Steam (Peter Gabriel song)

"Steam"
"Steam"
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album Us
Released	4 January 1993
Recorded	1990
Genre	Funk rock
Length	6:03 (album version); 5:19 (video edit); 4:45 (radio edit);
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)	Daniel Lanois; Peter Gabriel;
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
Music video
	"Steam" on YouTube

"Steam" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released in January 1993 by Geffen Records as the second single from his sixth album, Us (1992). Gabriel, who wrote the song and produced it with Daniel Lanois, has said that the song is about a relationship in which the woman is sophisticated, bright, cultured, and knows everything about anything while the man knows nothing about anything; however, he does know about the woman, and she does not know much about herself.^[3]^[4]

"Steam" reached number ten on the UK Singles Chart, number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In Canada the single became a number-one hit, topping the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart on the week of 27 February 1993, replacing Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" after a 10-week run. "Steam" also charted within the top 10 in Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand and Portugal.

An alternative version of this song called "Quiet Steam" was a B-side on the "Digging in the Dirt" single. It is a lo-fi take on the version that appeared on Us.^[5] On Secret World Live, "Steam" is preceded by the "Quiet Steam" version.

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton stated, that the correspondingly ingenious video for "Steam" "will propel this into the Top 10."^[6] Alec Foege from Spin felt that the song, "with its pressure-cooked chorus (Give me steam / And how you feel can make you real) and greasy organ riff, practically parodies Prince's 'Cream'."^[7] Mike Joyce from The Washington Post viewed it as "such sure-fire Top 40 ammo" and "a likable (if shamelessly obvious) sequel" to Gabriel's 1986 hit 'Sledgehammer'.^[8]

Music video

The music video for "Steam" was directed by Stephen R. Johnson, who also directed the videos for Gabriel's earlier hits "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time". The director said he wanted to cram the video with as many "things" as possible.^[9] The video features digital imagery and numerous instances of sexual symbolism.^[10] This video was later shown on the 1994 video Computer Animation Festival Vol. 2.0.^[11]

Awards and nominations


Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1993	MTV Video Music Award	Best Male Video	Nominated
		Best Visual Effects	Won
		Best Editing	Won
1994	Grammy Award	Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance	Nominated
1994	Grammy Award	Best Music Video	Won

Track listing

All songs written by Peter Gabriel.^[12]

"Steam" (LP version) – 6:02
"Games Without Frontiers" (Massive / DB mix) – 5:19
"Steam" (Oh, Oh, Let Off Steam mix 12") – 6:44
"Steam" (Oh, Oh, Let Off Steam mix dub) – 5:44

Personnel

Producers

Peter Gabriel
Daniel Lanois
Massive Attack / David Bottrill (remix and extra production on "Games without Frontiers")
Hank Shocklee and The Bomb Squad (remix on "Oh, Oh, Let Off Steam" versions)

Musicians

Peter Gabriel: vocals, keyboards, percussion, horn arrangement
Manu Katché: electronic drums
Tony Levin: bass guitar
David Rhodes: guitar
Daniel Lanois: horn arrangement
David Bottrill: programming
Richard Blair: programming
The Babacar Faye Drummers: Sabar drums
Leo Nocentelli: guitar (Epiphone)
Tim Green: tenor saxophone
Reggie Houston: baritone saxophone
Wayne Jackson: trumpet
Renard Poche: trombone

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[13]	29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[14]	25
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[15]	1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[16]	31
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[17]	23
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[18]	4
Germany (GfK)^[19]	48
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[20]	5
Ireland (IRMA)^[21]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[22]	16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[23]	27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[24]	7
Portugal (AFP)^[25]	8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[26]	28
UK Singles (OCC)^[27]	10
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[28]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[29]	32
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[30]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[31]	2
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[32]	13

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[33]	21
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[34]	40
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[35]	35

References

^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 26 December 1992. p. 23. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^ Randall, Mac (10 July 2002). "Gabriel, Beck and Miller Struggle With Gravity". The New York Observer. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
^ All About us video compilation, Peter Gabriel, 1993 (VHS format only)
^ All about... us Archived 16 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine header Steam
^ Scarfe, Graeme (2021). Peter Gabriel: Every Album, Every Song. United Kingdom: SonicBond. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-78952-138-2.
^ Masterton, James (10 January 1993). "Week Ending January 16th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
^ Foege, Alec (October 1992). "Spins". Spin. p. 110. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
^ Joyce, Mike (27 September 1992). "Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters & Sinead: Ambitious Angst". The Washington Post. p. G03.
^ Peter Gabriel, "Steam". Pop-Up Video. VH1.
^ Easlea, Daryl (2014). Without Frontiers: The Life and Music of Peter Gabriel. London, UK: Omnibus Press. pp. 291–292. ISBN 978-1-4683-0964-5.
^ "Computer Animation Festival Vol. 2.0". YouTube. 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
^ McDonald, Steven. "Steam – Peter Gabriel". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
^ "Peter Gabriel – Steam". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Peter Gabriel – Steam" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1789." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1729." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 6. 6 February 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 6. 6 February 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
^ "Peter Gabriel – Steam" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.–18. Mars 1993)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 11 March 1993. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Steam". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Peter Gabriel – Steam" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Peter Gabriel – Steam". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 7. 13 February 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
^ "Peter Gabriel – Steam". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 30 January 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
^ "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
^ "Airplay Top 50 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 41. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

[1] "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 26 December 1992. p. 23. Retrieved 7 October 2022.

[2] Randall, Mac (10 July 2002). "Gabriel, Beck and Miller Struggle With Gravity". The New York Observer. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

[3] All About us video compilation, Peter Gabriel, 1993 (VHS format only)

[4] All about... us Archived 16 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine header Steam

[5] Scarfe, Graeme (2021). Peter Gabriel: Every Album, Every Song. United Kingdom: SonicBond. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-78952-138-2.

[6] Masterton, James (10 January 1993). "Week Ending January 16th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 9 September 2021.

[7] Foege, Alec (October 1992). "Spins". Spin. p. 110. Retrieved 25 January 2023.

[8] Joyce, Mike (27 September 1992). "Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters & Sinead: Ambitious Angst". The Washington Post. p. G03.

[popup-9] Peter Gabriel, "Steam". Pop-Up Video. VH1.

[10] Easlea, Daryl (2014). Without Frontiers: The Life and Music of Peter Gabriel. London, UK: Omnibus Press. pp. 291–292. ISBN 978-1-4683-0964-5.

[11] "Computer Animation Festival Vol. 2.0". YouTube. 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 9 September 2021.

[12] McDonald, Steven. "Steam – Peter Gabriel". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 February 2012.

[sc_Australia_Peter_Gabriel-13] "Peter Gabriel – Steam". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Flanders_Peter_Gabriel-14] "Peter Gabriel – Steam" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-15] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1789." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-16] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1729." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[17] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 6. 6 February 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 6 May 2020.

[18] "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 6. 6 February 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2024.

[sc_Germany_Peter_Gabriel-19] "Peter Gabriel – Steam" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[20] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.–18. Mars 1993)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 11 March 1993. Retrieved 4 June 2019.

[sc_Ireland2_-21] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Steam". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Dutch40_-22] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Dutch100_Peter_Gabriel-23] "Peter Gabriel – Steam" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_New_Zealand_Peter_Gabriel-24] "Peter Gabriel – Steam". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[25] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 7. 13 February 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 6 May 2020.

[sc_Sweden_Peter_Gabriel-26] "Peter Gabriel – Steam". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_UK_-27] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[28] "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 30 January 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 27 April 2024.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Peter_Gabriel-29] "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_Peter_Gabriel-30] "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Peter_Gabriel-31] "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Peter_Gabriel-32] "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[33] "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[34] "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 1 June 2020.

[35] "Airplay Top 50 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 41. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

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v t e Peter Gabriel
Studio albums	Peter Gabriel (Car) Peter Gabriel (Scratch) Peter Gabriel (Melt) Peter Gabriel (Security) So Us Up Scratch My Back New Blood I/O
Live albums	Plays Live Plays Live Highlights Secret World Live Live Blood Back to Front: Live in London Growing Up Live
Singles	"Solsbury Hill" "Modern Love" "D.I.Y." "Games Without Frontiers" "No Self Control" "Biko" "I Don't Remember" "Shock the Monkey" "I Have the Touch" "Wallflower" "Sledgehammer" "In Your Eyes" "Don't Give Up" "Big Time" "Red Rain" "Shaking the Tree" "Digging in the Dirt" "Steam" "Blood of Eden" "Kiss That Frog" "While the Earth Sleeps" "When You're Falling" "The Barry Williams Show" "More Than This" "Growing Up "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" "Darkness" "Down to Earth" "Panopticom" "The Court" "Playing for Time" "I/O" "Four Kinds of Horses" "Road to Joy" "So Much" "Olive Tree" "Love Can Heal" "This Is Home" "And Still" "Live and Let Live"
Songs	"Here Comes the Flood" "On the Air" "Intruder" "Family Snapshot" "The Rhythm of the Heat" "San Jacinto" "That Voice Again" "Mercy Street" "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" "Come Talk to Me" "Secret World" "Sky Blue"
Soundtracks	Birdy Passion OVO Long Walk Home
Compilations	Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats Revisited Hit Rated PG Flotsam and Jetsam
Concert tours	Secret World Tour Back to Front Tour i/o The Tour
Films	Secret World Live Growing Up: Live Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped
Video games	Xplora1: Peter Gabriel's Secret World Eve Myst IV: Revelation
Other	Discography Genesis WOMAD Passion – Sources The Story of OVO Millennium Dome Show Play: The Videos Big Blue Ball And I'll Scratch Yours Real World Records Real World Studios Solid State Logic (SSL)
Peter Gabriel discography