Cherub (song)

Last updated

"Cherub"
Cherub by Ball Park Music.jpg
Single by Ball Park Music
from the album Ball Park Music
Released27 August 2020
Recorded2019–2020
Studio
Genre
Length5:28
Label Prawn Records
Songwriter(s) Sam Cromack
Producer(s)
  • Paul McKercher
  • William Bowden
Ball Park Music singles chronology
"Day & Age"
(2020)		"Cherub"
(2020)		"Sunscreen"
(2021)
Music video
"Cherub" on YouTube

"Cherub" is a song by Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music, released on 27 August 2020 as the third and final single from their self-titled sixth studio album Ball Park Music (2020). The song peaked at number 52 on the ARIA charts, and reached certified platinum status in Australia for selling 70,000 units. [1] "Cherub" was considered a favourite to top the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020, but polled at number four. [2] [3]

Contents

Background

In a press release, frontman Sam Cromack discussed how the song came to exist, stating:

"The main tune had been kicking around for years and it was Dean who implored me to develop it into a song. A chorus came together pretty quickly. It was pure escapism; it felt easy to imagine a character who runs away and rips a phone number from a flyer to start a new life. The song was building with a very optimistic tone, but it didn’t feel quite right. It felt off-balance, too starry-eyed. The platypus was waiting for the Queen. I sat by the water for a long time with no verses." [4]

"Cherub" is one of the longest songs the band have ever written, [5] which caused the band to consider never releasing it. [6]

Recording

"Cherub" existed as a demo prior to the song's creation, which Sam Cromack discussed in an interview with Jaxsta's Rod Yates, stating:

"Like a lot of songwriters, my voice memo app is full of ideas. This was one I kept coming back to. I had the verse melody and the little ditty on guitar that matches it, and I also had that chorus lyric. It was Dean [Hanson, guitar] who was like, 'There’s something special about that, you’ve got to finish that song.'". [7]

The song was recorded alongside the rest of the album from late 2019 to early 2020. [8]

Composition

An indie folk [9] and indie rock [10] "slow burner", [11] "Cherub" begins with "acoustic guitars and layered vocals" [10] before "gradually build[ing] to a glorious peak". [12]

The song discusses "personal growth" and "when you're feeling like you're not your best self and not wanting to be a burden on the people around you." [7] The song's build was partially inspired by the Middle East's song "Blood". [13]

Critical reception

Music Feeds called the song a "slow-burner that’s deceptively sunny" and praised "its delicate guitars and understated keyboards". [14]

The Newcastle Herald described the song as "the album's torch-waving moment" and labelled it as the album's answer to "Exactly How You Are". [9]

Beat Magazine labelled the song "Beatles-esque. [15]

Music video

An accompanying music video was released on 27 August 2020, directed by the band's guitarist Dean Hanson. [10]

Synopsis

Rolling Stone Australia stated the music video shows "uplifting footage of butterflies in their natural habitat, reflecting the sunny disposition and feeling of freedom that the track seems to evoke within its listeners." [10]

Reception

Triple J's Al Newstead felt the music video to be "suitably idyllic". [12]

Live performances

On 11 September 2020, Ball Park Music performed "Cherub" live from their studio "Prawn Records HQ", which NME Australia premiered exclusively. [16]

On 23 October 2020, the band performed the song live for Triple J's Like a Version segment, additionally performing a cover of Radiohead's "Paranoid Android". [17]

On 21 December 2020, the band performed the song live for Australian live music program The Sound . [18]

Credits and personnel

Adapted from the parent album's liner notes. [19]

Ball Park Music – writing, production, recording

Other musicians

Charts

Chart performance for "Cherub"
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [20] 52

Certifications

Certifications for "Cherub"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [21] Platinum70,000Double-dagger-14-plain.png

Double-dagger-14-plain.png Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ball Park Music</span> Australian indie rock band

Ball Park Music are an Australian five-piece indie rock band from Brisbane, who formed in 2008. The band consists of Sam Cromack, Jennifer Boyce, Paul Furness, Dean Hanson and Daniel Hanson. Their debut studio album Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs was released in 2011 and was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards, peaking at number 36 on the ARIA Albums Chart. In 2012, the band released Museum, followed by Puddinghead, their third studio album in 2014, which peaked at number two. It spawned the certified platinum single "She Only Loves Me When I'm There", becoming the band's first song to chart on the ARIA Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Cisco</span> Australian indie pop band

San Cisco is an Australian indie pop band that formed in 2009 under the original name of King George, in Fremantle, Western Australia. The band are a three-piece, and currently consists of Jordi Davieson, Josh Biondillo and Scarlett Stevens. Davieson and Biondillo share duties on keyboards. In November 2011, the band was signed by Albert Productions, but moved to Island Records for the release of its debut album. In October 2012, the band described its 'vibe' as "squelchy, crispy, streamlined, hairy, indie". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 the group were nominated for Best Independent Release and Best Dance Release for the album; and Best Video for "Fred Astaire", which was directed by Andrew Nowrojee.

<i>Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs</i> 2011 studio album by Ball Park Music

Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs is the debut studio album by Australian indie pop band Ball Park Music, released in Australia and New Zealand on 9 September 2011 through Stop Start and EMI Music Australia.

<i>Museum</i> (Ball Park Music album) 2012 studio album by Ball Park Music

Museum is the second studio album by Australian indie pop band, Ball Park Music. It was released in Australia and New Zealand on 5 October 2012 via Stop Start/EMI Music Australia. Matt Redlich recorded, produced and mixed the album at Massive Studios, East Brisbane, Queensland, between January and August 2012. It was preceded by the lead single, "Surrender", which was released in July 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DZ Deathrays</span> Australian band

DZ Deathrays are an Australian dance-punk trio from Brisbane, Queensland. Composed of Shane Parsons (vocals/guitar), Lachlan Ewbank and Simon Ridley (drums), they put out two EPs before releasing their debut album, Bloodstreams, in April 2012. The album won the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2012. To date they have released five studio albums: Bloodstreams, Black Rat, Bloody Lovely, Positive Rising: Part 1 and Positive Rising: Part 2

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Jungle Giants</span> Australian indie pop band

The Jungle Giants are an Australian indie rock band from Brisbane, Queensland, who formed in 2011.

<i>Puddinghead</i> 2014 studio album by Ball Park Music

Puddinghead is the third studio album by Australian indie pop band Ball Park Music, released on 4 April 2014 by Stop Start and Inertia Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Holy (Australian band)</span> Australian indie rock band

Holy Holy are an Australian indie rock band formed by songwriters Timothy Carroll and Oscar Dawson (guitar) in 2011. The pair were later joined by Ryan Strathie (drums), and by touring musicians Graham Ritchie and Matt Redlich. They have released four top-20 studio albums and have been nominated for two ARIA Award.

<i>Every Night the Same Dream</i> Fourth studio album by Australian indie pop band Ball Park Music

Every Night the Same Dream is the fourth studio album by Australian indie pop band Ball Park Music. The album was released on 19 August 2016. The album peaked at number 3 on the ARIA Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Lahey</span> Musical artist

Alexandra Lahey is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her debut album I Love You Like a Brother was released on 6 October 2017 and peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Her second album, The Best of Luck Club followed in 2019, debuting at number 30. Following an EP issued during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she will release her third record, The Answer Is Always Yes, in May 2023.

<i>Good Mood</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Ball Park Music

Good Mood is the fifth studio album by Australian indie pop band Ball Park Music. The album was released on 16 February 2018. The album peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts. The band promoted the album with a national tour in February and March 2018. It was the first album to have song-writing contributions by guitarist Dean Hanson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chats</span> Australian punk rock band

The Chats are an Australian punk rock band that formed in 2016 in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. They describe their sound as "shed rock". The current band lineup is composed of guitarist Josh Hardy, drummer Matt Boggis, and bassist and vocalist Eamon Sandwith. Known for their songs about Australian culture, they initially went viral for their song "Smoko" and its accompanying music video in 2017. To date they have released two EPs, The Chats (2016) and Get This in Ya!! (2017), and two studio albums High Risk Behaviour (2020) and Get Fucked (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lime Cordiale</span> Australian pop rock duo

Lime Cordiale are an Australian pop rock group formed in 2009. It consists of brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach, with additional members James Jennings, Felix Bornholt and Nicholas Polovineo. They released their debut studio album Permanent Vacation in 2017. The group have performed at Groovin' the Moo and South by Southwest (SXSW). At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards they were nominated in eight categories and won Breakthrough Artist – Release for their second album, 14 Steps to a Better You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spacey Jane</span> Australian indie rock band

Spacey Jane are an Australian indie rock band from Fremantle, which formed in 2016. The group consists of Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu (guitar), Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama (drums) and, since 2019, Peppa Lane. Their debut studio album, Sunlight, was released in 2020 and peaked at number two on the ARIA Charts. It was preceded by triple platinum single "Booster Seat", which peaked at number eight and won the ARIA Song of the Year. In 2020, their debut extended play No Way to Treat an Animal (2017) also peaked at number 23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robbery (Lime Cordiale song)</span> 2019 single by Lime Cordiale

"Robbery" is a song by Australian pop rock duo Lime Cordiale, released on 20 September 2019 as the fifth single from their second studio album 14 Steps to a Better You (2020).

<i>Sunlight</i> (Spacey Jane album) 2020 studio album by Spacey Jane

Sunlight is the debut studio album by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 12 June 2020 through AWAL. Produced by Dave Parkin, it is the band's final release to include contributions by bassist Amelia Murray after her amicable departure in July 2019. The album debuted at number two on the ARIA Albums Chart and was voted Triple J's number one album of 2020. At the 2021 AIR Awards, Sunlight was nominated for Independent Album of the Year and Best Independent Rock Album. The album reached certified gold status in Australia in 2022.

<i>Ball Park Music</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Ball Park Music

Ball Park Music is the eponymous sixth studio album by Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music. It was written and recorded in Brisbane throughout the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, and released on 23 October 2020. The album was preceded by three singles – "Spark Up!", "Day & Age" and notably "Cherub", which polled at number four in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020.

<i>Here Comes Everybody</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Spacey Jane

Here Comes Everybody is the second studio album by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 24 June 2022 independently through AWAL. Written following the band's tour for Sunlight (2020) when the COVID-19 pandemic was disrupting the music industry, the record's lyricism is often reflective of anxieties during the time, and throughout the youth of frontman Caleb Harper, whose experiences with depression are a major lyrical focus. Produced mostly by Konstantin Kersting, the album marks a significant sonic departure from their debut. It peaked at number one on the ARIA Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ball Park Music discography</span> Band discography

Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music have released seven studio albums, two extended plays (EPs) and twenty-one singles.

<i>Weirder & Weirder</i> 2022 album by Ball Park Music

Weirder & Weirder is the seventh studio album by Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music, released on 27 May 2022 through Prawn Records. It peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was nominated for Best Independent Album and Best Rock Album at the 2022 ARIA Awards. It won Album of the Year at the 2023 Queensland Music Awards.

References

  1. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Langford, Jackson (10 December 2020). "The songs most likely to win the Hottest 100 of 2020". Music Feeds . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Carmody, Broede (23 January 2021). "Heat Waves by Glass Animals tops triple J's Hottest 100". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. ↑ Martin, Josh (27 August 2020). "Ball Park Music share tender new single 'Cherub'". NME Australia . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. ↑ Martin, Josh (23 April 2020). "Not so sunny after all: An update on Ball Park Music's new album from isolation". NME Australia . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  6. ↑ Langford, Jackson (25 January 2021). "Ball Park Music say there was a "strong possibility" they weren't going to release 'Cherub'". NME Australia . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 Yates, Rod (12 November 2020). "Ball Park Music: The Stories Behind The Songs". Jaxsta . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Martin, Josh (23 April 2020). "Not so sunny after all: An update on Ball Park Music's new album from isolation". NME Australia . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. 1 2 Leeson, Josh (15 October 2020). "Review: Ball Park Music, Ball Park Music affirm their status as Australia's loveliest band with their new self-titled album". The Newcastle Herald . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Jenke, Tyler (27 August 2020). "Ball Park Music share slow-burning new single, 'Cherub'". Rolling Stone Australia . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. ↑ Gallagher, Alex (25 January 2021). "Ball Park Music say they deliberated over whether or not to release 'Cherub'". Music Feeds . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. 1 2 Newstead, Al (27 August 2020). "First Spin: Ball Park Music share gorgeous slow-burner 'Cherub'". Triple J . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  13. ↑ Gera, Amar (28 October 2020). "'Every feeling is there' – Ball Park Music talk latest album, live music & growth". Life Without Andy. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Gallagher, Alex (27 August 2020). "Ball Park Music are three for three with new single 'Cherub'". Music Feeds . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  15. ↑ Kaya, Selin Ruby (22 October 2020). "Ball Park Music affirm their status as Australia's loveliest band with their new self-titled album". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. ↑ Gwee, Karen (11 September 2020). "Watch Ball Park Music play 'Cherub' live from their studio". NME Australia . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  17. ↑ Bruce, Jasper (23 October 2020). "Ball Park Music cover a Radiohead classic for triple j's Like a Version". NME Australia . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Series 2, Episode 8: Making Gravy Christmas Special". ABC iView . Retrieved 30 January 2021.[ non-primary source needed ]
  19. ↑ Ball Park Music (booklet). Ball Park Music. Prawn Records / Inertia Music. 2020. 9332727108426.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 February 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1613. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 February 2021. p. 4.
  21. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.