Shellshock

Listening to Substance for the first time in quite a while, I got to thinking about Shellshock. I know it was written for a film but have they ever played it live?

I was always lead to believe that they despised it so much that it's never been played live (one of only a very small group of songs that have never had a live airing, along with Too Late probably) but is this the case?

Listening to it now it's difficult to shake off the feeling I have that it's kind-of naff sounding; the underpowered, low-in-the-mix 808 drums and silly vocal samples ("that's the way...that that that's the way" etc) not doing it any favours. The lyric is a bit clunky too.

Thoughts?

Nah, it's been done loads of times. The song pretty much played itself. I've got a great instrumental recording of it from a soundcheck - at the end Oz gives them a round of applause and suggests that they should always play it like that...

This song was my 'tipping point'; the song that made me decide that I couldn't ignore the group any longer. From that point on, in 1986, I was a definite NO fan, so it has a fond place in my heart.

Not in my top 5, but pretty solid NO - I like the idea of shellshock from a relationship rather than a war...

No ideas about live play...

Shellshock 12"(NOT Substance verison!!) is my all time favourite.

The live debut at Warrington 86 was fantastic - featuring heavy metal guitar solo from Bernard (as did Blue Monday!!)

I wouldn't mind hearing that! Does anyone have a boot of it?

It's one of the poppiest songs they've ever produced. I long believed they hated it, hence its rarity live, but I could be mistaken.

"Rarity live" ??!!

Hardly, they must have played it over 40 times...

36 times live: http://www.neworderonline.com/Live/LiveSongList.aspx

Also, I see the lyrics on the site are wrong: Darlin' It's never enough should be: Hold on, its never enough.

Also: Don't give up the game 'til your heart stops beating and You lost the faith within your heart The fire in your soul from the end to the start

I would never have known, but they were printed in Smash Hits at the time.

Chemical wrote: I wouldn't mind hearing that! Does anyone have a boot of it?

It's one of the poppiest songs they've ever produced. I long believed they hated it, hence its rarity live, but I could be mistaken.

I'll mail you an MP3 of it this evening.

I think Shellshock should not be overlooked. The hip hop elements are just fantastic. It 's like Manchester meets New york city.

i love these lines

"i've been bad, ive been good, but common sense i never had"

story of my life.

Shellshock was on the "pretty in pink" soundtrack.

CuanaD wrote: 36 times live: http://www.neworderonline.com/Live/LiveSongList.aspx

Also, I see the lyrics on the site are wrong: Darlin' It's never enough should be: Hold on, its never enough.

Also: Don't give up the game 'til your heart stops beating and You lost the faith within your heart The fire in your soul from the end to the start

I would never have known, but they were printed in Smash Hits at the time.

Which of course you borrowed from somebody, rather than buying a copy, I sincerely hope?!

oldmonkey wrote:

CuanaD wrote:

I would never have known, but they were printed in Smash Hits at the time.

Which of course you borrowed from somebody, rather than buying a copy, I sincerely hope?!

No, I bought it but,

1. I WAS still a kid
2. I had to buy it, for my New Order collection
3. whatcha gonna do about it?

CuanaD wrote:

3. whatcha gonna do about it?

Have a scan of it please?

CuanaD wrote:

oldmonkey wrote:

CuanaD wrote:

I would never have known, but they were printed in Smash Hits at the time.

Which of course you borrowed from somebody, rather than buying a copy, I sincerely hope?!

No, I bought it but,

1. I WAS still a kid
2. I had to buy it, for my New Order collection
3. whatcha gonna do about it?

What did it chart at? can you remember

They didnt perform it on TOTP im fairly sure...

I'll mail you an MP3 of it this evening

Thank you most kindly. I also stand corrected as I thought they disliked the track so didn't play it live much. Shows you how wrong you can be!

Shellshock... I love it

"That's the way, that I can win, a victim of, your evil sin"

"HOLD ONNN!!!"

And that synth, I just love it, it's so energetic and upbeat, makes me want to get up and do stuff.

The rendition of Shellshock at Woolwich 1987 was pretty good, nice sequencer line and a lot of the really obnoxious new wave-y samples cut out. The real underplayed, underappreciated live track is World ;).

DoN wrote:

CuanaD wrote:

oldmonkey wrote:

CuanaD wrote:

I would never have known, but they were printed in Smash Hits at the time.

Which of course you borrowed from somebody, rather than buying a copy, I sincerely hope?!

No, I bought it but,

1. I WAS still a kid
2. I had to buy it, for my New Order collection
3. whatcha gonna do about it?

What did it chart at? can you remember

They didnt perform it on TOTP im fairly sure...

Number 28 and was in the charts for FIVE weeks. How did i miss getting SMASH HITS in STRANGEWAYS?:D

Guilt is a useless emotion; I bought smash hits every week in 85-86-87, then at age 17 I got sent to the Army, so that put an end to that little habit...

oldmonkey wrote:

Chemical wrote: I wouldn't mind hearing that! Does anyone have a boot of it?

It's one of the poppiest songs they've ever produced. I long believed they hated it, hence its rarity live, but I could be mistaken.

I'll mail you an MP3 of it this evening.

Can I be cheeky and ask for a copy of it? I'm from Warrington and was an embryonic fan in '86 so I missed my only chance to see the home game?

Mucho thanks if poss:

spookwriter@hotmail.com

Thanks muchly

This song almost always annoyed me with its messy beat and a lot of noisy sequencer layers. I heard only the Substance versions and never heard it live though.

I think the song was mutually buried by the band and fans and that's good

Some good sounds on there .Especially the 12".But the chorus is piss lame. When i first heard it in 86 after the dizzy heights of 1985 Low Life etc..what a let down.

As for Smash Hits i recall the lyrics for Thieves Like Us and Perfect Kiss also appearing in the mag back in the day.

Have they ever appeared on the front cover of Smash Hits? WIFM springs to mind..