Highwire (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

"Highwire" is an anti-war song by English rock band the Rolling Stones, featured on their 1991 live album, Flashpoint.[1] Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song is one of the rare examples of the Stones taking on political issues—in this case, the fall-out from Persian Gulf War.

"Highwire" was released as FlashpointTemplate:'s first single on 4 March 1991. It reached number four in Finland, Norway, and Portugal, number six in the Netherlands, number 10 in Canada, and number 57 in the United States. In the latter country, the single peaked at number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. An accompanying video directed by Julien Temple was released and depicts the Stones in an industrial set performing the song.

Background

On the song, Jagger said at the time of its release, "It's not about the war. It's about how it started."[2] His brother Chris Jagger noted "it is a sideways swipe at the policies surrounding the Gulf War".[3] Richards continued, saying, "This is not about the war. It's about how you build up some shaky dictator. You can't build them up, 'cause then you've got to slam them down."[2]

The song's lyrics deconstructs the build-up to the war and criticises the politics behind it:

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

We sell 'em missiles, We sell 'em tanks; We give 'em credit, You can call the bank; It's just a business, You can pay us in crude; You love these toys, just go play out your feuds; Got no pride, don't know whose boots to lick; We act so greedy, makes me sick sick sick.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

We walk the highwire; Sending the men up to the front line; Hoping they don't catch the hell fire; With hot guns and cold, cold lies.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Still controversial after all these years -- that is a compliment in itself. This antiwar song sounds as if it was recorded in the days of Exile On Main Street. Richards's mean guitar riff underpins Jagger's biting vocals. No DJ can possibly deny the strong impact of it."[4]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Highwire" shows the band members performing against an industrial backdrop. The video did not feature Bill Wyman, leading to speculation that he had left the band. "Highwire" proved to be his last single release with the band, although his departure was not confirmed until 1993.

Personnel

Charts

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Highwire"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 4 March 1991 Template:Hlist Rolling Stones [17]
Japan 21 March 1991 Mini-CD [18]
United Kingdom 8 April 1991 Template:Hlist [19]

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ John Stewart Bowman Facts about the American wars -- 1998 p716 "But neither that nor another antiwar song, "Highwire," by the Rolling Stones, received much attention. Nor did "Die for Oil, Sucker," by Jello Biafra, formerly of the Dead Kennedys. "
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Template:Cite Ryan
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Script error: No such module "navboxes". Script error: No such module "Navbox".Script error: No such module "Navbox".Template:The Rolling Stones albumsScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Highwire_(song)&oldid=5274381"