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"Obstacle 1"
Single by Interpol
from the album Turn on the Bright Lights
B-side	"Obstacle 2" (Live) "PDA" (Live) "Hands Away" (Live) "Obstacle 1" (Live) Arthur Baker Remix
Released	November 11, 2002
Recorded	November 2001
Studio	Tarquin Studios (Bridgeport, CT)
Genre	Indie rock post-punk revival
Length	4:11 (album version) 3:36 (radio edit)
Label	Matador
Songwriter(s)	Paul Banks Carlos Dengler Sam Fogarino Daniel Kessler
Producer(s)	Gareth Jones Peter Katis
Interpol singles chronology
"PDA" (2002) "Obstacle 1" (2002) "Say Hello to the Angels" / "NYC" (2003)

"Obstacle 1" is a song by American rock band Interpol. It was released as the second single from their debut studio album, Turn on the Bright Lights, on November 11, 2002. It was eventually remixed by producer Arthur Baker and reissued as a single on September 15, 2003. The music video for "Obstacle 1" was directed by Floria Sigismondi. The song peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and was critically acclaimed.

Music video

The promotional video for the song was directed by Floria Sigismondi. It shows several shots of the band playing in an aisle, there are many wires moving up and down. Then, a woman (Sigismondi herself) appears dancing to the song on another aisle. In a shot, a glass of water fall down and breaks, the water begins to move through the aisles and arrives to the aisle where the woman is dancing. The woman falls down and is electrocuted as a result of the electrical wires in the water.

Reception and legacy

In their review of Turn on the Bright Lights, Pitchfork magazine praised the song and compared it to the music of Joy Division. In 2009, Pitchfork named the song the 64th best song of the 2000s.

The song was featured on Interpol's 2003 EP, The Black EP.

"Obstacle 1" is featured as a playable track on Guitar Hero World Tour. Singer Charlotte Martin has a rendition of "Obstacle 1" on her album, Reproductions. The song was also used to highlight Adam Sandler for Best Comedic Performance at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards for his work in Mr. Deeds.

Track listing

2002 single

CD (OLE570-2):

1. "Obstacle 1" – 4:11
2. "PDA" (Live KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic Session) – 4:56
3. "Hands Away" (Live Peel Session) – 3:10

7" vinyl (OLE570-7):

1. "Obstacle 1" – 4:11
2. "Obstacle 2" (Live Peel Session) – 3:50

2003 single

Remix CD (OLE594-2):

1. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix Edit) – 4:17
2. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix Long Version) – 5:55
3. "Obstacle 1" (Radio Edit) – 3:36

7" vinyl (OLE594-7):

1. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix Edit) – 4:17
2. "Obstacle 1" (Live Black Session) – 4:18

DVD (OLE594-9):

1. "Obstacle 1" (video) – 3:47
2. "Specialist" (Live Black Session) (audio) – 6:34
3. "Leif Erikson" (Live Black Session) (audio) – 3:55

Chart performance

References

1. "Matador Records Interpol Music & Video". matadorrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
2. "Interpol: Turn On the Bright Lights". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
3. "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 100-51". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. 2009-08-19.
4. "Interpol: The Black EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
5. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.

• 2002 singles
• Interpol (band) songs
• Song recordings produced by Gareth Jones
• Music videos directed by Floria Sigismondi
• Matador Records singles
• Songs about suicide
• 2002 songs
• Songs written by Carlos Dengler
• Songs written by Paul Banks (American musician)
• Songs written by Sam Fogarino
• Songs written by Daniel Kessler (guitarist)