Be a Man (song) explained

Be a Man
Cover:Holebeaman.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Hole
Album:Any Given Sunday
B-Side:Whatever It Takes (by P.O.D.)
Released:[1]
Genre:Alternative Rock
Label:Geffen
Producer:Michael Beinhorn
Prev Title:Awful
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Skinny Little Bitch
Next Year:2010

"Be a Man" is the thirteenth and last single by alternative rock band Hole before their breakup in 2002.[2]

The song was co-written by Hole members Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson with contribution from frequent guest Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. Released in 2000 as a double A-side (the other track being from P.O.D.) this track also featured on the soundtrack to the film Any Given Sunday (1999).[3] It was the last single by the band for ten years, until "Skinny Little Bitch" in 2010.

Background

"Be a Man" was initially recorded during sessions for the band's third studio album Celebrity Skin (1998). The band, however, left the song off the album as they felt it was not cohesive with the rest of the record.[4] On December 2, 1999, the song was uploaded online as a free digital download.[5]

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor of Billboard referred to the song as "a slice of femcore" and praised Love's vocal performance.[6]

Music video

The video (directed by Joseph Kahn) for Be a Man features a blue-haired Courtney Love with a dress in the same color in a football field, interacting with, seducing and French-kissing the game players from the film as a rain starts. It is the first Hole video not to feature Eric Erlandson (the only member remaining in the band besides Love at that point), plus it also featured her naked in the video.

Track listings and formats

  1. "Be a Man" (radio edit) – 3:18
  2. "Be a Man" (album version) – 3:18
  3. "Whatever It Takes" (performed by P.O.D.) – 4:02

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Any Given Sunday album liner notes.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ARIANet New Releases! – Available from 31st January 2000 > Singles (from The ARIA Report No. 518). ARIA). Imgur.com. June 26, 2024.
  2. Web site: Radio Rock Slow to Embrace Hole's "Be a Man". https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010414/http://www.mtv.com/news/520435/rock-radio-slow-to-embrace-holes-be-a-man/. dead. February 2, 2017. MTV. December 4, 1999. Van Horn, Teri. January 22, 2017.
  3. Web site: An Given Sunday - Original Soundtrack. AllMusic. January 22, 2017.
  4. News: Rock Radio Slow to Embrace Hole's 'Be a Man'. MTV News. December 4, 1999. July 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220702020036/https://www.mtv.com/news/520434/rock-radio-slow-to-embrace-holes-be-a-man/. July 2, 2022. dead.
  5. News: Free Music: Hole. MTV News. December 2, 1999. July 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220702020641/https://www.mtv.com/news/520382/free-music-hole/. July 2, 2022. dead.
  6. Taylor. Chuck. Singles. Billboard. 8 January 2000 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. January 8, 2000. 112. 2. 21. 0006-2510. July 1, 2022.
  7. Be a Man. Hole. 2000. Australian CD single liner notes. Atlantic Records. 7567846312.
  8. Various artists. Any Given Sunday. 2000. United States CD liner notes. Atlantic Records. 83272-2.
  9. Web site: Hole chart history, received from ARIA on April 7, 2024. ARIA. Imgur.com. June 26, 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the release's peak on the national chart.