What's the Matter Here

Last updated
"What's the Matter Here?"
Single by 10,000 Maniacs
from the album In My Tribe
B-side "Verdi Cries"
Released1988
Songwriter(s) Natalie Merchant, Robert Buck
Producer(s) Peter Asher
10,000 Maniacs singles chronology
"'Like the Weather'"
(1988)
"What's the Matter Here?"
(1988)
"'Trouble Me'"
(1989)

"What's The Matter Here?" was the third single released from 10,000 Maniacs' 1987 album In My Tribe , following Peace Train and Like the Weather . [1] A live version with lead vocalist Mary Ramsey was also included on their 2016 album Playing Favorites .

The song continued the band's slow integration into the mainstream of American commercial radio; it was a number 9 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1988 and reached the Billboard Hot 100 as well (the second single by the band to reach the latter chart, after "Like the Weather"). The song, as the rest of the album, was produced by Peter Asher (half of the duo Peter & Gordon, and producer of Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor). The song was written by Natalie Merchant and Robert Buck.

In the song, singer Natalie Merchant narrates the role of a woman who notices that her neighbors are abusing their young son, and struggles to balance her desire to speak up for the child with her feeling that she must not interfere in the family's affairs: "I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses/He's your kid, do as you see fit/But get this through that I don't approve of what you do to your own flesh and blood ... I want to say, "What's the matter here?"/But I don't dare say..."

Track listings and formats

12" Vinyl - Elektra EKR 71T (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."What's The Matter Here?" (LP Version) 
2."Verdi Cries" (LP Version) 
3."Like The Weather (Live)" (Live from the Einstein A-Go-Go, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, December 13, 1987 (1987-12-13)) 
4."Gun Shy (Live)" (Live from the Einstein A-Go-Go, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, December 13, 1987 (1987-12-13)) 

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10,000 Maniacs</span> American alternative rock band

10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band that was founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US: In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989), Our Time in Eden (1992) and the live album MTV Unplugged (1993). After the recording but before the release of MTV Unplugged, original lead singer and songwriter Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career, while the remaining members continued the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Maines</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1974)

Natalie Louise Maines is an American singer. She is the lead vocalist for the country band The Chicks.

<i>In My Tribe</i> 1987 studio album by 10,000 Maniacs

In My Tribe is the third studio album from the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Released on July 27, 1987 by Elektra Records, it was their second major-label album and their first to achieve large-scale success. John Lombardo, Natalie Merchant's songwriting partner on previous albums, had left the band in 1986, and In My Tribe saw Merchant begin to collaborate with the other members of the band, most notably with Rob Buck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Merchant</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1963)

Natalie Anne Merchant is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. She joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first seven albums before leaving to begin her solo career in 1993. She has since released nine studio albums as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Martin</span> Swedish singer, songwriter and record producer

Karl Martin Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1990s making a string of hit singles such as Britney Spears's "...Baby One More Time" (1998), the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" (1999), Céline Dion's "That's the Way It Is" (1999) and NSYNC's "It's Gonna Be Me" (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narada Michael Walden</span> American musician

Narada Michael Walden is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He acquired the nickname Narada from Sri Chinmoy.

<i>MTV Unplugged</i> (10,000 Maniacs album) 1993 live album by 10,000 Maniacs

MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album and video by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, recorded for the MTV Unplugged series. The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and spawned the hit single "Because the Night", a cover of the song written by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. Between the recording and release of the album, vocalist Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plumb (singer)</span> Contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and author

Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, better known by her stage name Plumb, is an American songwriter, recording artist, performer and author. Plumb has sold more than 500,000 albums and over two million singles worldwide, co-penned songs for numerous other artists, including Michelle Branch, Mandisa, Mandy Moore, Jaci Velasquez, and Natalie Grant, and had music placed in many films and television shows. Originally signed as a contemporary Christian music recording artist in 1997, Plumb is now known as well as or better in alternative rock, electronic dance music, and for the use of her music in film and television than she is in the contemporary Christian music market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself</span> 1964 hit single for Dusty Springfield

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David.

Portrait is an American R&B and hip hop vocal quartet, consisting of members Michael Angelo Saulsberry, Irving Washington III, Eric Kirkland and Philip Johnson. The quartet group's music sound was influenced by the new jack swing style of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)</span> 2002 country song by Toby Keith

"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue " is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. The song was written in late 2001, and was inspired by Keith's father's death in March 2001, as well as the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States later that year. It was released in May 2002 as the lead single from the album, Unleashed. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming his biggest solo hit on that chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">But It's Better If You Do</span> 2006 single by Panic! at the Disco

"But It's Better If You Do" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, released on May 1, 2006, as the third single from their debut album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005). Taking its title from a quote said by Natalie Portman's character in the 2004 film Closer, the song was written by band members Ryan Ross, Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith, and is about being in and not enjoying the location of a strip club. "But It's Better If You Do" failed to recreate the success the previous single "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" had in the United States but found chart prominence in Europe and Oceania, peaking at number 10 in New Zealand, number 15 in Australia and number 23 in the UK. The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Shane Drake, features the band performing at a masquerade-style strip club.

<i>9</i> (Public Image Ltd album) 1989 studio album by Public Image Ltd

9 is the seventh studio album by Public Image Ltd, but their ninth full-length release including the live albums Paris au Printemps and Live in Tokyo. It was released in May 1989 on the Virgin Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Ready to Make Nice</span> 2006 single by The Dixie Chicks

"Not Ready to Make Nice" is a song co-written and performed by American country music trio Dixie Chicks. It was released in March 20, 2006 as the first single from the band's seventh studio album, Taking the Long Way. The Dixie Chicks wrote the song in response to the backlash they experienced in 2003 after criticizing President George W. Bush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're the Inspiration</span> Single from Chicago

"You're the Inspiration" is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago and recorded for their fourteenth studio album Chicago 17 (1984), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The third single released from that album, it reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1985 and also climbed to the top position on the Adult Contemporary chart at the same time. The song won honors for Cetera from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), in 1986 in the most-performed songs category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round Here</span> 1994 single by Counting Crows

"Round Here" is a song by American rock band Counting Crows, released as the second single from their debut album, August and Everything After (1993), on June 20, 1994, by Geffen Records. The song's origin predates the formation of Counting Crows, when the band's future frontman Adam Duritz wrote the song with The Himalayans members Dan Jewett, Chris Roldan and Dave Janusko.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Stop (Rolling Stones song)</span> 2002 single by The Rolling Stones

"Don't Stop" is a single by rock band the Rolling Stones featured on their 2002 compilation album Forty Licks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only Prettier</span> 2010 single by Miranda Lambert

"Only Prettier" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Miranda Lambert. It was released in July 2010 as the fourth single from her album Revolution. Co-written with Natalie Hemby, the song has both a country girl and city girl facing each other over the differences of their respective lifestyles, coming to an agreement that they have similarities but the former says that she's like her "only prettier". Critics gave praise to Lambert's vocal performance and lyricism but were critical about the song's production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like the Weather</span> 1988 single by 10,000 Maniacs

"Like the Weather" was the second single released from 10,000 Maniacs' 1987 album In My Tribe, following "Peace Train". A live version with lead vocalist Mary Ramsey was also included on their 2016 album Playing Favorites.

"Lies" is a song written by Beau Charles and Buddy Randell, performed by The Knickerbockers; the single was produced by Jerry Fuller. It reached #20 on the U.S. pop chart in 1966. It was featured on their 1966 album Lies and is famous for often being mistaken for a Beatles track due to its similarities to their style and harmonies.

References

  1. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9780743201698.