Pictures of You (The Cure song) explained

Pictures of You
Cover:	Pictures of You.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	the Cure
Album:	Disintegration
Released:	19 March 1990
Length:	7:29 (album version) 4:48 (7-inch) 7:59 (12-inch) 6:40 (U.S. 12-inch)
Label:	Fiction
Producer:	Robert Smith, Dave Allen
Prev Title:	Lovesong
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	Never Enough
Next Year:	1990

"Pictures of You" is a song by English rock band the Cure. It was released on 19 March 1990 by Fiction Records as the fourth and final single from the band's eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989). The song has a single version which is a shorter edit of the album version. The single reached No. 24 on the UK Singles Charts.^[1]

There are also two different remixes on two UK 12-inch singles, and other singles released around the world, one of which later appeared on Mixed Up as the Extended Dub Mix and differs significantly from the album version in arrangement in that incorporates wholly original drum and bass arrangements. The other is an extended remix of the original album version which, at 7:59, runs slightly longer than the album version. There is also an edit which was released on 12-inch in the US, titled "extended remix" as in the European and Australasian releases, but which runs for 6:40 rather than 7:59.

In 2011, the song was voted number 283 on Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.^[2] In 2019, Billboard ranked the song number nine on their list of the 40 greatest Cure songs,^[3] and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number 11 on their list of the 30 greatest Cure songs.^[4]

Background

According to interviews, the inspiration of the song came when a fire broke loose in Robert Smith's home. After that day, Smith was going through the remains and came across his wallet which had pictures of his wife, Mary. The cover of the single is one of the pictures. The same picture was used as the cover of the "Charlotte Sometimes" single, but that image was heavily warped and distorted.

The song is composed in the key of A major.^[5]

Music video

The Tim Pope–directed video was shot using three Super-8 cameras in Ballachulish, Scotland, during the February 1990 "week of the big snow", with Robert Smith mentioning that he had never been colder before.^[6]

Covers

• Angie Hart's version was used for a TAC (Transport Accident Commission) ad campaign to combat speeding drivers.^{[7] [8]}
• Lit covered the song for their 2004 eponymous album Lit.
• Blankenberge made a version of the song and released it as their debut single in 2016.

Track listing

7-inch single (1)

1. "Pictures of You" (Single edit) – 4:46
2. "Last Dance" (live) – 4:42^[9]

7-inch single (2)

1. "Pictures of You" (Single edit) – 4:46
2. "Prayers for Rain" (live) – 4:48

12-inch single (1)

1. "Pictures of You" (Extended version) – 8:07^[10]
2. "Last Dance" (live) – 4:41
3. "Fascination Street" (live) – 5:23

12-inch single (2)

1. "Pictures of You" (Strange mix) – 6:45^[11]
2. "Prayers for Rain" (live) – 4:48
3. "Disintegration" (live) – 7:54

CD single

1. "Pictures of You" (Single edit) – 4:46
2. "Last Dance" (live) – 4:45
3. "Fascination Street" (live) – 5:19
4. "Prayers for Rain" (live) – 4:48
5. "Disintegration" (live) – 7:54

CD single (2)

1. "Pictures of You" (Single edit) – 4:46
2. "Last Dance" (live) – 4:45
3. "Fascination Street" (live) – 5:19

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[12]	89
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[13]	51

Personnel

• Robert Smith – vocals, Bass VI, keyboards, producer
• Porl Thompson – guitar
• Simon Gallup – bass
• Boris Williams – drums
• Roger O'Donnell – keyboards
• Lol Tolhurst – credited with "other instrument"; does not actually play on this track
• Bryan 'Chuck' New – remix

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1980-04-12 . CURE . 2023-09-20 . Official Charts . en.
2. 7 April 2011 . Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time . . 3 November 2015.
3. Web site: The Cure’s 40 Best Songs: Critic’s Picks. Andrew. Unterberger. Billboard. March 29, 2019. December 1, 2023.
4. Web site: The Cure’s 30 Greatest Songs Ranked. Mojo. November 14, 2023. December 1, 2023.
5. Web site: Pictures of You . Musicnotes.
6. Web site: Video Curiosities . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305061516/http://imaginaryboys.altervista.org/english/cure/videography/curiosities.htm . 5 March 2016 .
7. http://www.picturesofyou.com.au/ TAC – Pictures of You
8. http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/jsp/content/NavigationController.do?areaID=23&tierID=1&navID=63CC12CD7F00000101A5D19311EC6AC2&navLink=null&pageID=1548 'Pictures of You' TAC advertising campaign launched
9. Recorded live at Wembley, July '89
10. Web site: Discogs: Cure, The – Pictures Of You . . 5 October 2013.
11. This mix later appeared on the "Mixed Up" album as "Extended Dub Mix"
12. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
13. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 7. 18. IV–V. 5 May 1990.