History Never Repeats

{{Infobox song

| name = History Never Repeats

| cover = History_Never_Repeats.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Split Enz

| album = Waiata

| B-side = * "Holy Smoke"

| released = March 1981

| recorded = AAV Studios, Melbourne, 1980

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = New wave

| length = 3:00

| label = Mushroom Records

| writer = Neil Finn

| producer = David Tickle

| prev_title = One Step Ahead

| prev_year = 1980

| next_title = I Don't Wanna Dance

| next_year = 1981

}}

"History Never Repeats" is a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from their seventh studio album, Waiata. The song remains one of their most popular.{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/split_enz/history_never_repeats___holy_smoke/ |title=History Never Repeats / Holy Smoke by Split Enz (Single, Pop Rock): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list |publisher=Rate Your Music |date= |accessdate=2016-10-19}} It was also used as the title of two compilation albums by the band.

The guitar bridge in this song, played by Neil Finn, was originally featured in an old Phil Judd song, "Bergen Aan Zee". The band only played the latter song live.

The video was the 12th to be played by MTV upon its launch in 1981.{{cite web |last=NZ On Screen |title=History Never Repeats: Split Enz, Music Video – 1981 |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/history-never-repeats-1981 |website=NZ On Screen |accessdate=15 July 2018}} In 2001 the song was voted by members of APRA as the 57th-best New Zealand song of the 20th century.

Track listings

= Australasian release =

"History Never Repeats" – 3:00
"Holy Smoke"

= International release =

Released in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal with different artwork and track listings.

;UK/Portugal track listing

"History Never Repeats" – 3:00
"Shark Attack (Live)"
"What's The Matter With You (Live)"

;Netherlands/Spain track listing

"History Never Repeats" – 3:00
"What's the Matter with You (Live)"

Personnel

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (1981) !scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book\|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992\|last=Kent\|first=David\|authorlink=David Kent (historian)\|publisher=Australian Chart Book\|location=St Ives, NSW\|year=1993\|isbn=0-646-11917-6\|page=288}} NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. \| style="text-align:center;"\| 4
scope="row"{{singlechart\|New Zealand\|5\|artist=Split Enz\|song=History Never Repeats\|accessdate=15 November 2020\|refname="RMNZ"}}
UK Singles Chart{{cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Maiden%20Japan\|title=The Official Charts Company\|website=Official Charts \|accessdate=2010-11-11}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|63
US Mainstream Rock{{cite magazine\|title=Split Enz - Chart history\|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280192/split-enz/chart?f=376\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=3 July 2017\|language=en}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|33

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! Chart (1981) ! Position
scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web\|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1981 \|publisher= Kent Music Report \|issue= 393 \|page= 7 \|via= Imgur \|date= 4 January 1982 \|access-date= 11 January 2022 \|url= https://i.imgur.com/RgsDOOc.jpg}} \| 49

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

! Chart (1981)

! Position

scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1981 |publisher= Kent Music Report |issue= 393 |page= 7 |via= Imgur |date= 4 January 1982 |access-date= 11 January 2022 |url= https://i.imgur.com/RgsDOOc.jpg}}

| 49

References

Category:APRA Award winners

Category:Split Enz songs

Category:1981 singles

Category:Songs written by Neil Finn

Category:1980 songs

Category:Mushroom Records singles