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Ceremony

Certain Songs #1308: New Order – “Ceremony”

August 30, 2018 by Jim Connelly

Single, 1981

While “Ceremony” might or might not be my all-time favorite song, it’s definitely my all-time favorite recording.

But because nothing is ever easy, I need to instantly point out that praise applies to this specific version of “Ceremony” — often referred to as “Ceremony (Version 1)” — which came out in March of 1981 as a 12-inch single with a green cover, and not the version that ended up on Substance, which is therefore the one that most people know.

The version on Substance was recorded in November 1980 after Gillian Gilbert joined the band, but the original recording was just Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris, working out their grief just months after their entire world was forever changed by the suicide of Ian Curtis.

There is a timeline, of course, where Ian Curtis never killed himself, and “Ceremony” was just the next Joy Division single. Weirdly enough, I still think they get into dance music, as once Sumner & Morris (and even Peter Hook) discovered technology, there was no turning back, and besides, on songs like “She’s Lost Control” & “Isolation” they were already angling in that direction.

[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1308: New Order – “Ceremony”

Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: Ceremony, New Order

Certain Songs #486: Galaxie 500 – “Ceremony”

March 23, 2016 by Jim Connelly

Galaxie 500 ceremony Album: Blue Thunder EP
Year: 1991

So, at the risk of being tossed out of the Middle-Aged Former Hipsters Club, I’m just going to admit straight up that I never really much liked Galaxie 500, which should surprise no one who hasn’t heard me say the exact same thing for the past 25 years.

This suspicion carried over toward Dean Wareham’s later band, Luna, right up until they released Penthouse and made me an instant fan, but it all stemmed from the near-universal (relative) hype that surrounded Galaxie 500’s second album, On Fire, which caused me to run out and buy it back in 1989.

[Read more…] about Certain Songs #486: Galaxie 500 – “Ceremony”

Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: Ceremony, Galaxie 500

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Previously on Medialoper

  • Certain Songs #2698: That Petrol Emotion – “Sensitize”
  • Certain Songs #2697: That Petrol Emotion – “Big Decision”
  • Certain Songs #2696: that dog. – “hawthorne”
  • Certain Songs #2695: that dog. – “long island”
  • Certain Songs #2694: that dog. – “minneapolis”

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