{{Short description|2003 single by Massive Attack}} {{other uses}} {{Infobox song | name = Special Cases | cover = Massive Attack - Special Cases.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Massive Attack | album = 100th Window | released = {{start date|2003|2|24|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = Sony (London, England)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=100th Window |type=liner notes |publisher=Virgin Records |year=2003 |id=724358123920}}</ref> | genre = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres --> | length = * 5:09 (album version) * 3:46 (radio edit) | label = Virgin | writer = * Sinéad O'Connor * Robert Del Naja * Neil Davidge | producer = * Robert Del Naja * Neil Davidge | chronology = Massive Attack | prev_title = Inertia Creeps | prev_year = 1998 | next_title = Butterfly Caught | next_year = 2003 }} "'''Special Cases'''" is a song by English trip hop group Massive Attack featuring vocals from Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, who also co-wrote the track. It appears on Massive Attack's fourth full-length album, ''100th Window'', and was released as the first single on 24 February 2003.
The single reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, number 19 in Greece, number 22 in Italy, and number 46 in Ireland. "Special Cases" is the group's only song to chart in Canada, where it reached number 25 on the Canadian Singles Chart. Despite being one of the band's higher-charting singles, it did not appear on their 2006 singles compilation, ''Collected''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/collected-mw0000401685|title=Massive Attack – ''Collected''|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> Two separate music videos were made for the song.
==Track listings== In addition to a radio edit of the original song, the single release contains a remix by Canadian electronica artist Akufen, as well as "I Against I", a song performed with Mos Def that appeared on the soundtrack of the 2002 film ''Blade II''. 12-inch vinyl releases contain an additional remix of "Special Cases" by Vladislav Delay, who is credited as "Luomo" for this release. The enhanced CD contains one of the music videos, and the other video is on a rare DVD release of the single.
'''UK and European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Special Cases|year=2003|type=UK & European CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VSCDT1839, 724354699702}}</ref> # "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46 # "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56 # "I Against I" (featuring Mos Def) – 5:40 # "Special Cases" (video version 2) – 5:09
'''UK 12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Special Cases|year=2003|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VST1839, VST1939}}</ref> :A. "Special Cases" (Akufen Remix) – 9:56 :B. "Special Cases" (Luomo's Casing) – 7:56
'''UK DVD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Special Cases|year=2003|type=UK DVD single case|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VSDVD1839, 724349057692}}</ref> # "Special Cases" (video version 1) – 5:09 # "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46 # "Special Cases" (Akufen Remix) – 9:56 # "Special Cases" (Luomo's Casing edit) – 4:43
'''Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Special Cases|year=2003|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=5469972, 724354699726}}</ref> # "Special Cases" (radio edit) – 3:46 # "Special Cases" (Akufen remix) – 9:56 # "I Against I" (featuring Mos Def) – 5:40
==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2003) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/massive-attack/chart-history/cns/|title=Massive Attack Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=4 January 2019}}</ref> |25 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2003/MM-2003-03-15.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=21|issue=12|page=11|date=15 March 2003|access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref> |46 |- !scope="row"|Greece (IFPI)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|title=Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 29/03 – 04/04|publisher=IFPI|language=el|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030414005703/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|archive-date=14 April 2003|access-date=29 June 2020}} ''See'' Best ''column''.</ref> |19 |- {{single chart|Ireland3|46|artist=Massive Attack|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2020}} |- {{single chart|Italy|22|song=Special Cases|artist=Massive Attack|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 April 2018}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|32|date=20030308|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 April 2018}} |- {{single chart|UK|15|date=20030308|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 April 2018}} |- {{single chart|UKdance|2|date=20030308|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 April 2018}} |}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |24 February 2003 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|DVD}} |rowspan="2"|Virgin |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-02-22.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 24 February 2003: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=22 February 2003|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |17 March 2003 |CD |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue682.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 17th March 2003|publisher=ARIA|page=26|date=17 March 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030406140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030407-0000/Issue682.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2003|access-date=14 March 2025}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://inflightdata.com/12.html inflightdata.com - Massive Attack Discography] * [http://massiveattack.ie/wiki/special-cases/ MASSIVEATTACK.IE song info entry on Special Cases] * {{YouTube|OQ31yNp6Nao|Massive Attack - Special Cases}}
{{Massive Attack}} {{Sinéad O'Connor}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2003 singles Category:2003 songs Category:Massive Attack songs Category:Sinéad O'Connor songs Category:Songs written by Neil Davidge Category:Songs written by Robert Del Naja Category:Songs written by Sinéad O'Connor Category:Virgin Records singles