Big Time (Peter Gabriel song)

Big Time is a song by Peter Gabriel from the year 1987. It appeared on his album So and became his second Top Ten hit in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (No. 8). Big Time is about a man who is trying by all means to have success. But it is also about his time wisely to use and have fun.

Musical

Big Time is played in two different keys: a ♭ minor in the chorus and a ♭ - Doric in the verses. The song has a speed of 116 bpm. The unique thing about the song is the bass guitar, which was played by bassist Tony Levin and drummer Jerry Marotta on together. While Levin sounds picked on fretless bass on the web, Marotta played on the strings with drumsticks. For this reason, the bass is punchy. Later Levin invented so-called radio finger, where it is small drumsticks that can be attached to the fingers in order to achieve a comparable bass sound on stage. The The Police drummer Stewart Copeland plays drums in this song.

Music Video

Like its predecessor, Sledgehammer Gabriel created to Big Time also a special music video with stop motion clay animation and other film effects. The music video shows how Gabriel leaves his small apartment and a trip to the big city is taking, which also reflects the content and the title of the song.

Others

Curtains is the title of the B-side of Big Time. The song is also included on the B-side to Do not Give Up.

Big Time is on the soundtrack of the documentary Inside Job.