The Love of Richard Nixon

Infobox Single
Name = The Love of Richard Nixon


Artist = Manic Street Preachers
from Album = Lifeblood
Released = October 18, 2004
Format = CD, DVD
Recorded = Wales
Genre = Rock
Length = 3:38
Label = Epic
Producer = Greg Haver and Tom Elmhirst
Chart position =

• #2 (UK)

Reviews =
Last single = "There by the Grace of God"
(2003)
This single = "The Love of Richard Nixon"
(2004)
Next single = "Empty Souls"
(2005) |

"The Love of Richard Nixon" (audio|Manic Street Preachers The Love Of Richard Nixon.ogg|sample) was the first single to be released from the Manic Street Preachers' seventh studio album "Lifeblood". The song is according to the band: 'a soundtrack to disillusion, hatred, love and never giving up'. More specifically, the song is a sympathetic appraisal of former US president Richard Nixon and mentions some of his positive achievements, inevitably overshadowed by the Watergate Scandal. The timing of the single's release, two weeks before George W. Bush's victory at the 2004 US presidential elections, can also be seen as a statement by the band concerning the reputation of the USA's current leadership.

In an interview with Repeat Fanzine, the band also said it represents how they feel in comparison to Radiohead. Nicky in particular commented that they feel like Richard Nixon compared to Radiohead's John F. Kennedy. [ [http://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/interviews/MSP%20with%20Simon%20Price.htm An interview ] ] ""If Radiohead are Kennedy," he smiles, switching to soundbite mode, "then Manic Street Preachers are Nixon: the ugly duckling who had to try 10 times harder than anyone else. Paranoid megalomaniacs."" [ [http://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/interviews/MSP%20with%20Simon%20Price.htm An interview ] ]

It hit #2 in the UK charts. The sound is more electronic than most of their previous hits, indicative of a slight switch in sound on "Lifeblood"; acoording to the band this track contains no guitars.

Track listing

CD1

# "The Love of Richard Nixon" - 3:38
# "Everyone Knows/Nobody Cares" - 4:12

CD2

# "The Love of Richard Nixon" - 3:38
# "Everything Will Be" - 5:08
# "Askew Road" - 2:58
# "The Love of Richard Nixon" (video)

DVD

# "The Love of Richard Nixon" (video)
# "Quarantine (In My Place Of)" - Short Film - 3:50
# "Voodoo Polaroids" - 3:55

References