| Connection | |
| Cover: | Elastica Connection.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Elastica |
| Album: | Elastica |
| B-Side: |
|
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 2:21 |
| Label: | |
| Producer: | Elastica |
| Prev Title: | Line Up |
| Prev Year: | 1994 |
| Next Title: | Waking Up |
| Next Year: | 1995 |
"Connection" is a song by Britpop group Elastica. It was originally released on 10 October 1994 as a single and included on their self-titled debut album in 1995. The song debuted and peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the few Britpop songs to gain popularity in North America, reaching number 53 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number nine on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. In an interview with Zane Lowe, Damon Albarn mentions playing the synthesizer intro on a Yamaha QY10 handheld sequencer.
The song was the subject of controversy due to its overt similarity to another band's work. The intro synthesizer part (later repeated as a guitar figure) is lifted from the guitar riff in Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba" and transposed down a semitone. A judgment resulted in an out-of-court settlement and the credits were rewritten.[4] Jonathan Perry writing for The Phoenix noted the similarities to Wire. He included the song in a list of the 90 best songs of the 90s, writing: Connection', Elastica's obsessively catchy stateside breakthrough, nicked its signature opening riff from Wire's 'Three Girl Rhumba' – an overzealous (and uncredited) 'homage' that proved that though imitation may indeed be the highest form of flattery, it can also cost in publishing royalties. Great song, though."[5]
Pitchfork said, "Elastica crafted one of the marvels of the Britpop era: art-rock reconfigured as a carnal rallying cry. All leftward hooks and innuendo, "Connection" never hits its target squarely. The single sounds simple, even primal, as Elastica bashes their dive-bomb riff with enthusiasm."[6]
UK CD and 12-inch single[7] [8]
UK cassette and limited-edition 7-inch single[9] [10]
European and Australian CD single[11] [12]
| Chart (1994–1995) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[13] | 71 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] | 65 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 53 | |
| US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[16] | 40 | |
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[17] | 2 |
The song was used in the opening credit sequence of the 2023 biographical comedy BlackBerry, playing over a montage depicting the history of mobile phone technology. Later that year, it was used in the horror film Five Nights at Freddy's, during a sequence in which the characters build a fort. It also appears in the 2019 movie Captain Marvel, which takes place largely in 1995.
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 10 October 1994 | Deceptive | [19] | ||
| United States | 18 April 1995 | Contemporary hit radio | Geffen | [20] |
