Tattoo (Siouxsie and the Banshees song)

1983 song by Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Tattoo"

Song by Siouxsie and the Banshees
from the album  Downside Up (compilation)
Released| 23 September 1983
Recorded| 1983
Genre| Post-punk, proto-trip hop[1]
Label| Polydor
Songwriter(s)| Siouxsie Sioux, Steven Severin, Budgie
Producer(s)| Mike Hedges, Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Tattoo" is a song written by Siouxsie and the Banshees that was first released as the B-side of the "Dear Prudence" single in 1983.[2] It was included on two compilations: 2004's Downside Up and 2015's Spellbound : The Collection.

"Tattoo" was composed and performed as a three-piece by singer Siouxsie Sioux, bassist Steven Severin and drummer Budgie.[2] During this era, the band experimented other ways of recording and orchestration when they were in the studio to record extra-tracks for their singles.[2] For "Tattoo", producer Mike Hedges made them use the mixing desk as an instrument.[2] With his assistance, they recorded a track with whispered voices, droning basslines and slow drum beats. The result was spooky and atmospheric.

"Tattoo" is considered to be a proto trip hop track which helped Tricky when he shaped his style.[1] This track is often cited as inspirational in the development of the trip hop genre.[3] "Tattoo" was covered by Tricky in 1996 as the opening number of his second album, Nearly God.[4] It was also covered by Jay Jay Johanson in 2022.[5]

NME retrospectively reviewed it as "spellbinding" in 2009 while praising the four-cd box set Downside Up.[6]

In 2024, "Tattoo" was included in the double vinyl compilation FIP Trip Hop \- made by FIP and Radio France \- about the trip hop musical genre and its history.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Eudeline, Patrick (October 2007). "Siouxsie". rocknfolk.
2. ^ a b c d Paytress, Mark. "Downside Up" (liner notes- 4 cds Boxset). Universal, 2004
3. ^ Valli and Pascal Bertin. "Portishead - Dummy in "Pop, Etc". radio France Inter. Radio show broadcast on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2016. archived from the original on 17 July 2018
4. ^ "cover me". moon-palace.de. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
5. ^ Roulleau, Denis (March 2022). "Icon - Tribute to Siouxsie and the Banshees [review]". Rolling Stone (French edition) (140).
6. ^ "30 Killer B-Side And Rarities Albums You Might've Missed". NME. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2015
7. ^ "FIP Trip Hop". Radiofrance.com. Retrieved 2024-09-22.

* v
* t
* e

Siouxsie and the Banshees

* Siouxsie Sioux
* Steven Severin
* Budgie

* Marco Pirroni
* Sid Vicious
* Kenny Morris
* Peter Fenton
* John McKay
* Robert Smith
* John McGeoch
* John Valentine Carruthers
* Martin McCarrick
* Jon Klein
* Knox Chandler

Studio albums|

* The Scream
* Join Hands
* Kaleidoscope
* Juju
* A Kiss in the Dreamhouse
* Hyæna
* Tinderbox
* Through the Looking Glass
* Peepshow
* Superstition
* The Rapture

Live albums|

* Nocturne
* The Seven Year Itch
* At the BBC

Compilation albums|

* Once Upon a Time/The Singles
* Twice Upon a Time – The Singles
* The Best of Siouxsie and the Banshees
* Downside Up
* Voices on the Air: The Peel Sessions
* All Souls

Extended plays|

* The Thorn
* The Peel Sessions (1987)
* The Peel Sessions (1989)

Videos/DVDs|

* Nocturne
* The Seven Year Itch
* At the BBC
* The Best of Siouxsie and the Banshees

Singles|

* "Hong Kong Garden"
* "The Staircase (Mystery)"
* "Playground Twist"
* "Mittageisen"
* "Happy House"
* "Christine"
* "Israel"
* "Spellbound"
* "Arabian Knights"
* "Fireworks"
* "Slowdive"
* "Melt!"
* "Dear Prudence"
* "Swimming Horses"
* "Dazzle"
* "Overground"
* "Cities in Dust"
* "Candyman"
* "This Wheel's on Fire"
* "The Passenger"
* "Song from the Edge of the World"
* "Peek-a-Boo"
* "The Killing Jar"
* "The Last Beat of My Heart"
* "Kiss Them for Me"
* "Shadowtime"
* "Fear (of the Unknown)"
* "Face to Face"
* "O Baby"
* "Stargazer"

Other songs|

* "Love in a Void"
* "Red Light"
* "Tattoo"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Personnel
* The Creatures
* The Glove
* Mantaray

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