Just a Shadow

{{short description|1984 song performed by Big Country}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Just a Shadow

| cover =

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| type = single

| artist = Big Country

| album = Steeltown

| released = 11 January 1985{{Cite web|url=https://bigcountryinfo.com/releases/s_jas.htm|title=Just A Shadow|website=Bigcountryinfo.com|access-date=24 November 2024}}

| format =

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| writer = Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, and Bruce Watson

| producer =

| prev_title = Where the Rose Is Sown

| prev_year = 1984

| next_title = Look Away

| next_year = 1986

}}

"Just a Shadow" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country on their 1984 album Steeltown.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19841202&id=lfQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7GEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6928,621131&hl=en|title=Records - Pat Benatar takes a walk on the mild side|last=Bishop|first=Pete|date=2 December 1984|work=The Pittsburgh Press|publisher=E. W. Scripps Company|access-date=12 April 2016}} It was released as a single on 19 January 1985 and peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/just%20a%20shadow/|title=Official Charts Company - Big Country - Just a Shadow|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=12 April 2016}}

Critical reception

On its release, Malcolm Dome of Kerrang! called it "sheer bliss on a social treadmill" and added, "Now this brings a beam to my cat's eyes. Big Country are inspirational as far as I'm concerned. They could record a version of 'Metal Thrashing Mad' and make it sound awesome."{{cite magazine |last=Dome |first=Malcolm |title=Singles |magazine=Kerrang! |date=24 January 1985 |issue=86 |page=21 |issn=0262-6624}} Mike Gardiner of Record Mirror was critical of the song, describing it as a "mediocre album track". He wrote, "The soaring guitars sound like their wings have been clipped and the chest the chorus is trying to swell probably has punctured lungs."{{cite magazine |last=Gardiner |first=Mike |date=12 January 1985 |title=Singles |magazine=Record Mirror |page=6 |issn=0144-5804}}

References

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