Obstacle 1

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"Obstacle 1"
Single by Interpol
from the album Turn on the Bright Lights
B-side
  • "Obstacle 2" (Live)
  • "PDA" (Live)
  • "Hands Away" (Live)
  • "Obstacle 1" (Live)
  • Arthur Baker Remix
ReleasedNovember 11, 2002
RecordedNovember 2001
StudioTarquin Studios (Bridgeport, CT)
Genre
Length
  • 4:11 (album version)
  • 3:36 (radio edit)
LabelMatador
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Interpol singles chronology
"PDA"
(2002) 		"Obstacle 1"
(2002) 		"Say Hello to the Angels" / "NYC"
(2003)

"Obstacle 1" is a song by American rock band Interpol. It was released as the second single from their debut studio album, Turn on the Bright Lights, on November 11, 2002. It was eventually remixed by producer Arthur Baker and reissued as a single on September 15, 2003. The music video for "Obstacle 1" was directed by Floria Sigismondi. The song peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and critically acclaimed.

Music video[edit]

The promotional video for the song was directed by Floria Sigismondi.[1] It shows several shots of the band playing in an aisle, there are many wires moving up and down. Then, a woman (Sigismondi herself) appears dancing to the song on another aisle. In a shot, a glass of water fall down and breaks, the water begins to move through the aisles and arrives to the aisle where the woman is dancing. The woman falls down and is electrocuted as a result of the electrical wires in the water.

Reception and legacy[edit]

In their review of Turn on the Bright Lights, Pitchfork magazine praised the song and compared it to the music of Joy Division.[2] In 2009, Pitchfork named the song the 64th best song of the 2000s.[3]

The song was featured on Interpol's 2003 EP, The Black EP.[4]

"Obstacle 1" is featured as a playable track on Guitar Hero World Tour. Singer Charlotte Martin has a rendition of "Obstacle 1" on her album, Reproductions. The song was also used to highlight Adam Sandler for Best Comedic Performance at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards for his work in Mr. Deeds.[citation needed] In 2016, The Killers covered the song during a concert.[5]

Track listing[edit]

2002 single[edit]

CD (OLE570-2):

  1. "Obstacle 1" – 4:11
  2. "PDA" (Live KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic Session) – 4:56
  3. "Hands Away" (Live Peel Session) – 3:10

7" vinyl (OLE570-7):

  1. "Obstacle 1" – 4:11
  2. "Obstacle 2" (Live Peel Session) – 3:50

2003 single[edit]

Remix CD (OLE594-2):

  1. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix Edit) – 4:17
  2. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix Long Version) – 5:55
  3. "Obstacle 1" (Radio Edit) – 3:36

7" vinyl (OLE594-7):

  1. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix Edit) – 4:17
  2. "Obstacle 1" (Live Black Session) – 4:18

DVD (OLE594-9):

  1. "Obstacle 1" (video) – 3:47
  2. "Specialist" (Live Black Session) (audio) – 6:34
  3. "Leif Erikson" (Live Black Session) (audio) – 3:55

Chart performance[edit]

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[6] 81
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 72
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[8] 53
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 41

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Matador Records Interpol Music & Video". matadorrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  2. ^ "Interpol: Turn On the Bright Lights". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  3. ^ "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 100-51". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. 2009-08-19.
  4. ^ "Interpol: The Black EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  5. ^ "The Killers Debut New Song, Cover Interpol: Watch". Pitchfork. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  6. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
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