Munich

Album: The Back Room (2005)
Charted: 10
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Munich" is a song by British post-punk revival band Editors. Originally written in Birmingham before the band was signed, the title "Munich" has no connection to the Bavarian capital city, according to frontman Tom Smith. "It was just a stamp to give our song," he explained to Music Week.
  • A searing guitar, a cymbal sprint and a new Order-esque bassline are all employed in support of Smith's baritone vocals. The lyrics are like cryptic whispers, hinting at isolation, a yearning to belong. It's a soundscape of urban anxieties, a soundtrack for feeling lost in the city crowd.
  • "Munich" was originally released on April 18, 2005, as the second single from Editors' debut album, The Back Room, peaking at #22 in the UK Singles Chart. It was re-released on January 2, 2006, this time reaching #10 in the UK.
  • The song was played when the guests were introduced on the long-running English television program A Question of Sport. "Munich" was also used in the TV shows:

    Eastenders ("Episode #1.6880" - 2024)
    Cold Case ("Joseph" - 2006)
    Waterloo Road (various episodes)

    "Munich" also shows up in the 2008 supernatural-horror movie Waterloo Road.
  • As referee Michael Oliver blew for full time after the April 28, 2024, Tottenham v Arsenal North London derby, the person in charge of the Tottenham sound system flicked the music on. Out blasted "Munich." Arsenal had crashed out of the Champions League after a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich a couple of weeks previously. Was the playing of "Munich" a savage coincidence or a hilarious case of shade thrown by the DJ?

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.