"Something So Strong" is a song written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom and performed by Crowded House for their eponymous debut album (1986). The track was released as the album's fifth and final single in April 1987.[1] The single peaked at No. 18 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart, No. 3 in New Zealand, No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 10 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart.

The track lends its title to the book, Crowded House: Something So Strong (1997), by Australian biographer Chris Bourke, which details the band's career from forming to just after their breakup in 1996.[2] According to Bourke, "Something So Strong", was the first song written by Finn specifically for Crowded House. However while in the studio, producer, Froom, and Finn reworked parts of the song and as such, Froom is credited as a co-writer.[3][4] Demos of this song have been linked to Finn's earlier band Split Enz, from the 1984 See Ya 'Round period, potentially making the timeline earlier on this track.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, of the band singing the song in a barn. A classic American car is parked outside while they perform.[5]

Later uses

The track is included in the various artists' 3× CD, Flood Relief: Artists for the Flood Appeal (January 2011), which raised money for victims of the Queensland floods.[6] A sample of "Something So Strong" plays during a TV spot of Flood Relief.

Reception

Junkee said the song was "rightfully revered as a staple in the band's discography, but admittedly the shine of the original has worn off somewhat with its dated, reverb-heavy production".[7]

Track listings

"Something So Strong" written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom. All other songs written by Finn. All tracks from the album "Crowded House", except the two Live tracks on the UK 12" vinyl single, previously released on the "World Where You Live" US promo CD single.

Standard 7-inch vinyl single

  1. "Something So Strong" – 2:51
  2. "I Walk Away" – 3:05

US 12-inch vinyl single

  1. "Something So Strong" – 2:51
  2. "Can't Carry On" – 3:57
  3. "I Walk Away" – 3:05

UK 12-inch vinyl single

  1. "Something So Strong" – 2:51
  2. "Something So Strong" – 4:02 (live at King Biscuit Flower Hour, The Trocadero, Philadelphia, 24 March 1987)
  3. "I Walk Away" – 3:05
  4. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 5:53 (live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987)

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Something So Strong"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[19] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] Platinum 30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "Something So Strong"
Region Date
United States April 1987
Australia May 1987

References

  1. ^ Bailey, Marck; Comprehensive discography Archived 9 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine of Crowded House including track listings for all albums and singles. Released 28 March 1995. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  2. ^ Bourke, Chris (1997), Crowded House : something so strong, Macmillan. National Library of Australia, ISBN 978-0-7329-0886-7
  3. ^ Bourke, Chris (1997). Crowded House: Something So Strong. South Melbourne, Vic: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-7329-0886-7.
  4. ^ "'In the Metro' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 July 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Something So Strong; &/or at 'Performer:' Crowded Housel
  5. ^ Video on YouTube
  6. ^ "Flood Relief: Artists for the Flood Appeal". NineMSN. 21 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  7. ^ David James Young (17 June 2021). "The Evolution Of Crowded House In 15 Essential Tracks". Junkee.
  8. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0841." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8623." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Crowded House – Something So Strong". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 25 July 1987. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 8 August 1987. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. 20 June 1987. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 18, 1987". Tropicalglen.com.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1987/Top 100 Songs of 1987". Musicoutfitters.com.
  19. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  20. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Crowded House – Something So Strong". Radioscope. Retrieved 21 March 2025. Type Something So Strong in the "Search:" field.
Allikas: Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_So_Strong
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