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stranger


composers
Lyrics: Jim Kerr / D Tignino
Music: D Tignino / E Pat Legato


publisher
℗ Bucks Music Group Ltd / Mandarin Music (2005 - 2012)
℗ JKMC-Bucks Music Group Ltd / Mandarin Music (2013 - 2017)
℗ BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd / Copyright Control (2018 - )


background
Stranger was one of the oldest songs on Black And White 050505. It was originally demoed as Beautiful Stranger and was written during the Cry period. It was also debuted in a bar in Taormina before the band's 2002 concert in the town.

After being subsequently recorded, it became a show-piece for the new album, giving the band a feel for the music and direction.

The London Mix was first issued as an Internet-only release, but only differed slighly from the original recording.


Back around the year 2000, the walls seemed to be closing in on Simple Minds. Creatively spent, we seemed beyond wounded in my view. I had begun convincing myself that it might be time to put a full stop on our story - at least for the moment.

"Really?" [My mother] quizzed sternly.
"I never thought of you as a quitter Jim Kerr."
Only ever calling me "Jim Kerr" when she was very angry.
"Quitter" was spat out, emphasising her point of view.
But she was right again. I'm not a quitter.

A year or so later, I invited her to visit me in Taormina, Sicily. I had just bought some land there, and spent much of that year working out exactly what to do with it. She was curious to know what else I was up to, and was delighted to find that I was busy working on the lyrics to many new songs. Impatient to hear for herself, she demanded that I play her something.

Agreeing to do so, we stood on a terrace overlooking Mount Etna, surrounded by blues skies that seemed to stretch forever. I played her a demo recording of a song called Beautiful Stranger and at her request - we must have listened to it about a dozen times on repeat. Almost giggling each time it ended. She said it just made her feel so good.

Jim
8th December 2018





lyrics
Tell me why, do you know what were looking for?
Any truth in the rumours I ignore?
Tell me why, I still deny?

Anytime secrets, in every sound.
I can keep my feet up off the ground.
I’m in the air, reeling everywhere.
There’s something new and I must say.
It makes me feel so super real.
Just look and you’ll find.
We are drifting through space and time.

Stranger, beautiful stranger,
Come tell me if you are, the silent star, Explain!
Stranger, beautiful stranger,
I wonder if you are the silent star,
Explain.

Tell me why, do you know what we’re looking for?
Any truth in the rumours I ignore?
Then tell me why I still deny?

Summertime,
Winter,
Moonlight,
And the Sun.
I get the feeling this has just begun,
And yet it feels so super real.
Look and you’ll find,
We are moving through space and time.

Stranger, beautiful stranger,
Come tell me if you are, the silent star, Explain!
Stranger, beautiful stranger,
I wonder if you are the silent star,
Explain.

Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Beautiful stranger - Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Beautiful stranger - Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Tell me who you are - Sha, la, la, la.
Sha, la, la, la.
Tell me who you are - Sha, la, la, la.
Beautiful stranger.

Sha, la, la, la.
Beautiful stranger.



discography
Snippet (2:03)
Produced by Jez Coad and Simple Minds
Arranged by Jez Coad and Simple Minds
Programmed by Jez Coad
Engineered by Arjen Mensinga and Michiel Hoogenboesem
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain

Black And White Snippet CD
London Mix (4:03)
Producer: Jez Coad and Simple Minds
Arranged by: Jez Coad and Simple Minds.
Programmed by: Jez Coad
Engineered by: Arjen Mensinga and Michiel Hoogenboesem
Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain
Remix: Jez Coad at The Honey Factory, Greenwich

Stranger Promotional CD Single Stranger European Promotional CD Single Stranger European CD Single

Album Version (4:07)
Producer: Jez Coad and Simple Minds.
Arranged by: Jez Coad and Simple Minds.
Programmed by: Jez Coad
Engineered by: Arjen Mensinga and Michiel Hoogenboesem
Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain

Black And White Promotional Sampler CD Black And White Promotional CD #1 Black And White Promotional CD #2 Black And White US Promotional CD Black And White US Promotional CD Black And White US Promotional CD Black And White Japanese Promotional CD Black And White Japanese Promotional CD Black And White Argentinian Promotional CD Black And White Thailand Promotional CD Black And White 050505 CD Black And White 050505 Japanese CD Black And White 050505 Russian CD Black And White 050505 Eastern European CD Black And White 050505 Argentinian CD Stranger European CD Single Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Promo CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + 3CD The Music Of Simple Minds Rejuvenaton 2001-2014 LP Box Black And White 050505 Promo CD Black And White 050505 Promo CD Rejuvenaton 2001-2014 CD/DVD Box Black And White 050505 Limited Edition LP Black And White 050505 Deluxe CD




downloads
London Mix (4:03)
Producer: Jez Coad and Simple Minds
Arranged by: Jez Coad and Simple Minds.
Programmed by: Jez Coad
Engineered by: Arjen Mensinga and Michiel Hoogenboesem
Mixed by: Bob Clearmountain
Remix: Jez Coad at The Honey Factory, Greenwich

Stranger Download
Live Version (28th Aug 06) (4:13)
Recorded: Black And White Tour 2006
Mixed By Jez Coad

Black And White Live Bundle #7




live history
Intimate Tour: 2005
Black And White Tour: 2006