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"State of the Nation" | |
---|---|
Single by Industry | |
from the album Stranger to Stranger | |
B-side | "Communication" |
Released | 1984 |
Recorded | 1983 |
Genre | New wave |
Length |
|
Label | Capitol Records |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | Rhett Davies |
"State of the Nation" is a song by American band Industry taken from their sole studio album Stranger to Stranger. The song peaked at No. 3 in Italy, No. 10 in Sweden, No. 78 in Australia, and No. 81 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The official music video was filmed on a retired aircraft carrier, the USS Intrepid, for two nights at the cost of $37,000.[1] To create the appearance of an ominous stage set, the production installed blue and white lights, red emergency flares and billows of smoke on the Intrepid.[1] Retired and active U.S. Navy personnel, who managed the Intrepid, also participated in the shoot.[citation needed] Half Hollow Hills East High School students were also brought in to act as naval personnel. During the shoot, the students wore their own uniforms. The production company later gave a $1,000 contribution to the school.[1]
In the video, the band performs the song on an naval ship at night while being surrounded by uniformed naval personnel and a military/naval band, all of whom dance to the song. Parked aircraft are also evident in the video. The lead singer, Jon Carin, has a rack of keyboard instruments with a synthesizer and a computer (not a Fairlight CMI), Rudy Perrone plays a Steinberger bass guitar, Brian Unger plays a Fender Stratocaster and Mercury Caronia plays an acoustic drum kit with Simmons hexapads.[2]
An alternate version, not set on a ship, was later filmed and released.[3]
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 78 |
Italy (Hit Parade)[5] | 3 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[6] | 10 |
US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 81 |