"Metropolis" is a song by Australian alternative rock band the Church. It was released as the lead single from their sixth album, Gold Afternoon Fix (1990), and the songwriting credits were given to all four members of the band. The song topped the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number 19 in Australia. A music video directed by David Hogan and produced by Chris O'Brien was made for the song.[2]
"Metropolis" | ||||
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Single by the Church | ||||
from the album Gold Afternoon Fix | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 26 February 1990 (1990-02-26)[1] | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 4:47 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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The Church singles chronology | ||||
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Marty Willson-Piper, Peter Koppes, Richard Ploog, and Steve Kilbey were all credited with writing the song. The lead guitar produced a quickly falling then softly ascending melody, with slight commercial influence. A complicated web of guitar overdubs appears later in the song, and a soft, mandolin-sounding melody was added as an additional hook.[3]
"Metropolis" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 11 on the Album Rock Tracks chart in 1990.[4][5] In addition, it peaked at number 19 in Australia and number 41 in New Zealand.[6][7] The song was well received by critics upon its release. Ned Raggett of Allmusic praised "the almost desperate edge in Steve Kilbey's vocals" as a testament to the song's quality. Raggett added that the Church's "ear for a triumphant yet somehow downbeat ending [makes] this an underrated gem in the band's body of work."[3]
Australian and US 7-inch single[8][9]
Australian maxi-single[10]
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UK 7-inch single[11]
UK and European maxi-single[12]
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Credits are lifted from the Australian 7-inch single liner notes.[8]
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[6] | 19 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 41 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[5] | 11 |
The band performed the song, as well as "Under the Milky Way", for MTV Unplugged on 30 January 1990 at the National Video Center in New York City. The episode aired 18 March 1990.[13] An acoustic version was included on the 2004 album El Momento Descuidado.
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