Safe from Harm (song)

For other uses, see Safe from Harm (disambiguation).
"Safe from Harm"
Single by Massive Attack
from the album Blue Lines
Released27 May 1991 (1991-05-27)[1]
Length5:18
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Daddy G, Andrew Vowles, Robert Del Naja, Shara Nelson, Billy Cobham
Producer(s)Massive Attack, Jonny Dollar
Massive Attack singles chronology
"Unfinished Sympathy"
(1991) 		"Safe from Harm"
(1991) 		"'Massive Attack EP'"
(1992)
Shara Nelson singles chronology
"Unfinished Sympathy"
(1991) 		"Safe from Harm"
(1991) 		"Down That Road"
(1993)
Audio sample
Massive Attack with Shara Nelson - Safe From Harm (7-inch version) (1991)

"Safe from Harm" is the third single and opening track from Blue Lines, the 1991 debut album from British trip hop collective Massive Attack, with vocals by Shara Nelson and Robert Del Naja. It was released in May 1991 by Virgin Records. The bass, guitar, and drums are sampled from the song "Stratus" by Billy Cobham, from his album Spectrum (with guitar by Tommy Bolin). Additional drums are sampled from "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic. Other samples come from Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon", and some of the background vocals are based on Johnny "Guitar" Watson's 1961 song Looking Back.

"Safe from Harm" (Perfecto Mix) is featured at the end of the Michael Mann-directed movie The Insider.

Inspiration

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The liner notes to Blue Lines mention the movie Taxi Driver as an influence.[2]

Critical reception

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Andrew Smith from Melody Maker described "Safe from Harm" as a "swooning, sultry cut" and "no less compelling than "Unfinished Sympathy". He added that it's "gathered round a deep, dense, dubbesque bassline, while ethereal strings and gently gliding pianos taunt Shara Nelson's sweet voice. It's a decadent, mesmeric, trance-inducing sound, one to lose yourself in completely."[3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "With the atmospheric synthesizer sounds, the hefty bassline and the irresistible vocals by Shara Nelson, this follow-up to the European hit "Unfinished Sympathy", is likely to be as big."[4] Barbara Ellen from NME named it Single of the Week.[5] Mark Frith from Smash Hits commented, "Like the London Funki Dreds, the music of Bristol's Massive has a pounding bass line and reggae overtones, but Massive's records are also highly reminiscent of American soul music. "Safe from Harm" "works best as part of an LP, but still sounds good as a single."[6]

Track listing

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  1. "Safe from Harm" (radio edit) – 4:28
  2. "Safe from Harm" (12-inch version) – 6:57
  3. "Safe from Harm" (7-inch version) – 4:28
  4. "Safe from Harm" (Perfecto mix) – 8:09
  5. "Safe from Harm" (Just a Dub) (by Steve Smith) – 3:14
  6. "Safe from Harm" (Just a Groove Dub) (by Steve Smith) – 3:18

Charts

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Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 132
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 48
Germany (GfK)[10] 33
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 25
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] 28
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[16] 35
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[17] 32

References

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  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 27 May 1991. p. 21.
  2. ^ "Safe From Harm by Massive Attack - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. ^ Smith, Andrew (1 June 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 31. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Review: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 June 1991. p. 12. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  5. ^ Ellen, Barbara (8 June 1991). "Singles". NME. p. 20. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ^ Frith, Mark (15 May 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. p. 44. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 July 2016". Retrieved 12 July 2016 – via Imgur.
  8. ^ "Massive Attack – Safe from Harm" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 28. 13 July 1991. p. 29.
  10. ^ "Massive Attack – Safe from Harm" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Massive Attack – Safe from Harm" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Massive Attack – Safe from Harm". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Massive Attack: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Massive Attack Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Massive Attack Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Massive Attack Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
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