Munich (song)

"Munich" is a song by British post-punk revival band Editors and is featured on their 2005 debut album, The Back Room. It was originally released on 18 April 2005 as the second single from the band. It was re-released on 2 January 2006, peaking at number 10 in the UK Singles Chart.^[1] It finished as the 184th best-selling single in the UK, in 2006.

"Munich"
Cover of the original single from 2005
Single by Editors
from the album The Back Room
B-side	"Disappear" "Crawl Down the Wall" "Colours" "Release" "Camera" "French Disko" "Find Yourself a Safe Place"
Released	18 April 2005 (2005-04-18)
Recorded	2005
Genre	Post-punk revival indie rock
Length	3:46
Label	Kitchenware
Songwriter(s)	Edward Lay Russell Leetch Tom Smith Chris Urbanowicz
Producer(s)	Jim Abbiss
Editors singles chronology
"Bullets" (2005) "Munich" (2005) "Blood" (2005)
2006 Reissue
Cover of the reissue single from 2006
Editors single singles chronology
"Bullets" (2005) "Munich" (2006) "All Sparks" (2006)

Composition

"Munich" is composed in the key of G minor with a tempo of 150 beats per minute.^[2] The song is characterised by its drum groove reminiscent of "Evil" by Interpol and "marching" guitars, featuring tremolo-picked leads. ^[3]

In popular culture

It is featured on the soundtrack to the video games Saints Row, FIFA Street 2 and Major League Baseball 2K7. The song is played when the guests are being introduced on the English television programme A Question of Sport. It also appeared on the third season finale of Cold Case and in various episodes of the BBC drama Waterloo Road. It is featured in the 2008 film One Missed Call. "Munich" alone came as a free pack-in song on every Zune player bought.

Track listings

All songs written and composed by Chris Urbanowicz, Edward Lay, Russell Leetch and Tom Smith, except where noted.

Original release

7" vinyl

• UK: Kitchenware SKX78 (limited to 3000 copies)

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Munich"

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Disappear"

CD

• UK: Kitchenware SKCD78 (limited to 3000 copies)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Munich"	3:46
2.	"Crawl Down the Wall"	3:34
3.	"Colours"	3:50

• UK: Kitchenware SKCD78-2

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Munich"	3:47
2.	"Release"	5:43

Re-release

7" vinyl

• UK: Kitchenware SKX83

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Munich"

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Camera" (original demo)

CD

• UK: Kitchenware SKCD83

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Munich"
2.	"French Disko" (Stereolab cover, written by Stereolab)

• UK: Kitchenware SKCD832

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Munich"	3:44
2.	"Find Yourself a Safe Place"	2:54
3.	"Munich" (Cicada remix)	7:48
4.	"Munich" (video)

Personnel

• Russell Leetch – bass
• Ed Lay – drums
• Tom Smith – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Chris Urbanowicz – lead guitar

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[4] 22 Chart (2006) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[1] 42 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[5] 97 UK Singles (OCC)[1] 10

Year-end charts Chart (2006) Position UK Singles (OCC)[6] 184

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

• "Munich" was covered by Corinne Bailey Rae for Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 1 in 2006 and featured on Radio 1's Live Lounge.
• A version by R.E.M., also for BBC Radio 1, was released on Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 3 in 2008.

References

1. "The Official Charts Company - Editors - Munich 2006". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
2. Editors "Munich" Sheet Music. musicnotes.com
3. Editors - The Back Room Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 9 February 2024
4. "The Official Charts Company - Editors - Munich". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
5. "dutchcharts.nl - Editors - Munich" (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 November 2009.
6. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2006" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
7. "British single certifications – Editors – Munich". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 February 2021.