The Circus (song)

"The Circus" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 21 September 1987 as the band's seventh single overall. It is also the title track on their second studio album, The Circus (1987). Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song was a departure from the shiny pop of their six previous singles, creating a more down-tempo and melancholy mood. Essentially a synth-pop track, the music is accentuated by acoustic guitar and a continuous circus-like accordion. The lyrics touch on social issues, rare for the duo, and centre on the lament of "working men", whose bright futures and job securities are left shattered in the modern world of greedy corporations and technology. The song's distinctive and unusual sound is said to have been inspired by Bell hearing a record being played backwards. The album version clocks at 5.30 minutes, so it was remixed for single release to a much more radio-friendly 3:50 minutes. Mute Records issued it as the fourth and final single from the album. Despite its haunting quality and dark lyrical content, "The Circus" became Erasure's third UK Top 10 hit, peaking at number six.

This article is about the Erasure song. For other songs, see Circus § Music.
"The Circus"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Circus
Released21 September 1987 (1987-09-21)[1]
Recorded1986
Length
  • 5:30 (LP)
  • 3:50 (7")
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Flood
Erasure singles chronology
"Victim of Love"
(1987)		 "The Circus"
(1987)		 "Ship of Fools"
(1988)
Music video
"The Circus" on YouTube

Track listings

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[2] 7
Ireland (IRMA)[3] 6
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[4] 6
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[5] 30

References
  1. "Index: Releases". Record Mirror. 19 September 1987. p. 8. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. Danish Singles Chart 23 October 1987
  3. Jaclyn Ward. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  4. "The Official Charts Company - The Circus by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  5. "charts.de". charts.de. 1987-09-21. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
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