"We No Who U R" is a song by the Australian alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Produced by Nick Launay, it is the opening track and lead single from the band's fifteenth studio album Push the Sky Away, and was released on 3 December 2012 on Bad Seed Ltd.—the band's own record label.
| "We No Who U R" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | ||||
| from the album Push the Sky Away | ||||
| Released | 3 December 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011–2012 at La Fabrique in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, electronic | |||
| Length | 4:04 | |||
| Label | Bad Seed Ltd. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Nick Cave and Warren Ellis | |||
| Producer(s) | Nick Launay | |||
| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Release and reception
edit"We No Who U R" was announced for release in an official press release for Push the Sky Away.[1] The song was uploaded to SoundCloud on 27 November 2012 and made available for private stream.[2] The single version was later released as a digital download on 3 December[3] and issued as a free download with pre-orders of the album.[4]
Critical reception to the song was largely positive. The Quietus said that "anyone expecting a Lazarus or Grinderman–style sleaze rock meltdown, you'll be in for a surprise—it's among the most low-key and contemplative music we've heard from Messrs Cave and co for quite some time."[4] Rolling Stone described the single as "an eerily restrained ballad with an undercurrent of menace in its refrain"[5] and writing for Spin, Marc Hogan stated "the erstwhile Grinderman frontman intones somberly, backed by an uncrowded yet ornate arrangement of whispery vocal harmonies, spidery electric guitar trills, and stark flute tones."[6] Digital Spy reviewer Mayer Nissim said "sounding like something Leonard Cohen never quite got round to sticking on Ten New Songs, 'We No Who U R' is perhaps the most tender song Cave has recorded since No More Shall We Part" and referred to the song as "an ethereal poem where nature—not God—grants salvation."[7]
Music video
editA music video, featuring the official lyrics of "We No Who U R", was posted on YouTube on 2 December 2012.[8] An official music video was directed by Gaspar Noé and released on 4 January 2013. The video, recorded in one take, "tracks the silhouette of a human form through a wood at night." Nick Cave referred to the music video as "beautiful, haunting and thoughtful."[9]
Chart positions
edit| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Bubbling Under Ultratip Flanders)[10] | 22 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] | 69 |
References
edit- ^ "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – New Album – Push the Sky Away – Out 18 Feb 2013". Sandbag UK. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – We No Who U R". SoundCloud. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ "Music – Push the Sky Away by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ a b "News | Listen: New Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds". The Quietus. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ "Song Premiere: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, We No Who U R | Music News". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ Hogan, Marc (3 December 2012). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 'No Who U R' and Will Elegantly Threaten U | SPIN Mix". Spin. Buzz Media. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (3 December 2012). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: We No Who U R – Single Review". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – We No Who U R (Lyric Video)". YouTube. Google. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ "News | Watch: New Bad Seeds Video!". The Quietus. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – We No Who U R". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – We No Who U R" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 6, 2024.