"Wires"
Single by Athlete
from the album Tourist
B-side
  • "Never Running Out"
  • "Get It Back"
  • "Transformer Man"
Released17 January 2005 (2005-01-17)
Length
  • 4:20 (album version)
  • 4:05 (radio edit)
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Athlete singles chronology
"You Got the Style"
(2003) 		"Wires"
(2005) 		"Half Light"
(2005)

"Wires" is a song by British rock band Athlete, from their second studio album, Tourist. It was released on 17 January 2005 as the lead single from that album, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by lead singer Joel Pott about his daughter, who became ill after birth and was rushed to intensive care. Pott paid tribute to hospital worker Ben McQuade, who played a major part in saving his daughter's life.[1]

In 2012, Rylan Clark-Neal performed "Wires" on the ninth series of British television music competition The X Factor. The week after Clark-Neal's performance, the original version by Athlete re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 40.[2]

Music video

The music video for "Wires" was directed by David Chaudoir and filmed on a former secret military test site at Orford Ness on the Suffolk coast.[3]

Track listings

UK CD1 and Australian CD single (CDATH007; 8704832)[4][5]

  1. "Wires"
  2. "Never Running Out"

UK CD2 (CDATHS007)[6]

  1. "Wires" (radio edit)
  2. "Never Running Out"
  3. "Get It Back"
  4. "Wires" (video)

UK 7-inch single (ATH007)[7][8]

A. "Wires" (radio edit) – 4:07
B. "Transformer Man" – 3:18

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 17 January 2005
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Parlophone [15]
Australia 21 March 2005 CD [16]

References

  1. ^ "This time, it's really personal". Evening Chronicle. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ "Spotlight – David Chaudoir – Motion Designer". Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ Wires (UK CD1 liner notes). Athlete. Parlophone. 2005. CDATH007, 07243 870483 2 4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Wires (Australian CD single liner notes). Athlete. Parlophone. 2005. 8704832.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Wires (UK CD2 liner notes). Athlete. Parlophone. 2005. CDATHS007, 07243-870483-0-0.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "Athlete – Wires". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  8. ^ Wires (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Athlete. Parlophone. 2005. ATH007, 07243-870483-7-9.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "The ARIA Report: ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 28th March 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 28 March 2005. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 6. 5 February 2005. p. 41. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Athlete". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2005" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  14. ^ "British single certifications – Athlete – Wires". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  15. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 15 January 2005. p. 21.
  16. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 21/03/2005". ARIA. 21 March 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original on 19 March 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

External links

Athlete
Authority control databases
Categories