Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies

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"Living Is A Problem
Because Everything Dies"
CD Cover
Single by Biffy Clyro
from the album Puzzle
B-side "Kittens, Cakes and Cuddles"
"Loneliness"
"Relief or Fight"
Released 14 May 2007 (UK)
Format CD, 7", Digital download
Recorded The Warehouse Studio
Vancouver, British Columbia
The Farm Studios
Gibsons, British Columbia
Genre Alternative rock, post-grunge, symphonic rock, new prog
Length 5:18 (album version)
3:33 (single version)
Label 14th Floor
14FLR21CD (UK, CD)
14FLR21V1 (UK, 7" #1)
14FLR21V2 (UK, 7" #2)
Writer(s) Simon Neil
Producer(s) Garth Richardson
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro singles chronology
"Saturday Superhouse"
(2007)		 "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies"
(2007)		 "Folding Stars"
(2007)
Puzzle track listing
  1. "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies"
  2. "Saturday Superhouse"
  3. "Who's Got A Match?"
  4. "As Dust Dances"
    • "2/15ths"
  5. "A Whole Child Ago"
  6. "The Conversation Is..."
  7. "Now I'm Everyone"
  8. "Semi-Mental"
    • "4/15ths"
  9. "Love Has A Diameter"
  10. "Get Fucked Stud"
  11. "Folding Stars"
  12. "9/15ths"
  13. "Machines"

"Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies" is the opening song on Scottish band Biffy Clyro's fourth album, Puzzle. It was released on 14 May 2007, as the second physical single from the album. The song itself, without any B-sides, was released as a digital download on 7 May 2007. In the week after its download release, but before its CD release, the single reached number 72 on the official chart,[1] before reaching number 19 on the week of its release.[2] The song was the first single released by the band in the United States, and was the first single released there for Puzzle. The song was added to the playlists of several radio stations in the United States [1], including WBRU, WQEX and WHHZ. The song peaked at #47 on the US Modern Rock chart.[3]

Overview

Simon Neil has commented on the song, saying:

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This is one of the first songs I wrote for the record and it has changed very little since its conception. I always knew I wanted a choir and strings on it, and it has a real epic feel. It's about not wanting to waste your life, but about having no idea where to turn and suddenly being aware of your own mortality.[4]

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This sums up the new record and shows that we're not happy to plough the same same kind of furrow as we've done before. We wanted something epic and over-the-top and something the three of us would find hard to do.[5]

The song was first played on BBC Radio 1 by Zane Lowe on 13 March 2007 in The Hottest Record In The World segment. On 29 March, it was announced that the track will be released as a single (instead of "The Conversation Is...", as originally planned), following a "fairly wonderful" reaction to the track when played on Zane Lowe's Radio One show.[6]

Musical structure

The guitars and bass in "Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies" are in Drop C tuning,[7] which is a notable variation from Biffy Clyro's preferred tuning: Drop D. The track features string and choir arrangements by Hollywood composer Graeme Revell, performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. The band has used string sections before in the songs "With Aplomb" and "Now the Action Is On Fire!" from 2003's The Vertigo of Bliss, but this is the first time the band has worked with an orchestra. Two tracks on Puzzle include the orchestra. "Machines" features a lone cello. The arrangement was written by the band themselves.

Track listings

Songs and lyrics by Simon Neil. Music by Biffy Clyro.

  • CD 14FLR21CD
  1. "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies (Radio Edit)" – 3:33
  2. "Relief Or Fight" – 4:09
  • 7" #1 14FLR21V1
  1. "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies (Radio Edit)" – 3:33
  2. "Loneliness" – 2:33
  • 7" #2 14FLR21V2
  1. "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies (Radio Edit)" – 3:33
  2. "Kittens, Cakes and Cuddles" – 3:34
  • Digital download
  1. "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies (Radio Edit)" – 3:33
  1. "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies (Demo)" - 5:14
  • 7digital exclusive
  1. "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies (Live at Glasgow Carling Academy on 29 April 2007)"

Personnel

  • Simon Neil – guitar, vocals
  • Ben Johnston – drums, vocals
  • James Johnston – bass, vocals
  • Garth Richardson – producer
  • Graeme Revell – string and choir orchestrations
  • Seattle Symphony Orchestra – violins, violas, cellos, choir

Notes

  1. ↑ Yahoo Charts page Accessed on 14 May 2007
  2. ↑ UK Singles Top 75 – 21 May 2007
  3. ↑ Mediabase US Alternative Radio Airplay Monitor Accessed on 29 November 2007
  4. ↑ Kerrang! #1147, p. 6
  5. ↑ Kerrang! #1159, p. 22
  6. ↑ Biffy Clyro News – 29 March 2007
  7. ↑ Biffy Clyro Set List - Portsmouth Pyramid 20 May 2007

External links

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