Moonlight Shadow

This article is about the song. For the short novel, see Moonlight Shadow (novella).
"Moonlight Shadow"
Single by Mike Oldfield
from the album Crises
B-side "Rite of Man"
Released 6 May 1983 (1983-05-06)
Format
Recorded Denham, England, February – April 1983[1]
Length
  • 3:37 (Album version)
  • 5:17 (12-inch version)
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Mike Oldfield
Producer(s)
Mike Oldfield chronology
"Mistake"
(1982)
"Moonlight Shadow"
(1983)
"Shadow on the Wall"
(1983)
Music sample
Moonlight Shadow
1993 reissue artwork
Reissued in promotion for Elements
Mike Oldfield chronology
"The Bell"
(1993)
"Moonlight Shadow" (reissue)
(1993)
"In Dulci Jubilo" (reissue)
(1993)

"Moonlight Shadow" is a song written and performed by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released as a single in May 1983 by Virgin Records, and included in the album, Crises, of the same year.[3] The vocals were performed by Scottish vocalist Maggie Reilly, who had been collaborating with Mike Oldfield since 1980. It is Oldfield's most successful single, reaching number one on a number of charts around Europe.

Release

The single peaked at number 4 in the British charts, making it Oldfield's second highest ranked single after "Portsmouth", which reached number 3 in 1976. "Moonlight Shadow" was successful throughout Europe. It reached number 1 in many countries, including Italy, Austria, Switzerland for four weeks and Norway for six weeks. It spent four weeks at number 2 in Germany, hit number 6 in Australia, and peaked at number 3 in New Zealand and France. It was re-released as a maxi-CD single in 1993 to promote Oldfield's Elements box set, charting at number 52.

A 12-inch single (later reissued on a 3" CD single) featured an extended version of the song with an extra verse, and the single B-side was "Rite of Man", which was a rare instance of Oldfield singing lead vocal. The extended mix also appears on his compilation album The Platinum Collection.

In 1991, the song was re-released in France, and in 1993 it was featured on promos for Elements in France and Spain. The 1993 reissue included "Bones" and "In the Pool" as B-sides, which had previously been released as B-sides with "To France". Furthermore, the name of the song was used for the 2013 Universal Music compilation album of Oldfield's music, Moonlight Shadow: The Collection.

Live performances

Maggie Reilly sang "Moonlight Shadow" live when she toured with Oldfield in the 1980s. However, since then, other singers have performed the song live with Oldfield including, Anita Hegerland (during the late 1980s), Pepsi Demacque (at the Tubular Bells III premiere and, at the Live Then & Now 1999 tour), Miriam Stockley (at the Millennium concert) and Rosa Cedrón (at Nokia Night of the Proms).

Artwork

The original cover art is an enlargement of the lower right corner of the Crises album cover by UK artist Terry Ilott. This shows a man with his foot on a ledge with the sea and sky in the background. The moon, the tower and its shadow from the album cover cannot be seen on the single cover.

The artwork for the 1993 reissue followed the style of the Elements artwork in most countries.

Production

An early version of the song was entitled "Midnight Passion" with vocals by British singer Hazel O'Connor.[4] Along with Maggie Reilly, a girlfriend of one of the roadies when Oldfield was on tour, Oldfield used a rhyming dictionary and recorded many of the lyrics word by word.[5]

According to bassist Phil Spalding the initial tracks recorded simultaneously for "Moonlight Shadow" were acoustic guitar (Oldfield), bass (Spalding), drums (Phillips) and electric guitar (Tim Renwick) in early February 1983 at Oldfield's studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire.[1] Renwick's guitar track was apparently not used in the final track.[1] The remaining tracks including the vocals and Oldfield on electric guitar were later overdubs.[1]

According to Oldfield, Virgin Records were immediately happy with the song and wanted more pieces similar to it. Reilly also sang on "Foreign Affair" on Crises. An unplugged mix of the song appears on the 2013 Mercury Records reissue of the Crises album.

Oldfield later sampled the drums from "Moonlight Shadow" for the song "Man in the Rain" on his 1998 album, Tubular Bells III.[6]

Lyrical content

It has been suggested that the lyrics of the song are a reference to the murder of John Lennon despite the fact that the events in the song do not correspond with those of Lennon's murder.[7][8] Lennon was shot four times just before 11pm, whereas in the song the time is 4am and the number of shots is six. When asked if "Moonlight Shadow" is a reference to John Lennon's murder in a 1995 interview, Oldfield responded:

Not really... well, perhaps, when I look back on it, maybe it was. I actually arrived in New York that awful evening when he was shot and I was staying at the Virgin Records house in Perry Street, which was just a few blocks [sic] down the road from the Dakota Building where it happened, so it probably sank into my subconscious. It was originally inspired by a film I loved – Houdini, starring Tony Curtis, which was about attempts to contact Houdini after he'd died, through spiritualism... it was originally a song influenced by that, but a lot of other things must have crept in there without me realizing it.
Mike Oldfield, Randall, Gareth (1 June 1995). "Gareth Randall Interviews Mike Oldfield". Retrieved 1 May 2014. 

Video

There are two versions of the video: the full-length original, and a shorter one which omits a verse. The reason for the shorter version was for the requirements of some TV broadcasters, and the way both versions are edited suggests that Oldfield's touring guitarist "Ant" (Anthony Glynne) performs the second, overdriven half of the guitar solo, which is not the case. Also in the video is Oldfield's touring drummer, Pierre Moerlen, miming the part played by Simon Phillips on the recording. The music video was directed by Keith McMillan and shot on location at Hatfield House and Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, England.[9][10]

Track listing

7-inch vinyl

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (7" mix) – 3:37
  2. "Rite of Man" – 2:21

12-inch vinyl

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  2. "Rite of Man" – 2:21

German vinyl

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" – 3:37
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  3. "Rite of Man" – 2:21
  4. "To France" – 4:43
  5. "Jungle Gardenia" – 2:45 (Mike Oldfield)
  6. "Taurus 3" – 2:25

1988 CD

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  2. "Rite of Man" – 2:21
  3. "To France" – 4:44
  4. "Jungle Gardenia" – 2:44

1993 CD

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" – 3:35
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 5:18
  3. "In the Pool" – 3:40
  4. "Bones" – 3:19

Chart positions

The song performed particularly well in European charts, reaching number one in countries such as Norway, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

Weekly charts

Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 6
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 1
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[14] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 1
France (IFOP)[16] 3
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 1
Italy (FIMI)[19] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[23] 1
Poland (LP3)[24] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[25] 7
Spain (AFYVE)[26] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[29] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1983) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[30] 52
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[31] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32] 7
France (IFOP)[33] 31
Germany (Media Control Charts)[34] 3
Italy (FIMI)[35] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 2

Order of precedence
Preceded by
"Codo (...düse im Sauseschritt)" by Tauchen Prokopetz
Austrian number-one single
15 August 1983 – 15 September 1983 (5 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Africa (Voodoo Master)" by Rose Laurens
Preceded by
"Stars on 45 Presents the Star Sisters" by Stars on 45
Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single
6 August 1983 – 27 August 1983 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Wrap Your Arms Around Me" by Agnetha Fältskog
Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number-one single
6 August 1983 – 27 August 1983 (4 weeks)
Single Top 100 number-one single
30 July 1983 – 30 August 1983 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Rondo Russo" by Berdien Stenberg
Preceded by
"Juliet" by Robin Gibb
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single (first run)
23 July 1983 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Baby Jane" by Rod Stewart
Preceded by
"Barco a Venus" by Mecano
Spanish number-one single
1 August 1983 – 29 August 1983 (5 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Dolce Vita" by Ryan Paris
Preceded by
"Baby Jane" by Rod Stewart
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single (second run)
13 August 1983 – 24 September 1983 (7 weeks)
Irish Singles Chart number-one single
10 July 1983 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" by Paul Young
Preceded by
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara
Swedish number-one single
20 September 1983 – 1 November 1983 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club
Swiss number-one single (first run)
7 August 1983 – 14 August 1983 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Vamos a la playa" by Righeira
Preceded by
"Vamos a la playa" by Righeira
Swiss number-one single (second run)
4 September 1983 – 11 September 1983 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"I Like Chopin" by Gazebo
Italian number-one single
8 October 1983 – 29 October 1983 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara
Preceded by
"The Heat Is On" by Agnetha Fältskog
Norwegian number-one single
29/1983 – 34/1983 (6 weeks)
Preceded by
"Arktyka" by Republika
"Moje Kilimandżaro" by Lady Pank
Polish number-one single
6 August 1983 (1 week)
3 September 1983 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Arktyka" by Republika
"Wrapped Around Your Finger" by The Police
Preceded by
"Adios amor" by Andy Borg
1982
Austrian best-selling single of the year
1983
Succeeded by
"Jenseits von Eden" by Nino de Angelo
1984

Personnel

Appearances and influence in other media

The song has been used in other media, such as:

Cover versions

Numerous cover versions of "Moonlight Shadow" have been recorded over the years, including one that reached the German Top 10 by Groove Coverage.

Groove Coverage version

"Moonlight Shadow"
Single by Groove Coverage
from the album Covergirl
Released 2002
Format
Genre Eurodance
Length 2:52
Label
Groove Coverage singles chronology
"Are U Ready"
(2002)
"Moonlight Shadow"
(2002)
"God Is a Girl"
(2002)

In 2002, a dance version of "Moonlight Shadow" by Groove Coverage reached the German Top 10 (simultaneously, a similar version of Oldfield's "To France" by Novaspace was in the German Top 30). "Moonlight Shadow" appeared on Groove Coverage's debut album, Covergirl. The vocals are by Melanie Munch, who is known by her stage name Mell. Aside from the single remixes, the album also contains a piano version, featuring piano by Verena Rehm.

Track listings

CD single
  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Radio version) – 2:52
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Original radio edit) – 2:54
  3. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 6:56
  4. "Moonlight Shadow" (Rocco remix) – 6:58
  5. "Moonlight Shadow" (Warp Brothers remix) – 7:37
  6. "Moonlight Shadow" (Video) – 2:53
Maxi single
  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Radio version) – 2:52
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Original radio edit) – 2:59
  3. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version) – 6:58
  4. "Moonlight Shadow" (Rocco remix) – 6:58
  5. "Beat Just Goes" – 3:53
Remix single

A-side

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended version)

B-side

  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Club version)
  2. "Beat Just Goes" (Club mix)
US maxi single
  1. "Moonlight Shadow" (Josh Harris Radio Edit) – 3:46
  2. "Moonlight Shadow" (Josh Harris Club Mix) – 7:21
  3. "Moonlight Shadow" (Josh Harris Dub) – 6:39
  4. "Moonlight Shadow" (French Club Mix) – 6:36
  5. "Moonlight Shadow" (French Short Cut) – 3:05
  6. "Moonlight Shadow" (Plastic Men UK Mix) – 6:16
  7. "Moonlight Shadow" (Warp Brothers Remix) – 7:36
  8. "Moonlight Shadow" (North Starz Remix) – 6:57
  9. "Moonlight Shadow" (Alternate Radio Version) – 2:51
  10. "Moonlight Shadow" (Original Mix) – 2:53
  11. "Moonlight Shadow" (Extended Mix) – 6:54
  12. "Moonlight Shadow" (Rocco Remix) – 6:56
  13. "Moonlight Shadow" (A cappella) – 1:50
  14. "Moonlight Shadow" (Pure & Direct Version) – 4:17

Chart positions

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[41] 39
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[42] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[43] 50
Germany (Official German Charts)[44] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 68
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 52

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mike Oldfield – Crises". Phil Spalding. July 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  2. "Singles". Amadian. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  3. "Information about the single". Tubular-World.com. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  4. Oldfield albums part 2 at the Wayback Machine (archived 15 February 2008). Toucan Solutions.
  5. (German) Archiv Sendung vom 02.04.2008, kulturplatz, Mike Oldfield video interview at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 April 2008). SF 1. 2 April 2008.
  6. "Rare Tracks Part 1". Ommadawn.net. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  7. "Is Moonlight Shadow about the murder of John Lennon?". Experts123.com. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  8. "FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)". Tubular.net. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  9. The Wind Chimes (VHS rear cover credits). Mike Oldfield. Virgin Vision. 1988. VVD 353.
  10. Powell, Mark (2013). Crises (liner notes book). Mike Oldfield. Mercury Records. 37 4044-8.
  11. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  14. "Radio2 Top 30: 6 augustus 1983" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  15. MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 June 2006). MusicSeek.info.
  16. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Mike Oldfield" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  18. "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Search "10 July 1983" then click "find it". Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  19. "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 3: 1980-1990)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  22. "Charts.org.nz – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  24. "MOONLIGHT SHADOW – Mike Oldfield & Maggie Reilly" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  25. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (O)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  26. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  27. "Swedishcharts.com – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  28. "Swisscharts.com – Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  29. "Archive Chart: 1983-07-02" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  30. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  31. "Jahreshitparade 1983" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten 1983" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  33. "TOP – 1983" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  34. "Jahrescharts – 1983" (in German). Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  35. "I singoli più venduti del 1983" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  36. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  37. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  38. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1983" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  39. "Vacanze di Natale". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  40. "Dave Angel – Eco Warrior". BBC Online. 21 January 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  41. "Australian-charts.com – Groove Coverage – Moonlight Shadow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  42. "Austriancharts.at – Groove Coverage – Moonlight Shadow" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  43. "Ultratop.be – Groove Coverage – Moonlight Shadow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  44. "Musicline.de – Groove Coverage Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  45. "Dutchcharts.nl – Groove Coverage – Moonlight Shadow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  46. "Swisscharts.com – Groove Coverage – Moonlight Shadow". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
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