"Something So Strong" is a song written by

Neil Finn Neil Mullane Finn (born 27 May 1958) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being a principal member of Split Enz and for being the lead singer of Crowded House. He was also a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 ...

and

Mitchell Froom Mitchell Froom (born June 29, 1953) is an American musician and record producer. He was a member of the bands Gamma and Latin Playboys, and is the keyboardist for Crowded House. He has produced albums for several artists, including David LaFl ...

and performed by

Crowded House Crowded House are an Australian-New Zealand rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were Neil Finn (vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter) and Paul Hester (drums), who were both for ...

for their eponymous debut album (1986). The track was released as the album's fifth and final single in April 1987. The single peaked at No. 18 on the Australian

Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music historian David Kent from May 1974 through to January 1999. The chart was re-branded the Australian Music Report (AMR) in July 19 ...

singles chart, No. 3 in

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, No. 7 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and No. 10 on the Canadian ''

RPM Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or r⋅min−1) is a unit of rotational speed (or rotational frequency) for rotating machines. One revolution per minute is equivalent to hertz. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 def ...

'' 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. 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. 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 Demos of this song have been linked to Finn's earlier band

Split Enz Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive rock, progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visua ...

, 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.

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. 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".

Track listings

"Something So Strong" written by

and

. 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 #"Something So Strong" – 2:51 #"I Walk Away" – 3:05 US 12-inch vinyl single #"Something So Strong" – 2:51 #"Can't Carry On" – 3:57 #"I Walk Away" – 3:05 UK 12-inch vinyl single #"Something So Strong" – 2:51 #"Something So Strong" – 4:02 (live at King Biscuit Flower Hour, The Trocadero, Philadelphia, 24 March 1987) #"I Walk Away" – 3:05 #"Don't Dream It's Over" – 5:53 (live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987)

Personnel

– lead vocals and backing vocals, electric guitar *

Nick Seymour Nicholas More Seymour (born 9 December 1958) is an Australian musician and record producer. He is the founding bass guitarist and a mainstay of the rock group Crowded House, and is the younger brother of Mark Seymour, singer-songwriter-guitaris ...

– bass and backing vocals *

Paul Hester Paul Newell Hester (8 January 1959 – 26 March 2005) was an Australian musician and television personality. He was the drummer for the band Split Enz for their last year together from December 1983 to December 1984, and co-founding member an ...

– drums and backing vocals *

– piano

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1986 songs 1987 singles Capitol Records singles Crowded House songs Song recordings produced by Mitchell Froom Songs written by Mitchell Froom Songs written by Neil Finn