Christian (song)

"Christian" is a song by English new wave band China Crisis. It was released as a single from their debut studio album Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain (1982) and was the band's first major success on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 12 in February 1983.

"Christian"
Single by China Crisis
from the album Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain
Released	3 January 1983 (1983-01-03)
Studio	Strawberry South (Dorking)
Genre	New wave ambient
Length	5:37
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Gary Daly Eddie Lundon David Reilly
Producer(s)	Peter Walsh
China Crisis singles chronology
"No More Blue Horizons (Fool, Fool, Fool)" (1982) "Christian" (1983) "Tragedy and Mystery" (1983)

The track features an unusual sliding bassline, and although played live by the band bassist Gary Johnson on many occasions, the bass in the original recording was played on a fretless bass by Landscape bassist Andy Pask, who also co-wrote the theme from The Bill.

The lyrics of the song was inspired by images from World War I that lead vocalist and keyboardist Gary Daly had seen, while the title "Christian" was added when recording the song:

"The actual ‘Christian’ of the title was the name of a little boy, who was friends with a nephew of mine… I’d never heard of anyone having that name. And when recording the track in Strawberry South, Dorking with Pete Walsh producing, we had nothing happening in the middle eight. Pete asked if we had any ideas and I would have just sang “Christian” at the point where the music changes and it worked beautifully."

— Gary Daly, 2020

Track listing

7": Virgin / VS 562 (UK)

Side one

1. "Christian" – 4.10

Side two

1. "Greenacre Bay" – 3.51
2. "Performing Seals" – 2.45

12": Virgin / VS 562-12 (UK)

Side one

1. "Christian" – 5.55

Side two

1. "Greenacre Bay" – 4.17
2. "Performing Seals" – 2.45

External links

• "Christian" at Discogs (list of releases)