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"Speed "is a single by British rock singer/songwriter Billy Idol, included originally in the soundtrack of the eponymous film. It was written by himself and by guitarist Steve Stevens, and released in June 1994 as the film's main song through Chrysalis Records.

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"Speed"
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Speed Soundtrack
Released	June 1994 (US) 29 August 1994 (UK)
Recorded	1994, Los Angeles, U.S.
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	4:22 (single version)
Label	Chrysalis, Arista
Songwriter(s)	Billy Idol, Steve Stevens
Producer(s)	Billy Idol, Ralph Sall, Steve Stevens
Billy Idol singles chronology
"Wasteland" (1993) "Speed" (1994) "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (2001)

Background

In early 1994, producers of the film Speed chose record producer Ralph Sall as music supervisor of the soundtrack. Sall was in charge of creating a concept album with a compilation of new and old songs in different genres and featuring diverse artists, with a theme similar to this action thriller film. The resulting soundtrack contains songs about speed, cars or travelling.[1]

Shortly after, Sall contacted Bily Idol and his close collaborator, guitarist Steve Stevens, to compose and record the film's main song with lyrics inspired by its plot.

By that time, Idol's career was convulsed and in full decline after the critical and financial failure with his album Cyberpunk (1993). In addition, he was facing economic differences with his record label (EMI), and his personal problems with drug abuse were on the rise.[2][3] Thus, this new song was an important opportunity to return to his audience.

"Speed" was composed and recorded in a short time in Los Angeles with the support of an unccredited band, possibly completed with drummer Mark Schulman and bassist Larry Seymour (live members by that time). The song is based on a similar drum tempo and guitar riff that was the basis for Idol's "Rebel Yell" hit (1983), following the same formula in terms of feeling.

The single was promoted with a music video that mixed some of the most vibrant scenes of the film along with a fictional live performance of Billy Idol, Steve Stevens and the rest of their rock band.[4]

Releases

"Speed" was released on CD Maxi-single and cassette, originally in June 1994 in U.S. under British company Chrysalis Records (acquired by EMI in 1991), the usual record label of Billy Idol. In August, it was released in the UK and the rest of the world through Arista Records.

The single includes three different versions of "Speed" and a live acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" (until then unreleased) accompanying the lead song only on the UK CD single release.

In 2008, "Speed" was included in the recompilation album The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself.

Reception

Despite the great commercial and critical success of the film, the title song didn't have the same fate, due to its poor reception around the world.

In Billboard Mainstream Rock, "Speed" peaked number 38 on 23 July 1994. In the UK Singles Chart, it reached number 47 on 9 October that year,[5] being the last Billy Idol single on the British charts to date.

Track list

1. "Speed (Single Version)" - 4:22
2. "Speed (Extended Version)" - 5:22
3. "Speed (Instrumental)" - 5:23
4. "Rebel Yell (Acoustic Version)" - 5:35 *

• Track 4 recorded at the KROQ Acoustic Christmas concert on 11 December 1993 at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles. Recording by Westwood One Radio.

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [6]	33
Finland (The Official Finnish Charts) [7]	12
France (SNEP) [8]	33
New Zealand Music Chart[9]	40
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [10]	39
UK Singles Chart[11]	47
U. S. (Billboard Mainstream Rock)[12]	38

Personnel

• Design - Jigsaw [London] Ltd.
• Engineer - Clif Norrell
• Engineer [Recording] - Biff Dawes (track four)
• Producer - Billy Idol, Ralph Sall, Steve Stevens
• Written by - Billy Idol, Steve Stevens

References

External links

• "Speed" at Discogs

На других языках

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[de] Speed (Lied)

Speed ist der Titel eines Liedes des britischen Sängers Billy Idol aus dem Jahr 1994, das dieser für den Soundtrack des gleichnamigen Films schrieb und aufnahm. Es war seit 1986 seine erste Zusammenarbeit mit dem Gitarristen Steve Stevens.

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- [en] Speed (Billy Idol song)

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