reversed) on screen. It can either be an in-camera effect or an effect ...
the band members trapped and drowning in a water-filled
lift
Lift or LIFT may refer to:
Physical devices
* Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods
** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop
** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobile ...
. As it is played in reverse, the video starts with their bodies underwater, their panic decreasing as the water level falls, their vain attempt to pry the door open, a leak starting, a floor button being pressed and ends with their walking into the lift.
Uses in other media
In 2007 the song was used as part of the
Adidas
Adidas AG (; stylized in all lowercase since 1949) is a German athletic apparel and footwear corporation headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the ...
'Impossible is Nothing' advertising campaign.
References
External links
Burning Benches Music Videocontactmusic.com single review
{{authority control
2006 singles
Morning Runner songs
2006 songs
Parlophone singles