I’ve been doing this for a while now and I cannot believe I haven’t posted about Crowded House. It was love at first listen with this song. The lyric “bring life to frozen ground” still stands out to me and I cannot hear this song enough. As far as pop songs go it’s hard to beat this.
The song peaked at #7 on the Billboard 100, #3 in New Zealand, and #10 in Canada in 1987. The song was written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom.
I’ve played music for a long time and it fascinates me how songs develop. They can come at once or they can take time to build from pieces and parts. Below is a short home demo version of this song…below that… the finished product.
Love the Smoke on the Water tease in the video.
Crowded House
Love can make you weep, it can make you run for cover
Roots that spread so deep, bring life to frozen ground
(Something so strong) could carry us away
(Something so strong) could carry us today
Turning in my sleep, love can leave you cold
The taste of jealousy, is like a lust for gold
(Something so strong) could carry us away
(Something so strong) could carry us today
(I’ve been) feeling so much older
(Frame me) and hang me on the wall
(I’ve seen) you fall into the same trap
(This thing) is happening to us all
(Something so strong) could carry us away
(Something so strong) could carry us today
(Something so strong)
(Something so strong)
(Something so strong)
Something something so strong
Definitely catchy pop. It has an early 80s sound. I didn’t remember that it was from the later 80s, but it must have been a welcome relief in the midst of Madonna, Wham, etc., filling the airwaves at that time.
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An oasis in the dessert is what they were to me at the time. Hard to believe radio back then actually played them.
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Definitely a welcome sound on the radio, that’s for sure.
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I didn’t know Mitchell Froom co-wrote this. Wonder how much he did…probably a few lyrics. This sounds like pure Neil Finn to me. Great catchy track
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Know the song well from way-back-when but not seen the video before.
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That Smoke on the Water part is great…I think every guitar player knows that riff…its law a requirment.
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Excellent track from one of my favorite bands of that era. Demo was really interesting, I’d never heard that before. They or the producer really strengthened up the chorus, resultant product was better.
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I never heard that demo either… I love how songs progress.
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I like the simplicity of the demo and then the full production as well. Wonderful upbeat video to go with it. It’s wholesome and well-crafted music.
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I always liked them. My fave is Don’t Dream It’s Over.
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They do some great pop…I can’t believe I’ve ignored this one.
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