Siouxsie and the Banshees » Tracks
Peek-A-Boo (3:09)
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Listening now: durazecke
“Peek-a-Boo” is a song written, produced and recorded by English rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees. It was released in 1988 as the first single from the band’s ninth studio album Peepshow.
Melody Maker described it as “a brightly unexpected mixture of black steel and pop disturbance”.
The song’s peculiar sound is due to the recording of the instrumental portion of the song (mostly percussion and an accordion) being backmasked. The song started with a loop in reverse of a brass part that the Banshees previously arranged in 1987 for a cover of John Cale’s “Gun”. The band liked the sound of the song when played backwards, so they began with the percussion track from Gun and added melody, which was recorded by playing it in reverse. Once the instrumental parts were finished, the recording was played back in reverse and Sioux sang her lyrics over it.
“Peek-a-Boo” has become one of Siouxsie & the Banshees’ most recognizable and popular singles and it also was the first time the band entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 53. The song was very popular on alternative rock radio and received heavy play on MTV.
“Peek-a-Boo” became Siouxsie & the Banshees’ fifth top-twenty UK hit, peaking at number sixteen in the UK singles chart. In September 1988, Billboard magazine premiered a new Modern Rock Tracks chart which measures radio airplay on U.S. modern rock stations. “Peek-a-Boo” was the chart’s first number-one song.
Melody Maker described it as “a brightly unexpected mixture of black steel and pop disturbance”.
The song’s peculiar sound is due to the recording of the instrumental portion of the song (mostly percussion and an accordion) being backmasked. The song started with a loop in reverse of a brass part that the Banshees previously arranged in 1987 for a cover of John Cale’s “Gun”. The band liked the sound of the song when played backwards, so they began with the percussion track from Gun and added melody, which was recorded by playing it in reverse. Once the instrumental parts were finished, the recording was played back in reverse and Sioux sang her lyrics over it.
“Peek-a-Boo” has become one of Siouxsie & the Banshees’ most recognizable and popular singles and it also was the first time the band entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 53. The song was very popular on alternative rock radio and received heavy play on MTV.
“Peek-a-Boo” became Siouxsie & the Banshees’ fifth top-twenty UK hit, peaking at number sixteen in the UK singles chart. In September 1988, Billboard magazine premiered a new Modern Rock Tracks chart which measures radio airplay on U.S. modern rock stations. “Peek-a-Boo” was the chart’s first number-one song.
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Peek-a-Boo
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Albums featuring this track
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Peepshow
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
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Twice Upon a Time: The Singles
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
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- Amazon $17.98
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Best Of (disc 1)
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
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- Amazon Search
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Peek-A-Boo
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
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Shouts
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toffea wrote:
Genial
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alanisnadine wrote:
classic!!!
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ribaldry wrote:
@ Shabulia: I was gonna comment about that too. Every time that I hear this song, I think of Beavis flipping out and shrieking : Peeeeek-a-boooo! Oddly, it doesn't ruin the effect of the song for me at all.
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Cocteaulady wrote:
this is one of those that never gets old.... LOVE me some Siouxsie!
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muzzybhoy wrote:
golly fucking jeepers give me the creepers
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Musiclov86 wrote:
Makes me wanna dance!
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redtreen wrote:
this is so good
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brooklynboy99 wrote:
During the dance craze of the 80's, I had a girlfriend who LOVED to dance to this song.....she was so gorgeous and a talented dancer to boot. Too bad she went back to her husband after the nose candy ran out.
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RalphAlpha123 wrote:
Yeah...this is good
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goinghometime wrote:
AWESOME SONG
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Daddoman wrote:
Weird and crazy song O_o
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PumpkinMae wrote:
Love this silly song....Siouxsie Rocks! Never forget seeing her in 1992...black and white spirally sets and Siouxsie jumping around....so cute and rockingly amazing!
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alanisnadine wrote:
awesome song!!!!!!!!!!!
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whythe60shateus wrote:
weeeeird~ but great
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Vela_Illuminate wrote:
LooooooooooovvvvveeeeeeeeLOVElove!!!!!
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weasel111 wrote:
I had to stop working...wow, I LOVE HER!!!
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shabulia wrote:
I'll never forget Beevis and Butthead making fun of this video. I love the song but that clip was priceless.
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AnarchystBR wrote:
Good oldie! I love her voice!
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drrogera wrote:
Jeepers Creepers, I have not heard this song in a long time!
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frizzell wrote:
wow... oldie but goodie
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Peek-A-Boo
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Recent Activity
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chloooeeee added Peek-A-Boo to chloooeeee’s library. 4 hours ago
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fantastische and mgpixlab loved Siouxsie and the Banshees – Peek-A-Boo. yesterday afternoon
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Evil_dildo, darryl_zero, orange261 and 18 other people loved Siouxsie and the Banshees – Peek-A-Boo. yesterday morning
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dreamsister1 added Peek-A-Boo to dreamsister1’s library. Wednesday morning
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dreamsister1 added Peek-A-Boo to the playlist. Wednesday morning
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sgt-ziggyftzip added Peek-A-Boo to her Loved Tracks. Tuesday evening
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toffea added Peek-A-Boo to the playlist This is a Woman Woman 's World. Tuesday morning
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postelectropunk added Peek-A-Boo to the playlist Anthems. last week
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