Siouxsie and the Banshees » Tracks
Peek-A-Boo (3:09)
234,464 plays (60,204 listeners)
“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.
Video
Added by vernsace
Peek-a-Boo
Share Video
Related Tracks
-
The Killing Jar
Siouxsie and the Banshees -
Kiss Them For Me
Siouxsie and the Banshees -
Here Comes That Day
Siouxsie -
About to Happen
Siouxsie -
She's in Parties
Bauhaus -
Dark Entries
Bauhaus
Albums featuring this track
-
Peepshow
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $4.88
- eBay Search
-
Twice Upon a Time: The Singles
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $17.97
- eBay Search
-
Best Of (disc 1)
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Peek-A-Boo
Siouxsie and the Banshees Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
toffea wrote:
Genial
-
alanisnadine wrote:
classic!!!
-
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.
-
Cocteaulady wrote:
this is one of those that never gets old.... LOVE me some Siouxsie!
-
muzzybhoy wrote:
golly fucking jeepers give me the creepers
-
Musiclov86 wrote:
Makes me wanna dance!
-
redtreen wrote:
this is so good
-
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.
-
RalphAlpha123 wrote:
Yeah...this is good
-
goinghometime wrote:
AWESOME SONG
-
Daddoman wrote:
Weird and crazy song O_o
-
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!
-
alanisnadine wrote:
awesome song!!!!!!!!!!!
-
whythe60shateus wrote:
weeeeird~ but great
-
Vela_Illuminate wrote:
LooooooooooovvvvveeeeeeeeLOVElove!!!!!
-
weasel111 wrote:
I had to stop working...wow, I LOVE HER!!!
-
shabulia wrote:
I'll never forget Beevis and Butthead making fun of this video. I love the song but that clip was priceless.
-
AnarchystBR wrote:
Good oldie! I love her voice!
-
drrogera wrote:
Jeepers Creepers, I have not heard this song in a long time!
-
frizzell wrote:
wow... oldie but goodie
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Peek-A-Boo
30-second preview
Listeners
-
joyriderlbl
Top Listener
-
NoGlueRequired
Top Listener
-
pixiee90
Top Listener
-
bionicoddity
Top Listener
-
jauatkales
Top Listener
-
PrinzessinAmok
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
LimeyIrish, jkskateut and davepoobond loved Siouxsie and the Banshees – Peek-A-Boo. 3 hours ago
-
swirlgrrlele added Peek-A-Boo to the playlist No chance to buy. 7 hours ago
-
niggs04 added Peek-A-Boo to niggs04’s library. yesterday evening
-
niggs04 added Peek-A-Boo to the playlist pil radio. yesterday evening
-
gonano, zuchini and txkittie loved Siouxsie and the Banshees – Peek-A-Boo. yesterday evening
-
seanineurope added Peek-A-Boo to seanineurope’s library. yesterday afternoon
-
thedeepseagoes added Peek-A-Boo to his Loved Tracks. yesterday morning
-
hsantana added Peek-A-Boo to the playlist My 80's Top 30 (Beta). yesterday morning
-
hsantana added Peek-A-Boo to their Loved Tracks. yesterday morning
-
florian__ added Peek-A-Boo to the playlist Unplayable Tracks. Wednesday afternoon
Related Journals
-
New wave
by hdsander |
1 Oct 2009 | 12 comments
-
We've Lost Control @ Saturday, June 20th, 2009
by kahht |
13 Jul 2009 | Add comment
-
50 questions
by Spooky__Girl |
26 May 2009 | 3 comments
