Bigger than Us

"Bigger than Us"
Single by White Lies
from the album Ritual
Released	19 November 2010
Format	Digital download, 7" vinyl
Recorded	May–June 2010
Genre	Post-punk revival
Length	4.43 (Album Version) 4.06 (Radio Edit)
Label	Fiction
Writer(s)	Charles Cave
Producer(s)	Alan Moulder
White Lies singles chronology
"Death" (reissue) (2009) "Bigger than Us" (2011) "Strangers" (2011)

"Bigger than Us" is a song by English Indie rock^[1] band White Lies from their second studio album, Ritual.^[2] It was released as the lead single on 3 January 2011 in the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number 42.^[3] A live version of the track was made available by the band for download.

The single received its first airplay on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 16 November 2010.^[4] On 18 November 2010 the video premiered on the NME's website.^[5]

The song is featured on the soundtrack of the 2010 video game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and F1 2011.

Music video

On 18 November 2010 the video premièred on the NME's website.^[6] The video is a homage to Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The video recreates elements of E.T.'s apparent death whilst he is quarantined alongside Elliott. The character of E.T. is played by a large "Bigger than Us" candy bar which contains a young girl, Elliot is watched over by Gertie and Mary whilst what may be Greg and Steve wait outside. There are other intertextual references to the film featured in the video, the basketballs circling the band at 2:56, the bright red light within the bass drum at 3:08 and the images of the woods where the original film sees E.T. return home.

Track listing

Digital download

1. "Bigger than Us" – 4:43

7" vinyl

1. "Bigger than Us"
2. "Bigger than Us (Datassette Remix)"

Charts

Chart (2010-11)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7]	46
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8]	36
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[9]	29
Denmark (Tracklisten)[10]	38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11]	45
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12]	42

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format
Belgium[13]	19 November 2010	Polydor Records	Digital download
Denmark[14]
Germany	30 December 2010	Polydor Records
United States[15]	22 November 2010	Geffen Records
United Kingdom[16]	2 January 2011	Polydor Records

References

1. "White Lies - To Lose My Life". Clash. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
2. Chi, Chi. (2010-11-01) Newsbeat – White Lies reveal new album details. BBC. Retrieved on 2010-12-03.
3. White Lies Announce Sophomore Album, Ritual – First Single: "Bigger Than Us" Available Nov 22nd. Bloginity.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-03.
4. Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record: White Lies – Bigger Than Us. BBC (2010-11-16). Retrieved on 2010-12-03.
5. White Lies, 'Bigger Than Us' – Video – In The NME Office – NME.COM – The world's fastest music news service, music videos, interviews, photos and free stuff to win. Nme.Com. Retrieved on 2010-12-03.
6. White Lies, 'Bigger Than Us' – Video – In The NME Office – NME.COM – The world's fastest music news service, music videos, interviews, photos and free stuff to win. Nme.Com. Retrieved on 2010-12-03.
7. "Austriancharts.at – White Lies – Bigger than Us" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
8. "Ultratop.be – White Lies – Bigger than Us" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
9. "Ultratop.be – White Lies – Bigger than Us" (in French). Ultratip.
10. "Danishcharts.com – White Lies – Bigger than Us". Tracklisten.
11. "Dutchcharts.nl – White Lies – Bigger than Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
12. "Archive Chart: 2011-01-16" UK Singles Chart.
13. "Bigger Than Us - Single by White Lies - Download Bigger Than Us - Single on iTunes" (in Dutch). iTunes Store. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
14. "Bigger Than Us - Single by White Lies - Download Bigger Than Us - Single on iTunes" (in Danish). iTunes Store. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
15. "Bigger Than Us - Single by White Lies - Download Bigger Than Us - Single on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
16. Nissim, Mayer (1 November 2010). "Music - News - White Lies unveil second album details - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.