"Rock Me Gently" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure. It was written by group members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, and appears on their seventh studio album, Erasure (1995). Mute Records released it in February 1996 as a single in selected European countries, including Germany and Czech Republic. It was not released in the UK or the US. In its album form, the song is an extended, ten-plus minutes mid-tempo synth ballad with ambient elements and a free-form vocal performance by American singer Diamanda Galás, during the song's breakdown. Bell's lead vocals were accentuated by the London Community Gospel Choir, who sang background (as they did on previous Erasure single "Stay with Me"). "Rock Me Gently" was significantly altered for its single release, adding a radio-friendly drum track to the mix and editing out most of the Galás interlude. An extended version of this mix was included on the CD single, retaining the Galás section while keeping the new instrumentation.
Ned Raggett from AllMusic noted the "gentle shimmer" of the song, adding that Diamanda Galas "delivers haunting solo turns".[1] In his review of Erasure, Steve Baltin from Cash Box felt that particularly the "soothing" ten-minute track, finds Erasure displaying its softer side."[2] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian found that songs like the "adventurous" "Rock Me Gently" "are made interesting by the whale-noise vocals of Diamanda Galas, whose services should be retained for the next album."[3] Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly stated, "It's a perfect ballad, performed with incredible sweetness by Bell over Vince Clarke's gorgeous keyboard lines. It's one of the duo's most sublime recordings".[4]Music Week wrote, "Full choral backing and ambient textures provide the album's most adventurous moments, which feature the unique vocals of Diamanda Galas."[5]
Paul Moody from NME said, "Starting off as a candy-coloured rush of electronics around Andy's lovesick vocal it drifts off into ambient tranceville and threatens never to come back. A storm appears to break out deep in hyper-space; an opera singer trills somewhere to the left to Saturn, then a drum machine whirrs and the song bleeps dreamily back to life. It's like a ten-minute electro-pop equivalent of Flatliners."[6] A reviewer from People Magazine commented, "Thanks to an emphasis on gorgeous torch tunes like 'Rock Me Gently' and 'Stay with Me', lead singer Andy Bell's always operatic vocals take on a newfound luster".[7] Darren Lee from The Quietus felt it "remain [a] serviceable enough" ballad, "but lack the pizzazz and charm of earlier releases."[8] Troy J. Augusto from Variety declared it as "a sweet ballad".[9]
Music videoedit
A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, features Bell singing a duet with a Marilyn Monroelook-alike. It was directed by Max Abbiss-Biro[10] and later made available on Erasure's official YouTube channel in September 2014.[11]
Track listingsedit
Czech 12" single (12NEMY4)
"Rock Me Gently" (Phil Kelsey Mix)
"Chertsey Endlos"
"Rock Me Gently" (A Combination of Special Events)
"Rock Me Gently" (Bamboo)
Czech CD single (CDNEMY4)
"Rock Me Gently" (Single Mix)
"Rock Me Gently" (A Combination of Special Events)
"Rock Me Gently" (Phil Kelsey Mix)
"Rock Me Gently" (Bamboo)
"Rock Me Gently" (Extended)
"Chertsey Endlos"
German CD single (CDMUTE180)
"Rock Me Gently" (Single Mix)
"Chertsey Endlos"
"Sono Luminus" (Live)
"Rock Me Gently" (Out of the Moon)
Referencesedit
^Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Erasure". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
^Baltin, Steve (20 January 1996). "Pop Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 9. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
^Sullivan, Caroline (27 October 1995). "Music: CD releases - Pop". The Guardian.
^Gerard, Chris (17 September 2014). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^Gorman, Paul (30 September 1995). "Erasure -- Duo Moves In A New Direction" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^Moody, Paul (21 October 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 52. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
^"Picks and Pans Review: Erasure". People. 13 November 1995. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
^Lee, Darren (27 February 2009). "Erasure – Total Pop! Erasure's First 40 Hits". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^Augusto, Troy J. (20 May 1997). "Erasure". Variety. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^"Max Abiss-Biro". IMVDb. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
^"Erasure - Rock Me Gently (Official HD Video)". YouTube. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
January 01, 1970
rock, gently, erasure, song, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, rock, gently, erasure, song, news, news. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Rock Me Gently Erasure song news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message Rock Me Gently is a song by English synth pop duo Erasure It was written by group members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell and appears on their seventh studio album Erasure 1995 Mute Records released it in February 1996 as a single in selected European countries including Germany and Czech Republic It was not released in the UK or the US In its album form the song is an extended ten plus minutes mid tempo synth ballad with ambient elements and a free form vocal performance by American singer Diamanda Galas during the song s breakdown Bell s lead vocals were accentuated by the London Community Gospel Choir who sang background as they did on previous Erasure single Stay with Me Rock Me Gently was significantly altered for its single release adding a radio friendly drum track to the mix and editing out most of the Galas interlude An extended version of this mix was included on the CD single retaining the Galas section while keeping the new instrumentation Rock Me Gently Single by Erasurefrom the album ErasureB side Chertsey Endlos Released12 February 1996Recorded1995GenreSynth popLength4 04 single version 10 02 album version LabelMuteSongwriter s Vince Clarke Andy BellProducer s Thomas Fehlmann Gareth JonesErasure singles chronology Fingers amp Thumbs Cold Summer s Day 1995 Rock Me Gently 1996 In My Arms 1997 Music video Rock Me Gently on YouTube Rock Me Gently source source A 23 second sample of Rock Me Gently where the Galas performs her free form vocals over the ambient soundscape of the breakdown Problems playing this file See media help Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Music video 3 Track listings 4 ReferencesCritical reception editNed Raggett from AllMusic noted the gentle shimmer of the song adding that Diamanda Galas delivers haunting solo turns 1 In his review of Erasure Steve Baltin from Cash Box felt that particularly the soothing ten minute track finds Erasure displaying its softer side 2 Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian found that songs like the adventurous Rock Me Gently are made interesting by the whale noise vocals of Diamanda Galas whose services should be retained for the next album 3 Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly stated It s a perfect ballad performed with incredible sweetness by Bell over Vince Clarke s gorgeous keyboard lines It s one of the duo s most sublime recordings 4 Music Week wrote Full choral backing and ambient textures provide the album s most adventurous moments which feature the unique vocals of Diamanda Galas 5 Paul Moody from NME said Starting off as a candy coloured rush of electronics around Andy s lovesick vocal it drifts off into ambient tranceville and threatens never to come back A storm appears to break out deep in hyper space an opera singer trills somewhere to the left to Saturn then a drum machine whirrs and the song bleeps dreamily back to life It s like a ten minute electro pop equivalent of Flatliners 6 A reviewer from People Magazine commented Thanks to an emphasis on gorgeous torch tunes like Rock Me Gently and Stay with Me lead singer Andy Bell s always operatic vocals take on a newfound luster 7 Darren Lee from The Quietus felt it remain a serviceable enough ballad but lack the pizzazz and charm of earlier releases 8 Troy J Augusto from Variety declared it as a sweet ballad 9 Music video editA black and white music video was produced to promote the single features Bell singing a duet with a Marilyn Monroe look alike It was directed by Max Abbiss Biro 10 and later made available on Erasure s official YouTube channel in September 2014 11 Track listings editCzech 12 single 12NEMY4 Rock Me Gently Phil Kelsey Mix Chertsey Endlos Rock Me Gently A Combination of Special Events Rock Me Gently Bamboo Czech CD single CDNEMY4 Rock Me Gently Single Mix Rock Me Gently A Combination of Special Events Rock Me Gently Phil Kelsey Mix Rock Me Gently Bamboo Rock Me Gently Extended Chertsey Endlos German CD single CDMUTE180 Rock Me Gently Single Mix Chertsey Endlos Sono Luminus Live Rock Me Gently Out of the Moon References edit Raggett Ned Erasure Erasure AllMusic Retrieved 8 November 2020 Baltin Steve 20 January 1996 Pop Albums PDF Cash Box p 9 Retrieved 11 November 2022 Sullivan Caroline 27 October 1995 Music CD releases Pop The Guardian Gerard Chris 17 September 2014 Erasure s 40 Greatest Tracks Metro Weekly Retrieved 21 November 2020 Gorman Paul 30 September 1995 Erasure Duo Moves In A New Direction PDF Music Week p 12 Retrieved 12 May 2021 Moody Paul 21 October 1995 Long Play NME p 52 Retrieved 17 March 2024 Picks and Pans Review Erasure People 13 November 1995 Retrieved 13 November 2020 Lee Darren 27 February 2009 Erasure Total Pop Erasure s First 40 Hits The Quietus Retrieved 21 November 2020 Augusto Troy J 20 May 1997 Erasure Variety Retrieved 2 March 2022 Max Abiss Biro IMVDb Retrieved 17 March 2024 Erasure Rock Me Gently Official HD Video YouTube 25 September 2014 Retrieved 7 November 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rock Me Gently Erasure song amp oldid 1214285651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
