Living in a Box (song)

"Living in a Box" is a song by the British band of the same name, released on 23 March 1987 as their first single from their self-titled debut album. It was the group's biggest hit single along with "Room in Your Heart" (1989), reaching No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. "Living in a Box" became the group's only top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later covered by Bobby Womack; his version reached No. 70 in the UK.^[3]

"Living in a Box"
Single by Living in a Box
from the album Living in a Box
B-side	"Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix)
Released	23 March 1987
Genre	Sophisti-pop[1] soul[2]
Length	3:02
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Marcus Vere Steve Piggot Graham Howarth
Producer(s)	Richard James Burgess Tom Lord-Alge
Living in a Box singles chronology
"Living in a Box" (1987) "Scales of Justice" (1987)
Music video
"Living in a Box" on YouTube

Background

The song's title came from lead singer of Living in a box Jon Bennett who lived in a small council flat in Sheffield prompting him to remark "I feel like I'm living in a cardboard box!", referring to the sense of feeling enclosed. The video featured British DJ Tony Blackburn holding and moving the mouth of a cardboard cutout of himself over his face.

Track listings

Non-US 7-inch single[4][5] A. "Living in a Box" – 3:02 B. "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 3:10 Non-US 12-inch single[6][7] A. "Living in a Box" (dance mix) – 6:10 AA. "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 5:18 UK 12-inch single (The Bootleg mix)[8] A1. "Living in a Box" (The Bootleg mix) – 6:03 B1. "So the Story Goes" – 3:50 B2. "The Liam McCoy" – 3:01

UK CD single[9] "Living in a Box" (dance mix) – 6:10 "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 5:18 "Superheroes" – 3:57 US and Canadian 7-inch single[10][11] A. "Living in a Box" (single version) – 3:02 AA. "Living in a Box" (edited dance mix) – 3:50 US 12-inch single[12] A1. "Living in a Box" (dance mix) – 6:10 B1. "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 5:18 B2. "Living in a Box" (edited dance mix) – 3:50

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Living in a Box" Chart (1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 49 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 20 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 18 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[17] 7 France (SNEP)[18] 18 Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[19] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 31 Norway (VG-lista)[23] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 17 US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[28] 16 US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[29] 6 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[30] 74 West Germany (GfK)[31] 4

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Living in a Box" Chart (1987) Position Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[32] 17 Norway Spring Period (VG-lista)[33] 15 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] 12 UK Singles (Gallup)[35] 54 West Germany (Media Control)[36] 31