Safe from Harm (song)#Charts
{{Short description|1991 single by Massive Attack}}
{{Other uses|Safe from Harm (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Safe from Harm
| cover = Massive Attack - Safe From Harm.jpg
| type = single
| artist = Massive Attack
| album = Blue Lines
| released = {{start date|1991|5|27|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=21|date=27 May 1991}}
| genre = Trip hop
| length = 5:18
| label = Virgin
| writer = {{hlist|Grantley Marshall|Andrew Vowles|Robert Del Naja|Shara Nelson|Billy Cobham}}
| producer = {{hlist|Massive Attack|Jonny Dollar}}
| prev_title = Unfinished Sympathy
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = 'Massive Attack EP'
| next_year = 1992
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Shara Nelson
| type = singles
| prev_title = Unfinished Sympathy
| prev_year = 1991
| title = Safe from Harm
| year = 1991
| next_title = Down That Road
| next_year = 1993
}}
{{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Massive_Attack_with_Shara_Nelson_-_Safe_From_Harm.ogg
| description = Massive Attack with Shara Nelson - Safe From Harm (7-inch version) (1991)
}}
}}
"Safe from Harm" is the third single and opening track from Blue Lines, the 1991 debut album from British trip hop collective Massive Attack, with vocals by Shara Nelson and Robert Del Naja. It was released in May 1991 by Virgin Records. The bass, guitar, and drums are sampled from the song "Stratus" by Billy Cobham, from his album Spectrum (with guitar by Tommy Bolin). Additional drums are sampled from "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic. Other samples come from Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon", and some of the background vocals are based on Johnny "Guitar" Watson's 1961 song Looking Back.
"Safe from Harm" (Perfecto Mix) is featured at the end of the Michael Mann-directed movie The Insider.
Inspiration
The liner notes to Blue Lines mention the movie Taxi Driver as an influence.{{cite web |title=Safe From Harm by Massive Attack - Songfacts |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/massive-attack/safe-from-harm |website=www.songfacts.com |accessdate=10 September 2020 |language=en}}
Critical reception
Andrew Smith from Melody Maker described "Safe from Harm" as a "swooning, sultry cut" and "no less compelling than 'Unfinished Sympathy.'" He added that it's "gathered round a deep, dense, dubbesque bassline, while ethereal strings and gently gliding pianos taunt Shara Nelson's sweet voice. It's a decadent, mesmeric, trance-inducing sound, one to lose yourself in completely."{{cite magazine|first=Andrew|last=Smith|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52367102976/|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=1 June 1991|page=31|access-date=29 April 2023}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "With the atmospheric synthesizer sounds, the hefty bassline and the irresistible vocals by Shara Nelson, this follow-up to the European hit 'Unfinished Sympathy' is likely to be as big."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|title=Review: Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-06-01.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|date=1 June 1991|page=12|accessdate=10 December 2022}} Barbara Ellen from NME named it Single of the Week.{{cite magazine|first=Barbara|last=Ellen|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52374792046/|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=8 June 1991|page=20|access-date=29 April 2023}} Mark Frith from Smash Hits commented, "Like the London Funki Dreds, the music of Bristol's Massive has a pounding bass line and reggae overtones, but Massive's records are also highly reminiscent of American soul music. 'Safe from Harm' works best as part of an LP, but still sounds good as a single."{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Frith|title=Review: Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/44475785031/in/album-72157699378363171/|magazine=Smash Hits|date=15 May 1991|page=44|accessdate=10 December 2022|author-link=Mark Frith}}
Track listing
- "Safe from Harm" (radio edit) – 4:28
- "Safe from Harm" (12-inch version) – 6:57
- "Safe from Harm" (7-inch version) – 4:28
- "Safe from Harm" (Perfecto mix) – 8:09
- "Safe from Harm" (Just a Dub) (by Steve Smith) – 3:14
- "Safe from Harm" (Just a Groove Dub) (by Steve Smith) – 3:18
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1991) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/pd4F2Ze.gif|title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 July 2016|via=Imgur|access-date=12 July 2016}}
|132 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Austria|23|artist=Massive Attack|song=Safe from Harm|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=28|page=29|date=13 July 1991}}
|48 |
| {{single chart|Germany|33|artist=Massive Attack|song=Safe from Harm|songid=2295|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|28|year=1991|week=27|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|28|artist=Massive Attack|song=Safe from Harm|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|15|artist=Massive Attack|song=Safe from Harm|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|25|artist=Massive Attack|artistid=28023|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|28|artist=Massive Attack|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|35|artist=Massive Attack|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|32|artist=Massive Attack|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2022}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p109257|label=Shara Nelson}}
{{Massive Attack}}
{{Shara Nelson singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Black-and-white music videos
Category:Song recordings produced by Jonny Dollar
Category:Songs written by Andrew Vowles
Category:Songs written by Daddy G
Category:Songs written by Robert Del Naja