Teardrop (Massive Attack song)
"Teardrop" is a song by Massive Attack that was released as a single on 27 April 1998. It is the second single from their third album, Mezzanine, and features lead vocals and lyrics from Elizabeth Fraser, the lead singer for the dream pop band Cocteau Twins. The song became another UK hit for the group, peaking at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song, especially the instrumental portions at the beginning and the end, has been used in numerous TV programmes and movies. The bass drum beat, reminiscent of a heartbeat, samples the Les McCann song "Sometimes I Cry". From 2004 to 2012, it was used as the opening theme of the US medical television series House, M.D. It is also featured as incident music in a 2001 episode of Coronation Street when Sarah Platt is chased.
"Teardrop" was first developed from a simple harpsichord riff picked out in the studio in April 1997. Vowles sent the demo to Madonna as he wanted her to record the vocals for the song (the band had previously worked with her on their 1995 reworking of the song "I Want You"). The two other band members Robert Del Naja and Grantley Marshall wanted Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins to record the vocals, feeling her ethereal style suited the mournful melody and feel of the piece. Madonna was very keen to record the vocals, and was disappointed when the two-to-one vote went in Fraser's favour.
...
Wikipedia