Teardrop (song)

"Teardrop"
Single by Massive Attack featuring Elizabeth Fraser
from the album Mezzanine
Released	27 April 1998
Format	CD 12" cassette
Recorded	1997
Genre	Trip hop
Length	5:31
Label	Virgin
Writer(s)	Robert Del Naja Grantley Marshall Andrew Vowles Elizabeth Fraser
Producer(s)	Massive Attack Neil Davidge
Massive Attack featuring Elizabeth Fraser singles chronology
"Risingson" (1997) "Teardrop" (1998) "Angel" (1998)
Music video "Teardrop" on YouTube Music sample "Teardrop"

"Teardrop" is a song by Massive Attack that was released as a single on 27 April 1998. It is the second single from their third album, Mezzanine. The song became another UK hit for the group, peaking at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. Vocals are by Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins.

The song, especially the instrumental portions at the beginning and the end, has been used in numerous TV programmes and movies. The bass drum beat, reminiscent of a heartbeat, samples the Les McCann song "Sometimes I Cry"^[1] and was used in the opening theme of the US medical television series House. It is also featured as incident music in a 2001 episode of Coronation Street when Sarah Platt is chased.

Development

"Teardrop" was first developed from a simple harpsichord riff picked out in the studio in April 1997. Vowles sent the demo to Madonna as he wanted her to record the vocals for the song (the band had previously worked with her on their 1995 reworking of the song "I Want You"). The two other band members Robert Del Naja and Grantley Marshall wanted Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins to record the vocals, feeling her ethereal style suited the mournful melody and feel of the piece. Madonna was very keen to record the vocals, and was disappointed when the two-to-one vote went in Fraser's favour.^[2]

Fraser wrote the song's lyrics. While recording the song on 29 May 1997, she found out that her once-close friend, Jeff Buckley, had drowned. "That was so weird ... I'd got letters out and I was thinking about him. That song's kind of about him – that's how it feels to me anyway."^[3]

The single peaked at number 16 in Australia.^[4] It placed number 22 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time in 2009. It reached the top 10 in the UK and is the only Massive Attack track to do so. It was certified Silver by the BPI on 22 July 2013.

Music video

The song's music video featured a plastic foetus in the womb, singing the song. It was directed by Walter Stern.^[5]

Track listing

1. "Teardrop" (album version) – 5:31
2. "Euro Zero Zero" – 5:24
3. "Teardrop" (Scream Team Remix) – 6:45
4. "Teardrop" (Mad Professor Mazaruni Instrumental Mix) – 6:24

The 12" release contains the same songs but in a different order. The cassette release contains an edited version of the original song, as well as the Scream Team remix and the B-side "Euro Zero Zero", but is missing the remix by Mad Professor.

Covers

Newton Faulkner

Newton Faulkner covered the song on his album Hand Built by Robots, which was produced by Mike Spencer. On downloads alone, Faulkner's version reached #60 in the UK Singles Chart in August 2007.^[6] It was released as an official single on 10 December 2007, and reached number 57 on the chart the following week.^[6] The version of the album available from the Australian iTunes Music Store also incorporates an acoustic version.^[7]

O'Hooley & Tidow

O'Hooley & Tidow covered the song on their album The Fragile. The Guardian described their version of "Teardrop" as "an exquisite reworking"^[8] and it was voted by Guardian music critic Jude Rogers as one of the best tracks of 2012.^[9]

Elbow

Elbow (band) covered the song on the bootleg album B-Sides and Remixes in 2006

José González

José González covered "Teardrop" for his second album In Our Nature. The single was released across Europe on 12 November 2007. The single features the non-album instrumental B-side "Four Forks Ache." This version was also featured in the medical drama House M.D. in the episode "Wilson's Heart".

Track listing

1. "Teardrop" – 3:22
2. "Four Forks Ache" – 5:25

Simple Minds

The song was also covered by Scottish rock band Simple Minds and is found on their cover album Searching For The Lost Boy (2009).

The Collective

"Teardrop"
Single by The Collective featuring Wretch 32, Ed Sheeran, Labrinth, Tulisa, Tinchy Stryder, Rizzle Kicks, Ms. Dynamite, Chipmunk, Mz Bratt and Dot Rotten
from the album We Are the Collective
Released	13 November 2011
Format	CD digital download
Recorded	2011
Genre	Hip hop grime electronica trip hop R&B
Length	4:04
Label	Polydor
Writer(s)	Robert Del Naja Grantley Marshall Andrew Vowles Elizabeth Fraser
Producer(s)	Gary Barlow Labrinth[10]
Children in Need singles chronology
"Love You More" (2010) "Teardrop" (2011) "Something New" (2012) Gary Barlow singles chronology "Shame" (2010) "Teardrop" (2011) "Sing" (2012) Tinchy Stryder singles chronology "Off the Record" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Bright Lights" (2012) Ed Sheeran singles chronology "Lego House" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Drunk" (2012) Wretch 32 singles chronology "Hangover" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Forgiveness" (2012) Labrinth singles chronology "Earthquake" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Last Time" (2011) Tulisa singles chronology "Teardrop" (2011) "Young" (2012) Rizzle Kicks singles chronology "When I Was a Youngster" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Mama Do the Hump" (2012) Ms. Dynamite singles chronology "Neva Soft" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Light Up (The World) (2012) Chipmunk singles chronology "Take Off" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Bow Wow Wow" (2012) Mz Bratt singles chronology "Speedling" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Falling Dawn" (2012) Dot Rotten singles chronology "Keep It on a Low" (2011) "Teardrop" (2011) "Are You Not Entertained?" (2012)

The song was covered by English singer Gary Barlow's assembled group named The Collective and released as the official single for Children in Need 2011.^[11] Produced by Labrinth, the performers,^[12] consist of: Chipmunk, Dot Rotten, Ed Sheeran, Ms. Dynamite, Mz. Bratt, Tulisa, Rizzle Kicks, Tinchy Stryder and Wretch 32.

The song was released in the United Kingdom on 13 November 2011^{[13][14][15][16][17][18]} and entered the charts at number 24.^[19]

Brad Mehldau

The song is covered as a piano version "Teardrop" – Live 14:14 on the album Brad Mehldau's 10 Years Solo Live.

Track listing

Chart performance

Release history

References

External links

• Official "Teardrop" Videoclip on EMI's channel on YouTube