"Trash"
Single by Suede
from the album Coming Up
B-side"Europe Is Our Playground"
Released29 July 1996 (1996-07-29)
GenreBritpop
Length4:06
LabelNude
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ed Buller
Suede singles chronology
"New Generation"
(1995) 		"Trash"
(1996) 		"Beautiful Ones"
(1996)

"Trash" is the first single from English rock band Suede's third studio album, Coming Up (1996). Released on 29 July 1996 via Nude Records, "Trash" was the first single on which all the songs were written without guitarist Bernard Butler, since Richard Oakes had taken his place. The single is tied with "Stay Together" as the band's highest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number three; however, it outsold the earlier single, thus making it their biggest-selling single.[1] Outside the UK, the song topped the Finnish Singles Chart and reached the top five in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.

Song meaning

Various meanings have been given to the song, but the main themes seem to be about 'outsiders', being different but living well with it. In a 2013 interview, Anderson expanded this theme, saying: "It's a song that's kind of about being in the band and, by extension, it's a song about the fans and the whole kind of ethos of being a Suede... person."[2] He also described it as the soundtrack to his life, saying "It's about believing in the romance of the everyday."[3] In an interview in late 2009, for the SkyArts' Songbook series, Anderson said about the song:

I actually wrote it about the band Suede. It's a celebration of the band, but by extension, it's a celebration of the fans as well. And it was a kind of a song written about us, as a gang, it was written about the values we stood for. And even though it sounds like a love song, it was actually about the idea of the identity of the band, and what they stood for.

Critical reception

The song proved to be a successful comeback single for Suede, receiving praise from critics. Kevin Courtney of The Irish Times said it is "probably their most direct and immediate pop statement to date."[4] Melody Maker had proclaimed the song "single of the week" a fortnight prior to release.[5] Tania Branigan called it "bitterly sweet, a love song for strangers; fast, in every sense of the word." In reference to the single's B-sides, she said: "In the finest 'Drowners' tradition, the two B-sides are almost finer."[6] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "They haven't lost their camp, dramatic touch (piped strings!), distorted guitars and strong melodies. Great summer record."[7] Music Week rated it five out of five, and also they picked it as Single of the Week. The reviewer noted, "This return single finds Suede at their most flamboyant with Brett Anderson's deliciously Bowie-like vocals stealing the show over an adventurous arrangement. This should be their biggest hit to date and augurs very well for their September album."[8] The magazine's Alan Jones declared it "their most disciplined and direct pop nugget to date", "hugely commercial, and likely to be their biggest hit yet."[9] Ted Kessler of NME said, "So the scaremongers were wrong. Brett Anderson is the creative force behind Suede. Here's the proof: this week sees the release of their first post-Bernard Butler single and nobody can really admit that they thought it would sound half as good as it does."[10] James Bennett of The Telegraph called it an "instant, flawless, three-minute essence-of-pop, as irresistible as 'Satisfaction' or 'Ride a White Swan'."[11] George Byrne of the Irish Independent had high praise for the single, writing: "The four songs which make up the 'Trash' EP (Nude) are the most uncluttered and focused since their first three singles, dipping back into glam rock with a vengeance. The title track is glorious, a robust romp with a keyboard intro reminiscent of Bowie's 'Heroes' as Anderson leerily lolls with the lyrical lowlife."[12]

Music video

The music video for the song was filmed at Elstree Studios[5] and directed by David Mould. It features the whole band performing in a crowded, up-market bar decorated in garish primary colours among people in glamorous, high-end fashions of the day. The video also marks the first appearance of a new band member, keyboard player Neil Codling.

Accolades

A 2014 poll by US music magazine Paste marking the 20th anniversary of Britpop listed "Trash" at number 14 in its list, "The 50 Best Britpop Songs." Michael Danaher wrote: "The song is a festering, anthemic pop gem that featuring a glorious chorus and guitar and synth-driven rhythm. A vastly underrated song this side of the Atlantic."[13] In a public poll by NME, "Trash" was placed at number nine on its list of the "50 Greatest Britpop Songs Ever", saying: "with 'Trash', Suede made being a glam weirdo seem like the most appealing thing in the world." [14]

Versions

A different version of the song appears on the group's 2003 compilation album Singles, where the vocals were re-recorded along with an alternative ending. All four of the singles' B-sides were included on Suede's compilation Sci-Fi Lullabies, which was released the following year, although the version of "Europe is our Playground" was a new version and not the original B-side version found here. "Europe is Our Playground" also marks the songwriting debut of bass guitarist Mat Osman.

Track listings

All songs were written by Brett Anderson and Richard Oakes except where noted.

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 29 July 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 Nude [37]
Japan 31 July 1996 CD [38]

References

  1. ^ Barnett, David (23 March 2010). "Trash, You & Me: The Story Of Suede's Coming Up". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  2. ^ Daly, Rhian (21 September 2016). "Watch Suede Recall Writing '90s Hit Trash'". NME. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  3. ^ Barnett, Laura. "Portrait of the artist: Brett Anderson". The Guardian. 18 January 2010
  4. ^ Courtney, Kevin (2 August 1996). "Trash Can Sinatra". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Thompson, Ben (21 July 1996). "Suede's frontman was into British pop..." The Independent. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  6. ^ Branigan, Tania (13 July 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker: 54.
  7. ^ "Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 29. 20 July 1996. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 20 July 1996. p. 42. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  9. ^ Jones, Alan (27 July 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  10. ^ Kessler, Ted (27 July 1996). "I'm Stronger Than Ever, I'm Afraid". NME.
  11. ^ Bennett, James (27 July 1996). "The Arts: Suede back from the cleaners ROCK CDs". The Telegraph. p. 9.
  12. ^ Byrne, George (23 July 1996). "Suede make a brash return". Irish Independent.
  13. ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie (11 June 2014). "The 50 Best Britpop Songs". Paste. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  14. ^ "50 Greatest Britpop Songs Ever – As Voted By You". NME. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  15. ^ Trash (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 21S.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Trash (UK cassette single sleeve). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 21MC.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Trash (UK CD1 liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 21CD1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Trash (Australian CD single liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. 663527 2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Trash (UK CD2 liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 21CD2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Trash (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 663480 2, 01-663480-14.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Trash (Japanese EP liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. ESCA 6495.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ "Suede – Trash" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9736." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 35. 31 August 2019. p. 15. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 34. 24 August 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  26. ^ "Suede: Trash" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (3.10. – 9.10. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 October 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  28. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Trash". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Suede – Trash" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Suede – Trash". VG-lista. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  32. ^ "Suede – Trash". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  33. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  34. ^ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  36. ^ "British single certifications – Suede – Trash". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  37. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 July 1996. p. 43. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  38. ^ "トラッシュ | スウェード" [Trash | Suede] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
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