Dominion (song)

"Dominion" is a song by English rock band the Sisters of Mercy. It was released as the second single from their second studio album, Floodland, in February 1988. The version on Floodland features "Dominion" as well as a coda piece titled "Mother Russia". It was written by band frontman Andrew Eldritch and produced by Larry Alexander, Eldritch, and Jim Steinman.

"Dominion"
Single by the Sisters of Mercy
from the album Floodland
B-side
  • "Untitled"
  • "Sandstorm"
  • "Emma"
  • "Ozymandias"
ReleasedFebruary 1988
Recorded1987
StudioPower Station (New York City)
Genre
Length
  • 7:00 (album version)
  • 5:06 (single version)
  • 3:43 (short edit)
LabelMerciful Release
Songwriter(s)Andrew Eldritch
Producer(s)
The Sisters of Mercy singles chronology
"This Corrosion"
(1987)		 "Dominion"
(1988)		 "Lucretia My Reflection"
(1988)

The song peaked at number 7 on the Irish Singles Chart, number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 30 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Background and composition

Eldritch has revealed the song disguises an anti-American diatribe flavoured by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.[2] At the time of release he also claimed that the second part of the song "Mother Russia" was a call for the West to give up Berlin to the Soviets, "because in reality they already control the city. It's only stupid to pretend otherwise".[3]

Recording of the song took place in 1987 at Power Station Studios in Manhattan, New York.[4] Like its Steinman-produced twin "This Corrosion", "Dominion/Mother Russia" features vocals from the New York Choral Society.[5] The full version comprises two main parts, "Dominion" and "Mother Russia", with "Dominion" being released as a standalone single.

The B-side "Ozymandias" is simply an edit of "Dominion", with most layers of the track played backwards except for the drums. When "Ozymandias" is itself in full played backwards, it sounds simply like a remix of "Dominion" with backwards-echoed drums, in a similar fashion to the drum layer in "Peek-a-Boo" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. "Sandstorm" consists of various sampled saxophone and keyboard parts from "Dominion", mixed to a moody short instrumental track, which was used in the opening section of the video. "Untitled" is a slowed-down instrumental excerpt from "Dominion". A cover of the song "Emma" by Hot Chocolate is also included.

Track listing

All songs written by Andrew Eldritch except "Emma", written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson.

7-inch single — Merciful Release MR43
No.TitleLength
1."Dominion"3:43
No.TitleLength
2."Untitled"3:38
3."Sandstorm"1:49


12-inch single — Merciful Release MR43T
No.TitleLength
1."Dominion"5:06
2."Untitled"3:36
No.TitleLength
3."Sandstorm"1:46
4."Emma"6:23


12-inch single — Merciful Release MR43TB
No.TitleLength
1."Dominion"5:06
2."Untitled (long version)" (contains "Untitled" and "Ozymandias")7:35
No.TitleLength
3."Sandstorm" (excerpt)0:31
4."Emma"6:23


CD single — Merciful Release MR43CD
No.TitleLength
1."Dominion"5:06
2."Untitled"3:36
3."Sandstorm"1:46
4."Ozymandias"4:19


Cassette single — Merciful Release MR43C
No.TitleLength
1."Dominion"5:06
No.TitleLength
2."Untitled"3:36
3."Sandstorm"1:46
4."Ozymandias"4:19

Charts
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 13
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[8] 30

References
  1. Andi Harrima (2022-10-31). "The 50 Best Goth Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  2. Dave Thompson. "Dominion/Mother Russia - The Sisters of Mercy | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  3. Swedish music magazine Slitz, December 1987 issue"
  4. Mary Scanlon: "Bridge over Troubled Water" (in: Sounds magazine 19 December 1987, page 10)
  5. Marszalek, Julian (19 November 2012). "Dreams Of Rain: The Sisters Of Mercy's Floodland 25 Years On". The Quietus. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dominion". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  8. "The Sisters of Mercy Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
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