Losing My Edge Explained

Losing My Edge
Cover:	LosingMyEdge.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	LCD Soundsystem
Album:	LCD Soundsystem
B-Side:	Beat Connection (Extended Disco Dub)
Released:	July 2002
Producer:	The DFA
Next Title:	Give It Up
Next Year:	2003

"Losing My Edge" is the debut single by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. It was released as a 12-inch single in July 2002, through DFA Records. It was later featured on the CD version of their eponymous debut studio album. "Losing My Edge" peaked at number 115 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also listed at number 13 on Pitchforks Top 500 Songs of the 2000s list.^[1] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 40 on its "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years" list.^[2] In June 2018, Rolling Stone listed it at number 77 on its "The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century – So Far" list.^[3]

Background

In an interview with the music site "ireallylovemusic", Murphy explained his inspiration for the song: "When I was DJing, playing Can, Liquid Liquid, ESG, all that kind of stuff, I became kind of cool for a moment, which was a total anomaly. And when I heard other DJs playing similar music ...I was afraid that this new found coolness was going to go away and that's where 'Losing My Edge' comes from."^[4]

Composition

"Losing My Edge" is a dance-punk,^[5] alternative dance,^[6] and techno^[7] song. It features a rhythm similar to "Change" by Killing Joke.^[8] DFA Records cofounder Tim Goldsworthy admitted that ""Losing My Edge" was "a rip-off of a Killing Joke track".^[9]

Track listing

• dfa 2123^[10]

Personnel

Personnel adapted from the liner notes of the single's Record Store Day 2012 release.^[11]

• Alex Epton – synthesizer
• James Murphy – vocals, bass, composing, drums, programming, synthesizer
• Bob Weston – mastering
• Nancy Whang – vocals

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalogue no.
US	July 2002^[13]	DFA	12"	dfa 2123
UK	2002	Output		OPRDFA002^[14]
US	April 21, 2012^[15]	DFA	12"	dfa 2123r^[16]

References

Notes

Citations

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mark . Richardson . The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 20-1 > 13. LCD Soundsystem –"Losing My Edge" . August 21, 2009 . . December 1, 2015.
2. 150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years . . December 1, 2015.
3. The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century – So Far . . June 28, 2018 . July 1, 2018 .
4. Web site: John . Doran . Soundsystem and Vision . ireallylovemusic . January 17, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060117202706/http://www.ireallylovemusic.co.uk/interviews/lcd_soundsystem.html.
5. Web site: Molly . Lambert . Just a Couple of Normal People on a Stage: LCD Soundsystem's Shut Up and Play the Hits and Katy Perry's Part of Me . . July 27, 2012 . August 20, 2017 .
6. Web site: John . Doran . Disco Infiltrated: An Early LCD Soundsystem Interview . January 5, 2016 . . January 11, 2016.
7. Web site: Rolling Stone Staff. The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century – So Far. Rolling Stone. June 28, 2018 . May 31, 2023. Over a budget-techno pulse, James Murphy brags of his hipster exploits....
8. Web site: You Were There: The Complete LCD Soundsystem . Pitchfork Media . March 28, 2011 . December 1, 2015.
9. Book: Goodman, Lizzy . Meet Me in the Bathroom . . 2017 . 978-0-06-223309-7 . 288 . Tim Goldsworthy

   "Losing My Edge" is a direct rip-off of a Killing Joke track.

   .
10. Web site: LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge / Beat Connection Images . . December 1, 2015.
11. Losing My Edge . . 2012 . single liner notes . DFA Records.
12. Web site: Tobias . Zywietz . Chart Log UK – L . Zobbel.de . December 1, 2015.
13. Web site: Puja . Patel . "Losing My Edge" Turns 10 . . July 10, 2012 . April 14, 2017 .
14. Web site: LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge . Reefer Records . May 4, 2016 .
15. Alex . Hudson . LCD Soundsystem to Reissue "Losing My Edge" for Record Store Day . . March 8, 2012 . April 14, 2017 .
16. Losing My Edge . LCD Soundsystem . 2012 . April 14, 2017 . CD notes . .