Special Cases Explained

Special Cases
Cover:	Massive Attack - Special Cases.jpg
Type:	single
Album:	100th Window
Released:	^[1]
Length:	5:09 (album version) 3:46 (radio edit)
Label:	Virgin
Producer:	Robert Del Naja Neil Davidge
Chronology:	Massive Attack
Prev Title:	Inertia Creeps
Prev Year:	1998
Next Title:	Butterfly Caught
Next Year:	2003

"Special Cases" is a song by English trip hop group Massive Attack featuring vocals from Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, who also co-wrote the track. It appears on Massive Attack's fourth full-length album, 100th Window, and was released as the first single on 24 February 2003.

The single reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, number 19 in Greece, number 22 in Italy, and number 46 in Ireland. "Special Cases" is the group's only song to chart in Canada, where it reached number 25 on the Canadian Singles Chart. Despite being one of the band's higher-charting singles, it did not appear on their 2006 singles compilation, Collected.^[2] Two separate music videos were made for the song.

Track listings

In addition to a radio edit of the original song, the single release contains a remix by Canadian electronica artist Akufen, as well as "I Against I", a song performed with Mos Def that appeared on the soundtrack of the 2002 film Blade II. 12-inch vinyl releases contain an additional remix of "Special Cases" by Vladislav Delay, who is credited as "Luomo" for this release. The enhanced CD contains one of the music videos, and the other video is on a rare DVD release of the single.UK and European CD single ^[3]

1. "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
2. "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56
3. "I Against I" (featuring Mos Def) – 5:40
4. "Special Cases" (video version 2) – 5:09

UK 12-inch single ^[4]

A. "Special Cases" (Akufen Remix) – 9:56

B. "Special Cases" (Luomo's Casing) – 7:56UK DVD single ^[5]

1. "Special Cases" (video version 1) – 5:09
2. "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
3. "Special Cases" (Akufen Remix) – 9:56
4. "Special Cases" (Luomo's Casing edit) – 4:43

Australian CD single ^[6]

1. "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
2. "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56
3. "I Against I" (featuring Mos Def) – 5:40

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)^[7]	25
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[8]	46
Greece (IFPI)^[9]	19

External links

• inflightdata.com - Massive Attack Discography
• MASSIVEATTACK.IE song info entry on Special Cases

Notes and References

1. New Releases – For Week Starting 24 February 2003: Singles. Music Week. 31. 22 February 2003. 2 September 2021.
2. Web site: Massive Attack – Collected. AllMusic. 2 March 2021.
3. Special Cases. Massive Attack. 2003. UK & European CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VSCDT1839, 724354699702.
4. Special Cases. Massive Attack. 2003. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Virgin Records. VST1839, VST1939.
5. Special Cases. Massive Attack. 2003. UK DVD single case. Virgin Records. VSDVD1839, 724349057692.
6. Special Cases. Massive Attack. 2003. Australian CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. 5469972, 724354699726.
7. Massive Attack Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs). Billboard. 4 January 2019.
8. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 21. 12. 11. 15 March 2003. 15 March 2020.
9. Web site: Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 29/03 – 04/04. IFPI. el. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20030414005703/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm. 14 April 2003. 29 June 2020. See Best column.