Weak (Skunk Anansie song)

{{Short description|1996 single by Skunk Anansie}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2020}} {{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox song | name = Weak | cover = Skunk_anansie_weak_cd1.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Skunk Anansie | album = Paranoid & Sunburnt | B-side = Tour Hymn | released = {{start date|1996|1|15|df=y}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-01-13.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=13 January 1996|access-date=2 July 2021}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre =  | length = 3:33 | label = One Little Indian | writer = * Skin * Cass Lewis * Martin Kent * Robbie France | producer = * Sylvia Massy * Skunk Anansie | prev_title = Charity | prev_year = 1995 | next_title = All I Want | next_year = 1996 }}

"'''Weak'''" is a song by British rock band Skunk Anansie, released on 15 January 1996, by One Little Indian, as the fourth and final single from their debut album, ''Paranoid & Sunburnt'' (1995). It reached number two in Iceland and became a top-20 hit in Sweden and on the UK Singles Chart.

==Composition== Skin wrote the core of the song based on a past abusive relationship experience. The band helped build this out.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/06/skunk-anansie-how-we-made-weak|title=Skunk Anansie: how we made Weak|first1=Henry|last1=Yates|first2=Interview by Henry|last2=Yates|date=6 September 2021|via=The Guardian}}</ref>

==Recording== The song was produced by the band with Sylvia Massy. The band 'made a kind of “battle zone” in the studio for Skin, with all these banners and placards all over the place. She’d put on war paint.'<ref name="auto"/>

==Critical reception== Roy Wilkinson from ''Select'' wrote, "'Weak' could be their 'Under the Bridge', an understated, casually memorable verse leading into a chorus thas has as much to do with Heart as Metallica."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Roy|last=Wilkinson|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2014/05/albums21.jpg|title=New Albums|work=Select|date=October 1995|page=|access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>

==Music video== The music video for "Weak" was directed by duo Hammer & Tongs. It is filmed primarily (with cutaways to third party views) from the point of view of a collapsed cameraman in what appears to be a restaurant carpark (Route 66). The cameraman collapses behind a car which then drives off to show Skin and the band forming to perform for the offset camera. The recording is interrupted by a little boy who, after being pulled out of the way of the camera abruptly, decides to run off with it and the band gives chase after him.

==Track listings== * '''CD single – CD1''' {{Track listing | total_length = 10:35 | title1 = Weak | length1 = 3:33 | title2 = Selling Jesus | length2 = 3:44 | title3 = Tour Hymn | length3 = 3:18 }}

* '''CD single – CD2''' {{Track listing | total_length = 18:02 | title1 = Weak (Ackee And Saltfish Mix) | length1 = 3:56 | title2 = Charity (Clit Pop Mix) | length2 = 4:34 | title3 = 100 Ways To Be A Good Girl (Anti Matter Mix) | length3 = 4:32 | title4 = Rise Up (Bonhamoon Mix) | length4 = 5:00 }}

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1996) !Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/11R0bwv.gif|title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 September 2016|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur|access-date=6 February 2026}}</ref> | 105 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-02-10.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=6|page=15|date=10 February 1996|access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> | 36 |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2939041?iabr=on#page/n35/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (6.4. – 12.4. '96)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=60|date=3 April 1996|access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> | 2 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|35|year=1996|week=17|rowheader=true|access-date=30 October 2020}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|31|artist=Skunk Anansie|song=Weak|rowheader=true|access-date=30 October 2020}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|21|date=19960127|rowheader=true|access-date=30 October 2020}} |- {{single chart|Sweden|12|artist=Skunk Anansie|song=Weak|rowheader=true|access-date=30 October 2020}} |- {{single chart|UK|20|date=19960127|rowheader=true|access-date=30 October 2020}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1996) !Position |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1996|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=25|date=2 January 1997|access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> | 45 |- !scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1996&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1996|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> | 64 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Skunk Anansie|title=Weak|award=Silver|relyear=1996|certyear=2020|id=14719-1319-1|access-date=30 October 2020}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Later and cover versions== Skin performs a slower, more ballad-like version at many of her solo gigs.

The song was covered by Rod Stewart on his 1998 album, ''When We Were the New Boys''.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weak (Skunk Anansie Song)}} Category:1995 singles Category:1995 songs Category:One Little Independent Records singles Category:Skunk Anansie songs Category:Songs written by Skin (musician)