# Wide Open Space > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wide_Open_Space > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wide_Open_Space.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_Open_Space > Source revision: 1346096385 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the Australian music festival, see [Wide Open Space (festival)](/source/Wide_Open_Space_(festival)). Not to be confused with [Wide Open Spaces (song)](/source/Wide_Open_Spaces_(song)). "**Wide Open Space**" is a song by [Chester](/source/Chester) rock band [Mansun](/source/Mansun), released as a single on 25 November 1996. The song was the lead track of *Four EP*. The single's success led to alternative versions appearing on four of the next five Mansun singles. These versions were one live, one [acoustic](/source/Acoustic_music), and two [remixes](/source/Remix), the first and most popular by [Perfecto](/source/Perfecto_Records), and a [NRG](/source/Hi-NRG) version by The Trouser Enthusiasts. A completely different version credited to longtime engineer Mike Hunter was included as a hidden bonus track on their compilation *[Kleptomania](/source/Kleptomania_(album))*. The song also appears on *The Sound of Gran Turismo*, a [soundtrack album](/source/Soundtrack_album) based on the video game *[Gran Turismo](/source/Gran_Turismo_(1997_video_game))*. ## Background Singer Paul Draper said, "I struggled for 6 months to find the lyrics from this song, I eventually got them from absorbing someone talking on TV which gave me the title, then I painted the imagery around that."[1] ## History "Wide Open Space" was not the group's most successful single in terms of sales or UK chart position – reaching number 15 in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart)[2] – but propelled the group's career and is their best-known song. It was also the only single that gained significant exposure in the US, reaching number 25 on the *Billboard* [Modern Rock Tracks](/source/Modern_Rock_Tracks) chart in 1997. [Paul Draper](/source/Paul_Draper_(musician)) later wrote that he was the sole writer and performer of the song. In the liner notes of *[Legacy: Best Of](/source/Legacy:_Best_Of)*, Draper explained having recorded the entire song *sans* the vocals six months before he wrote the lyrics. Two videos were filmed to promote the single. The first, directed by Paul Cunningham, features the band playing in a small dilapidated room while Martino Lazzeri (Joe Williams from [BBC](/source/BBC)'s *[Grange Hill](/source/Grange_Hill)*) walks around the [London](/source/London) areas of [Soho](/source/Soho), [St Paul's Cathedral](/source/St_Paul's_Cathedral) on [Ludgate Hill](/source/Ludgate_Hill), and [Highgate Cemetery](/source/Highgate_Cemetery), alienated and paranoid, amid vampiresque overtones. A second, simpler video was recorded for the US market, directed by [Nigel Dick](/source/Nigel_Dick). "Wide Open Space" became a dance anthem after being [remixed](/source/Remix) by [DJ](/source/Disc_jockey) and [producer](/source/Record_producer) [Paul Oakenfold](/source/Paul_Oakenfold) (under the production alias Perfecto). This remix was included on Oakenfold's compilation *Resident: Two Years of Oakenfold at Cream*, sealing its status as one of the most played songs at major UK nightclub [Cream](/source/Cream_(nightclub)), as well as in [nightclubs](/source/Nightclub) around the world, over the 1997–1999 period.[3] "I thought 'Wide Open Space' was in the running for best single of last year," remarked [Radiohead](/source/Radiohead)'s [Ed O'Brien](/source/Ed_O'Brien) in 1997. "They've got loads of ideas and they don't sound like us at all. They're supposed to be part of that 'New Grave' thing with us and the [Manics](/source/Manic_Street_Preachers), aren't they? Everything that article said was true: we all *did* have long overcoats and dodgy haircuts in [the '80s](/source/1980s_in_music)."[4] ## B-sides "**Vision Impaired**" began life as a demo for Draper's previous group; **Grind**. The [Glam](/source/Glam_rock) infused track was initially called "I Lust You". It was an electronic composition with a heavy synth bass. The lyrics are mostly unchanged, apart from the chorus which emphasises the refrain 'I Lust You'. "**[Skin Up Pin Up](/source/Skin_Up_Pin_Up_/_Flourella)**" was the group's first single for a proper label. It was originally released as a double 'A' side with "[Flourella](/source/Skin_Up_Pin_Up_/_Flourella)". The latter song was rerecorded for the "[She Makes My Nose Bleed](/source/She_Makes_My_Nose_Bleed)" single release. The version of "Skin Up Pin Up" is unchanged. A remixed version was created for the film [Spawn: The Soundtrack](/source/Spawn_(1997_film)). The remix was produced by [808 State](/source/808_State). "**Moronica**" and "**Lemonade Secret Drinker**" appeared on CD2 as acoustic versions, and had previously appeared on the Group's first two EPs (*One EP* and *Two EP*). ## Personnel **Mansun** - [Dominic Chad](/source/Dominic_Chad) – [lead guitar](/source/Lead_guitar), [piano](/source/Piano), [backing vocals](/source/Backing_vocalist), [synthesizer](/source/Synthesizer) - [Stove](/source/Stove_King) – [bass](/source/Bass_guitar) - [Andie Rathbone](/source/Andie_Rathbone) – [drums](/source/Drum_kit) - [Paul Draper](/source/Paul_Draper_(musician)) – [vocals](/source/Singing), [guitars](/source/Guitar), piano, synthesizer, [bass](/source/Bass_guitar), [drums](/source/Drum_kit), [lead guitar](/source/Lead_guitar), [piano](/source/Piano), [backing vocals](/source/Backing_vocalist), [production](/source/Record_producer) **Production** - Mike Hunter – engineer ("Wide Open Space", "Rebel Without A Quilt", "The Gods of Not Very Much") - [Ian Caple](/source/Ian_Caple) – engineer/co producer ("Wide Open Space") - [Mark 'Spike' Stent](/source/Mark_'Spike'_Stent) – mixing ("Wide Open Space") - Nick Griffiths – engineer ("Vision Impaired", "Moronica (Acoustic Version)", "Lemonade Secret Drinker (Acoustic Version)") - Ronnie Stone – engineer ("Skin Up Pin Up") - Richard Lewis – photography - [Pennie Smith](/source/Pennie_Smith) – photography - [Stylorouge London](/source/Stylorouge) – design ## Chart positions Chart (1996/97) Peak position UK Singles Chart[5] 15 Scottish Singles Chart[6] 13 US Billboard Alternative Songs[7] 25 ## References 1. Sk, Edgar (2009). ["Interview with British singer/songwriter Paul Draper (Mansun)"](http://www.mansun.wiki/index.php?title=Interview:Paul_Draper_Youth_Media_2009). *Youth Media*. Retrieved May 19, 2021. 1. Roberts, David (2006). *British Hit Singles & Albums*. 19th ed. London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 348. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 1. Birchmeier, Jason. "*Resident: Two Years of Oakenfold at Cream* review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2006-04-11. 1. Moran]], Caitlin (July 1997). "I'm so glad they're getting more radio play than us.". *[Select](/source/Select_(magazine))*. p. 87. 1. ["UK Chartlog"](http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM). zobbel.de. Retrieved 7 April 2010. 1. ["Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100"](http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19961201/41/). Official Charts Company. 1996-12-01. Retrieved 2016-09-19. 1. "US single positions". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 December 2008. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wide Open Space](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_Open_Space) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_Open_Space?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.