Temptation (New Order song)
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| "Temptation" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 12" cover sleeve | ||||
| Single by New Order | ||||
| B-side | "Hurt" | |||
| Released | 10 May 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Studio | Advision Studios, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:21 (7") 8:47 (12") 7:00 (1987 version) 4:08 (1998 version) | |||
| Label | Factory – FAC 63 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | New Order | |||
| New Order singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official Video | ||||
| "Temptation" on YouTube | ||||
"Temptation" is the fourth single released by English band New Order on Factory Records in 1982. Released as the last of a string of stand-alone singles early in the band's career, "Temptation" reached number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.
Original release
[edit]The 7" version is a more structured version with a commercial synthpop feel; the 12" is more chaotic with the emphasis on electronic rhythms rather than melody. The 7" version plays at 33⅓ rpm to accommodate its length of around five and a half minutes. Both versions bear the same catalogue number "FAC 63" despite these differences.
The 12" versions of both "Temptation" and its B-side, "Hurt", appear on New Order's mopping-up EP 1981–1982, released a few months after the single itself.
Neither version mentioned the band's name on the sleeve; instead the song title and catalogue number FAC 63 were embossed into the cover.[5]
The vocal track on the original 12" version features an audible "startled yelp" during the song's intro. Vocalist Bernard Sumner has since explained that the scream was from him due to bandmates thrusting a snowball down his shirt during recording.[6]
Music video
[edit]In 2006 the song was interpreted in a video titled The Temptation of Victoria by filmmaker Michael Shamberg, who had directed a number of music videos for New Order. Victoria Bergsman of Swedish band The Concretes acted the role of the protagonist in the video. Set to the song's 1987 re-recording the film features a young woman in Paris who steals a vinyl copy of the song's original 12-inch release from a vintage record shop (the now defunct Bimbo Tower), along with a bouquet from a flower shop, before returning to her apartment. On arrival home she puts the flowers in a vase and the record on to a player, and begins dancing to its music. At this point the video shifts from black and white to full color, starting with the bouquet before quickly encompassing the whole scene. The film plays out with her dancing alone, absorbed in the rhythm of the music.
The storyline of the video may refer to Ian Curtis, the late frontman/singer of Joy Division, New Order's previous formation, who used to shoplift records. The video is dedicated to the memory of the film director Michael Powell.[7]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Temptation" | 5:21 |
| 2. | "Hurt" | 4:47 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Temptation" | 8:47 |
| 2. | "Hurt" | 8:13 |
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[8] | 29 |
| UK Independent Singles Chart[9] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[10] | 68 |
References
[edit]- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Various Artists – The Indie Scene 1982: The Story of British Independent Music". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ Hsu, Hua (5 May 2006). "Better Than Prozac". Slate. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (12 May 2023). "Champagne Supernova Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "ASCAP entry". ascap.com. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "FAC 63 Temptation". Cerysmatic Factory. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ "We've had it large". The Guardian. 22 November 2002. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ "The Temptation of Victoria". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company: New Order". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ "Indie Hits "N"". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ "New Order: Billboard singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
