Sunsets (song)

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"Sunsets"
Universal
Songwriter(s)Jon Coghill, John Collins, Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, Darren Middleton
Producer(s)Nick DiDia
Powderfinger singles chronology
"Love Your Way"
(2003) 		"Sunsets"
(2004) 		"Since You've Been Gone"
(2004)

"Sunsets" is a song released as the third single from Australian

Australian Singles Chart
.

Recording and production

Powderfinger "Sunsets"
20 second sample from "Sunsets", demonstrating the "
power ballad" elements commented on by Bernard Zuel.[1]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

rock elements Fanning described.[2]

In an interview with Undercover magazine, Powderfinger guitarist Darren Middleton described "Sunsets" as one of (songwriter and lead vocalist) Bernard Fanning's older songs. He said it was similar to the acoustic songs on Odyssey Number Five, the band's previous album. Middleton also said the band worked hard to make "Sunsets" heavy, so that it shared the feel of other songs on the album.[3] In an interview with Rove host Rove McManus, Fanning described Vulture Street as the band wanting to "make a change" and "go back to why [they] started playing". He cited rock and roll from the 1970s as a major influence on the album, especially the work of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC.[4]

Response

"Sunsets" was received with varying levels of enthusiasm from reviewers. MusicOMH reviewer Simon Evans described "Sunsets" and "Stumblin'" as some of the more "lumbering" moments on Vulture Street, but still said they contained "a certain earthy appeal".[5] In his review of Vulture Street, Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop agreed, calling "Sunsets" the "most successful single from the album", and praising its emotional impact.[6]

Meanwhile,

Sydney Morning Herald's Bernard Zuel agreed, praising "Sunsets" as "the new definition of power ballad", and saying the song contained "open-hearted feeling and well-constructed progression".[1]

Music video

The music video for "Sunsets" was created by the animation studio Liquid Animation. It begins with the following dialogue in yellow:

In the time of the Chou Dynasty it was believed there existed Ten Celestial Suns. Each day, one sun would be harnessed to a jade dragon and drawn across the heavens, bringing life and light to the world. It was their duty, all they had known – but in their hearts a cold and secret fire grew...[8]

The visual theme for the video is the Chinese legend of Houyi. The video goes on to introduce King Di-Jun, his ten sons (who are also the Celestial Suns), Queen Xi and Warrior Yi. The video shows one of the King's ten sons being strapped to the back of the jade dragon, but breaks free and the sons made life on Earth unbearable, so the King send the warrior who was introduced earlier to kill them. He succeeds in finding them, and kills all but one.[8][9]

(L-R) Middleton, Fanning, and Haug performing an acoustic version of "Sunsets" on the Across the Great Divide tour on 8 September 2007.

An acoustic video for "Sunsets" is also featured on bonus DVDs for

Sunsets DVD single and These Days: Live in Concert "low key" DVD. The video features Bernard Fanning and Darren Middleton
playing the song in a rehearsal room.

Accolades

Accolades for "Sunsets"
Year Organisation Ceremony Award Result
2003 Triple J Hottest 100 N/A No. 7[10]
2004 ARIA ARIA Music Awards Best Group Nominated[11]

Track listing

  1. "Sunsets"[12]
  2. "Sunsets" (acoustic)
  3. "Rita" (Audio Airlock demos)
  4. "Not the Only One" (studio outtake)

Personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Sunsets"
Chart (2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 38

See also

References

  1. ^
    Sydney Morning Herald
    . Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  2. ^ "Powderfinger – Vulture Street". unmusic.ca. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  3. ^ Cashmere, Paul. "Powderfinger, Interview". Undercover. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  4. Network Ten.[dead YouTube link
    ]
  5. ^ Evans, Simo. "Powderfinger – Vulture Street (V2)". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  6. ^ Bishop, James (12 December 2006). "Powderfinger Vulture Street". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  7. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  8. ^
    Universal Music. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help
    )
  9. ^ "Sunsets". Releases. Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  10. ^ "Hottest 100 History 2003". Triple J. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  11. ^ "Winners by Artist:Powderfinger". History. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  12. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  13. ^ "Powderfinger – Sunsets". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Powderfinger – Sunsets". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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