Obsessions is a single by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Appearing on her first studio album, The Family Jewels, it is the 6th track on the album, and was released as the 1st single.
The song was written by Marina alone, and produced by Liam Howe.
Background[]
On approximately January 17, 2008, a demo titled "We've Got Obsessions" was made available on Marina's MySpace page. Although its original page was not archived, a review of her show[1] and comments under her profile mentioned this version of the track in 2008.[2][3][4]
On December 15, 2008, Neon Gold posted Obsessions to their blog, explaining delays had pushed back the release.[5]
Meaning[]
Diamandis talked about the meaning of Obsessions, in her track-by-track interview for the album, stating:
❝ Sonically, it's very bare and exposed. It was my first single. [..] It's about a relationship, but as with other songs, it's about two or three different stories and things. [..] Everyone does have obsessions. That's why I think people would relate to this song very early on. ❞
She also added:[citation needed]
❝ Because I am not over-sensitive I don’t write and gush about love, as a lot of songwriters do, but this one does touch on it, about seeing someone for what they are. ❞
When asked specifically regarding the cracker lyrics, she explained:[6]
❝ Well that's just real life, when I was going mental one day, I think I was 20 when I think I first went insane. When I went shopping, and I'd reach for the first crackers, and I'd feel like there was something wrong with the first packet, so then I'd touch the second one and there would be something wrong with that, so I would go to the third and fourth, and I'd put the fourth in my bag, and then I'd have to put it back cause I thought the third was the one. So basically, it's just a mental illness. ❞
Trivia[]
- In the track-by-track interview for the album, Marina called The Outsider the "brother or sister of Obsessions."
- The song shares a similar melody to an earlier 2006 track, China's Dolls.
- The official single cover was made by Mogollon, and is the only artwork from the era to be designed by him.
- For unknown reasons, Marina uses a fan-made cover in reference to Obsessions.[7] This is likely due to the official artwork not matching the other singles'.
- She first used the fan-made cover on the ten year anniversary of The Family Jewels,[8] and since 2019 it has been featured on the "past eras" category on her website.[9]
Artwork[]
 Credits
Photographer
N/A
Designer
Mogollon
|
Media |
Videos[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Obsessions | |
| Premiere | 12 Dec 2008 | |
| Length | 3:30 | |
| Filmed | Nov 2008 | |
| Director | Tim Brown | |
Behind the Scenes
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album/Single [Stems] [Inst.]
|
Obsessions • The Family Jewels | Single: 14 Feb 2009 | 3:38 |
| Remixes | ||||
| ▶ | Ocelot Remix | The Family Jewels (Deluxe) | 14 Feb 2010 | 6:26 |
| Acoustic/Live | ||||
| Acoustic | 3:01 | |||
| Live 1 | ITunes Live: London Festival '09 | 01 Jun 2009 | 3:15 | |
| Live 2 | ITunes Live: London Festival '10 | 26 Jul 2010 | 3:37 | |
| Demos | ||||
| Demo ("We've Got Obsessions") | MySpace | ~17 Jan 2008 | 3:17 | |
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Sunday, wake up, give me a cigarette
Last night's love affair is looking vulnerable in my bed
Silk sheet, blue dawn
Colgate, tongue warm
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Won't you quit your crying?
I can't sleep
One minute I'm a little sweetheart
And next minute you are an absolute creep
[Chorus 1]
We've got obsessions
I wanna wipe out all the sad ideas that come to me when I am holding you
We've got obsessions
All you ever think about are sick ideas involving me, involving you
[Verse 2]
Supermarket, oh, what packet of crackers to pick?
They're all the same
One brand, one name
But really they're not
Look, look, just choose something quick
People are staring
Time to go quick and
Skin is on fire, just choose something, something, something
Pressure overwhelming
Next minute, I am turning
Out of the door, facing
One week without food
A day, a day, when things, things are pretty bad
But don't let it make you feel sad
The crackers were probably bad luck anyway
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Can't let your cold heart be free
When you act like you've got an OCD
[Chorus 2]
We've got obsessions
I want to erase every nasty thought that bugs me every day of every week
We've got obsessions
You never told me what it was that made you strong and what it was that made you weak
[Bridge]
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
[Chorus 2]
We've got obsessions
I wanna erase every nasty thought that bugs me every day of every week
We've got obsessions
You never told me what it was that made you strong and what it was that made you weak
[Outro]
(We've got obsessions)
That made you weak, made you weak
Made you weak (We've got obsessions)
Made you weak, made you weak, made you
Sunday, wake up, give me a cigarette
Last night's love affair is looking vulnerable again
[Intro]
Sunday, wake up, give me a cigarette
Last night's love affair is looking vulnerable in my bed
Silk sheet, blue dawn
Colgate, tongue warm
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Won't you quit your crying?
I can't sleep
One minute I'm a little sweetheart
And next minute you are an absolute creep
[Chorus 1]
We've got obsessions
I wanna wipe out all the sad ideas that come to me when I am holding you
We've got obsessions
All you ever think about are sick ideas involving me, involving you
[Verse 2]
Supermarket, oh, what packet of crackers to pick?
They're all the same
One brand, one name
But really they're not
Look, look, just choose something quick
People are staring
Time to go quick and
Cheeks are on fire, just choose something, something, something
Pressure overwhelming
Next minute, I am turning
Out of the door, facing
One week without food
A day, a day, when things, things are pretty bad
Don't let it make you feel sad
The crackers were probably bad luck anyway
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Can't let your cold heart be free
When you act like you've got an OCD
[Chorus 2]
We've got obsessions
I wanna erase every nasty thought that bugs me every day of every week
We've got obsessions
You never told me what it is that makes us strong and what it is that makes you weak
[Bridge]
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
[Chorus 2]
We've got obsessions
I wanna erase every nasty thought that bugs me every day of every week
We've got obsessions
You never told me what it was that made you strong and what it was that made you weak
[Outro]
(We've got obsessions)
Makes you weak, makes you weak
Make you weak (We've got obsessions)
Make you weak, make you weak, make you
Sunday, wake up, give me a cigarette
Last night's love affair is looking vulnerable again
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Piano, vocals - Marina Diamandis
- Philicorda, mellotron, synths, bass - Liam Howe
- Additional piano, drums, harpsichord, mandolin - Alex MacKenzie
Technical[]
- Writer - Marina Diamandis
- Producer - Liam Howe for This Much Talent
- Engineer, mixer, programmer - Liam Howe
- Master - Guy Davie at Electric Mastering, London
- Publisher - Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd
- Recorded, mixed at - The Ivory Tower and Konk, London
Registration[]
Obsessions was once registered on ASCAP/BMI[10] and twice on GEMA.[11] The re-registration on GEMA lists Marina's own publishing company, Primadonna Girl Limited. This was likely done in order to have legal ownership over her songs.
References[]
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200706001627/http://www.invisibledragon.co.uk/notquiteareview.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20080706222006/myspace.com/marinaandthediamonds (Flashing lights warning)
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150331204714/http://www.last.fm/group/Marina+&+the+diamonds/forum/124764/_/539836/1
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20091009214703/http://marinaandthediamonds.net/discog/songs.shtml
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110101130432/http://neongoldrecords.blogspot.com/2008/12/gold002-marina-diamonds.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/FeR9MqCmVQQ?t=1970
- ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/candy-rex2/art/Onsessions-by-Marina-and-The-Diamonds-755386456
- ↑ https://twitter.com/marinadiamandis/status/1228761790944665600?lang=en
- ↑ https://www.marinaofficial.co.uk/thefamilyjewels
- ↑ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#
ISWC: T9021497427
Work ID: 890590389 - ↑ https://online.gema.de/werke/search.faces?lang=en
GEMA work no.: 10728212-001
GEMA work no.: 10728212-003
