Big Time (Peter Gabriel song)


"Big Time" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So. It was his second top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 8.

Music

The song's bass guitar part is unique in that backing bassist Tony Levin and then-backing drummer Jerry Marotta teamed up for the main bassline. Using one of Levin's fretless basses, Levin handled the fingerings while Marotta hit his drumsticks on the strings, which is why the bass part sounds percussive. Inspired by this sound, Levin later invented funk fingers, which were little drumstick ends that could be attached to the fingers to achieve a similar bass guitar effect in concert. Police drummer Stewart Copeland plays drums on the song, and P. P. Arnold, Coral "Chyna Whyne" Gordon, and Dee Lewis, all of whom also sang on "Sledgehammer", performed backing vocals.

Music video

The visual style was very similar to the "Sledgehammer" video, using stop motion claymation by David Daniels and strata-cut animation. The larger video was supervised by director Stephen R. Johnson and produced by Prudence Fenton. It was shot at Peter Wallach Studios. Artist Wayne White contributed to the creation of the video.

In popular culture

"Big Time" was used in 2006 by WWE as the main theme for WrestleMania 22.
"Curtains" is the title of the B-side to the "Big Time" single, as well as the B-side to the "Don't Give Up" single. It was used many years later in several re-recorded versions in the 2004 Ubisoft game .

Track listing

7" UK
  1. Big Time
  2. Curtains
12" UK
  1. Big Time
  2. Big Time
  3. Curtains
Cassette single UK
  1. Big Time
  2. Curtains
  3. No Self Control
  4. Across the River
CD-single UK
  1. Big Time
  2. Curtains
  3. No Self Control
  4. Across the River
  5. Big Time
7" USA
  1. Big Time
  2. We Do What We're Told
12" USA
  1. Big Time
  2. In Your Eyes
  3. We Do What We're Told

    Remixes

Along with the two mixes found on different versions of the single, Big Time has been officially remixed by Electrokingdom in various mixes, included the version by Frenk DJ & Niky D. Although reputed to be more numerous, four mixes can be downloaded on legal platforms.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts