Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)

"Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)", given the reversed title "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" in some markets, is a song by the British band The Icicle Works. It was released in 1983 as the first single from the band's 1984 debut eponymous album The Icicle Works. The song was written by Ian McNabb, the band's lead singer, and produced by Hugh Jones.

"Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)"
Single by The Icicle Works
from the album The Icicle Works
B-side"In the Cauldron of Love"
ReleasedJune 1983[1] (UK)
March 1984 (US/UK re-release)
Recorded1983
GenreNew wave
Length3:45
LabelBeggars Banquet
Songwriter(s)Ian McNabb
Producer(s)Hugh Jones
The Icicle Works singles chronology
"Nirvana"
(1982)		 "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)"
(1983)		 "Love Is a Wonderful Colour"
(1983)

UK releases

The recording initially was released as a single in Britain in June 1983 as "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" on the Situation Two label[1]. This initial release hit #2 on the UK independent charts, and scraped the lower reaches of the overall UK national charts at #89.

After The Icicle Works' next UK single "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" hit #15 on the UK charts in late 1983 and early 1984, Beggars Banquet Records re-released "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" in March 1984 with a new cover and B-side. This re-release climbed to #52 in the UK.

U.S. release

The group's U.S. label Arista Records refused to release the record unless some changes were made. The track was remixed slightly in order to remove a brief spoken-word overdub on the opening bars of music. (The woman performing this intro was identified only as "Mariella" on the original Situation Two single sleeve.) Also the song title was reversed, becoming "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)". Finally, Arista shortened the band's name to Icicle Works. With changes, the song reached #37 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #34 on Cashbox's singles chart in the summer of 1984. The song also reached #18 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #15 on Radio & Records Album Oriented Rock chart.

Track listings
1983 release

7" vinyl

  1. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) (3:46)
  2. "Reverie Girl (3:54)

12" vinyl

  1. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) (3:52)
  2. "Reverie Girl (3:55)
  3. "Gunboys (3:44)
1984 release

7" vinyl [UK]

  1. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (3:48)
  2. "In the Cauldron of Love" (3:50)

7" vinyl [Canada]

  1. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (3:48)
  2. "Scarecrow" (3:06)

12" vinyl (BEG 108T)

  1. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (3:48)
  2. "In the Cauldron of Love" (3:50)
  3. "Scarecrow" (3:06)
  4. "Ragweed Campaign" (4:12)

12" vinyl (BEG 108TD)

  1. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (3:48)
  2. "In the Cauldron of Love" (3:50)
  3. "Birds Fly" (Frantic Mix) (5.20)

12" vinyl (BEG 108TR)

  1. "Birds Fly" (Frantic Mix) (5:20)
  2. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (3:48)
  3. "In the Cauldron of Love" (3:50)
  4. "Scarecrow" (3:06)
  5. "Ragweed Campaign" (4:10)

Canadian release

The Canadian version of the single (credited to The Icicle Works) used the original UK mix with the spoken word intro, under the revised US title "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)". This was the most successful commercial release of the single, reaching #19 on the Canadian charts in the summer of 1984.

Covers and use in media
  • The band Acumen Nation covered the song under the title "Whisper to a Scream" on the 1997 new wave cover compilation Newer Wave and again on their single for the song "Unkind".
  • A cover of the song by Soho was used in the 1996 film Scream.
  • The song was covered in 2004 by Edmonton, Alberta-based band Social Code on A Year at the Movies.
  • The popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming each episode after a hit 1980s song, named an episode after this song. The episode faced the issue of self-mutilation.
  • The title was used as the title for an episode of Grey's Anatomy, which also uses song titles for episode titles.
  • The song was used for the 3:45 extended steadicam sequence which opens the second season of Halt and Catch Fire.
  • The melody of the song was adapted for use in a series of Budweiser commercials.
  • The song was used during the end credits of episode 7 of season 2 for the Netflix show Stranger Things.
gollark: Huh, I assumed that when someone mentioned the "UK government twitch account" it was a joke.
gollark: I don't know. It was probably before my time.
gollark: That message was there pre-Cult Wars.
gollark: That isn't actually the reason though.
gollark: Being noticed in some way, presumably, regardless of how annoying or bad it is?

References
  1. "Full DISCOGRAPHY The Icicle Works and Ian McNabb". Ianmcnabb.yolasite.com. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
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