Four Seasons in One Day

Last updated

"Four Seasons in One Day"
Four Seasons In One Day.jpg
Single by Crowded House
from the album Woodface
Released8 June 1992 (1992-06-08) [1]
Length2:50
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Neil Finn, Tim Finn
Producer(s) Mitchell Froom, Neil Finn
Crowded House singles chronology
"Weather with You"
(1992)
"Four Seasons in One Day"
(1992)
"Distant Sun"
(1993)

"Four Seasons in One Day" is a song by rock group Crowded House, released as a single in June 1992. It was co-written by Neil Finn and brother Tim Finn, originally intended for their debut Finn Brothers album; however, it was moved onto the Woodface project as the two projects amalgamated. The song's title references a common saying used in Melbourne to describe the city's changeable weather.

Contents

"Four Seasons in One Day" reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart and number 47 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. The song also peaked at number 68 in Canada but was not released in the US. The song was later released on the group's greatest hits collection Recurring Dream and was performed at the group's farewell performance in 1996, Farewell to the World . After the death of Crowded House drummer Paul Hester, the Finn Brothers played the song in Hester's honour at their performances.

In 2005, a tribute album was created featuring a collection of Neil and Tim Finn's songs reinterpreted by female singers as the album She Will Have Her Way . "Four Seasons in One Day" was performed by Australian multi-instrumentalist Sally Seltmann, who was known by the stage name New Buffalo, under the shortened title of "Four Seasons".

Inspiration

Neil Finn wrote the song in his flat in St Kilda East, a suburb of Melbourne. The song's title references a phrase used in Melbourne to refer to the city's changeable weather. Finn explained in an interview:

"Four seasons in one day" was a common Melbourne phrase, 'cause you go from a blazing hot, sunny day to raining and then it'd be hailing that night. [Tim Finn] and I were riding in emotional roller coasters a lot of the time and there was a lot of angst around that period. So it was a good description of the many moods of us collectively and individually. [2]

Music video

This was the first Crowded House video made in New Zealand. Director Kerry Brown and producer Bruce Sheridan wanted to emphasise the surreal, fantasy elements of the song, using distinctly Kiwi imagery. Locations included beaches and dense bush on the West Coast, the plains of Central Otago and the Victorian architecture of Oamaru. Scenes of an Anzac Day ceremony and marching girls also highlight the homeland setting. Brown took inspiration from Salvador Dalí paintings for the psychedelic effects that were added in post-production. [3]

Awards

In 2001 the song was voted by members of the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as the 84th-best New Zealand song of the 20th century. [4]

Track listings

UK 7-inch and cassette single

  1. "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
  2. "There Goes God" – 3:50

UK CD single

  1. "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
  2. "Dr. Livingston" – 3:57
  3. "Recurring Dream" – 3:24 (remix from "Tequila sunrise soundtrack)
  4. "Anyone Can Tell" – 3:36

Track 2; outtake from the Woodface sessions later to be released on "Afterglow", track 3: remix version from "Tequila sunrise" soundtrack, track 4; outtake from the Woodface sessions" previously released on the "Chocolate Cake" CD single and later to be released on "Afterglow".

Alternate UK CD single

"Weather with You" and "Italian Plastic" were recorded at The Town & Country Club, London, 9 November 1991. "Message to My Girl" was recorded live at the Birmingham Town Hall on 5 March 1992 and not previously recorded by Crowded House.

  1. "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
  2. "Weather with You" (live) – 6:17
  3. "Italian Plastic" (live) – 3:28
  4. "Message to My Girl" (live) – 3:05

Australian CD

"There Goes God" was recorded in Maastricht, Netherlands.

  1. "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
  2. "There Goes God" (live)
  3. "Tall Trees" – 2:19

Australian extended single

"Italian Plastic" was recorded at the State Theatre, Sydney. "Love You til the Day I Die", "It's Only Natural" and "Four Seasons in One Day" were recorded at the Newcastle Civic Theatre, Australia.

  1. "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
  2. "Italian Plastic" (live) – 3:34
  3. "Love You till the Day I Die" (live) – 4:50
  4. "It's Only Natural" (live) – 4:27
  5. "Four Seasons in One Day" (live) – 2:59

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Four Seasons in One Day"
Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [5] 47
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [6] 68
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [7] 66
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [8] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [9] 50
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [10] 33
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 26

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Four Seasons in One Day"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [12] Gold35,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowded House</span> Australian-New Zealand pop rock band

Crowded House are an Australian and New Zealand rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were Neil Finn and Paul Hester (drums), who were both former members of Split Enz, and Nick Seymour (bass). Later band members included Finn's brother Tim, who was in their former band Split Enz; sons Liam and Elroy; as well as Americans Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod. Neil Finn and Seymour are the sole constant members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Finn</span> New Zealand musician (born 1958)

Neil Mullane Finn is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being a principal member of Split Enz, of which he shared lead duties with his brother Tim, and the lead singer, guitarist, and a founding member of Crowded House. He was also a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 until 2022. Ed O'Brien of Radiohead has hailed Finn as popular music's "most prolific writer of great songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Finn</span> New Zealand musician and founder of Split Enz (born 1952)

Brian Timothy Finn is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known as a founding member of Split Enz. Finn founded the band in 1972 with Phil Judd and served as lead singer and principal songwriter. Following Judd's departure in 1977, he was joined by brother Neil. Finn wrote or co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs, including "I See Red" and "Six Months in a Leaky Boat". While still a member of Split Enz, he began a solo career, scoring the two hits "Fraction Too Much Friction" and "Made My Day" in 1983; he left the band in early 1984, briefly returning for their farewell tour later that year.

<i>Woodface</i> 1991 studio album by Crowded House

Woodface is the third studio album by Crowded House. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and Neil Finn and was released by Capitol Records in July 1991. It features five singles: "Chocolate Cake", "Fall at Your Feet", "It's Only Natural", "Weather with You", and "Four Seasons in One Day". Woodface was a major hit in Australia and New Zealand as well as giving the band their first top ten hit album in the UK. It was listed at No. 3 in the book 100 Best Australian Albums in October 2010. It was voted number 80 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Dream It's Over</span> 1986 single by Crowded House

"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by rock band Crowded House, recorded for their 1986 self-titled debut studio album. The song was composed and written by New Zealand frontman Neil Finn and released in October 1986 as the fourth single from the album.

<i>Together Alone</i> 1993 studio album by Crowded House

Together Alone is the fourth studio album by New Zealand-Australian band Crowded House. It was released in October 1993 and was their first album to feature multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart as a full band member. Unlike the band's first three albums, which were recorded in the US and Australia and produced by Mitchell Froom, Together Alone was recorded in New Zealand with producer Youth. Six singles were released from Together Alone, including "Distant Sun", which was a top 10 hit in New Zealand and Canada, and "Locked Out" which reached number 12 on the UK singles chart and number 8 on the US Modern Rock chart, the latter on the strength of the song's inclusion on the soundtrack of the 1994 film Reality Bites.

<i>Recurring Dream</i> 1996 greatest hits album by Crowded House

Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House, usually abbreviated to Recurring Dream, is a compilation album by rock group Crowded House, released in 1996. It includes most of their singles, as well as three new songs, "Not the Girl You Think You Are", "Instinct", and "Everything Is Good for You".

<i>Afterglow</i> (Crowded House album) 1999 compilation album by Crowded House

Afterglow is a compilation album released by Australian-New Zealand rock band Crowded House in 1999. It consists of outtakes, b-sides and other rarities recorded between 1985 and 1995. Seven of the songs were originally recorded for the Woodface album before Tim Finn became involved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distant Sun</span> 1993 single by Crowded House

"Distant Sun" is a song by Australian band Crowded House, released in September 1993 by Capitol Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, Together Alone (1993). The song gave the band another top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 19, but fell shy of the mark in Australia, reaching number 23. It was a top-five hit in Canada and New Zealand, reaching numbers four and five, respectively. In March 1994, a remixed version of "Distant Sun" was released in the United States, reaching number 26 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The regular mix was not released as a single in the US and was only available on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Only Natural (song)</span> 1991 single by Crowded House

"It's Only Natural" is a song by New Zealand-Australian rock group Crowded House from their 1991 album, Woodface. The single was originally issued as a promotional single in June 1991 with the intent to release the song as the lead single for Woodface; however, due to changes made, the single wasn't released until December 1991, when it served as the third single from the album. In the UK, "It's Only Natural" was the fifth Woodface single, released in September 1992. The song reached number 15 in Australia, number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, and number five on the US Modern Rock Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something So Strong</span> 1987 single by Crowded House

"Something So Strong" is a rock song written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom and performed by Crowded House for their eponymous debut album. 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 Singles Chart, No. 3 in New Zealand, No. 7 in the United States Billboard Hot 100, and No. 10 on the Canadian RPM 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowded House discography</span>

This is a discography for the rock band Crowded House. As of 2024 Crowded House have sold over 15 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chocolate Cake (song)</span> 1991 single by Crowded House

"Chocolate Cake" is a song by rock music group Crowded House from their third studio album, Woodface (1991). Released as a single in May 1991, the song reached number seven in New Zealand, number nine in Canada, and number two on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The John Hillcoat-directed music video won the ARIA Award for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall at Your Feet</span> 1991 single by Crowded House

"Fall at Your Feet" is a 1991 song by Crowded House, from their 1991 album, Woodface. It is the only single from Woodface to be written solely by the group's leader Neil Finn, who co-wrote all other singles from the album with his brother Tim Finn. It peaked at number 17 in the United Kingdom, making it Woodface's second-most-successful single, after "Weather with You". The song also entered the top 40 in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nails in My Feet</span> 1993 single by Crowded House

"Nails in My Feet" is a song by Australian rock group Crowded House, released in November 1993 by Capitol Records as the second single from their fourth studio album, Together Alone (1993). The song was written by Neil Finn and produced by Youth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Instinct (song)</span> 1996 single by Crowded House

"Instinct" is a 1996 song by rock group Crowded House. It was the first single released from the group's greatest hits compilation Recurring Dream in the United Kingdom, and the third and final release in Australia. It was a top-20 hit in New Zealand and the UK, peaking at number 17 and number 12, respectively. In Australia, "Instinct" peaked at number 90 on the ARIA Singles Chart in March 1997, spending two non-consecutive weeks in the top 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weather with You</span> 1992 single by Crowded House

"Weather with You" is a song by Australian-New Zealand rock band Crowded House. It was the third and most successful single released from the group's third studio album, Woodface (1991), reaching top 50 in 10 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it reached number seven. At the APRA Music Awards of 1994, the song won Most Performed Australian Work Overseas. The song was intended to be part of the Finn Brothers' unreleased 1990 debut, but after Capitol Records found the recordings, they were merged with a Crowded House session to become Woodface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private Universe</span> 1994 single by Crowded House

"Private Universe" is a 1993 song by rock group Crowded House from the group's fourth studio album Together Alone. It was released as a single in Australia in October 1994. The single peaked at #46 on the Australian ARIA singles chart in January 1995, and spent 14 weeks in the top 100.

The Sixth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 6 March 1992 at the World Congress Centre in Melbourne. Hosts were international guest, Julian Lennon and local Richard Wilkins, they were assisted by presenters, Spinal Tap, Rod Stewart, Mick Jones and others to distribute 24 awards. There were live performances and for the first time the awards were televised.

<i>The Very Very Best of Crowded House</i> 2010 greatest hits album by Crowded House

The Very Very Best of Crowded House is a compilation album featuring 19 singles from the period spanning Crowded House's first five studio albums. A CD and DVD box set is available, which includes a DVD of 25 of the band's music videos. The album is also available as a 'Deluxe Digital Version' which features 32 tracks including a rare 1987 live recording of the band's cover version of the Hunters & Collectors song "Throw Your Arms Around Me".

References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 6 June 1992. p. 17.
  2. O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (2011). The 100 Best Australian Albums. Hardie Grant Publishing. ISBN   9781742735559.
  3. "1992 Four Seasons in one day". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  4. "APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  5. "Crowded House – Four Seasons in One Day". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1905." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 28. 11 July 1992. p. 11. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  8. "Tipparade-lijst van week 36, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  9. "Crowded House – Four Seasons in One Day" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  10. "Crowded House – Four Seasons in One Day". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  12. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 24 December 2024.