December (Collective Soul song)
{{Short description|1995 single by Collective Soul}}
{{Infobox song
| name = December
| cover = Decembersingle.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Collective Soul
| album = Collective Soul
| released = {{start date|1995|3|17}}
| recorded =
| studio = Criteria (Miami, Florida)
| genre = Alternative rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/08/95-best-alternative-rock-songs-1995-alt/4/|title=The 95 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1995|magazine=Spin|page=4|access-date=September 18, 2020}}
| length = 4:45
| label = Atlantic
| writer = Ed Roland
| producer =
- Ed Roland
- Matt Serletic
| prev_title = Gel
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = Smashing Young Man
| next_year = 1995
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|6exsatE-DUk|"December"}}}}
}}
"December" is a song by American alternative rock band Collective Soul, released on the band's 1995 eponymous album. It was serviced to album rock radio on March 17, 1995. Written by singer and guitarist Ed Roland, it peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for nine weeks, becoming that chart's most successful song of 1995. In Canada, the song reached number two on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, becoming the band's highest-charting single until "The World I Know" attained the top spot in March 1996.
Composition
In a December 2017 interview with Songfacts, lead singer Ed Roland explained the inspiration behind "December":
{{blockquote|We were going through a tough time with our first manager, and I just felt like at the time, a lot of stuff happened really quickly. You've got to remember, we had a hit song before we had a label or even a true band. So, that relationship started to deteriorate. And while we were in the studio, it came pretty natural. I just wanted to talk about how I felt I was being used and whatever I did was not good enough ever.{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/ed_roland_of_collective_soul/|title=Ed Roland of Collective Soul|publisher=Songfacts|access-date=January 21, 2018}}}}
Track listings
US 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=December|others=Collective Soul|year=1995|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Atlantic Records, Rising Storm Productions|id=7-87157}}
:A. "December" – 4:09
:B. "Gel" – 2:59
- "December" (edit)
- "Where the River Flows" (LP version)
German and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=December|others=Collective Soul|year=1995|type=German CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Rising Storm Productions|id=7567-85587-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=December|others=Collective Soul|year=1995|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Rising Storm Productions, Warner Music Australia|id=7567855872}}
- "December" (LP version)
- "Sister Don't Cry" (acoustic)
- "Where the River Flows" (live)
- "December" (live)
- All live tracks were recorded on March 14, 1995, at The Thunderdome (St. Petersburg, Florida)
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1995) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/lNkQkhV.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – 17 Sep 1995|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur|access-date=July 5, 2017}} N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
|97 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=9043|rowheader=true|access-date=March 19, 2018|artist=|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Canadarock|2|chartid=9205|rowheader=true|access-date=March 19, 2018|artist=|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|34|artist=Collective Soul|song=December|rowheader=true|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|20|artist=Collective Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|11|artist=Collective Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|14|artist=Collective Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|2|artist=Collective Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Collective Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019|song=|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|7|artist=Collective Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019|song=|refname=}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States
|March 17, 1995 |Album rock radio |rowspan="3"|Atlantic |rowspan="2"|{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2wsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73|title=Collective Soul 'Gels' with Sophomore Set|last=Atwood|first=Brett|author-link=Brett Atwood|magazine=Billboard|volume=107|issue=11|page=73|date=March 18, 1995}} |
|---|
| March 24, 1995
|Top 40 radio |
| April 3, 1995
|Progressive rock radio |{{cite magazine|title=More Progressive Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1088|page=69|date=March 31, 1995}} |
Cover version
Burmese rock band Iron Cross has "copied" the song live in concert.{{cite web|url=https://udayton.edu/news/articles/2011/11/pop_music_in_burma.php|title=Pop Music in Burma|publisher=University of Dayton|date=November 17, 2011|access-date=February 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/01/143014871/shakira-and-collective-souls-hits-with-a-burmese-twist|title=Shakira And Collective Soul's Hits, With A Burmese Twist|publisher=NPR|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=February 1, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Collective Soul singles}}
{{Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Song|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Collective Soul songs