Close to Me (The Cure song)

"Close to Me"
Single by The Cure
from the album The Head on the Door
Released	17 September 1985
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	Angel Recording Studios, Upper Street, Islington, London, 1985
Genre	New wave
Length	3:23 (Album version) 7" - 3:38 (Remix) 12" - 6:35 (Extended Remix)
Label	Fiction Records
Writer(s)	Robert Smith
Producer(s)	Robert Smith Dave Allen
The Cure singles chronology
"In Between Days" (1985) "Close to Me" (1985) "Half an Octopuss" / "Quadpus" (1985)
Music video "Close To Me" on YouTube

"Close to Me" is the second single by English alternative rock group The Cure from their sixth studio album The Head on the Door, released on 17 September 1985.^[1] On its original release, the single was most successful in Ireland, peaking at #4, and also reached #7 in Australia and number 24 in the UK Singles Chart.^[2][3][4] It was remixed in 1990 for their remix album Mixed Up, and the remix was released as a single, peaking at #13 on the UK singles chart and #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US in January 1991.

History

Three versions of "Close to Me" were released in 1985: the original album version, the 7" single mix version (the one most familiar from air and video play, and from compilation appearance) and the 12" extended mix version. The album version does not feature the distinctive brass section part present on all of the other versions, which was adapted from a traditional New Orleans funeral march melody and played by horn section Rent Party for the single mix.

In addition to the brass section, the 7" version includes a long creaking sound of a door closing at the beginning: this originated from the music video shot for the song by director Tim Pope, which features the band trapped in a wardrobe falling off a cliff into the English Channel. The 12" extended mix which contains an extended arrangement of the brass section, featuring original material not found on other versions.

The lyrics to the song contain the words "If only I was sure/that my head on the door was a dream", which inspired the title of the parent album.

Music video

The music video is written and directed by the band's frequent music video director Tim Pope. It consists of the band all inside a wardrobe on the edge of a cliff. Following the musical scheme of the song, which builds up instrumentally, all the band members are inside the wardrobe, but not playing the instruments they would actually be playing, for obvious reasons. Boris Williams is simply clapping to the beat, keyboardist Lol Tolhurst is playing a very small, handheld keyboard, and Porl Thompson on the top shelf is plucking a comb to represent the short high sounds in the song. Bassist Simon Gallup does not play, and instead appears to be tied up and gagged. Tim Pope later revealed that Gallup had a light bulb in his mouth to create a "lit from within" feel, and the cloth was there to hide the wire.^[5] Robert Smith then comes from the back of the wardrobe and sings, also playing with finger puppets, which appear to be voodoo dolls of the band members, as when he moves them, the corresponding member moves. He then becomes more violent with the dolls, shaking them around heavily, which in turn causes the band members to hit into the sides of the wardrobe, which eventually results in the wardrobe falling off the cliff and into the sea. As they go into the sea, the wardrobe fills up slowly with water, like a capsized ship, but the band members continue to play their "instruments." The video ends with the wardrobe full of water and a band member pushing a rubber duck across the screen.

The music video was rated 13th on "20 to 1 Amazing Moments in Music" aired on Australia's Nine Network 4 March 2007. Essentially the show rated the most distinctive music videos (won by Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer).

Track listing

7" Single : Polydor / FISC-23 (FR)

1. "Close to Me [Remix]" - 3:38
2. "A Man Inside My Mouth" - 3:07

12" Single

1. "Close to Me [Extended Remix]" - 6:35
2. "A Man Inside My Mouth" - 3:07
3. "Stop Dead" - 3:21

Musicians

• Robert Smith - vocals
• Lol Tolhurst - keyboards
• Porl Thompson - keyboards
• Simon Gallup - bass
• Boris Williams - drums
• Rent Party - brass section (credited as "horns")

Chart positions

Chart (1985-1986)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[2]	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6]	30
France (SNEP)[7]	17
Germany (Official German Charts)[8]	49
Ireland (IRMA)[3]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9]	21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	45
UK (Official Charts Company)[4]	24

Close to Me · Remix

"Close to Me · Remix"
Single by The Cure
from the album Mixed Up
Released	22 October 1990
Format	7", 12", CD
Genre	Dance-pop[12]
Length	4:28
Label	Fiction Records
Producer(s)	Robert Smith, Chris Parry, Mark Saunders
The Cure singles chronology
"Never Enough" (1990) "Close to Me · Remix" (1990) "High" (1992)

"Close to Me · Remix" is the name given to the remixed version of the "Close to Me" single, released in 1990 to promote the album Mixed Up. It was made available in two different versions, the "Closer Mix" included on the 12" and the limited edition CD single, and the "Closest Mix" included on the 7" and the regular edition CD single. Both versions were available together on the cassette release. The "Closest Mix" was also included on the singles compilation Galore in 1997.

Chart positions: #13 (UK); #97 (USA)

Track listing

7" single

1. "Close to Me" (Closest Mix) - 4:18
2. "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy Mix) - 3:45

12" single

1. "Close to Me" (Closer Mix)
2. "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy Mix)
3. "Primary" (Red Mix)

Regular edition CD single

1. "Close to Me" (Closest Mix)
2. "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy Mix)
3. "Primary" (Red Mix)

Limited edition CD single

1. "Close to Me" (Closer mix)
2. "Just Like Heaven" (Dizzy mix)
3. "Why Can't I Be You?" (Extended mix)

• This release also included a free poster.

Cassette single

1. "Close to Me (Closer Mix)"
2. "Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix)"
3. "Close to Me (Closest Mix)"
4. "Primary (Red Mix)"

Music video

There is also a music video for the version of the song that appeared on Mixed Up. The video picked up where the original video ended, with the wardrobe crashing down the cliffside and sinking to the bottom of the sea. Robert exits first and is attacked by an octopus (seen playing the horns later in the video). After his struggle, the other band members try to flee as well, and are attacked by a starfish. The video ends without any of the band members reaching the surface, though they could see a boat overhead.

Chart positions

Chart (1990-1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[13]	55
Irish Singles Chart[14]	4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	27
Spain (AFYVE)[15]	18
UK (Official Charts Company)[16]	13
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[17]	97
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[17]	32
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[17]	44

References

1. "The Cure : Official Site: Discography :: Close To Me". thecure.com. Retrieved December 2013.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
3. "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
4. "1985 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 5th October 1985". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
5. "Simon had a light bulb in his mouth, to create the lit-within feel. I suggested the cloth." -Timpope.tv
6. "Ultratop.be – The Cure – Close to Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Lescharts.com – The Cure – Close to Me" (in French). Les classement single.
8. "Musicline.de – The Cure Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Cure search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
10. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cure – Close to Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
11. "Charts.org.nz – The Cure – Close to Me". Top 40 Singles.
12. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Cure - Galore: The Singles 1987-1997". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
13. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
14. "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
15. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
16. "1990 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 10th November 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
17. "Artist Chart History (singles) - The Cure". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-10-19.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics