"Birds Fly ", given the reversed title "Whisper to a Scream" in some markets, is a song by the British band The Icicle Works. It was released in 1983 as the first single from the band's 1984 debut eponymous album The Icicle Works. The song was written by Ian McNabb, the band's lead singer, and produced by Hugh Jones.
UK releases
The recording initially was released as a single in Britain in June 1983 as "Birds Fly " on the Situation Two label. This initial release hit #2 on the UK independent charts, and scraped the lower reaches of the overall UK national charts at #89. After The Icicle Works' next UK single "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" hit #15 on the UK charts in late 1983 and early 1984, Beggars Banquet Records re-released "Birds Fly " in March 1984 with a new cover and B-side. This re-release climbed to #52 in the UK.
U.S. release
The group's U.S. label Arista Records refused to release the record unless some changes were made. The track was remixed slightly in order to remove a brief spoken-word overdub on the opening bars of music. Also the song title was reversed, becoming "Whisper to a Scream ". Finally, Arista shortened the band's name to Icicle Works. With changes, the song reached #37 on the U.S. BillboardHot 100 chart and #34 on Cashbox's singles chartin the summer of 1984. The song also reached #18 on the BillboardMainstream Rock chart and #15 on Radio & RecordsAlbum Oriented Rock chart.
Track listings
;1983 release 7" vinyl
"Birds Fly
"Reverie Girl
12" vinyl
"Birds Fly
"Reverie Girl
"Gunboys
;1984 release 7" vinyl
"Birds Fly "
"In the Cauldron of Love"
7" vinyl
"Birds Fly "
"Scarecrow"
12" vinyl
"Birds Fly "
"In the Cauldron of Love"
"Scarecrow"
"Ragweed Campaign"
12" vinyl
"Birds Fly "
"In the Cauldron of Love"
"Birds Fly"
12" vinyl
"Birds Fly"
"Birds Fly "
"In the Cauldron of Love"
"Scarecrow"
"Ragweed Campaign"
Canadian release
The Canadian version of the single used the original UK mix with the spoken word intro, under the revised US title "Whisper to a Scream ". This was the most successful commercial release of the single, reaching #19 on the Canadian charts in the summer of 1984.
Covers and use in media
The bandAcumen Nation covered the song under the title "Whisper to a Scream" on the 1997 new wave cover compilation Newer Wave and again on their single for the song "Unkind".
A cover of the song by Soho was used in the 1996 filmScream.
The song was covered in 2004 by Edmonton, Alberta-based band Social Code on A Year at the Movies.
The popular Canadian teen drama , which is known for naming each episode after a hit 1980s song, named an episode after this song. The episode faced the issue of self-mutilation.
The title was used as the title for an episode of Grey's Anatomy, which also uses song titles for episode titles.
The song was used for the 3:45 extended steadicam sequence which opens the second season of Halt and Catch Fire.
The melody of the song was adapted for use in a series of Budweiser commercials.
The song was used during the end credits of episode 7 of season 2 for the Netflix show Stranger Things.
