"The Killing Moon" is a song by the English rock band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on 20 January 1984 by Korova[2] as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Ocean Rain (1984). It is one of the band's highest-charting hits, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart, and often cited as the band's greatest song. Ian McCulloch has said: "When I sing 'The Killing Moon', I know there isn't a band in the world who's got a song anywhere near that."[3]
In a retrospective review of the song, AllMusic journalist Stewart Mason wrote: "The smart use of strings amplifies the elegance of the tune, bringing both a musical richness and a sense of quiet dignity to the tune."[4]
According to the liner notes of Echo & the Bunnymen's box set Crystal Days: 1979–1999 (2001), Ian McCulloch woke up one morning with the phrase "fate up against your will" in mind. In a 2015 interview, McCulloch said: "I love (the song) all the more because I didn't pore over it for days on end. One morning, I just sat bolt upright in bed with this line in my head: 'Fate up against your will. Through the thick and thin. He will wait until you give yourself to him.' You don't dream things like that and remember them. That's why I've always half credited the lyric to God. It's never happened before or since." McCulloch attributed the use of astronomical imagery in the song to a childhood interest in space.[5]
Music
The chords of the song were based on David Bowie's "Space Oddity", played backwards. The arrangement of the song was partially inspired by balalaika music that Les Pattinson and Will Sergeant had heard in Russia. The guitar solo had been recorded separately by Sergeant whilst tuning up and was inserted in the song at the suggestion of producer David Lord. The strings on the track are a combination of Adam Peters' cello and keyboards played by the producer.[6] The song is in Aeolian dominant.
Track listing
UK 12"
"The Killing Moon" (All Night Version) – 9:11
"The Killing Moon" – 5:50
"Do It Clean" (Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall London 18 July 1983) – 6:36
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Other media and cover versions
"The Killing Moon" was featured in the 2001 film Donnie Darko, setting the tone for the opening scene as Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) enters the town. Richard Kelly had originally planned to use "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS in this scene, but was unable to secure the rights for the theatrical release. For the director's cut of the film in 2004, "Never Tear Us Apart" is featured in the opening scene and "The Killing Moon" is used later in the film. The Digital Fix film review opined that the Bunnymen song worked much better in the opening scene.[13]
One of the two endings in Phantom Liberty (2023), the expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, is named after the song because of its own symbolism related to the moon.
References
12Bates, Theunis (2015). "Echo & The Bunnymen - "The Killing Moon". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p.541.
