"Bigger than Us" is a song by English Indie rock band White Lies from their second studio album, Ritual.Chi, Chi. (2010-11-01) Newsbeat – White Lies reveal new album details. BBC. Retrieved on 2010-12-03. It was released as the lead single on 3 January 2011 in the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number 42.White Lies Announce Sophomore Album, Ritual – First Single: "Bigger Than Us" Available Nov 22nd . Bloginity.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-03. A live version of the track was made available by the band for download.
The single received its first airplay on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 16 November 2010.Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record: White Lies – Bigger Than Us. BBC (2010-11-16). Retrieved on 2010-12-03. On 18 November 2010 the video premiered on the NMEs website.White Lies, 'Bigger Than Us' – Video – In The NME Office – NME.COM – The world's fastest music news service, music videos, interviews, photos and free stuff to win . Nme.Com. Retrieved on 2010-12-03.
The song is featured on the soundtrack of the 2010 video game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, its 2020 remaster of the same name, and F1 2011.
Music video The music video for "Bigger than Us" was shot by French directorial duo Jonas & François. On 18 November 2010 the video premièred on the NMEs website. The video is a homage to Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The video recreates elements of E.T.'s apparent death whilst he is quarantined alongside Elliott. The character of E.T. is played by a large "Bigger than Us" candy bar which contains a young girl. Elliot is watched over by Gertie and Mary whilst what may be Greg and Steve wait outside. There are other intertextual references to the film featured in the video, the basketballs circling the band at 2:56, the bright red light within the bass drum at 3:08 and the images of the woods where the original film sees E.T. return home.
Track listing Digital download "Bigger than Us" – 4:46
7-inch single – Fiction Records 2756828 "Bigger than Us" – 4:46 "Bigger than Us" (Datassette Remix) – 6:38
Charts Chart (2010–11)Peakposition Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard) Polish Radio Airplay (LP3) Scottish Singles Chart (OCC) Swiss Airplay Chart (Hitparade) UK Singles Downloads Chart (OCC) UK Physical Singles Chart (OCC)
Release history Region Date Label Format Belgium 19 November 2010 Polydor Records Digital download Denmark Germany 30 December 2010 Polydor Records United States 22 November 2010 Geffen Records United Kingdom 2 January 2011 Polydor Records
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