Nobody Sees

Last updated

"Nobody Sees"
Nobody Sees.PNG
Single by Powderfinger
from the album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
Released1 December 2007
RecordedJanuary 2007–April 2007
Studio Sunset Sound (Los Angeles)
Genre Alternative rock
Length4:12
Label Universal
Songwriter(s) Jon Coghill, John Collins, Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, Darren Middleton
Producer(s) Rob Schnapf
Powderfinger singles chronology
"I Don't Remember"
(2007)		"Nobody Sees"
(2007)		"Who Really Cares (Featuring the Sound of Insanity)"
(2008)

"Nobody Sees" is a song by Powderfinger from their sixth album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence . It is the third single from the album and was released in Australia on 1 December 2007. The announcement that it would be released as a single came at the same time as releasing the music video to the internet on the official Universal Records website. [1] [2]

Contents

Despite positive critical response, the song charted poorly, peaking at 51 on the ARIA Singles Chart. [3]

Background

"Nobody Sees" was recorded by Powderfinger for their 2007 album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence at Sunset Sound Studio, Los Angeles, California, in early 2007 with producer Rob Schnapf. [4] In an interview with Jay and the Doctor on Triple J in November 2007, Fanning noted that the song is a "bookend" to Powderfinger's early breakout single "Pick You Up" from Double Allergic . He goes on to note that "It's 'who's going to pick you up now?'. Cause I'm not doing it any more." [5] Fanning also noted that he considers the song a "spacey ballad". [6] Though the band had previously released songs featuring piano, they had decided for this album to record with session pianist Benmont Tench, who previously had played for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who were one of the inspirations of the album. This was in contrast to previous efforts where piano parts had been performed by Fanning or local Australian pianists. Despite Tench's performance on the song, Fanning appears in the music video as playing piano. [2]

Release

The single for "Nobody Sees" was officially released on 1 December 2007 in Australia. This was announced on 16 November 2007, only two weeks prior to its release. [1] The single was released only to the iTunes Store as a three-song EP including the studio version of the song, a live version of the song and another song from Dream Days at the Hotel Existence.

Music video

The music video for "Nobody Sees" features the entire line-up of Powderfinger in shot in the dark at nighttime with the Melbourne cityscape in the background. The group's lead vocalist, Bernard Fanning, who in all previous recordings would play keyboards and piano parts, did not record any of these parts for Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, as these duties were fulfilled by Benmont Tench. Though Tench performed the keyboard in the recording of the song, Fanning appears at the keyboard in the music video. The scenes of the band playing are intercut with video shots of a do-it-yourself carwash, and five shots of people by themselves. These people are all initially shown being still then as the video progresses, the people are shown performing highly energetic actions in slow motion. The actions shown include running, falling and jumping. There are instances through Ian Haug's guitar solo where John Collins' bass guitar and Darren Middleton's electric guitar are also shown in close-up and slow motion. [2]

Critical response

PerthNow reporter Jay Hanna called "Nobody Sees" "Powderfinger at their devastating best" in his Dream Days at the Hotel Existence review, commending its overall impact on the album. [7] Clayton Bolger of Allmusic agreed, calling the song "wondrous" and praising Tench's piano work on it. The song was labeled an "AMG Track Pick". [8] Herald Sun HiT reviewer Cameron Adams agreed, also commenting that the song was an excellent reminder "of Fanning’s prowess as a rock vocalist". [9]

Mess + Noise reviewer Andrew Ramadge notes that "Nobody Sees" is validated by Dream Days at the Hotel Existence's controversial track "Black Tears", stating that it "would otherwise seem like the usual lovelorn crap [but] can’t help but take on a different meaning in the shadow of "Black Tears"." [10] Shah Xerxes from Fasterlouder comments that the song is a "heartbreak-inspired and sugary love ballad", noting the songs sadness by referring to it as "an intensely moody number reserved for sadder moments where a little reflection and perspective is required." [11]

UK reviewer Mike Rea from Contact Music noted "Nobody Sees" as a "standout song" from the album, which on the whole he rated 8/10. [12] Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop was less enthusiastic about the song, noting that it wasn't dissimilar to past Powderfinger works, although noting that it utilized "the variety and flexibility the band is capable of." [13]

Track listing

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Nobody Sees"
A 30 second sample from the beginning of "Nobody Sees", from the start of the first verse until the first line of the chorus.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The track listing for the "Nobody Sees" single is listed with iTunes Store as being an EP, though includes only three songs, beginning with the studio version of the song. The second track is the live performance of the song taken from their Across the Great Divide tour performance at the Brisbane Powerhouse in October 2007, and the final track, "Wishing on the Same Moon", is also from the Powerhouse performance, and also originally from Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. [14]

  1. "Nobody Sees" – 4:12
  2. "Nobody Sees" (live) – 4:38
  3. "Wishing on the Same Moon" (live) – 5:53

Personnel

Powderfinger

Additional musicians

Production

 [15] [16]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Nobody Sees"
Chart (2007)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [3] 51

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Powderfinger</span> Australian rock band

Powderfinger were an Australian rock band formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their break-up in 2010, the line-up consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins and drummer Jon Coghill. The group's third studio album Internationalist peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in September 1998. They followed with four more number-one studio albums in a row: Odyssey Number Five, Vulture Street, Dream Days at the Hotel Existence and Golden Rule. Their top-ten hit singles are "My Happiness" (2000), "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind" (2003) and "Lost and Running" (2007). Powderfinger earned a total of eighteen ARIA Awards, making them the second-most awarded band behind Silverchair. Ten Powderfinger albums and DVDs certified multiple-platinum, with Odyssey Number Five – their most successful album – achieving eightfold platinum certification for shipment of over 560,000 units.

<i>Vulture Street</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Powderfinger

Vulture Street is the fifth studio album by Australian alternative rock band by Powderfinger, released on 29 July 2003 by Universal Music. It won the 2003 ARIA Music Award for Best Rock Album. Produced by Nick DiDia, Vulture Street was certified platinum, and spent 47 weeks on the ARIA Charts and peaked at #1. Singles from the album included "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind", "Since You've Been Gone", "Love Your Way" and "Sunsets".

<i>Internationalist</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Powderfinger

Internationalist is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger. The album was released on 7 September 1998 and was often labelled Powderfinger's most adventurous work, with greater experimentation than in previous works.

<i>Odyssey Number Five</i> 2000 studio album by Powderfinger

Odyssey Number Five is the fourth studio album by the Australian rock band Powderfinger, produced by Nick DiDia and released on 4 September 2000 by Universal Music. It won the 2001 ARIA Music Award for Highest Selling Album, Best Group and Best Rock Album. The album was the band's shortest yet, focusing on social, political, and emotional issues that had appeared in prior works, especially Internationalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Fanning</span> Australian singer-songwriter (born 1969)

Bernard Fanning is an Australian musician and singer-songwriter. He was the lead vocalist of Queensland alternative rock band Powderfinger from its formation in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Middleton</span> Australian musician (born 1971)

Darren Middleton is an Australian musician, best known as lead guitarist and songwriter for alternative rock band Powderfinger. He was also lead singer/songwriter for Drag; his current solo tour is 'Splinters', a follow-up to his 2013 solo tour 'Translations.' The 'Splinters' tour is Middleton's tour of Western Australia and Victoria in August and November 2016, respectively.

<i>Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994–2000</i> 2004 greatest hits album by Powderfinger

Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994–2000 is a greatest hits album by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger, released on 30 October 2004 in Australia.

<i>Tea & Sympathy</i> (Bernard Fanning album) 2005 studio album by Bernard Fanning

Tea & Sympathy is the debut solo album by Australian musician Bernard Fanning. It was released on 31 October 2005, by Dew Process records while Powderfinger—Fanning's main band—were on hiatus. Contrary to Powderfinger's usual alternative style, the album blends alternative and country-folk music. Most of the record was written after the cancer-related death of his brother in 2002. His brother's death coincided with the end of Fanning's twelve-year relationship with his partner, and both events were instrumental in his move away from his typically political and socially lyrical subject matter.

<i>Dream Days at the Hotel Existence</i> 2007 studio album by Powderfinger

Dream Days at the Hotel Existence is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band Powderfinger, released by Universal Music on 2 June 2007 in Australia, 19 November 2007 in the United Kingdom, and 11 November 2008 in the United States on the Dew Process label. It was released in Australia with a limited edition bonus DVD, titled Powderfinger's First XI, featuring eleven music videos spanning the band's career, from the first single, "Tail" to "Bless My Soul", the band's latest single before the release of the album. A collector's edition, including a CD and DVD, was released on 18 April 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost and Running</span> 2007 single by Powderfinger

"Lost and Running" is a song by Australian rock group Powderfinger. It was released as the first single from the group's sixth studio album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. It is the band's twenty-second single and peaked at No. 5 on the Australian chart, the group's second highest-charting single after "My Happiness". It made its radio debut on 13 April on Triple J and was released to wide radio play and the band's MySpace on 16 April 2007. The single was officially released on 12 May 2007.

"Black Tears" is a song by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger, from their sixth studio album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. The song is an acoustic ballad in a folk music style, beginning with one guitar and a lead vocal, later introducing a guitar with a synthesised effect from the first chorus. Following the Dream Days at the Hotel Existence release, live versions of the song have been released on other recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passenger (Powderfinger song)</span> 1999 single by Powderfinger

"Passenger" is a song from Powderfinger's third studio album Internationalist. It was released as a single on 9 August 1999, and reached #30 on the Australian music chart. The single was nominated for Single of the year in 2000 at the Australian ARIA Music Awards. "Passenger" was also featured as the opening song performed by Powderfinger while supporting Crowded House's Farewell to the World charity concert in November 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunsets (song)</span> 2004 single by Powderfinger

"Sunsets" is a song released as the third single from Australian rock band Powderfinger's fifth studio album, Vulture Street. The single was released on 4 January 2004 in Australia and New Zealand. "Sunsets" earned a mixed response from reviewers. Some reviewers praised its appeal and aggression, whilst others appreciated the power ballad elements within it. Others, however, described the song negatively as "lumbering". "Sunsets" charted moderately, reaching No. 11 on the Australian Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Powderfinger discography</span> Band discography

The discography of Powderfinger, an Australian alternative rock group, consists of seven studio albums, thirty-three singles, six extended plays, three live albums, four compilation albums, one video album and twenty-nine music videos. They have been nominated for forty-nine ARIA Music Awards, of which they have won eighteen. Shortly after the independent release of their debut self-titled EP in 1993, Powderfinger signed on to a major record label to release their second EP, Transfusion. In 1994 they issued their debut album Parables for Wooden Ears, which did not reach the ARIA Albums Chart. After performances at music festivals, touring and supporting international artists, Powderfinger released their second studio album, Double Allergic (1996), which became their charting breakthrough by peaking at No. 4. Following public recognition from the album's high-selling singles, Powderfinger went on to release Internationalist in 1998, which was their first number-one album; it was certified five times platinum by ARIA for shipment of 350,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pick You Up</span> 1996 single by Powderfinger

"Pick You Up" is the first single released from Powderfinger's second album Double Allergic. The single was released on 13 April 1996, and was Powderfinger's first moderate success both on commercial and Indie radio stations, and the most successful single from the album reaching #23 on the ARIA Charts. In 2007, eleven years after its initial release, "Pick You Up" was selected to be included in the soundtrack for Australian SBS soccer television program The World Game. The song is the oldest recording on the compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Kind of Scene</span> 2000 single by Powderfinger

"My Kind of Scene" is a song by Australian rock band Powderfinger. The song was initially written for their fourth studio album Odyssey Number Five; however, the band was requested to contribute a song to the soundtrack for the 2000 film Mission: Impossible 2. The band submitted three songs: "Whatever Makes You Happy", "Up & Down & Back Again" and "My Kind of Scene". With these submissions, Paramount Pictures decided to use "My Kind of Scene"; however, they decided to release the song as a promotional song for the film, and so changed the title to "My Kinda Scene" in Australia in fitting with the other promotional single for the film, Limp Bizkit's "Take a Look Around". The single was officially released in New Zealand where the song peaked at number 41.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Days (Powderfinger song)</span> 1999 promotional single by Powderfinger

"These Days" is a 1999 song by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger, later included on their fourth studio album, Odyssey Number Five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Remember</span> 2007 single by Powderfinger

"I Don't Remember" is a song by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger, from the album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. It made its radio debut on 9 July 2007 on Australian radio stations, and was subsequently released as a single and digital download on 4 August 2007 in Australia, 3 September 2007 in New Zealand, and 13 August 2007 in the United States. The song was written by Powderfinger lead singer Bernard Fanning, and influenced by bassist John Collins. The riff was then developed by guitarist Ian Haug. The song is about reconciling difficulties and arguments, rather than shifting the blame.

The 21st Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 28 October 2007 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. Rove McManus was the host of the event. The nominees for all categories were announced on 19 September, while the winners of the Artisan Awards were announced on that same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Really Cares (Featuring the Sound of Insanity)</span> 2008 single by Powderfinger

"Who Really Cares (Featuring the Sound of Insanity)" is a song by Powderfinger from their sixth album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. It is the fourth single and final single from the album and was released in Australia in March 2008. The band's publicist, Ms. Fanclub, announced on 27 February that the single would be released to radioplay in the following week, without specifying a date. In her announcement, she also noted that a music video will be released at about the same time. The music video was then released in mid-March; however, the single's release was then announced as 31 March.

References

  1. 1 2 Ms Fanclub (16 November 2007). "Nobody sees to be the next Powderfinger single! Across the great divide tour merch on sale now!". Powderfinger. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 "New Releases". Universal Music Australia . Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  3. 1 2 "The ARIA Report" (PDF). National Library of Australia. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  4. ↑ "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence". Music Reviews. Triple J . Retrieved 28 May 2007.
  5. ↑ "Bernard Fanning on Nobody Sees". Triple J . abc.net.au. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  6. ↑ Fanning, Bernard (2007). "Powderfinger Biography". Take40. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
  7. ↑ Hanna, Jay (2 June 2007). "CD picks of the week". PerthNow . news.com.au . Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  8. ↑ Bolger, Clayton. "(Dream Days at the Hotel Existence > Overview)". Allmusic . Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  9. ↑ Adams, Cameron. "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence (Standard edition)". Herald Sun HiT. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  10. ↑ Ramadge, Andrew. "Powderfinger - Dream Days At The Hotel Existence". Mess + Noise. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  11. ↑ Xerxes, Shah (5 June 2007). "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence". fasterlouder.com.au. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  12. ↑ Rea, Mike (3 December 2007). "Powderfinger - Dream Days At The Hotel Existence Album Review". Contact Music. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  13. ↑ Bishop, James (13 October 2007). "Powderfinger - Dream Days at the Hotel Existence". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  14. ↑ "Nobody Sees - EP". iTunes Store. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  15. ↑ Fanning, Bernard (2007). "Powderfinger". Take 40. Archived from the original on 19 September 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  16. ↑ Rice, Stephen; et al. (23 September 2002). "Who is in the band?". The Powderfinger FAQ. Powderfinger Central. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
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.