Selling the Drama

Last updated
"Selling the Drama"
Selling the Drama by Live US cassette single.PNG
US commercial cassette single
Single by Live
from the album Throwing Copper
B-side
ReleasedFebruary 1994
Length3:27
Label Radioactive
Songwriter(s) Live
Producer(s) Jerry Harrison, Live
Live singles chronology
"Mirror Song"
(1992)
"Selling the Drama"
(1994)
"I Alone"
(1994)

"Selling the Drama" is the first single from Live's 1994 album, Throwing Copper . It reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming their first of three singles to reach the top of this chart. The song also reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 49 in Australia, number 41 in Canada and number 30 in the United Kingdom. It achieved its highest peak in the Netherlands, peaking at number 15 on both the Dutch Top 40 and Single Top 100 charts. Live's performance of "Selling the Drama" at Woodstock '94 was their featured song on the Woodstock 94 double album.

Contents

Background

Singer Ed Kowalczyk said the lyrics were initially about "the state of the leader and led", or the ways that political and religious leaders control the public. However, after recording, he realized it also applied to the band's platform to reach audiences through music. [1] Kowalczyk and drummer Chad Gracey both said the song came out very naturally, in about an hour. [1]

Music video

The video is set in a wooded area and filmed in both black and white and in color, showing the band playing the song and lead singer Ed Kowalczyk tearing pages out of a book. The video is notable for one of the last appearances of Kowalczyk's long hair, which he shaved off around the time that "I Alone" was released as a single.

Track listings

All songs were written by Live.

US cassette

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:26
  2. "Lightning Crashes" – 5:25

Australian CD

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:26
  2. "The Dam at Otter Creek" – 4:40
  3. "Shit Towne" – 3:48

UK CD and cassette

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:27
  2. "Selling the Drama" (acoustic) – 3:40
  3. "White, Discussion" – 4:39

UK CD

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:26
  2. "I Alone" (bootleg) – 4:23
  3. "Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)" (bootleg) – 4:53

UK and European CD

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:26
  2. "The Dam at Otter Creek" (bootleg) – 5:35
  3. "Selling the Drama" (bootleg) – 3:35

UK cassette

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:25
  2. "The Dam at Otter Creek" (Bootleg) – 3:35

French CD

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:27
  2. "Selling the Drama" (acoustic) – 3:38

German CD (RAD 31974)

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:27
  2. "Selling the Drama" (acoustic) – 3:40
  3. "White, Discussion" (special radio edit) – 4:40

German CD (RAD 32228)

  1. "Selling the Drama" – 3:27
  2. "Selling the Drama" (acoustic) – 3:38

Charts

Chart (1994–1995)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [2] 49
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [3] 41
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [4] 80
Germany (GfK) [5] 89
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [6] 22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [7] 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [8] 15
Scotland (OCC) [9] 30
UK Singles (OCC) [10] 30
US Billboard Hot 100 [11] 43
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [12] 1
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [13] 4
US Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [14] 34

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesFebruary 1994 Radioactive
United KingdomSeptember 26, 1994
  • CD
  • cassette
[15]
United Kingdom (re-release)June 19, 1995 [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live (band)</span> American rock band

Live, often typeset as Līve, LĪVE, or +LĪVE+, is an American rock band formed in York, Pennsylvania, in 1984 by Ed Kowalczyk, Patrick Dahlheimer (bass), Chad Gracey (drums), and Chad Taylor (guitars). As of 2022, Kowalczyk is the only remaining member of the original lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's the Frequency, Kenneth?</span> 1994 single by R.E.M.

"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994). The song's title refers to an incident in New York City in 1986 in which two then-unknown assailants attacked journalist Dan Rather while repeating "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dolphin's Cry</span> 1999 single by Live

"The Dolphin's Cry" is a song by American alternative rock band Live, released on August 24, 1999, as the lead single from their fourth studio album, The Distance to Here. The song was co-produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, and features Adam Duritz of Counting Crows on backing vocals. It reached number one on the Canadian RPM Top 30 Rock Report and number two on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Internationally, "The Dolphin's Cry" peaked at number one in Iceland, number seven in Flanders, and number 10 in the Netherlands while reaching the top 50 on the Australian and New Zealand music charts.

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

"Smooth" is a song performed by American rock band Santana and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, who sings the lead vocals. It was released to radio on June 15, 1999, as the lead single from Santana's 1999 studio album, Supernatural. It was physically released as a single in August. It was written by Itaal Shur and Thomas, who re-wrote Shur's original melody and lyrics, and produced by Matt Serletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daughter (song)</span> 1993 single by Pearl Jam

"Daughter" is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam, released in November 1993 by Epic Records as the second single from the band's second studio album, Vs. (1993). The song features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by the band's members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightning Crashes</span> 1994 single by Live

"Lightning Crashes" is a song by American rock band Live. It was released in September 1994 as the third single from their second studio album, Throwing Copper. Although the track was not released as a single in the United States, it received enough radio airplay to peak at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart in 1995. The song also topped the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for 10 weeks and the Modern Rock Tracks chart for nine weeks. Internationally, the song reached No. 3 in Canada, No. 8 in Iceland, and No. 13 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go (Pearl Jam song)</span> 1993 single by Pearl Jam

"Go" is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam, released in October 1993 as the first single from the band's second studio album, Vs. (1993). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by drummer Dave Abbruzzese. The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and reached the top five in New Zealand and Norway. "Go" received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Given to Fly</span> 1997 single by Pearl Jam

"Given to Fly" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Mike McCready, "Given to Fly" was released to radio on December 22, 1997, as the first single from the band's fifth studio album, Yield (1998).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bed of Roses (Bon Jovi song)</span> 1993 single by Bon Jovi

"Bed of Roses" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, first appearing on their fifth studio album, Keep the Faith (1992), then released as a single on January 11, 1993 by Mercury and Jambco. Jon Bon Jovi wrote the song in a hotel room while suffering from a hangover and the lyrics reflect his feelings at the time. The song contains drawn out guitar riffs and soft piano playing, along with emotive and high vocals by Jon Bon Jovi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry (Faith Hill song)</span> 2002 single by Faith Hill

"Cry" is a song by American country music singer Faith Hill. It was released as the first single from her fifth studio album of the same name (2002). The song was originally written and recorded by singer-songwriter Angie Aparo for his 1999 album, The American. In 2003, at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, Hill won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Cry", marking her second win in the category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Kiss (Faith Hill song)</span> 1998 song by Faith Hill

"This Kiss" is a song by American country music singer Faith Hill from her third studio album Faith. It was written by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner and Annie Roboff, and produced by Hill and Byron Gallimore. It was released on February 23, 1998, as the album's first single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz song)</span> 1998 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Fly Away" is a song by American singer Lenny Kravitz. It was released as the fourth single from his fifth studio album, 5 (1998). Released to the radio on May 11, 1998, "Fly Away" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Fly Away" topped the charts in Iceland and the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Performance in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakfast at Tiffany's (song)</span> 1995 single by Deep Blue Something

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a song by American alternative rock band Deep Blue Something. Originally appearing on their 1993 album 11th Song, it was later re-recorded and released on their 1995 album Home. Released as a single in July 1995 by Interscope and Rainmaker, the song was the band's only hit in the United States, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1996. Outside the United States, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" topped the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top ten on the charts of Australia, Flanders, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Ever Fall in Love</span> 1992 single by Shai

"If I Ever Fall in Love" is the debut single by American R&B-soul quartet Shai, released by Gasoline Alley and MCA in September 1992 from their debut album of the same name (1992). The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1992 and peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B chart. It spent eight weeks at number two on the Hot 100, which at the time was the second-most number of weeks that a song held the position without topping the chart, behind Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You". The song was also their only top-40 hit in the UK, peaking at number 36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Alone</span> 1994 single by Live

"I Alone" is the second single from American rock band Live's third studio album, Throwing Copper (1994). The single was released to radio stations in Canada and the United States but was only released commercially overseas. "I Alone" reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and was ranked 62nd-best song of the 1990s by VH1. Live performed "I Alone" at the Woodstock '99 festival on July 23, 1999, in Rome, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakini's Juice</span> 1997 single by Live

"Lakini's Juice" is a song by alternative rock group Live, which was released as the first single from their 1997 album, Secret Samadhi. The song opens with abrasive staccato guitar and features an orchestra towards the end. There is a constant dissonance running throughout the track. The B-side track "Supernatural" is a live recording, made at "The Academy" in New York City on November 19, 1994; although this particular version was previously unreleased, a different performance of the same song, from the band's appearance on MTV Unplugged, previously appeared on the Vic Chesnutt tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to the Water</span> 2000 single by Live

"Run to the Water" is a song by alternative rock group Live, released on January 11, 2000, as the second single from their fifth studio album, The Distance to Here (1999). It became a moderate hit in early 2000, reaching the top 40 in Australia, Finland, and the Netherlands as well as on the American and Canadian rock charts. In Iceland, the song topped the chart for three weeks, becoming Live's second consecutive number-one single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">They Stood Up for Love</span> 2000 single by Live

"They Stood Up for Love" is a song by alternative rock group Live, which was released as the third and final single from their 1999 album, The Distance to Here. The song was released in the United States on June 26, 2000, and reached number 31 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 24 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It also peaked at number 88 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nobody Knows (Tony Rich song)</span> 1995 single by Tony Rich

"Nobody Knows" is a song by R&B singer Tony Rich from his 1996 debut album, Words. Released as his debut single on November 7, 1995, the song peaked at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. It also became a hit in several other countries, topping the Irish Singles Chart and reaching number two in Australia and Canada, number four in the United Kingdom, and the top 20 in the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. Rich received a nomination for the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someday (Sugar Ray song)</span> 1999 single by Sugar Ray

"Someday" is a song by American rock band Sugar Ray. First serviced to American radio in June 1999, the song was released on September 7, 1999, as the second US single and third single overall from the band's third album, 14:59 (1999). The song reached number seven on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts, number four on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, and number 25 in New Zealand.

References

  1. 1 2 Live - In Conversation (Interview with Chad Gracey and Ed Kowalczyk). 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2024 via YouTube.
  2. "Live – Selling the Drama". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2550." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  4. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 27. July 8, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  5. "Live – Selling the Drama" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  6. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (08.9.–14.9. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). September 8, 1994. p. 16. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  8. "Live – Selling the Drama" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  9. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  11. "Live Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  12. "Live Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  13. "Live Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  14. "Live Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  15. "Single Releases". Music Week . September 24, 1994. p. 25.
  16. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 17, 1995. p. 31.