Channel Z (song)
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| "Channel Z" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the B-52's | ||||
| from the album Cosmic Thing | ||||
| B-side | "Junebug" | |||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Studio | Bearsville (Woodstock, New York) | |||
| Genre | Rock[1] | |||
| Length | 4:49 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Songwriter(s) | The B-52's | |||
| Producer(s) | Don Was | |||
| The B-52's singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Channel Z" is a song by American band the B-52's from their fifth studio album, Cosmic Thing (1989).
Release[edit]
The song was the first single from Cosmic Thing but its success was limited. Multiple renditions of the song were released, including the album version and a 7-inch single edit and remix, as well as a "rock mix" and a "rock dub" which were on a five-track CD single in the United States.[2]
In 1990, after the success of the follow-ups "Love Shack" and "Roam" the single was reissued with a new 12-inch mix.
Meaning[edit]
Fred Schneider told an interviewer in 2008 that the song was "probably our most straightforward political song up until then ... It was about the state of the country [at the time]. And who knew nearly 20 years later it'd be worse?"[3]
Critical reception[edit]
Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as "a fine song that effortlessly updated the classic B-52's sound", adding that "it made for a good single and still stands as one of their better songs of the era."[2]
Chart performance[edit]
In the United States, "Channel Z" topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in August 1989.[4] In Belgium, it reached the top 50, peaking at number 43 on the Ultratop chart.[5] The song peaked at number 61 on the UK Singles Chart following the 12-inch release in 1990.[6]
Music video[edit]
The song's music video features the B-52's playing on stage in front of an audience, along with clips of them running through a forest. It was shot outside of New York City according to the credits of The B-52's 1979–1989.[citation needed]
Charts[edit]
| Chart (1989–1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 43 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 61 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
Release history[edit]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1989 | 12-inch vinyl | Reprise | |
| United Kingdom | August 6, 1990 |
| [7] |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. The B-52s - Cosmic Thing (1989): Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Channel Z at AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Look Back the B-52s". People.com. April 14, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ a b "The B-52s 2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ a b "The B-52's – Channel Z" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "New Singles". Music Week. August 4, 1990. p. 27.
