Something So Strong
single
CoverSomething So Strong NZ cover.png
ArtistCrowded House
AlbumCrowded House
B-sideI Walk Away
Released1 April 1987
StudioCapitol, Sunset Sound Factory (Los Angeles)
Length2:51
LabelCapitol
WriterNeil Finn, Mitchell Froom
ProducerMitchell Froom
Prev year1986
Next year1988

"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 Music Report, No. 3 on New Zealand's RIANZ Singles Chart, and No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

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 in the 1980s and 1990s.[2] According to Bourke, "Something So Strong" was the first song written by Finn specifically for Crowded House. However, Froom and Finn reworked parts of the song; thus, Froom is credited as a co-writer.[2][3][better source needed]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. The video shows the band singing the song in a barn. A classic American car is parked outside while they perform.[4]

Reception

"Something So Strong" has been described as a "gleaming pop gem"[5] and as a "testament to the transformative power of love".[6] 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]

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.[8]

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

Weekly charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australia (Australian Music Report)[9]18
US Billboard Hot 100[10]7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11]13
US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12]10
US Cash Box Top 100[13]8

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)Rank
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14]65
US Billboard Hot 100[15]83

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[page needed]
  3. ^ "'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
  4. ^ Something So Strong on YouTube
  5. ^ Beviglia, Jim (25 April 2025). "The Story Behind “Something So Strong”, a Gleaming Pop Gem by Crowded House". American Songwriter
  6. ^ "Crowded House's 10 greatest songs, ranked". Smooth Radio. 16 July 2024.
  7. ^ David James Young (17 June 2021). "The Evolution Of Crowded House In 15 Essential Tracks". Junkee
  8. ^ "Flood Relief: Artists for the Flood Appeal". NineMSN. 21 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 25 July 1987. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 8 August 1987. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. 20 June 1987. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 18, 1987". Tropicalglen.com
  14. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Retrieved 21 March 2025. – via Library and Archives Canada
  15. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1987/Top 100 Songs of 1987". Musicoutfitters.com