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The Bitter End (song)

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Wikipedia article




"'The Bitter End'" is a song by British alternative rock band Placebo. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, 'Sleeping with Ghosts' (2003), on 10 March 2003.

The song is based on the novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell. There are several references to it throughout the song, one of the most noticeable being the reference to 2 May - the date on which the two main characters, Winston and Julia, first spend the night together.

It was featured on the soundtrack of "Radio Big" in the 2003 video game 'SSX 3'. It was also released as downloadable content for 'Guitar Hero World Tour'.

In 2010, Utada covered the song on her first US Tour, 'Utada: In the Flesh 2010'.

"The Bitter End" and "Every You Every Me" are the two most often played songs in the Placebo's live shows.

Critical response



Critics generally praised the single upon its release. Reviewing 'Sleeping with Ghosts', BBC.co.uk's rock/indie reviewer Dan Tallis described "The Bitter End" as "a good pop tune",Tallis, Dan. '"Placebo, Sleeping with Ghosts"', album review, March 2003, at [https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/d5hj/ BBC.co.uk]; last accessed 8 January 2007. having "just the right amount of dark, gothic atmosphere to please their fans and enough radio friendly guitars to please the new generation of indie kids." The Times thought the song "ramped up the energy level to devastating effect."Sinclair, David. '"Keep Taking the Placebos"', album review, 21 March 2003, The Times.

'Rock Sound' reasoned that the track's "kick ass romp"Perrone, Pierre. '"Sleeping with Ghosts"', album review, March 2003, Rock Sound magazine. reinforces "their status as purveyors of pure indie pop in the vein of The Smiths." However, NME saw differing influences woven in the track, reporting that "The Bitter End" "sees Placebo powering along with a relentless U2- chasing-after-The Cure melody that's as infectious as 24."Watson, Ian. '"Placebo : The Bitter End"', single review, March 2003, at [https://www.nme.com/reviews/placebo/7023 NME.com]; last accessed 8 January 2007.

Summarising Placebo's 2004 singles collection, 'Once More with Feeling', BBC.co.uk's Nottingham music reviewer Jaime Gill stated that "each song stems from a songwriter so instinctive and precise that when he writes a song called "The Bitter End", that's exactly what it sounds like."Gill, Jaime. '"Placebo - Once More With Feeling (The Singles)"', album review, 2 November 2004, at [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2004/11/02/entertainment_music_recording_reviews_2004_11_placebo_feature.shtml BBC.co.uk] ; last accessed 8 January 2007.

Music video



The music video sees the band playing in the dish of the Lovell Telescope, one of the largest radio telescopes. Halfway through the video, it displays an infrared image of a couple chasing after each other. They eventually catch each other up and kiss against a wall. Near the end of the video, the band is rained upon. It was filmed close to Stockport in Cheshire, England.

Track listing



CD 1



CD 2



7" vinyl



Formats



"The Bitter End" was released on 10 March 2003 via Elevator Music/Hut Records,Singles from 'Sleeping with Ghosts'. "The Bitter End", at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090216124440/http://placeboworld.co.uk/discography/singles4.html PlaceboWorld.co.uk]; last accessed 16 January 2016. the first single to be culled from 'Sleeping with Ghosts'. Two CD singles offering differing B-sides were issued, as well as a single in 7" vinyl format. Later, "The Bitter End" saw inclusion on the November 2004 compilation 'Once More with Feeling: The Singles'.

'Key'

*B - "The Bitter End"

*D - "Daddy Cool"

*T - "Teenage Angst (piano version)"

*BV - "The Bitter End video"

*E - "Evalia"

*DP - "Drink You Pretty"

Charts



References



Category:Placebo (band) songs

Category:2003 singles

Category:Songs written by Brian Molko

Category:Songs written by Stefan Olsdal

Category:2003 songs

Category:Virgin Records singles

Category:Songs written by Steve Hewitt

Category:Song recordings produced by Jim Abbiss

Category:Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh

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