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| B-side = {{ubl|"What You Do To Me (Demo)"|"Long Hair"|"Robot Love"|"Star Sign"}}
| B-side = {{ubl|"What You Do To Me (Demo)"|"Long Hair"|"Robot Love"|"Star Sign"}}
| released = 21 October 1991
| released = 21 October 1991
⚫
| recorded = 1991
| format = {{hlist|[[12" single|12" vinyl]]|[[7" single|7" vinyl]]|[[cassette single|cassette]]|[[CD single|CD]]}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Power pop]]<ref name="spin"/>|[[indie pop]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Mason|first=Stewart|title=The Concept - Teenage Fanclub {{!}} Song Info|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/the-concept-mt0006240085|access-date=28 October 2021|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>|[[noise pop]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Kurland|first=Jordan|title=The Mix: 100 Essential Noise Pop Songs|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/06/14/155014576/the-mix-100-essential-noise-pop-songs|publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref>}}
⚫
| recorded = 1994
| genre = {{hlist|[[Power pop]]|[[alternative rock]]}}
| length = 6:07
| length = 6:07
| label = [[Creation Records|Creation]]
| label = [[Creation Records|Creation]]
| writer = [[Norman Blake (Scottish musician)|Norman Blake]]
| writer = [[Norman Blake (Scottish musician)|Norman Blake]]
| producer = {{hlist|[[Don Fleming (musician)|Don Fleming]]|Paul Chisholm|Norman Blake|Gerard Love|Raymond McGinley|Brendan O'Hare}}
| producer = {{hlist|[[Don Fleming (musician)|Don Fleming]]|Paul Chisholm|Norman Blake|Gerard Love|Raymond McGinley|Brendan O'Hare}}
| prev_title = Star Sign
| prev_title = [[Star Sign (song)|Star Sign]]
| prev_year = 1991
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = What You Do to Me
| next_title = [[What You Do to Me (Teenage Fanclub song)|What You Do to Me]]
| next_year = 1992
| next_year = 1992
}}
}}
"'''The Concept'''" is a song recorded by Scottish rock band [[Teenage Fanclub]]. The song was released on 21 October 1991 through [[Creation Records]], as the second single from the band's third studio album ''[[Bandwagonesque]]''. The song was written and sung by vocalist and guitarist [[Norman Blake (Scottish musician)|Norman Blake]].
"'''The Concept'''" is a song recorded by Scottish rock band [[Teenage Fanclub]]. The song was released on 21 October 1991 through [[Creation Records]], as the second single from the band's third studio album ''[[Bandwagonesque]]''. The song was written and sung by vocalist and guitarist [[Norman Blake (Scottish musician)|Norman Blake]].


The song peaked at number 12 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'s}} [[Modern Rock Tracks]] chart in the US, and at number 51 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].
The song peaked at number 12 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'s}} [[Modern Rock Tracks]] chart in the USA, and at number 51 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].
==Background==
==Background==
The song lyrically centers on the object of the narrator's affection, a girl described in the song's opening lines:
The song lyrically centres on the object of the narrator's affection, a woman described in the song's opening lines:
{{cquote|She wears [[denim]] wherever she goes
{{cquote|She wears [[denim]] wherever she goes


Says she's gonna get some records by the [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]]}}
Says she's gonna get some records by the [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]]}}
Writer James Cosby of [[PopMatters]] finds the lyric "a bit [[tongue-in-cheek]]," and calls the song "a quite clear character study of maybe anyone in a "[[Scene (subculture)|scene]]". Blake goes on to sing rather thoughtfully in describing a girl who really is pretty cool and hip—though maybe a bit too much for her own good."<ref name="pm"/> Blake, in a 2015 interview, revealed the song's lyrics came together only twenty minutes prior to recording the song. He remembered that much of ''Bandwagonesque'' contained lyrics written in an impromptu manner, and that his only goal with "The Concept" was to "write something with a narrative."<ref name="spin">{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/04/teenage-fanclub-bandwagonesque-interview/|title=SPIN 30: Teenage Fanclub Talk Unlikely Breakout Album, ‘Bandwagonesque’|first= Andrew|last=Unterberger|date=7 April 2015|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|accessdate=3 February 2020}}</ref>
Writer James Cosby of ''[[PopMatters]]'' finds the lyric "a bit [[tongue-in-cheek]]," and calls the song "a quite clear character study of maybe anyone in a "[[Scene (subculture)|scene]]". Blake goes on to sing rather thoughtfully in describing a woman who really is pretty cool and hip—though maybe a bit too much for her own good."<ref name="pm"/> Blake, in a 2015 interview, revealed the song's lyrics came together only twenty minutes prior to recording the song. He remembered that much of ''Bandwagonesque'' contained lyrics written in an impromptu manner, and that his only goal with "The Concept" was to "write something with a narrative."<ref name="spin">{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/04/teenage-fanclub-bandwagonesque-interview/|title=SPIN 30: Teenage Fanclub Talk Unlikely Breakout Album, 'Bandwagonesque'|first= Andrew|last=Unterberger|date=7 April 2015|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>

==Reception==
==Reception==
''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' writer Andrew Unterberger called the song "instantly iconic."<ref name="spin"/> ''[[NME]]'' contributor Dan Stubbs singled it out as the best track from ''Bandwagonesque''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/teenage-fanclub-story-behind-brilliant-creation-era-albums-time-liam-mimed-entire-oasis-album-2365193|date=10 August 2016|title=Teenage Fanclub: the story behind their brilliant Creation-era albums – and the time Liam mimed an entire Oasis album for them|first=Dan|last=Stubbs|work=[[NME]]|accessdate=3 February 2020}}</ref> Martin Horsfield at ''[[The Guardian]]'' ranked it as the band's second-best song, calling it "equal parts [[Bubblegum pop|bubblegum]] and [[Big Star]], and with an extended guitar coda for anyone pining for [their former] grungy sound."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/mar/09/teenage-fanclub-10-of-the-best|date=9 March 2016|title=Teenage Fanclub – 10 of the best|first=Martin|last=Horsfield|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=3 February 2020}}</ref> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' writer Ben Salmon placed the song at number three on his 2018 ranking, describing it a "a six-minute celebration of jangling electric guitars, harmony vocals and band hangers-on that changes from rock song to breezy outro about halfway through."<ref name="paste">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/08/the-20-best-teenage-fanclub-songs-1.html|title=The 20 Best Teenage Fanclub Songs|date=10 August 2018|accessdate=3 February 2020|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|first=Ben|last=Salmon}}</ref> James Cosby at [[PopMatters]] placed it higher at number two, calling it the group's "''[[de facto]]'' anthem."<ref name="pm">{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/teenage-fanclub-25-best-songs-2566657890.html|title=The 25 Best Songs of Teenage Fanclub|date=8 May 2018|accessdate=3 February 2020|website=PopMatters|first=James A.|last=Cosby}}</ref>
''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' writer Andrew Unterberger called the song "instantly iconic."<ref name="spin"/> ''[[NME]]'' contributor Dan Stubbs singled it out as the best track from ''Bandwagonesque''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/teenage-fanclub-story-behind-brilliant-creation-era-albums-time-liam-mimed-entire-oasis-album-2365193|date=10 August 2016|title=Teenage Fanclub: the story behind their brilliant Creation-era albums – and the time Liam mimed an entire Oasis album for them|first=Dan|last=Stubbs|work=[[NME]]|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref> Martin Horsfield at ''[[The Guardian]]'' ranked it as the band's second-best song, calling it "equal parts [[Bubblegum pop|bubblegum]] and [[Big Star]], and with an extended guitar coda for anyone pining for [their former] grungy sound."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/mar/09/teenage-fanclub-10-of-the-best|date=9 March 2016|title=Teenage Fanclub – 10 of the best|first=Martin|last=Horsfield|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' writer Ben Salmon placed the song at number three on his 2018 ranking, describing it a "a six-minute celebration of jangling electric guitars, harmony vocals and band hangers-on that changes from rock song to breezy outro about halfway through."<ref name="paste">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/08/the-20-best-teenage-fanclub-songs-1.html|title=The 20 Best Teenage Fanclub Songs|date=10 August 2018|access-date=3 February 2020|magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|first=Ben|last=Salmon}}</ref> James Cosby at [[PopMatters]] placed it higher at number two, calling it the group's "''[[de facto]]'' anthem."<ref name="pm">{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/teenage-fanclub-25-best-songs-2566657890.html|title=The 25 Best Songs of Teenage Fanclub|date=8 May 2018|access-date=3 February 2020|website=[[PopMatters]]|first=James A.|last=Cosby}}</ref>

''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' said, "By the fist-pumping coda—a marvel of searing guitars, bombastic drums, and wistful three-part harmonies—it's clear that frontman Norman Blake isn't in love with the girl so much as he relishes the idea of being in the band onstage, basking in the glow of raised lighters."<ref>{{cite web|title=The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-songs-of-the-1990s/|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|author=Marc Hogan}}</ref>

==Charts==
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1995)
! scope="col"| Chart (1991/1992)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
{{single chart|UK|51|date=19950521|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 February 2020|ref name=uk}}
{{single chart|UK|51|date=19950521|rowheader=true|access-date=3 February 2020|ref name=uk}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|12|artist=Teenage Fanclub|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2017}}
!scope="row"|US [[Modern Rock Tracks]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="bb">{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Teenage Fanclub|chart=Alternative Songs}}|title=Teenage Fanclub – Chart History|accessdate=3 February 2020|work=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media}}</ref>
|12
|}
|}

==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|teenage-fanclub|the-concept}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{Teenage Fanclub}}
{{Teenage Fanclub}}
Line 53: Line 53:
[[Category:1991 songs]]
[[Category:1991 songs]]
[[Category:Creation Records singles]]
[[Category:Creation Records singles]]
[[Category:British indie pop songs]]

[[Category:Noise pop songs]]
{{1990s-single-stub}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Concept}}

Latest revision as of 12:47, 28 May 2024

"The Concept"
Single by Teenage Fanclub
from the album Bandwagonesque
B-side
  • "What You Do To Me (Demo)"
  • "Long Hair"
  • "Robot Love"
  • "Star Sign"
Released21 October 1991
Recorded1991
Genre
Length6:07
LabelCreation
Songwriter(s)Norman Blake
Producer(s)
  • Don Fleming
  • Paul Chisholm
  • Norman Blake
  • Gerard Love
  • Raymond McGinley
  • Brendan O'Hare
Teenage Fanclub singles chronology
"Star Sign"
(1991) 		"The Concept"
(1991) 		"What You Do to Me"
(1992)

"The Concept" is a song recorded by Scottish rock band Teenage Fanclub. The song was released on 21 October 1991 through Creation Records, as the second single from the band's third studio album Bandwagonesque. The song was written and sung by vocalist and guitarist Norman Blake.

The song peaked at number 12 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart in the USA, and at number 51 on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

[edit]

The song lyrically centres on the object of the narrator's affection, a woman described in the song's opening lines:

She wears denim wherever she goes Says she's gonna get some records by the Status Quo

Writer James Cosby of PopMatters finds the lyric "a bit tongue-in-cheek," and calls the song "a quite clear character study of maybe anyone in a "scene". Blake goes on to sing rather thoughtfully in describing a woman who really is pretty cool and hip—though maybe a bit too much for her own good."[4] Blake, in a 2015 interview, revealed the song's lyrics came together only twenty minutes prior to recording the song. He remembered that much of Bandwagonesque contained lyrics written in an impromptu manner, and that his only goal with "The Concept" was to "write something with a narrative."[1]

Reception

[edit]

Spin writer Andrew Unterberger called the song "instantly iconic."[1] NME contributor Dan Stubbs singled it out as the best track from Bandwagonesque.[5] Martin Horsfield at The Guardian ranked it as the band's second-best song, calling it "equal parts bubblegum and Big Star, and with an extended guitar coda for anyone pining for [their former] grungy sound."[6] Paste writer Ben Salmon placed the song at number three on his 2018 ranking, describing it a "a six-minute celebration of jangling electric guitars, harmony vocals and band hangers-on that changes from rock song to breezy outro about halfway through."[7] James Cosby at PopMatters placed it higher at number two, calling it the group's "de facto anthem."[4]

Pitchfork said, "By the fist-pumping coda—a marvel of searing guitars, bombastic drums, and wistful three-part harmonies—it's clear that frontman Norman Blake isn't in love with the girl so much as he relishes the idea of being in the band onstage, basking in the glow of raised lighters."[8]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1991/1992) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 51
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[10] 12

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Unterberger, Andrew (7 April 2015). "SPIN 30: Teenage Fanclub Talk Unlikely Breakout Album, 'Bandwagonesque'". Spin. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ Mason, Stewart. "The Concept - Teenage Fanclub | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. ^ Kurland, Jordan. "The Mix: 100 Essential Noise Pop Songs". NPR.
  4. ^ a b Cosby, James A. (8 May 2018). "The 25 Best Songs of Teenage Fanclub". PopMatters. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. ^ Stubbs, Dan (10 August 2016). "Teenage Fanclub: the story behind their brilliant Creation-era albums – and the time Liam mimed an entire Oasis album for them". NME. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. ^ Horsfield, Martin (9 March 2016). "Teenage Fanclub – 10 of the best". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  7. ^ Salmon, Ben (10 August 2018). "The 20 Best Teenage Fanclub Songs". Paste. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. ^ Marc Hogan. "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Teenage Fanclub Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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