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Distant Sun

{{Short description|1993 single by Crowded House}}

{{Other uses|Distant Sun (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Distant Sun

| cover = Distant Sun.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Crowded House

| album = Together Alone

| B-side =

| released = {{start date|1993|9|20|df=y}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-09-18-I.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=18 September 1993|access-date=22 June 2021}} Misprinted as 13 September.

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| length = 3:51

| label = Capitol

| writer = Neil Finn

| producer =

| prev_title = Four Seasons in One Day

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Nails in My Feet

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Bkd5OQ8b0hQ|"Distant Sun"}}}}

}}

"Distant Sun" is a song by Australian band Crowded House, released in September 1993 by Capitol Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, Together Alone (1993). The song gave the band another top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 19, but fell shy of the mark in Australia, reaching number 23. It was a top-five hit in Canada and New Zealand, reaching numbers four and five, respectively. In March 1994, a remixed version of "Distant Sun" was released in the United States, reaching number 26 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The regular mix was not released as a single in the US and was only available on the album. The accompanying music video was directed by Canadian director and artist Curtis Wehrfritz.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkd5OQ8b0hQ|title=Crowded House - Distant Sun, see description of video|publisher=YouTube|date=18 June 2018|access-date=16 May 2025}}

A live version of "Distant Sun" was included on the single for "Locked Out", another single from Together Alone; this version was recorded at Hammersmith Apollo, England on 12 November 1993. In 2005, a tribute album titled She Will Have Her Way was created featuring a collection of Neil and Tim Finn's songs reinterpreted by female singers; "Distant Sun" was performed by New Zealand singer-songwriter Brooke Fraser. Fraser's version is mostly similar to the original version, but the key was changed to suit her voice, and she omitted the line "Like a Christian fearing vengeance from above".

Critical reception

Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Ace songwriter Neil Finn works his usual melodic miracles here, combining swoony guitar work with a solid hook. The sparkling result, from band's current Together Alone set, offers PDs an opportunity to fill radio's gaping guitar pop void—and judging from this single's stellar sound, there's no better band than Crowded House for the job."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-05-28.pdf#page=49|title=Single Reviews: Pop|magazine=Billboard|date=28 May 1994|page=51|access-date=16 May 2025|author-link=Larry Flick}}

Track listings

As the lead single from Together Alone, "Distant Sun" was released in various versions internationally. All songs, including B-sides, were written by Neil Finn unless otherwise noted.Bailey, Marck; [http://www.etext.org/lists/house/ch-discography.html Comprehensive discography] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409075821/http://www.etext.org/lists/house/ch-discography.html|date=9 April 2006}} of Crowded House including track listings for all albums and singles. Released 28 March 1995. Retrieved 4 July 2007.

  • Australian CD single
  1. "Distant Sun" – 3:50
  2. "Walking on the Spot" (live) – 2:55
  3. "When You Come" (live) – 6:23
  4. "Skin Feeling" {{small|(Paul Hester)}} – 3:56
  5. "Weather with You" (live) – 5:26

Note: All live tracks were recorded at The Town & Country Club, London on 9 and 10 November 1991.

  • UK CD single

Disc one

  1. "Distant Sun" – 3:51
  2. "This Is Massive" {{small|(Hester)}} – 3:55 (live)
  3. "When You Come" – 6:16 (live)

Disc two

  1. "Distant Sun" – 3:51
  2. "Walking on the Spot" – 2:54
  3. "Throw Your Arms Around Me" {{small|(Hunters & Collectors cover; written by Mark Seymour)}} – 3:54 (live)
  4. "One Step Ahead" – 3:52 (live)

Note: All live tracks were recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987. "Distant Sun" and "Walking on the Spot" are from the Together Alone album.

  • Holland CD single
  1. "Distant Sun"
  2. "Don't Dream It's Over" (live at the King Biscuit Flower Hour, 24 March 1987)
  • Netherlands CD single
  1. "Distant Sun" – 3:51
  2. "Walking on the Spot" – 2:54
  3. "Throw Your Arms Around Me" {{small|(Hunters & Collectors cover; written by Seymour, Archer, Crosby, Falconer, Howard, Miles, Waters)}} – 3:54 (live)
  4. "One Step Ahead" – 3:52 (live)

Note: All B-sides recorded live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987 except "Walking on the Spot" which is the Together Alone album version.

  • US CD single
  1. "Distant Sun" (remix version) – 3:45
  2. "Pineapple Head" – 3:54 (live)
  3. "Locked Out" – 3:38 (live)

Note: Live tracks were recorded at Munich, Germany, 12 December 1993.

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1993–1994)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|23|artist=Crowded House|song=Distant Sun|rowheader=true|access-date=5 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|4|chartid=2399|rowheader=true|access-date=5 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-10-16.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=42|date=16 October 1993|page=21|access-date=13 July 2020}}

| 57

scope="row"|Europe (European Hit Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-10-16.pdf|title=EHR Top 40|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=42|date=16 October 1993|page=30|access-date=10 April 2024}}

| 17

{{single chart|Germany|70|artist=Crowded House|song=Distant Sun|songid=43223|rowheader=true|access-date=5 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1993/week-42|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 42, 1993|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=30 March 2023}}

| 9

{{single chart|New Zealand|5|artist=Crowded House|song=Distant Sun|rowheader=true|access-date=5 April 2018}}
{{single chart|UK|19|date=19931009|rowheader=true|access-date=5 April 2018}}
scope="row"|UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-23-S-OCR.pdf|title=The Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=23 October 1993|page=18|access-date=2 May 2024}}

| 4

scope="row"|US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles/1994-07-16/|title=Bubbling Under Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=16 July 1994|access-date=30 March 2023}}

| 13

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1994-04-23/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=23 April 1994|url-access=subscription|access-date=27 July 2023}}

| 26

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1994)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2687&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2687.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2687|title=RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=5 April 2018}}

| 34

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Distant Sun"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|type=single|certyear=2024|access-date=24 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Crowded House|title=Distant Sun|award=Gold|relyear=1993|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=21 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Crowded House}}

{{APRA Award for Song of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Crowded House songs

Category:1993 singles

Category:1993 songs

Category:APRA Award winners

Category:Brooke Fraser songs

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:Songs written by Neil Finn