Oblivion (Terrorvision song)

"Oblivion" is a song by English rock band Terrorvision. Written by the band and produced by Gil Norton, the song was included as the second track on the band's second studio album, How to Make Friends and Influence People (1994). Like most Terrorvision songs, "Oblivion" contains political themes, but according to bass player Leigh Marklew, the messages were not taken seriously because of the song's doo-wop chorus.[2] Released as the album's first single on 28 March 1994, the song peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart and number 65 in Australia.

"Oblivion"
Single by Terrorvision
from the album How to Make Friends and Influence People
B-side"What Do You Do That For?"
Released28 March 1994 (1994-03-28)
GenreBritpop[1]
Length3:03
LabelTotal Vegas, EMI
Songwriter(s)Terrorvision
Producer(s)Gil Norton
Terrorvision singles chronology
"My House"
(1993)		 "Oblivion"
(1994)		 "Middleman"
(1994)
Audio
"Oblivion" on YouTube

Release and reception

On 28 March 1994, "Oblivion" was issued as the lead single from How to Make Friends and Influence People.[3] When the album was released on 18 April 1994, "Oblivion" appeared as the second track.[4][5] According to AllMusic reviewer Leslie Mathew, the song is a satirical critique on "squatter hippies".[5] Upon the single's release, Music & Media magazine likened the song to the Smithereens' "Top of the Pops" (1991) and called it "hard-to-forget" with "instant 'got-ya' quality".[6][7] Danny Martin of WhatCulture praised the song's chorus, referring to it as "singalong perfection", as well as Tony Wright's vocals, calling them a "perfect vessel" for the track's offbeat lyrics.[1]

On 3 April 1994, the single debuted at number 47 on the UK Singles Chart. The following week, it rose to its highest position of number 21, becoming Terrorvision's highest-charting single in the UK until February 1996, when "Perseverance" reached number five. "Oblivion" spent six weeks on the UK Singles Chart and is the band's second-longest-charting single in the UK, after 1999's "Tequila".[8] Its British sales registered on the Eurochart Hot 100, peaking at number 72 on the issue dated 30 April 1994.[9] In Australia, "Oblivion" is Terrorvision's only song to enter the top 100 of the ARIA Singles Chart, reaching number 65 in mid-1994.[10]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the How to Make Friends and Influence People booklet and the UK CD1 liner notes.[17][11]

Studio

  • Mixed at The Church (London, England)

Personnel

Charts
Chart performance for "Oblivion"
Chart (1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 65
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 72
Scotland (OCC)[18] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 21

References
  1. Martin, Danny (25 January 2020). "10 Britpop Bangers You Totally Forgot Existed". WhatCulture. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  2. Thornhill, James (3 June 2019). "Terrorvision: A Journey to Oblivion (and Back Again)". Louder. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. "Single Releases". Music Week. 26 March 1994. p. 23.
  4. "Album Releases". Music Week. 16 April 1994. p. 27.
  5. "Terrorvision: How to Make Friends and Influence People". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 16. 16 April 1994. p. 8.
  7. "New Releases: Albums". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 22. 28 May 1994. p. 9.
  8. "Terrorvision: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 18. 30 April 1994. p. 14.
  10. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 277.
  11. Oblivion (UK CD1 liner notes). Terrorvision. Total Vegas Recordings. 1994. CDVEGASS 6, 7243 8 81273 2 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Oblivion (UK CD2 & Australian CD single liner notes). Terrorvision. Total Vegas Recordings. 1994. CDVEGAS 6, 7243 8 81274 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Oblivion (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Terrorvision. Total Vegas Recordings. 1994. VEGAS 6, 7243 8 81273 7 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Oblivion (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Terrorvision. Total Vegas Recordings. 1994. 12VEGAS 6, 7243 8 81273 6 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Oblivion (French CD single liner notes). Terrorvision. Total Vegas Recordings, EMI France. 1994. 881 671 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Oblivion (French 7-inch single sleeve). Terrorvision. Total Vegas Recordings, EMI France. 1994. 881838-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. How to Make Friends and Influence People (UK CD album liner notes). Terrorvision. Total Vegas Recordings. 1994. VEGASCDX 2, 7243 8 29406 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
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