Face the Crowd (Beady Eye song)
| "Face the Crowd" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Beady Eye | |
| from the album BE | |
| Released | 7 June 2013 |
| Recorded | 2012–2013 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 4:00 |
| Songwriter | Andy Bell |
"Face the Crowd" is a song by English rock band Beady Eye from their second studio album, BE (2013). Written by Andy Bell, it was released as the album's third track on 7 June 2013.[1][2]
Background and composition
In a track-by-track feature on BE, Liam Gallagher and Gem Archer described "Face the Crowd" simply as "a banger".[3] In a pre-release first-listen review, NME described Gallagher singing "playing to the gallery when you know it's time to face the crowd" over "Stonesy handclaps" and a "Zeppy wig-out" from Archer.[4]
Release and live performances
"Face the Crowd" was issued on the standard edition of BE in June 2013.[5] The song was subsequently included in Beady Eye's 2013 live set, including the band's June UK dates and their surprise appearance at the Glastonbury Festival that month.[6][7]
Reception
Critical response to "Face the Crowd" was mixed. Reviewing BE for RTÉ, Tony Clayton-Lea grouped the track with "I'm Just Saying" and "Soon Come Tomorrow" as among Andy Bell's three standout contributions to the album.[8] The Quietus described it as a "fun enough stringed-up space glam romp", but argued that "there's little in the way of conviction".[9] PopMatters was more negative, writing that the song sounded like the Brian Jonestown Massacre's "That Girl Suicide" in "a flimsy jokeshop disguise".[10]
References
- ^ "BE - Album by Beady Eye". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Face the Crowd - Song by Beady Eye". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye on their new album". ShortList. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye, 'BE' – Track-By-Track First Listen". NME. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "BE - Album by Beady Eye". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye kick off short UK tour in Manchester". NME. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye play two Oasis songs at T In The Park". NME. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Review: Beady Eye - BE". RTÉ. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye - BE". The Quietus. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye: BE". PopMatters. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.