To many listeners, Crowded House arrived out of nowhere with their smart, heartfelt pop confections in the late 80s. In actuality, the band possessed an impressive pedigree. They even had to endure low-key failure before the high-profile success started to flow.
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By the time they released the single “Something So Strong” in 1987, Crowded House was clicking on all cylinders and had the ear of the listening public. The song, full of ebullience and ambivalence, took full advantage of the exposure and became a US Top 10 hit.
Getting Crowded
When “Don’t Dream It’s Over” turned into a runaway worldwide hit in 1986, many listeners assumed that Crowded House had just started their career. Technically, that was true for that particular band. But two of the members of the trio had already served as long-standing members of a group that had achieved much success in their own country and had even tasted a bit of worldwide acclaim.
The band in question was Split Enz. This group, led by lead singer and chief songwriter Tim Finn, formed in New Zealand in the early 70s. They grew into one of the most popular outfits in their home country. And, with the 1980 single “I Got You”, they even muscled their way into the UK and US.
That single was written by Neil Finn, Tim’s brother. Neil joined Split Enz a few years into their existence and quickly developed into a massive talent. Split Enz gave up the ghost in 1984, but Neil Finn was quickly plotting his next move with drummer Paul Hester, also formerly of Split Enz. The first song he wrote with the idea of a new project was “Something So Strong.”
“Strong” Feelings
When Neil Finn wrote “Something So Strong”, he wasn’t quite sure what form his new band would take. Eventually, he and Hester hired bassist Nick Seymour. They attracted major label attention for their demos and took the name Crowded House. The trio based the name on their snug living quarters when they relocated to Los Angeles to record their first album.
Finn brought “Something So Strong” to the sessions. Producer Mitchell Froom, who helped shape the sound of the debut, rearranged the song a bit before the band laid it down. As a result, Finn shared the songwriting credit with the producer.
Crowded House released three singles from their self-titled debut album that did little. Luckily, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” came along after that and broke them wide. “Something So Strong” followed that up in the release schedule. The bouncy, energetic track delivered a significant contrast from the dreamy, downbeat “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. It became the band’s second straight US Top 10.
Behind the Lyrics of “Something So Strong”
“Something So Strong” refers to the power of love, which can be both a hindrance and a helper. It’s all right there in the chorus. When Finn sings, “Something so strong / Could carry us away,” it suggests a force that’s out of control and potentially dangerous. But when he sings, “Could carry us today,” it implies something benevolent and supportive.
The verses play off that dichotomy. “Love can make you weep / Can make you run for cover,” Finn explains. But then there’s the flip side: “Roots that run so deep / Bring life to frozen ground.” The dangers are evident: “A taste for jealousy / Is like a lust for gold.”
There’s no stopping it, though: “This thing is happening to us all.”
Crowded House never quite returned to those same commercial heights. They did, however, develop into one of the most reliable songwriting-driven bands of their era. “Something So Strong”, written before it truly had a home, managed to epitomize their winning formula.
Photo by Suzie Gibbons/Redferns
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