Contenders (song)

"Contenders" is a song by the British new wave and synth-pop band Heaven 17, which was released in 1986 as the first single from their fourth studio album Pleasure One.[2] It was written and produced by Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware. The song reached No. 80 in the UK and spent four weeks on the chart.[3] It also reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Dance/Club Play Singles Chart.

"Contenders"
Single by Heaven 17
from the album Pleasure One
B-sideExcerpts From "Diary of a Contender"
ReleasedOctober 1986[1]
Length4:28
LabelVirgin Records
Songwriter(s)Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware
Producer(s)Heaven 17
Heaven 17 singles chronology
"The Foolish Thing to Do"
(1986)		 "Contenders"
(1986)		 "Trouble"
(1987)

Background

"Contenders" preceded the release of Heaven 17's fourth album Pleasure One. The band hoped the single would provide them with a hit after the disappointing charting of their single with Jimmy Ruffin, "The Foolish Thing to Do", earlier in the year.[4] Like that single, "Contenders" also reached No. 80 in the UK Singles Chart.

In a 1986 interview with Record Mirror, Martyn Ware said of the song, "It's about the way the superpowers are constantly squaring off against each other. Look at all the struggles going on in the world, they're trying to carve the place up; everybody wants to be a contender, but at the same time they're not dealing with the real business."[4]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Leslie Libman and Larry Williams, and produced by Jane Reardon for Libman/Moore Productions. It was shot in California. Glenn Gregory revealed to Record Mirror, "We used 50 black dancers. They were doing all sorts of crazy things, lots of breaking and making shapes all over the place. During one part of the action, they got me to do a back flip. With the title of the single being 'Contenders', it does hint that we would have done a Frankie-type video. World leaders and all that taking each other on. But we wanted to get away from those ideas as much as possible."[4]

Critical reception

On its release, Simon Reynolds of Melody Maker commented: "This one practically hurls itself off the ropes at you, solid funk brawn but light on its feet, bobbing and weaving, jabbing and pummeling and always on the attack, but, somehow, failing to deliver that hook to floor you completely. The killer blow never comes."[5] Cath Carroll of New Musical Express wrote, "Feeble, finger-snapping jive-talk from Heaven 17 which is even more disappointing than you'd probably imagine."[6] In a retrospective review of Pleasure One, Aaron Badgley of AllMusic stated: "Some of the Pleasure One songs are among their best, including the opening track, 'Contenders.'"[7]

Formats
7" single
  1. "Contenders" - 4:28
  2. "Excerpts From "Diary of a Contender" - 5:24
12" single
  1. "Contenders (Dance version)" - 6:23
  2. "Excerpts From 'Diary of a Contender'" - 5:24
  3. "Contenders (Full length version)" - 5:19
12" single (US release)
  1. "Contenders (Dance version)" - 7:45
  2. "Contenders (Edited version) " - 3:10
  3. "Contenders (Instrumental version)" - 5:12
  4. "Contenders (Go Go version)" - 6:39
12" single - (limited edition gatefold)
  1. "Contenders (Dance version)" - 6:22
  2. "Excerpts From 'Diary of a Contender'" - 5:24
  3. "Penthouse & Pavement" - 6:33
  4. "Megamix (Edit)" - 6:36

Chart performance
Chart (1986–87) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[3] 80
US Dance/Club Play Singles[8] 6
US Hot Dance Music Sales[9] 23

Personnel
Heaven 17
  • Glenn Gregory - lead vocals, backing vocals, producer, arranger, mixing, engineer
  • Martyn Ware - sampler (Emulator II), Mellotron, SP 12 programming, producer, arranger, mixing, engineer
  • Ian Craig Marsh - Fairlight programming, producer, arranger, mixing, engineer
Additional personnel
  • Carol Kenyon - backing vocals
  • Tim Cansfield - guitar
  • Phil Spalding - bass
  • Brian Tench - mixing
  • Tim Hunt, Ben Knape - engineers
  • John 'Tokes' Potoker - remixer of "Penthouse & Pavement"
  • Sanny X - remixer of "Megamix (Edit)"

References
  1. "Heaven 17 - Contenders / Excerpts From 'Diary Of A Contender' - Virgin - UK - VS 881". 45cat. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. "Heaven 17 - Trouble at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  3. "Heaven 17 - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  4. Smith, Robin (18 October 1986). "Do you remember these men?". Record Mirror. p. 41.
  5. "Heaven 17 - Articles and reviews". Heaven17.de. 11 October 1986. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  6. Carroll, Cath (11 October 1986). "45". New Musical Express. p. 12.
  7. Badgley, Aaron. "Pleasure One - Heaven 17 : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  8. Billboard. "Heaven 17 Contenders (Remix) Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  9. "Music Search, Recommendations, Videos and Reviews". AllMusic. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
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