Moonlight Shadow Explained

Moonlight Shadow
Cover:Moonlight Shadow (Mike Oldfield).jpg
Caption:Artwork for original single
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Mike Oldfield
Album:Crises
B-Side:
  • "Rite of Man"
  • "To France"
  • "Jungle Gardenia"
  • "Taurus 3"
  • "In the Pool"
  • "Bones"
Recorded:FebruaryApril 1983
Studio:Denham, England
Genre:
Length:
  • (album version)
  • 5:17 (12-inch version)
Label:Virgin
Producer:
Prev Title:Mistake
Prev Year:1982
Next Title:Shadow on the Wall
Next Year:1983

"Moonlight Shadow" is a song written and performed by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released as a single in May 1983 by Virgin Records, and included on his eighth album, Crises, of the same year.[4] The vocals were performed by Scottish vocalist Maggie Reilly, who had collaborated with Mike Oldfield since 1980. It is Oldfield's most successful single, reaching number one on numerous charts around Europe. In the UK, it reached number four during a nineteen week chart run and was subsequently listed by the Official Charts Company as the 29th best-selling single of 1983.[5]

Release

The single peaked at number four in the British charts, making it Oldfield's second-highest ranked single after "Portsmouth", which reached number three in 1976. "Moonlight Shadow" was successful throughout Europe; it reached number one in many countries, including Italy, Austria, Switzerland for four weeks and Norway for six weeks. It spent four weeks at number two in West Germany, reached number six in Australia, and peaked at number three in New Zealand and France. It was re-released as a maxi-CD single in 1993 to promote Oldfield's Elements box set, charting at number 52.

A 12-inch single (later reissued on a 3" CD single) featured an extended version of the song with an extra verse. The extended mix also appears on his compilation album The Platinum Collection. Both the 7 inch and 12 inch singles featured the B-side "Rite of Man", which was a rare instance of Oldfield singing lead vocal.

In 1991, the song was re-released in France, and in 1993 it was featured on promos for Elements in France and Spain. The 1993 reissue included "Bones" and "In the Pool" as B-sides, which had previously been released as B-sides with "To France". Furthermore, the name of the song was used for the 2013 Universal Music compilation album of Oldfield's music, .

Live performances

Maggie Reilly sang "Moonlight Shadow" live when she toured with Oldfield in the 1980s. However, since then, other singers have performed the song live with Oldfield, including Anita Hegerland during the late 1980s, Pepsi Demacque at the Tubular Bells III premiere and at the Live Then & Now 1999 tour, Miriam Stockley at the Millennium concert and Nokia Night of the Proms in Germany, and Rosa Cedrón at Nokia Night of the Proms in Spain.

In 2020 Maggie Reilly released an updated version where she is the vocalist.

Artwork

The original cover art is an enlargement of the lower right corner of the Crises album cover by UK artist Terry Ilott. This shows a man with his foot on a ledge with the sea and sky in the background. The moon, the tower and its shadow from the album cover cannot be seen on the single cover.

The artwork for the 1993 reissue followed the style of the Elements artwork in most countries.

Production

An early version of the song was entitled "Midnight Passion" with vocals by British singer Hazel O'Connor.[6] Along with Maggie Reilly, a girlfriend of one of the roadies when Oldfield was on tour, Oldfield used a rhyming dictionary and recorded many of the lyrics word by word.[7]

According to bassist Phil Spalding the initial tracks recorded simultaneously for "Moonlight Shadow" were acoustic guitar (Oldfield), bass (Spalding), drums (Phillips) and electric guitar (Tim Renwick) in early February 1983 at Oldfield's studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire.[8] Renwick's guitar track was apparently not used in the final track.[8] The remaining tracks including the vocals and Oldfield on electric guitar were later overdubs.[8]

According to Oldfield, Virgin Records were immediately happy with the song and wanted more pieces similar to it. Reilly also sang on "Foreign Affair" on Crises. An unplugged mix of the song appears on the 2013 Mercury Records reissue of the Crises album.

Oldfield later sampled the drums from "Moonlight Shadow" for the song "Man in the Rain" on his 1998 album, Tubular Bells III.[9]

Lyrical content

It has been suggested that the lyrics of the song are a reference to the murder of John Lennon, despite the fact that the events in the song do not correspond with those of Lennon's murder.[10] [11] Lennon was shot four times just before 11 pm, whereas in the song the time is 4 am and the number of shots is six. Also, the night Lennon was shot (8 December 1980) was a new moon, so there was no moonlight,[12] and in the song, it is Saturday night, while Lennon was killed on a Monday night. When asked whether "Moonlight Shadow" is a reference to John Lennon's murder in a 1995 interview, Oldfield responded:

Video

There are two versions of the video: the full-length original, and a shorter one which omits a verse. The reason for the shorter version was for the requirements of some TV broadcasters, and the way both versions are edited suggests that Oldfield's touring guitarist "Ant" (Anthony Glynne) performs the second, overdriven half of the guitar solo, which is not the case. Also in the video is Oldfield's touring drummer, Pierre Moerlen, miming the part played by Simon Phillips on the recording. The music video was directed by Keith McMillan and shot on location at Hatfield House and Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, England (the band are seen performing in Brocket Hall's ballroom and the girl, played by Francesca Gonshaw, runs in through the door and up the staircase in Brocket's hallway).[13] [14]

Track listing

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (7" mix) – 3:37
  2. "Rite of Man" – 2:21
  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  2. "Rite of Man" – 2:21
  1. "Moonlight Shadow" – 3:37
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  3. "Rite of Man" – 2:21
  4. "To France" – 4:43
  5. "Jungle Gardenia" – 2:45
  6. "Taurus 3" – 2:25
  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  2. "Rite of Man" – 2:21
  3. "To France" – 4:44
  4. "Jungle Gardenia" – 2:44
  1. "Moonlight Shadow" – 3:35
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  3. "In the Pool"* – 3:40
  4. "Bones"* – 3:19

(*: original B-sides for the 1984 "To France" single)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1983)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 2
France (IFOP)[18] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[20] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[21] 7
Spain (AFYVE)[22] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1983)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[24] 52
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 7
France (IFOP)[27] 31
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 44
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[32] 29
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[33] 3

Appearances and influence in other media

"Moonlight Shadow" appeared on the soundtrack of the Italian comedy Vacanze di Natale (1983).[34] It is also the theme song for Dave Angel, Eco-Warrior, a character in the BBC TV comedy series The Fast Show.[35]

Groove Coverage version

Moonlight Shadow
Cover:Groove Coverage - Moonlight Shadow.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Groove Coverage
Album:Covergirl
Released:2002
Length:2:52
Prev Title:Are U Ready
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:God Is a Girl
Next Year:2002

In 2002, a cover by Groove Coverage peaked at No. 3 in the German Top 10 (simultaneously, a similar version of Oldfield's "To France" by Novaspace was in the German Top 30). "Moonlight Shadow" appeared on Groove Coverage's debut album, Covergirl. The vocals are by Melanie Munch, who is known by her stage name Mell. Aside from the single remixes, the album also contains a piano version, featuring piano by Verena Rehm.

Track listings

CD single

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Radio version) – 2:52
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Original radio edit) – 2:54
  3. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 6:56
  4. "Moonlight Shadow" (Rocco remix) – 6:58
  5. "Moonlight Shadow" (Warp Brothers remix) – 7:37
  6. "Moonlight Shadow" (Video) – 2:53

Maxi single

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Radio version) – 2:52
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Original radio edit) – 2:59
  3. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 6:58
  4. "Moonlight Shadow" (Rocco remix) – 6:58
  5. "Beat Just Goes" – 3:53

Remix single

A-side

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version)

B-side

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Club version)
  2. "Beat Just Goes" (Club mix)

US maxi single

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Josh Harris Radio Edit) – 3:46
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Josh Harris Club Mix) – 7:21
  3. "Moonlight Shadow" (Josh Harris Dub) – 6:39
  4. "Moonlight Shadow" (French Club Mix) – 6:36
  5. "Moonlight Shadow" (French Short Cut) – 3:05
  6. "Moonlight Shadow" (Plastic Men UK Mix) – 6:16
  7. "Moonlight Shadow" (Warp Brothers Remix) – 7:36
  8. "Moonlight Shadow" (North Starz Remix) – 6:57
  9. "Moonlight Shadow" (Alternate Radio Version) – 2:51
  10. "Moonlight Shadow" (Original Mix) – 2:53
  11. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended Mix) – 6:54
  12. "Moonlight Shadow" (Rocco Remix) – 6:56
  13. "Moonlight Shadow" (A cappella) – 1:50
  14. "Moonlight Shadow" (Pure & Direct Version) – 4:17

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[36] 31
Germany (Official German Charts)[37] 19

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Guaitamacchi, Ezio . 2011 . 1000 canzoni che ci hanno cambiato la vita . . 978-88-58-61742-7 . it.
  2. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Progressive Rock (And Simpler Pleasures). 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 364.
  3. Web site: Singles . Amadian . 1 March 2009 .
  4. Web site: Information about the single . Tubular-World.com . 29 March 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080829151058/http://www.tubular-world.com/singles/moonlight-shadow/index.shtml . 29 August 2008.
  5. Web site: Official Top 40 Best Selling Singles of 1983 . UK Official Charts.com . The Official UK Charts Company . 19 March 2021 .
  6. Web site: Oldfield albums part 2 . Toucan Solutions . 15 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080215094703/http://www.toucansolutions.com/oldfield/albums2.htm.
  7. Web site: Archiv Sendung vom 02.04.2008, kulturplatz, Mike Oldfield video interview . . 2 April 2008 . 14 April 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080414213444/http://www.sf.tv/sf1/kulturplatz/index.php?docid=20080402 . de.
  8. Web site: Mike Oldfield – Crises . . July 2014 . 16 November 2014 .
  9. Web site: Rare Tracks Part 1 . Ommadawn.net . 29 March 2008 .
  10. Web site: Is Moonlight Shadow about the murder of John Lennon? . Experts123.com . 3 July 2011 .
  11. Web site: FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) . Tubular.net . 3 July 2011 .
  12. Web site: Moon Phases December 1980 . Calendar-12.com . 11 November 2017 .
  13. The Wind Chimes . 1988 . Mike Oldfield . VHS rear cover credits . . VVD 353.
  14. Mark . Powell . Crises . 2013 . Mike Oldfield . liner notes book . Mercury Records . 37 4044-8.
  15. Book: Kent, David . . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book . . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6.
  16. Web site: UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits . MusicSeek.info . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060614052149/http://musicseek.info/no1hits/1983.htm . 14 June 2006.
  17. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. 2021. Mike Oldfield. 189. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. 3 July 2022. fi.
  18. Web site: Accès direct aux Artistes (O) . InfoDisc . 27 December 2017 . Select "Mike Oldfield" from the artist drop-down menu . fr.
  19. Web site: The Irish Charts – All there is to know . Irishcharts.ie . 31 May 2014 . Search "10 July 1983" then click "find it" .
  20. Web site: Cerca titoli in classifica . . 19 March 2023 . it . Enter Mike Oldfield into the Arista field, select Singoli from the Tipo field, then click Cerca.
  21. Web site: South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (O) . Rock.co.za . 4 June 2013 .
  22. Book: Salaverri, Fernando . September 2005 . Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 . 1st . Fundación Autor-SGAE . Spain . 978-84-8048-639-2 . es.
  23. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay. OLiS. pl. 13 May 2024. Select week 04.05.2024–10.05.2024..
  24. Web site: National Top 100 Singles for 1983 . . . 5 August 2020 .
  25. Web site: Jahreshitparade 1983 . Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien . 1 May 2014 . de.
  26. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1983 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 1 May 2014 . nl.
  27. Web site: TOP – 1983 . Top-france.fr . 1 May 2014 . fr.
  28. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1983 . . 1 May 2014 . nl.
  29. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 1 May 2014 . nl.
  30. Web site: End of Year Charts 1983 . . 14 September 2020 .
  31. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1983 . Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien . 1 May 2014 . de.
  32. Book: Peter . Scaping . 1984 . BPI Year Book 1984 . Top 100 singles: 1983 . . 42–43 . 0-906154-04-9.
  33. Web site: Jahrescharts – 1983 . . 1 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153107/http://www.officialcharts.de/year.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1983&x=23&y=12 . dead . 14 July 2014 . de.
  34. Web site: Vacanze di Natale . 17 October 2011 .
  35. Web site: Dave Angel – Eco Warrior . . 21 January 2003 . 22 December 2012 .
  36. Web site: Jahreshitparade 2002 . Austriancharts.at. . Hung Medien . 1 May 2020 . de.
  37. Web site: Jahrescharts – 2002 . Offiziellecharts.de . GfK Entertainment Charts . 9 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509005459/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2002 . de.