Protection (Massive Attack song)

"Protection" is a collaboration between English trip hop collective Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn from English duo Everything but the Girl. The song appears on Massive Attack's second studio album, Protection (1994). Released as a single on 9 January 1995 by Wild Bunch and Circa, "Protection" reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, staying on the chart for four weeks, and also peaked at number 27 in New Zealand. Michel Gondry directed the accompanying music video. The song was also included on Everything but the Girl's compilation The Best of and Like the Deserts Miss the Rain.

The song contains samples taken from "The Payback" by James Brown, namely the hi-hat/bass figure that drives the beat and the recurrent wah-wah guitar chord.

Composition
Massive Attack had been looking to move away from the "Motown reggae" of their first album. Thorn received a backing track on cassette in the latter half of 1993—without title, melody or lyrics or "any indication as to where those things might go". Taken aback by the comparatively "slow and empty" sound, Thorn recognised that "a whole new thing" was happening.

Initially unsure where to begin, Thorn lived with the track, allowing it to "seep into [her] brain", before putting down the words in a single sitting. She recounted the story of a girl told by friends a few nights earlier and reflected on her protective feelings towards Everything but the Girl band mate Ben Watt following a serious illness.

Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard praised the song as "gorgeous". Linda Ryan from the Gavin Report wrote, "Produced by Soul II Soul's Nellee Hooper (who also did Björk's album, Debut), "Protection" is a slow groove to paradise. I mean, this one is smooooth! Everything but the Girl's Tracey Thorn handles the vocals on this one, and she really shines." Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian felt that the "normally limpid" singer "shows torchy sensuality" on the song. Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel viewed it as "supple", naming it the album's "highlight". In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton complimented the "velvet tones" of Thorn, stating that "the result is an instant Top 20 smash, just one place short of the peak originally reached by their groundbreaking debut hit "Unfinished Sympathy"." David Stubbs from Melody Maker felt "Protection" "sets the tone that they sustain throughout this eclectic selection, with its stately, undulating sequencers and its wits-end plea for compassion and assistance. And though you want to live yourself/Could you forgive yourself/If you left her as you found her...."

James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described the song as "an attractive gentle atmospheric R&B swayer". James Lavelle for NME wrote, "You have to forget the boom-box busting beats of the past and enter a more dreamy, minimalist state, complete with analogue synth, piano lead and a constant, slamming beat. A welcome and brave return.!" Another NME editor, Ted Kessler, praised "her rich voice", while Andy Richardson named it "Definitely Nearly Single of the Week", writing, "There's a storm brewing. Rain, a bit of thunder and all that stuff. Tracey Thorn breaks in and the sun starts shining. Mr Eno takes over, sprinkles angel dust and the skies clear. We pack our bags, remove some of our clothes and meander to a green-grassed place where we swoon and commune all day. Honest, "Protection" is music to move you, music to soothe you; a enchanting dive into tranguil waters. It's pure, unadulterated dance; blissed, heavenly feel-good stuff that will make you smile at people in the street." Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt the singer is "a cool, elegantly melancholy presence". Barry Walters for Spin constated, "The eight pained minutes of the title track are alone worth the price of the CD, despite suggesting that an Everything but the Girl remix album might have been the way to go."

Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by French film director, screenwriter, and producer Michel Gondry.

Track listings

 * UK CD1 and cassette single; Australian CD single
 * 1) "Protection" (7-inch edit)
 * 2) "Protection" (the Eno mix)
 * 3) "Protection" (Radiation for the Nation mix)
 * 4) "Protection" (J Sw!ft mix)


 * UK CD2
 * 1) "Protection" (album version)
 * 2) "Protection" (Underdog's Angel Dust mix)
 * 3) "Three" (Dom T's House of Fortune mix)


 * UK 12-inch single
 * A1. "Protection" (Underdog's Angel Dust mix)
 * A2. "Protection" (Radiation for the Nation mix)
 * B1. "Protection" (the Eno mix)
 * B2. "Protection" (J Sw!ft mix)
 * B3. "Protection" (album version)


 * European CD single
 * 1) "Protection" (7-inch edit)
 * 2) "Protection" (the Eno mix)


 * US CD single
 * 1) "Protection" (LP version) – 7:51
 * 2) "Protection" (single edit) – 4:53
 * 3) "Protection" (the Eno mix) – 9:10
 * 4) "Protection" (J Sw!ft mix) – 7:12
 * 5) "Three" (Dom T's House of Fortune mix) – 7:16


 * US cassette single
 * A1. "Protection" (single edit) – 4:53
 * A2. "Protection" (the Eno mix) – 9:10
 * B1. "Three" (Dom T's House of Fortune mix) – 7:16
 * B2. "Protection" (J Sw!ft mix) – 7:12