"Something So Strong" by Crowded House

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  3109
Date:  05/02/1987
Debut:  88
Peak:  7
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Alternative Rock



Pop Bits:  The Aussie/New Zealand band cracked the US Top 10 with "Don't Dream It's Over," a single from their self-titled debut album. The tune would reach #2 at Pop while getting to #9 AC and #11 Pop. For a follow-up, this next track would be selected. It would be another winner hitting #7 Pop, #10 Rock, and #13 AC. It would keep sales of the album brisk and eventually it would be a platinum seller that made it to #12.

ReduxReview:  This jangly tune was the perfect antithesis to the balladry of "Don't Dream It's Over." The songs provided a solid 1-2 punch from the band. At the time I even liked this song better than their first hit and it led me to purchasing the album. The hooky sing-a-long chorus was memorable and Mitchell Froom's production gave it a timeless feel. The track is still just as strong (so to speak) today as it was back then.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Lead singer/songwriter Neil Finn was previously in his brother Tim's band Split Endz. Neil joined up with that band in 1976. While Split Endz was very successful at home in Australia and in New Zealand, they were relegated to being more of a cult band in other countries such as the US. The band would end up with only one song reaching the US Pop chart, 1980's #53 "I Got You." Tim would decide to leave Split Endz in 1984 and that left Neil in charge. The band forged ahead and made the 1984 album See Ya 'Round. It was thought that "Something So Strong," written by Neil, was first demoed during the sessions for that album, but was set aside and not used. It would later be revisited and revised by Neil along with producer Mitchell Froom for the Crowded House debut album. The first single from the Split Ends LP See Ya 'Round, "I Walk Away," would make it to #13 in New Zealand and #45 in Australia. By the end of '84, the band decided to call it quits. Neil would go on to form Crowded House. His brother Tim would join up with them later in 1990. When the debut album by Crowded House was being prepped for international release to places like the US, one of the tracks from the original Australian/New Zealand version, "Can't Carry On," was dropped from the LP. It was replaced by a newly recorded version of the Split Endz track "I Walk Away."

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