"State of the Nation"
German cover of "State of the Nation".
Single by Industry
from the album Stranger to Stranger
B-side"Communication"
Released1984
Recorded1983
GenreNew wave
Length
  • 3:27 (single version)
  • 4:33 (album version)
LabelCapitol Records
Songwriter(s)
  • Jon Carin
  • Mercury Caronia
Producer(s)Rhett Davies

"State of the Nation" is a song by American band Industry taken from their sole studio album Stranger to Stranger. The song peaked at No. 10 in Sweden, No. 78 in Australia and at No. 81 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1]

Music video

The official music video was filmed on a retired aircraft carrier, the USS Intrepid, for two nights at the cost of $37,000.[2] To create the appearance of an ominous stage set, the production installed blue and white lights, red emergency flares and billows of smoke on the Intrepid.[2] Retired and active U.S. Navy personnel, who managed the Intrepid, also participated in the shoot. Half Hollow Hills East High School students were also brought in to act as naval personnel. During the shoot, the students wore their own uniforms. The production company later gave a $1,000 contribution to the school.[2]

In the video, the band performs the song on an naval ship at night while being surrounded by uniformed naval personnel and a military/naval band, all of whom dance to the song. Parked aircraft are also evident in the video. The lead singer, Jon Carin, has a rack of keyboard instruments with a synthesizer and a computer (not a Fairlight CMI), Rudy Perrone plays a Steinberger bass guitar, Brian Unger plays a Fender Stratocaster and Mercury Caronia plays an acoustic drum kit with Simmons hexapads.[3]

An alternate version, not set on a ship, was later filmed and released.[4]

Due to its powerful lyrics, "State of the Nation" is often associated with the military. It is also played on some 4th of July celebrations.

Charts

Chart (1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 78

References

  1. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/artist/industry/chart-history/hot-100
  2. 1 2 3 Kerr, Peter (July 29, 1984). "Music Video's Uncertain Payoff". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ Industry - State of the Nation - MTV classic (80's). YouTube. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021.
  4. ↑ State of the Nation- Industry. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 148. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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