This track is the B-side of SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES 7" & 12" single 'Dazzle' that was released on Friday, 25 May 1984 in the UK and stayed in the Top100 Singles chart for a total of 3 weeks peaking at #33 on 9 June 1984.
The Banshees had toured Japan in February 1983 and during 1984, their travelling impressions were still fresh enough for sparkling some new song ideas like the one for 'I Promise'...
SIOUXSIE: "February 1983 was our second trip to the land of the rising sun where everywhere was covered in cherry blossom again. So beautiful! I always seem to come back from Japan laden with gifts and long lasting impressions. This time one of the gifts was a music box attached to a key ring, tiny and now lost, but for this song."
So the idea for 'I Promise' was partially sparkled by that little music box, yet lyrically this song is almost like a lament of abandoned love or like a plangent calling to all the tormented hearts that dwell in the darkness yearning for broken promises to take shape.
And also, it gave Siouxsie one more chance to unveil her long-standing love for everything Japanese: the country, its people, their history, tradition and culture, with some of Siouxsie’s all-time favourite music (like The Kodo Drummers’) and film (like Kaneto Shindô’s 1964 ‘Onibaba’), being amongst them.
SEVERIN: "...'I Promise' is another home demo written [on drum machine and organ] the night before. Siouxsie brought in the music box that I think was a gift from a fan in Japan. Budgie added the drums and the Duracell bunny percussion and I put down the Roxyesque chorus guitar..."
BILLY HOULSTON: "Siouxsie, Steven & Budgie met in (John Foxx's studio) The Garden unaccompanied by Robert Smith, during Easter weekend (21 & 22 April) 1984.
On the first day, prior to the studio session, Steven had recorded the demo at home of the track 'I Promise', to which (once in the studio) he added some more keyboards and guitar. Then Budgie provided a proper drum beat and further percussion, whilst Siouxsie pondered over suitable lyrics to accompany the whole caboodle.
For Siouxsie, the second day, started prior to her arrival at the studio, when she began preparing lyrics for 'I Promise' – the studio day began with the recording of additional keyboards for it and once she had completed the lyrics, the vocals were recorded but the track wasn't finished yet.
So early on the third day (Wednesday, 25th April), they rushed in the studio – for 'I Promise', Budgie added more percussion, Steven finished off the guitars and finally Siouxsie completed the vocals, yet its mixing wasn't finished until 8 o'clock of the following morning."
SEVERIN: "[…] 'I Promise' is another personal favourite that I feel would have made a great A-side."
The Banshees had toured Japan in February 1983 and during 1984, their travelling impressions were still fresh enough for sparkling some new song ideas like the one for 'I Promise'...
SIOUXSIE: "February 1983 was our second trip to the land of the rising sun where everywhere was covered in cherry blossom again. So beautiful! I always seem to come back from Japan laden with gifts and long lasting impressions. This time one of the gifts was a music box attached to a key ring, tiny and now lost, but for this song."
So the idea for 'I Promise' was partially sparkled by that little music box, yet lyrically this song is almost like a lament of abandoned love or like a plangent calling to all the tormented hearts that dwell in the darkness yearning for broken promises to take shape.
And also, it gave Siouxsie one more chance to unveil her long-standing love for everything Japanese: the country, its people, their history, tradition and culture, with some of Siouxsie’s all-time favourite music (like The Kodo Drummers’) and film (like Kaneto Shindô’s 1964 ‘Onibaba’), being amongst them.
SEVERIN: "...'I Promise' is another home demo written [on drum machine and organ] the night before. Siouxsie brought in the music box that I think was a gift from a fan in Japan. Budgie added the drums and the Duracell bunny percussion and I put down the Roxyesque chorus guitar..."
BILLY HOULSTON: "Siouxsie, Steven & Budgie met in (John Foxx's studio) The Garden unaccompanied by Robert Smith, during Easter weekend (21 & 22 April) 1984.
On the first day, prior to the studio session, Steven had recorded the demo at home of the track 'I Promise', to which (once in the studio) he added some more keyboards and guitar. Then Budgie provided a proper drum beat and further percussion, whilst Siouxsie pondered over suitable lyrics to accompany the whole caboodle.
For Siouxsie, the second day, started prior to her arrival at the studio, when she began preparing lyrics for 'I Promise' – the studio day began with the recording of additional keyboards for it and once she had completed the lyrics, the vocals were recorded but the track wasn't finished yet.
So early on the third day (Wednesday, 25th April), they rushed in the studio – for 'I Promise', Budgie added more percussion, Steven finished off the guitars and finally Siouxsie completed the vocals, yet its mixing wasn't finished until 8 o'clock of the following morning."
SEVERIN: "[…] 'I Promise' is another personal favourite that I feel would have made a great A-side."
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Music