The Sky Is Broken
by Moby

Album: Play (1999)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Moby said to Rolling Stone: "There's only three elements in the whole song: really bad drum samples, and old Oberheim Matrix 1000 synthesizer and vocals. It was intentionally very minimal, very austere, very simple."
  • This song figured prominently in the "All Things" episode of The X-Files (Season 7 episode 17). In the episode, written and directed by the series' star Gillian Anderson, Dana Scully questions the decisions she made in her life in pursuit of a career with the FBI. Anderson hand-picked the Moby track because she thought the lyrics fit the episode's theme.
  • To reach as many ears as possible, Moby licensed the album's tracks for use in commercials, movies, and TV shows. Aside from "The Sky Is Broken" (and "My Weakness") showing up on The X-Files, "Porcelain" landed in the Leonardo DiCaprio thriller The Beach and "Bodyrock" soundtracked a Rolling Rock beer ad, among other placements.
  • The drum samples come from Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Long As I Can See The Light," the B-side to the 1970 single "Lookin' Out My Back Door."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."