Cherub (song)
| "Cherub" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Ball Park Music | ||||
| from the album Ball Park Music | ||||
| Released | 27 August 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:28 | |||
| Label | Prawn Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Sam Cromack | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Ball Park Music singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Cherub" on YouTube | ||||
"Cherub" is a song by Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music, released on 27 August 2020 as the third and final single from their self-titled sixth studio album Ball Park Music (2020). The song peaked at number 52 on the ARIA charts, and reached certified platinum status in Australia for selling 70,000 units.[1] "Cherub" was considered a favourite to top the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020, but polled at number four.[2][3]
Background
In a
"Cherub" is one of the longest songs the band have ever written,[5] which caused the band to consider never releasing it.[6]
Recording
"Cherub" existed as a demo prior to the song's creation, which Sam Cromack discussed in an interview with Jaxsta's Rod Yates, stating:
"Like a lot of songwriters, my voice memo app is full of ideas. This was one I kept coming back to. I had the verse melody and the little ditty on guitar that matches it, and I also had that chorus lyric. It was Dean [Hanson, guitar] who was like, 'There’s something special about that, you’ve got to finish that song.'".[7]
The song was recorded alongside the rest of the album from late 2019 to early 2020.[8]
Composition
An indie folk[9] and indie rock[10] "slow burner",[11] "Cherub" begins with "acoustic guitars and layered vocals"[10] before "gradually build[ing] to a glorious peak".[12]
The song discusses "personal growth" and "when you're feeling like you're not your best self and not wanting to be a burden on the people around you."
Critical reception
Music Feeds called the song a "slow-burner that’s deceptively sunny" and praised "its delicate guitars and understated keyboards".[14]
Beat Magazine labelled the song "Beatles-esque.[15]
Music video
An accompanying music video was released on 27 August 2020, directed by the band's guitarist Dean Hanson.[10]
Synopsis
Rolling Stone Australia stated the music video shows "uplifting footage of butterflies in their natural habitat, reflecting the sunny disposition and feeling of freedom that the track seems to evoke within its listeners."[10]
Reception
Triple J's Al Newstead felt the music video to be "suitably idyllic".[12]
Live performances
On 11 September 2020, Ball Park Music performed "Cherub" live from their studio "Prawn Records HQ", which
On 23 October 2020, the band performed the song live for Triple J's Like a Version segment, additionally performing a cover of Radiohead's "Paranoid Android".[17]
On 21 December 2020, the band performed the song live for Australian live music program The Sound.[18]
Credits and personnel
Adapted from the parent album's liner notes.[19]
Ball Park Music – writing, production, recording
- Sam Cromack – vocals, guitars
- Jennifer Boyce – vocals, bass
- Daniel Hanson – drums, tambourine, vocals
- Dean Hanson – guitar, vocals
- Paul Furness – piano, synthesisers, trombone, vocals
Other musicians
- Paul McKercher – mixing
- William Bowden – mastering
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[20] | 52 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[21] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Langford, Jackson (10 December 2020). "The songs most likely to win the Hottest 100 of 2020". Music Feeds. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ Carmody, Broede (23 January 2021). "Heat Waves by Glass Animals tops triple J's Hottest 100". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- NME Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- NME Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- NME Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ a b Yates, Rod (12 November 2020). "Ball Park Music: The Stories Behind The Songs". Jaxsta. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- NME Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d Jenke, Tyler (27 August 2020). "Ball Park Music share slow-burning new single, 'Cherub'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ Gallagher, Alex (25 January 2021). "Ball Park Music say they deliberated over whether or not to release 'Cherub'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ a b Newstead, Al (27 August 2020). "First Spin: Ball Park Music share gorgeous slow-burner 'Cherub'". Triple J. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ Gera, Amar (28 October 2020). "'Every feeling is there' – Ball Park Music talk latest album, live music & growth". Life Without Andy. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ Gallagher, Alex (27 August 2020). "Ball Park Music are three for three with new single 'Cherub'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ Kaya, Selin Ruby (22 October 2020). "Ball Park Music affirm their status as Australia's loveliest band with their new self-titled album". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- NME Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- NME Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ABC iView. Retrieved 30 January 2021.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Ball Park Music (booklet). Ball Park Music. Prawn Records / Inertia Music. 2020. 9332727108426.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 February 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1613. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 February 2021. p. 4.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
External links
- Official music video on YouTube