Special Cases

2003 single by Massive Attack

For other uses, see Special Cases (disambiguation).

"Special Cases"

Single by Massive Attack
from the album  100th Window
Released| 24 February 2003 (2003-02-24)
Studio| Sony (London, England)[1]
Length|

* 5:09 (album version)
* 3:46 (radio edit)

Label| Virgin
Songwriter(s)|

* Sinéad O'Connor
* Robert Del Naja
* Neil Davidge

Producer(s)|

* Robert Del Naja
* Neil Davidge

Massive Attack singles chronology
| "Inertia Creeps"
(1998)  | "Special Cases"
(2003)  | "Butterfly Caught"
(2003)

|
|

"Special Cases" is a song by English trip hop group Massive Attack featuring vocals from Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, who also co-wrote the track. It appears on Massive Attack's fourth full-length album, 100th Window, and was released as the first single on 24 February 2003.

The single reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, number 19 in Greece, number 22 in Italy, and number 46 in Ireland. "Special Cases" is the group's only song to chart in Canada, where it reached number 25 on the Canadian Singles Chart. Despite being one of the band's higher-charting singles, it did not appear on their 2006 singles compilation, Collected.[2] Two separate music videos were made for the song.

## Track listings

[edit]

In addition to a radio edit of the original song, the single release contains a remix by Canadian electronica artist Akufen, as well as "I Against I", a song performed with Mos Def that appeared on the soundtrack of the 2002 film Blade II. 12-inch vinyl releases contain an additional remix of "Special Cases" by Vladislav Delay, who is credited as "Luomo" for this release. The enhanced CD contains one of the music videos, and the other video is on a rare DVD release of the single.

UK and European CD single (VSCDT1839)[3]

1. "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
2. "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56
3. "I Against I" (featuring Mos Def) – 5:40
4. "Special Cases" (video version 2) – 5:09

UK 12-inch single (VST1839)[4]

A. "Special Cases" (Akufen Remix) – 9:56
B. "Special Cases" (Luomo's Casing) – 7:56

UK DVD single (VSDVD1839)[5]

1. "Special Cases" (video version 1) – 5:09
2. "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
3. "Special Cases" (Akufen Remix) – 9:56
4. "Special Cases" (Luomo's Casing edit) – 4:43

Australian CD single (5469972)[6]

1. "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46
2. "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56
3. "I Against I" (featuring Mos Def) – 5:40

|

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2003)  | Peak
position

|

Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[7] | 25
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] | 46
Greece (IFPI)[9] | 19
Ireland (IRMA)[10] | 46
Italy (FIMI)[11] | 22
Scotland (OCC)[12] | 32
UK Singles (OCC)[13] | 15
UK Dance (OCC)[14] | 2

## Release history

[edit]

Region  | Date  | Format(s)  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United Kingdom  | 24 February 2003  |

* 12-inch vinyl
* CD
* DVD

| Virgin | [15]
Australia  | 17 March 2003  | CD  | [16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 100th Window (liner notes). Massive Attack. Virgin Records. 2003. 724358123920.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. ^ "Massive Attack – Collected". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
3. ^ Special Cases (UK & European CD single liner notes). Massive Attack. Virgin Records. 2003. VSCDT1839, 724354699702.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. ^ Special Cases (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Massive Attack. Virgin Records. 2003. VST1839, VST1939.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. ^ Special Cases (UK DVD single case). Massive Attack. Virgin Records. 2003. VSDVD1839, 724349057692.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. ^ Special Cases (Australian CD single liner notes). Massive Attack. Virgin Records. 2003. 5469972, 724354699726.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. ^ "Massive Attack Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
8. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 12\. 15 March 2003. p. 11. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
9. ^ "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 29/03 – 04/04" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 14 April 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2020. See Best column.
10. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Massive Attack". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
11. ^ "Massive Attack – Special Cases". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
14. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
15. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 24 February 2003: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 22 February 2003. p. 31. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
16. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 17th March 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 17 March 2003. p. 26\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2003. Retrieved 14 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* inflightdata.com - Massive Attack Discography
* MASSIVEATTACK.IE song info entry on Special Cases
* Massive Attack - Special Cases on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

Massive Attack

* Robert "3D" Del Naja
* Adrian "Tricky" Thaws
* Grant "Daddy G" Marshall

* Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles
* Shara Nelson
* Tracey Thorn
* Neil Davidge
* Horace Andy
* Stephanie Dosen

Studio albums|

* Blue Lines
* Protection
* Mezzanine
* 100th Window
* Heligoland

Remix albums|

* No Protection

Compilation albums|

* Singles 90/98
* Collected

Extended plays|

* Splitting the Atom
* Ritual Spirit
* Eutopia

Singles|

* "Daydreaming"
* "Unfinished Sympathy"
* "Safe from Harm"
* "Sly"
* "Protection"
* "Karmacoma"
* "Risingson"
* "Teardrop"
* "Angel"
* "Inertia Creeps"
* "Special Cases"
* "Butterfly Caught"
* "Live with Me"
* "Four Walls"
* "The Spoils"

Others|

* "I Want You"
* Danny the Dog
* DJ-Kicks: Daddy G

See also|

* Discography
* Angelo Bruschini
* The Wild Bunch

* v
* t
* e

Sinéad O'Connor

* Discography

Studio albums|

* The Lion and the Cobra
* I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
* Am I Not Your Girl?
* Universal Mother
* Faith and Courage
* Sean-Nós Nua
* Throw Down Your Arms
* Theology
* How About I Be Me (and You Be You)?
* I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss

Compilation albums|

* So Far... The Best Of
* She Who Dwells‌ in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty
* Collaborations

EPs|

* Gospel Oak

Singles|

* "Troy"
* "Mandinka"
* "I Want Your (Hands on Me)"
* "Jump in the River"
* "Nothing Compares 2 U"
* "The Emperor's New Clothes"
* "Three Babies"
* "I Am Stretched on Your Grave"
* "Silent Night"
* "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home"
* "Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
* "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart"
* "Thank You for Hearing Me"
* "Fire on Babylon"
* "Chiquitita"
* "No Man's Woman"
* "Jealous"
* "Troy (Remix)"
* "My Lagan Love"
* "I Don't Know How to Love Him"

Featured singles|

* "Blood of Eden"
* "Don't Give Up"
* "Haunted"
* "Tears from the Moon"
* "Special Cases"
* "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Video albums|

* The Value of Ignorance
* Goodnight, Thank You, You've Been a Lovely Audience
* Live at the Sugar Club

Books|

* Rememberings (2021)

Related|

* Saturday Night Live performance
* John Reynolds (first husband)
* Steve Cooney (third husband)
* Joseph O'Connor (brother)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

|

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