Friday, May 23, 1980

Peter Gabriel “Family Snapshot” released

Family Snapshot

Peter Gabriel

Writer(s): Peter Gabriel (see lyrics here)

Released: May 23, 1980 (album cut)

First Charted: --

Peak: 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.)

Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK)

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.45 video, -- streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Peter Gabriel’s third solo studio album, often referred to as Melt because of the cover depicting his melting face, is best remembered for the top 5 UK hit “Games Without Frontiers” and “Biko” about black South African anti-apartheid activist Bantu Stephen Biko. However, the album also featured “Family Snapshot,” an intriguing look at “the story of an assassination told from the perspective of the gunman.” ^SF

Gabriel was inspired by An Assassin’s Diary by Arthur Bremer. In 1972, Bremmer shot (but did not kill) George Wallace, the governor of Alabama and Democratic presidential candidate. Gabriel was fascinated that Bremer did it not for political reasons, but fame. He even timed the shooting to be sure it would make the early news. ^SF As Gabriel said, it “was a really nasty book, but you do get a sense of the person who is writing it.” ^WK

In Gabriel’s song, he explores the gunman’s troubled childhood in which his parents were growing apart and didn’t give him the attention he needed. ^SF The would-be killer narrates “his thoughts, plans and feelings…as the day of the assassination begins.” ^PN He wants to shoot a famous figure to thrust himself in the spotlight.

Tension builds in the song and the listener senses the parade setting of the impending assassination attempt. “Flags waving, crowds cheering. The excitement of it all.” ^PN The song culminates in the moment when the assassin fires the bullet, carrying out his plan.