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Protection (Massive Attack song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Protection
| cover = Massive Attack with Tracey Thorn - Protection.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Massive Attack with Tracey Thorn
| album = Protection
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = * Trip hop
* R&B
| length =
* 7:51 (album version)
* 4:53 (single edit)
| label = Virgin
| writer = Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall, Andrew Vowles, Tracey Thorn
| producer = Massive Attack, Nellee Hooper
| chronology = Massive Attack
| prev_title = Sly
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = Karmacoma
| next_year = 1995
| misc =
}}
"'Protection'" is a collaboration between Massive Attack and Everything but the Girl singer Tracey Thorn that appears on Massive Attack's second studio album, 'Protection' (1994). Released as a single on 9 January 1995, the song reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, staying in the chart for four weeks, and also peaked at number 27 in New Zealand. The song was also included on Everything but the Girl's compilation 'The Best of' and 'Like the Deserts Miss the Rain'.
The song contains samples taken from "The Payback" by James Brown, namely the hi-hat/bass figure that drives the beat and the recurrent wah-wah guitar chord.
Critical reception
Music writer James Masterton noted "the velvet tones" of Tracey Thorn, adding that "the result is an instant Top 20 smash, just one place short of the peak originally reached by their groundbreaking debut hit Unfinished Sympathy." James Hamilton from 'Music Week's 'RM' Dance Update described it as "an attractive gentle atmospheric R&B swayer".
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by French film director, screenwriter, and producer Michel Gondry. It was later published on Massive Attack's official YouTube channel in March 2009. The video has amassed almost 16 million views as of September 2021.
Track listings
'UK CD single 1'
# "Protection" (7" edit)
# "Protection" (The Eno Mix)
# "Protection" (Radiation for the Nation Mix)
# "Protection" (J Sw!ft Mix)
'UK CD single 2'
# "Protection"
# "Protection" (Underdog's Angel Dust Mix)
# "Three" (Dom T's House of Fortune Mix)
'UK 12-inch single'
# "Protection" (Underdog's Angel Dust Mix)
# "Protection" (Radiation for the Nation Mix)
# "Protection" (The Eno Mix)
# "Protection" (J Sw!ft Mix)
# "Protection" (album version)
'UK 212-inch single'
# "Protection" (The Eno Mix)
# "Protection" (The Eno Instrumental)
# "Protection" (Underdog's Angel Dust Mix)
# "Protection" (Angel Dust Instrumental)
# "Three" (Dom T's House of Fortune Mix)
# "Protection" (Radiation for the Nation Mix)
# "Protection" (album version)
# "Protection" (J Sw!ft Mix)
'US CD single'
# "Protection" (album version) 7:51
# "Protection" (single edit) 4:53
# "Protection" (The Eno Mix) 9:10
# "Protection" (J Sw!ft Mix) 7:12
# "Three" (Dom T's House of Fortune Mix) 7:16
Charts
References
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