Halcyon (Orbital song)

"Halcyon" is a song written and performed by Orbital, dedicated to the Paul Hartnoll's mother, who was addicted to the tranquiliser Halcion (Triazolam) for many years.[1] It was released as Radiccio EP in the UK and Japan, and as Halcyon EP in the US.

"Halcyon"
Radiccio EP cover
Single by Orbital
from the album Orbital (Brown album)
Released1992 (original)
1993 ("+ On + On")
Recorded1992
GenreAmbient house, acid house, ambient techno
Length11:05 (original version)
3:51 (edit)
9:27 ("+ On + On" version)
LabelFFRR
Songwriter(s)Edward Barton
Phil and Paul Hartnoll
Producer(s)Orbital
Orbital singles chronology
"Midnight / Choice"
(1991)		 "Halcyon"
(1992)		 "Lush 3"
(1993)
Orbital EP chronology
Mutations EP
(1992)		 Radiccio EP
(1992)		 Times Fly
(1996)

History

The song features two samples from earlier international hit singles. The first sample is a backmasked vocal sample by Kirsty Hawkshaw from "It's a Fine Day" by Opus III (1992). Ed Barton, the composer of "It's a Fine Day", receives a co-writing credit for the track. The second is a vocal harmonies sample in the song "Leave It" from the 1983 album 90125 by the progressive rock band Yes.[2] There is no co-writing credit for the Yes sample. The beats were produced by a Roland TR-909 rhythm machine.[3]

This original form of Halcyon is relatively uncommon; it first appeared on the Radiccio EP, and was only in the U.S. release as a single under its own name. It did not appear on a full-length album until the compilation Work 1989-2002, and then only in its shorter "single edit".

On Orbital's second eponymous album the track "Halcyon + on + on" appears, a slightly more upbeat and melodic remix of the original song. In contrast to the original, the remix is far more widely known, and has been featured on several movie soundtracks (most notably Mortal Kombat, Hackers, CKY2K and Mean Girls). The title of the remix is inspired by a contemporary advertising slogan used by the Ariston washing machine company ("Ariston + on + on"). "Halcyon + on + on" is somewhat shorter than the original, at 9 minutes and 27 seconds long.

Halcyon samples

"Halcyon" is one of the mainstays of Orbital's live performances, in which it is frequently remixed with clips from Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name". A 1999 performance containing these samples appears on the album Orbital: Live at Glastonbury 1994–2004. On occasion (notably the group's 2004 "last ever" performance broadcast on BBC Radio 1) it has also incorporated the chorus of "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness.[4]

In June 2009, Orbital released a two CD greatest hits compilation Orbital 20, which included a number of new remixes, including a "remodel" of "Halcyon" by Tom Middleton.

Music video

The song's video featured Opus III singer Hawkshaw playing a typical mother who was 'under the influence' (which was shot in the Hartnolls' home), who begins her chores by washing dishes.[1]

As she starts doing the task, it becomes evident that she starts to lose focus and start seeing things. Like pictures of the same person on a plate (when removed by plate the picture starts to get smaller), notices her two sons in unusual places (one dancing on a table; the other inside the cabinet below the sink, then in the sink), throwing items from her purse into the water and also washes them (including Barbara Cartland's novel "Shotgun Wedding"). She discovers a bald person who looks like her and tries to push them back into the sink and as she drains the water she also fights with it by using a bouquet of roses.

She then starts dancing in an erratic behaviour before she calms down, and when she turns around she sees herself coming into the kitchen. The video ends with a definition for Halcyon and Halcyon Days on the screen.

Track listing

1992, Radiccio (UK release)
12", Radiccio 1
  1. Halcyon (11:07)
  2. The Naked And The Dub (11:51)
12", Radiccio 2
  1. The Naked And The Dead (6:23)
  2. Sunday (7:14)
CD, Radiccio
  1. Halcyon (11:07)
  2. The Naked And The Dead (6:23)
  3. Sunday (7:14)
CD, Radiccio 2
  1. Halcyon Edit (3:57)
  2. Halcyon (11:07)
  3. Deeper (6:58)

1992, Halcyon (US release)
12", Halcyon
  1. Halcyon (11:05)
  2. The Naked And The Dub (11:51)
CD, Halcyon
  1. Halcyon (11:07)
  2. The Naked And The Dead (6:23)
  3. The Naked And The Dub (11:51)
  4. Sunday (7:10)
  5. Chime (Radio Edit) (3:15)

1993, Radiccio (Japan release)
CD, Radiccio
  1. Halcyon Edit (3:52)
  2. Halcyon (11:09)
  3. Deeper (6:59)
  4. The Naked And The Dead (6:25)
  5. Sunday (7:13)
  6. The Naked And The Dub (11:53)
Some versions of this CD repeats "The Naked And The Dead" instead of "The Naked And The Dub".

Charts
Year (1992) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[5] 37
gollark: I may actually make an arbitrarily good power source cuboid™ and IC² replicator setup. It lets you make a lot of things.
gollark: Somewhat.
gollark: No cost except mana, which is bees.
gollark: Botania can also duplicate redstone and such.
gollark: I might make laser drills. They require osmiridium, which requires iridium, which requires either a dungeon loot harvester or a replicator, sadly.

References
  1. "Well, we all had this crazy adolescence," explains Phil, tucking into a chilli burrito. "Because my dad was working really hard and was rarely at home while our mum was freaking out on Halcyon (a then-popular prescription tranquiliser)... Don't get me wrong, mum was always very loving and caring. But they prescribed her this drug and she just kept on doubling the dose." It was this which inspired 1992's 'Halcyon' and its video, which depicted bald Kirsty out of Opus III as a snooker-loopy housewife rattling around her suburban semi". Orbital:Suburban Spacemen Select Magazine, September 1994. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  2. "Orbital's Halcyon sample of Yes's Leave It". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  3. Nine Great Tracks That Use the Roland TR-909, Complex
  4. Orbital Say Goodbye At T - July 11 2004 - NME.com
  5. "Orbital: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
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