Passenger (Powderfinger song)
"Passenger" | ||||
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Single by Powderfinger | ||||
from the album Internationalist | ||||
Released | 9 August 1999 (Australia) | |||
Recorded | Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 4:09 | |||
Label | Universal | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jon Coghill, John Collins, Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, Darren Middleton | |||
Powderfinger singles chronology | ||||
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"Passenger" is a song from Powderfinger's third studio album Internationalist. It was released as a single on 9 August 1999,[1] 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.
Single release and history
The single for "Passenger" included five companion tracks, including two live tracks. These were "Passenger" and "Pick You Up", both performed on 11 October 1998 at Sydney Opera House. A version of "These Days" was also included, and this was the first time the song was released.[2] "Passenger" was released on 9 August 1999 in Australia, and was one of two Powderfinger songs that were actively being played on commercial radio at the time; the other being "These Days", which also appeared on the soundtrack for Two Hands. At the time, Powderfinger were performing in clubs and universities around Australia on their P2K tour, and the release of the single resulted in a large boost in ticket sales.[3][4]
Song structure
In "Passenger", a recurring theme in Bernard Fanning’s song writing emerged; "a fascination with the banality of routine". Esky Magazine’s Kelsy Munro cited the lines "So many places you’d prefer to be / Than framed by a picket fence and salary" as an example of this, as well as examples from future songs "These Days" and "My Kind of Scene". When asked about this, Fanning offered no direct explanation, saying it wasn’t a conscious theme, but did suggest that it could be a "part guilt-complex" because of his relatively care-free lifestyle.[5]
In "Passenger", the
"Passenger" featured Victorian trio
Music video
Powderfinger enlisted Brisbane-based production company Fifty Fifty Films to direct and produce the music video for "Passenger".[9] This was the group's first experience with Fifty Fifty, and its success encouraged the group to direct future videos.
The video for "Passenger" begins with the band members packing themselves and their musical instruments into suitcases. They are transported to an airport while the song's first verse is played. During the first chorus, the cases are loaded onto a
Carmine Pascuzzi, in an article about the band’s P2K tour, wrote that "Passenger" was "...accompanied by an excellent video".[3]
Response
Powderfinger’s
Upon its release, "Passenger" was hailed as one of the songs on
Charts
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[15] | 30 |
Awards
As the final single from Internationalist, "Passenger" received nominations and awards from various institutions Australia-wide. Most notably, it was nominated three times by the
Year | Organisation | Ceremony | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Triple J | Hottest 100 | N/A | #100[18] |
2000 | APRA
|
APRA Awards | Song of the Year | Won[17] |
ARIA | ARIA Music Awards | Best Cover Art | Nominated[16] | |
Best Group | Nominated[16] | |||
Single of the Year | Nominated[16] |
Track listing
All tracks written and performed by Powderfinger.[19]
- "Passenger" – 4:09
- "These Days" – 4:59
- "Passenger (Live)" – 4:41
- "Live)" – 4:47
- "Maxwell's Great Mistake" – 2:58
- "That Ol' Track" – 3:47
References
- ^ "Passenger by Powderfinger". Rate your music. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "Passenger - Powderfinger". Releases. Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
- ^ a b c Pascuzzi, Carmine (1999). "Primed for the P2K tour". Powderfinger Central. Archived from the original on 19 February 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
- The Weekend Australian. Powderfinger Central. Archived from the originalon 19 February 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
- ^ Kelsey, Munro (February 2001). "The Odyssey Continues". Esky Magazine. Powderfinger Central. Archived from the original on 28 June 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
- ^ Kirkland, Phil (17 November 1999). "Passenger by Powderfinger - guitar tabs, guitar chords and lyrics - chordie". Passenger. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
- ^ Clode, Samantha (October 1998). "Taking Flight". Juice. Powderfinger Central. Archived from the original on 28 June 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
- ^ Teresa, Bolster (December 1998). "Finger on the Pulse". HIT. Powderfinger Central. Archived from the original on 17 February 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
- ^ "www.fiftyfifty.tv". Fifty Fifty films. Retrieved 18 October 2007.[dead link]
- ^ "Passenger - Powderfinger". YouTube. Archived from the original (Adobe Flash) on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ Yates, Rod. "Trusty Old Jackets". Massive. Hindley Site. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
- Sydney Morning Herald. Powderfinger Central. Archived from the originalon 19 February 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
- ^ Wooldridge, Simon (September 2000). "This Sporting Life". Juice. Powderfinger Central. Archived from the original on 28 June 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
- Max. 2 August 2007. Archived from the originalon 30 August 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
- ^ "Powderfinger – Passenger". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "History: Winners by Artist: Powderfinger". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
- ^ Australasian Performing Right Association. Archived from the originalon 6 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
- ^ a b "Hottest 100 History 1999". Triple J. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
- ^ "Passenger - Powderfinger". Last.fm. Retrieved 2 November 2007.