Questions and Answers (Biffy Clyro song)

"Questions and Answers" is a song by Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro, and was the second single to be released from their 2003 album, The Vertigo of Bliss; It was their first single to enter the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, reaching a peak of number 26. It was also their first top-ten single in their home country, reaching number nine on the Scottish Singles Chart.

"Questions and Answers"
CD1 single
Single by Biffy Clyro
from the album The Vertigo of Bliss
B-side"Good Practice Makes Permanent / Let's Get Smiling / Muckqwaikerjawbreaker / I Hope You're Done / Ewen's True Mental You"
Released26 May 2003 (UK)
RecordedLinford Manor, Milton Keynes, England
Genre
Length4:04
LabelBeggars Banquet
Songwriter(s)Simon Neil
Producer(s)Chris Sheldon
Biffy Clyro singles chronology
"The Ideal Height"
(2003)
"Questions and Answers"
(2003)
"Eradicate the Doubt"
(2003)
The Vertigo of Bliss track listing
13 tracks
  1. "Bodies in Flight"
  2. "The Ideal Height"
  3. "With Aplomb"
  4. "A Day Of..."
  5. "Liberate The Illiterate/A Mong Among Mingers"
  6. "Diary of Always"
  7. "Questions and Answers"
  8. "Eradicate the Doubt"
  9. "When The Faction’s Fractioned"
  10. "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys"
  11. "All The Way Down: Prologue Chapter 1"
  12. "A Man of His Appalling Posture"
  13. "Now The Action Is on Fire!"

Composition

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The song is very different in style from the rest of the album, featuring elements of pop punk, post-grunge and art rock. In the chorus, frontman and guitarist Simon Neil trades vocals with drummer Ben Johnston.

Music video

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The music video was directed by Bradley Beesley and Dan Brown. It was recorded with Simon Neil in a wheelchair after he broke his foot the night before the video shoot at a gig by jumping off the PA system. Brown said of the making of the video: "Brad and I flew to London in March of 2003 to shoot a video for Biffy Clyro (then signed to Beggars Banquet). We had very little money so we shot the video on DV, transferred the video to 35mm film and had a friend scratch animation on the film's negative. He also painted frames with Sharpies to give it a retro/psychedelic feel. I brought my small Sony handycam and shot home movies during the shoot. This was the first of three videos we made for Simon, James and Ben. Who were, without a doubt, the absolute best to work with."[1]

Track listings

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Songs and lyrics by Simon Neil. Music by Biffy Clyro.

CD 1 (BBQ368CD)

  1. "Questions and Answers (Single Edit)" – 3:46
  2. "Good Practice Makes Permanent" – 4:19
  3. "Let's Get Smiling" – 3:04

CD 2 (BBQ368CD2)

  1. "Questions and Answers (Single Edit)" – 3:46
  2. "Muckquaikerjawbreaker" – 4:10
  3. "I Hope You're Done" – 3:40

7" (BBQ368)

  1. "Questions and Answers (Single Edit)" – 3:46
  2. "Muckquaikerjawbreaker" – 4:10
  3. "Ewen's True Mental You" – 1:24

Personnel

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  • Simon Neil – guitar, vocals
  • James Johnston – bass
  • Ben Johnston – drums, vocals
  • Chris Sheldon – producer

Charts

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Chart (2003) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[2] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 26
UK Indie (OCC)[4] 4

References

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  1. ^ "Making of Biffy Clyro's "Questions and Answers"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
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