Mulder and Scully (song)
Catatonia's X-Files-inspired breakthrough single.
"Mulder and Scully" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Catatonia, released as a single by Blanco y Negro Records from the band's second album, International Velvet (1998). The song references fictional FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from the TV series The X-Files. It became Catatonia's break-out hit, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Catatonia
- Album
- International Velvet
- B-side
- "No Stone Unturned"; "Mantra for the Lost"
- Released
- 19 January 1998
- Genre
- Britpop
- Label
- Blanco y Negro
- Writer
- Cerys Matthews; Mark Roberts
- Producer
- TommyD, Catatonia
Facts from the source article.
Lyrics and composition
The song's title and refrain reference FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from The X-Files, but the lyrics use the characters as a metaphor for a relationship so strange it could be a case for them. Co-writer Cerys Matthews explained the conceit was about asking Mulder and Scully to figure out love, likening it to two people investigating odd phenomena. Matthews admitted she was not a serious fan of the show, having only watched odd episodes, and said she got the line from the idea of things getting strange for the characters. She later stated she would prefer to go out with Gazza and Chris Evans than meet the X-Files stars, and added that people who bought the record by mistake should be flattered the band wrote a song about the show. In a 2025 BBC Radio Wales interview, David Duchovny said he was aware of the song but had never heard it; after hearing a snippet, he called it catchy but preferred to hear it in person.
Release and acclaim
The song received mixed to positive reviews; many critics praised the musical composition but criticized the heavy reliance on pop culture references. The Sunday Mirror called it hard rockin', while Ben Myers of Melody Maker named it Single of the Week and called it fantastic, noting it was a near-perfect pop song. Music Week gave it five out of five, remarking it was a clever grower of a track that was spooky but spiky. Jerry Rubino of the radio show Left of Center named it one of his favorite Brit Things. Sarah Zupko from PopMatters noted the song had hooks to die for despite silly X-Files references. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic gave a positive review, praising the terrific hook but criticizing self-conscious pop culture references; a subsequent AllMusic review awarded the single two-and-a-half stars out of five. NME called it little more than fodder for nostalgia TV. Cerys Matthews and the band were extremely pleased, calling it a better song than Oasis's "All Around the World". The song later appeared on Catatonia's 2002 greatest hits album and on compilations including Common People: The Britpop Story and 100 Hits of the 90s.
Chart performance
Originally planned for mid-1997, the single was delayed and "I Am the Mob" released instead. "Mulder and Scully" was released on 19 January 1998 and, with heavy BBC Radio 1 promotion, became the band's break-out hit. The label promoted it as spooky but spiky and a clever grower. It debuted on the UK chart on 31 January 1998 and last appeared on 4 April 1998. During its first week, physical sales were slightly fewer than Usher's "You Make Me Wanna..."; Cerys Matthews told Melody Maker the single outsold Oasis for two days. It peaked at number three and spent ten weeks on the chart. On the Irish Singles Chart, it entered on 2 May 1998, peaked at number 17, and spent five weeks. A Japanese EP titled Mulder and Scully EP was released on 15 September 1998, combining tracks from the single and the "I Am the Mob" and "Road Rage" singles.
Music video
The music video was directed by Gerald McMorrow and shows the band performing at a venue intercut with scenes of life on a tour bus at night. Mulder and Scully look-alikes investigate the area with torches and eventually kiss while the band plays. Filmed at T.J.'s in Newport, Wales, the shoot took a full day and included fans as the audience; Rhys Ifans appears prominently. The video received heavy rotation in the UK, played 30 to 35 times weekly according to Billboard, and was heavily promoted in the United States due to its X-Files allusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who produced Mulder and Scully (song)?
Mulder and Scully was produced by TommyD and Catatonia.
Who wrote Mulder and Scully (song)?
Mulder and Scully was written by Cerys Matthews and Mark Roberts.
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