This Picture (song)

"This Picture"
Single by Placebo
from the album Sleeping with Ghosts
Released	16 June 2003
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	3.34
Label	Virgin Records
Writer(s)	Steve Hewitt, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal
Producer(s)	Jim Abbiss
Placebo singles chronology
"The Bitter End" (2003) "This Picture" (2003) "Special Needs" (2003)

"This Picture" is a single by British alternative rock band Placebo, from their fourth studio album, Sleeping with Ghosts, released on 16 June 2003. It was the second single off of the album.

"This Picture" was remixed by Junior Sanchez for the bonus remix CD of Once More with Feeling.

Lyrics

It tells the story of a relationship involving sadomasochism and an abusive female in a position of dominance. In the lyrics, the phrase "ashtray girl" is meant to refer to a woman who uses her partner as an "emotional ashtray"; "cigarette burns on my chest" makes reference to a supposed particular fetish of James Dean. As singer/lyricist Brian Molko commented, prior to its performance at a concert,

There's an old story that somebody told me once about James Dean. For those of you who don't know this yet, James Dean was gay. Yes, I'm sorry, it's true. He had a particular fetish where he liked to have cigarettes stubbed out on his chest. That's kind of an image that's always stayed with me, and part of the inspiration for this song.

Music video

The music video features the Italian actress Asia Argento.

Track listings

CD

Australian CD version

7"

DVD

• "This Picture" (video)
• Interview footage
• "This Picture" (acoustic version recorded by RTL2 France)
• "Jackie" - audio track

References