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Military Drums (song)

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"Military Drums"
Single by Hubert Kah
ReleasedMay 1987[1]
Length3:38
LabelCurb
RCA
Blow Up
Songwriter(s)Michael Cretu
Susanne Müller-Pi
Producer(s)Michael Cretu
Armand Volker [de]
Hubert Kah singles chronology
"Love Is So Sensible"
(1986) 		"Military Drums"
(1987) 		"Welcome, Machine Gun"
(1989)

"Military Drums" is a song by German synthpop band Hubert Kah, released in 1987 as a non-album single. The song was written by Michael Cretu (music) and Susanne Müller-Pi (lyrics), and produced by Cretu and Armand Volker [de].

In 1987, "Military Drums" was added as the opening track on a "special edition" Germany-only reissue of the band's 1986 album Tensongs. The song was also included on the US and Japanese editions of the band's 1989 album Sound of My Heart.[2] In 2005, Hubert Kemmler re-recorded the song for the sixth Hubert Kah album, Seelentaucher.[3]

Background

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Speaking of the song, Hirschburger recalled to James Arena in 2017: "[It was written] in about 10 minutes in Ibiza feeling very jet lagged. We added trumpets, recorded it in about five hours and launched it as a single."[4] The song features Carol Kenyon on backing vocals.[5]

"Military Drums" was the band's first single to enter the US Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play chart, peaking at No. 8 in November 1987.[6] It was also the band's last Top 40 hit in Germany, reaching No. 35.[1]

Promotion

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The song's music video was directed by Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher of DoRo Productions. On its release, Rossacher described the video as "slightly avant-garde". The video makes the use of speed manipulation which was achieved by shooting the video on six frames per second.[7] On German TV, the band performed the song on ZDF-Hitparade on 20 August 1987.[8]

Critical reception

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Upon its release, Billboard described the song as a "Euro-influenced techno number".[9]

Track listing

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7" single
  1. "Military Drums" - 3:41
  2. "Explain the World in a Word" - 4:11
12" single (European release)
  1. "Military Drums" (Extended Version) - 6:27
  2. "Explain the World in a Word" - 4:11
12" single (US release)
  1. "Military Drums" (Extended Version) - 6:27
  2. "Military Drums" - 3:41
  3. "Explain the World in a Word" - 4:11
12" single (US promo)
  1. "Military Drums" (Extended Version) - 6:27
  2. "Military Drums" (Edited Version) - 3:14
  3. "Military Drums" - 3:41
12" single (US promo #2)
  1. "Military Drums" (Crossover Radio Edit) - 3:50
  2. "Military Drums" (Powermix) - 5:20
  3. "Military Drums" (LP Edit Version) - 3:14
  4. "Military Drums" (Dance Edit By Ali Lexa) - 6:50
CD single (German release)
  1. "Military Drums" (Extended Version) - 6:27
  2. "Explain the World in a Word" - 4:11
  3. "Military Drums" (7" Version) - 3:41
CD single (German release #2)
  1. "Military Drums" (Extended Version) - 6:27
  2. "Explain the World in a Word" - 4:11
  3. "Limousine" (Extended Version) - 5:40
  4. "Something I Should Know" (Remix Version) - 3:27
  5. "Military Drums" (Video Version) - 3:38

Personnel

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Hubert Kah

  • Hubert Kemmler – vocals
  • Markus Löhr – guitar, keyboards
  • Klaus Hirschburger – bass
  • Carol Kenyon – backing vocals

Production

  • Michael Cretu, Armand Volker [de] – producers
  • Boris Granich, Christer Modig – remixers on "Crossover Radio Edit" and "Powermix"
  • Ali Lexa - remixer on "Dance Edit By Ali Lexa"

Other

  • Mike Schmidt at Ink Studios – cover
  • Dieter Eikelpoth – photography

Charts

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Chart (1987) Peak
position
German Singles Chart[1] 35
US Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play[6] 8
US Billboard Hot Dance Music 12-inch Singles Sales[10] 33

References

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  1. ^ a b c Steffen Hung. "Hubert Kah - Military Drums". germancharts.de. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  2. ^ "Hubert KaH Discography | The Enigma Archives". Enigma-music.com. 1999-09-11. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  3. ^ "Seelentaucher - Hubert Kah | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2005-05-30. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  4. ^ Arena, James (2017-07-21). Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop: 32 International Music Legends Discuss ... - James Arena - Google Books. ISBN 9781476630144. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  5. ^ Hubert, Kah (1987). Tensongs (CD). Hubert Kah. Germany: Blow Up. NT 845.515.
  6. ^ a b "Hubert Kah". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  7. ^ "Video News: Torpedo Twins at top speed". Music & Media. 20 June 1987.
  8. ^ "Hubert Kah - Military Drums (ZDF Sommerhitparade 1987)". YouTube. 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  9. ^ "Single Reviews". Billboard. 3 October 1987.
  10. ^ "Hubert Kah". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
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