Confusion (New Order song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Confusion
| cover = Confusion - New Order.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = New Order
| album =
| released = August 1983
| recorded = 1983
| studio = Unique Recording Studios, New York City{{cite web|url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wqJYn1tH0og/maxresdefault.jpg|format=JPG|title=Photographic image of record label|website=I.ytimg.com|access-date=31 March 2022}}
| genre ={{flatlist|
- Alternative dance{{cite book|first= David N. |last= Howard |year= 2004 |title= Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings |location= Milwaukee, Wisconsin |publisher= Hal Leonard Corporation |edition= 1st |isbn= 978-0-634-05560-7 |page= 270 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qXhwR_2Ka2UC&q=%22alternative+dance%22&pg=PA270}}
- electro{{cite news|first= Alexis |last= Petridis |author-link= Alexis Petridis |title= New Order's 30 greatest tracks – ranked! |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 7 January 2021 |access-date= 2 May 2022 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/07/new-order-30-greatest-tracks-ranked}}
}}
| length = 8:12 (1983)
| label = Factory – FAC 93
Streetwise
| writer = {{hlist|Arthur Baker|Gillian Gilbert|Peter Hook|Stephen Morris|Bernard Sumner{{Cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=330330128&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=25&start=1|title=ASCAP entry|website=Ascap.com|access-date=31 March 2022}}}}
| producer = {{hlist|New Order|Arthur Baker|John Robie}}
| prev_title = Blue Monday
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = Thieves Like Us
| next_year = 1984
}}
"Confusion" is the sixth single by British group New Order, originally released in August 1983 on Factory Records with the catalogue number FAC 93.[http://www.discogs.com/New-Order-Confusion/master/4330 New Order - Confusion], Discogs.com, Retrieved 6 August 2009The catalogue number given here is for the UK version. For other countries, see [http://www.discogs.com/New-Order-Confusion/master/4330 New Order - Confusion at discogs.com] Retrieved 6 August 2009 The follow-up to their breakthrough hit "Blue Monday", it was produced and co-written by influential New York DJ Arthur Baker, charting at No. 1 on the UK Indie Chart, No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and the top 10 in Ireland and New Zealand, as well as reaching No. 5
on Billboard's Dance Club Songs.
Content
The song was recorded in New York with producer Arthur Baker. Three remixes served as B-sides on the initial 12" release: "Confused Beats", "Confusion Instrumental" and "Confusion Rough Mix". The two tracks on side A ("Confusion" and "Confused Beats") are mixed together, which when played in sequence, act as a thirteen and half minute long remix by Arthur Baker. The "Rough Mix" on side B is the original song mixed by New Order.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
Music video
The video for the single features live footage of the band in concert, intercut with images of nightlife in New York City, specifically at the "Fun House", and producer Arthur Baker and DJ John "Jellybean" Benitez at work.
Other versions
An edit of the Rough Mix represents the single on the 2005 compilation Singles. A re-recorded "Confusion" as well as the original "Confusion Instrumental" appear on the group's 1987 Substance release. The track reappeared on the 1995 remix collection The Rest of New Order as an acid techno remix by Pump Panel, which was used in 1998 as part of the soundtrack for the film Blade. Samples from The Pump Panel remix are featured on the tracks "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" by Public Domain, "Play It Louder" by Randy Katana and "Phatt Bass" by Warp Bros and Aquagen. The 2016 re-release of Singles includes the promo 7" edit of "Confusion".{{Cite web|url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/new-order-updated-and-improved-singles-compilation-on-the-way/|title = New Order / Updated and improved Singles compilation on the way |website=SuperDeluxeEdition.com|date = 23 June 2016 }}
Critical reception
Considered a disappointing follow-up to "Blue Monday" upon its release, the song has retrospectively gained critical acclaim.
The Guardian placed the song 29th on their list of the 30 best New Order songs, stating that "Confusion" has "improved with age", and that "its wholehearted, charmingly gauche embrace of electro illustrates the impact of New York’s nightlife on the band."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Arthur Baker, Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; except where indicated
| headline = 12": FAC 93 (UK)
| title1 = Confusion
| length1 = 8:12
| title2 = Confused Beats
| length2 = 5:19
| title3 = Confusion Instrumental
| length3 = 7:38
| title4 = Confusion
| note4 = Rough Mix
| length4 = 8:04
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 12": QAL-249 (US) – Minimal Records 1990 release
| title1 = Confusion
| note1 = Alternative Mix
| length1 = 5:30
| title2 = Confusion
| note2 = Essential Mix
| length2 = 5:10
| title3 = Confusion
| note3 = Trip 1-Ambient Confusion
| length3 = 3:40
| title4 = Confusion
| note4 = a cappella
| length4 = 1:17
| title5 = Confusion
| note5 = Con-om-fus-ars-ion Mix
| length5 = 7:05
| title6 = Confusion
| note6 = Ooh-Wee Dub
| length6 = 6:50
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = CD: FCD260 (UK) – ffrr 1995 release
| title1 = Confusion
| note1 = Pump Panel Reconstruction Mix
| length1 = 10:11
| title2 = Confusion
| note2 = Pump Panel Flotation Mix
| length2 = 9:15
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = CD: WACKT002 (UK) – Whacked Records 2002 release
| title1 = Confusion
| note1 = Koma and Bones Edit
| length1 = 3:45
| title2 = Confusion
| note2 = Arthur Baker 2002 Edit
| length2 = 3:09
| title3 = Confusion
| note3 = Electroclash Edit
| length3 = 3:40
| title4 = Confusion
| note4 = Outputs Nu-Rocktro Edit
| length4 = 3:41
| title5 = Confusion
| note5 = Asto Dazed Edit
| length5 = 4:22
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 12": CAT 806 EP (UK) – Acid House Mixes by 808 State (1988) – 2004 release
| title1 = Blue Monday
| note1 = So Hot Mix
| writer1 = Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner
| length1 = 7:47
| title2 = Confusion
| note2 = Acid House Mix
| length2 = 5:54
}}
- Released in 2004.
Chart positions
| class="wikitable"
! Chart (1983) ! Peak |
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|title=Australian Chart Book 1970-1992|year=1993 |publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW, Australia|isbn=0-646-11917-6|pages=215}}
|align="center"|72 |
| Irish Singles Chart
|align="center"|7 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart
|align="center"|7 |
| UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|12 |
| UK Indie Singles
|align="center"|1 |
| US Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=188}}
|align="center"|5 |
| US Billboard Hot Black Singles{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=428}}
|align="center"|71 |
| Chart (2002)
! Peak |
|---|
| UK Singles Chart [A]
|align="center"|64 |
| UK Dance [A]
|align="center"| 6 |
- [A] – Whacked Records re-release
References
{{reflist}}
Notes
{{New Order}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Confusion (New Order Song)}}
Category:Factory Records singles
Category:New Order (band) songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Arthur Baker (musician)
Category:Songs written by Arthur Baker (musician)
Category:Songs written by Gillian Gilbert
Category:Songs written by Peter Hook
Category:Songs written by Stephen Morris (musician)