Obvious Song
{{Infobox song
| name = Obvious Song
| cover = Joe Jackson Obvious Song 1991 single cover.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Joe Jackson
| album = Laughter & Lust
| B-side =
| released = 1991
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2022/11/three-punk-sophisticates-helped-invent-new-wave|title=Angry Young Men Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=November 19, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2023}}
| length = 3:40
| label = Virgin
| writer = Joe Jackson
| producer = Joe Jackson
Ed Roynesdal
| prev_title = Stranger than Fiction
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = Oh Well
| next_year = 1991
}}
"Obvious Song" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1991 as the second single from his ninth studio album Laughter & Lust. The song was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and Ed Roynesdal.{{cite web|author=Jason Damas |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/laughter-lust-mw0000267381 |title=Laughter & Lust - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=1991-04-30 |access-date=2019-07-08}} The song's music video was directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Marc Rosenberg.{{cite magazine|date=25 May 1991|title=Music Video: Video Track|magazine=Billboard}}
Background
As Jackson's US debut single for Virgin, "Obvious Song" was selected by the label as a track they believed would generate play on album, alternative and college radio. Diana Fried, product manager for Virgin, told Billboard of the label's decision to release it: "They felt Joe had had a long, illustrious career, but without a whole lot of radio successes in his recent past. To come out with a more pop single right off the bat might not be the best way to let the fans know he's got a new album out, and also might limit where we go with it."{{cite magazine|last=Bessman|first=Jim|date=4 May 1991|title=Artist developments: A jolt for Jackson|magazine=Billboard}} The song reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and No. 28 on Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts.{{cite web|author=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/joe-jackson/chart-history/mrt/ |title=Joe Jackson Obvious Song Chart History |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2019-07-08}}{{cite web|author=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/joe-jackson/chart-history/rtt/ |title=Joe Jackson Obvious Song Chart History |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2019-07-08}}
Critical reception
On its release, Billboard described the song as "rebellious social commentary that gains credibility from the singer's distinctive phrasing." They added: "A ringing '60s style guitar arrangement combined with horns and piano lines make this rhythmically dynamic tune a must for modern and album rock formats."{{cite magazine|date=4 May 1991|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard}} In a review of Laughter & Lust, John Everson of the Southtown Star wrote: "Kicking off with the wryly labeled "Obvious Song," Jackson spits out observations that are obvious, but seldom acted on."{{cite journal|last=Everson|first=John|date=6 June 1991|title=Joe Jackson's 'Laughter' bubbles with angry wit|journal=Southtown Star}}
Mark Lepage of The Gazette wrote: "When Laughter & Lust works, it is as brisk, invigorating, tuneful and concise as "Obvious Song"."{{cite journal|last=Lepage|first=Mark|date=4 May 1991|title=Joe Jackson finds old edge in catchy, cutting melodies|journal=The Gazette}} Roger Catlin of the Hartford Courant commented: "The punchy "Obvious Song" and "It's All Too Much" are worthy rockers with pithy jabs."{{cite journal|last=Catlin|first=Roger|date=14 July 1991|title=Joe Jackson's repertoire suitably classy for Bushnell|journal=Hartford Courant}} Parry Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel considered the song to "perform the difficult task of combining social commentary and pop craftsmanship without sounding preachy or pretentious".{{cite journal|last=Gettelman|first=Parry|date=14 June 1991|title=Records|journal=Orlando Sentinel}}
Elysa Gardner of Rolling Stone described the song as a "straight-ahead rocker" which "takes aim at an American rock star who drives around in a gasguzzling limo while preaching to a foreigner who makes his living by cutting down trees".{{cite magazine|author=Elysa Gardner |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/joejackson/albums/album/119363/review/5942862/laughter__lust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602160045/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/joejackson/albums/album/119363/review/5942862/laughter__lust |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-06-02 |title=Joe Jackson: Laughter & Lust : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=1991-05-30 |access-date=2019-07-08}} People was more critical of the song, describing it as "preachy", with Jackson "com[ing] across as a swollen, whiny Billy Joel".{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-laughter-and-lust-vol-35-no-19/ |title=Picks and Pans Review: Laughter and Lust |publisher=People |date=1991-05-20 |access-date=2019-07-08}}
Track listing
;CD single (US promo)
- "Obvious Song" (Edit) - 3:47
- "Obvious Song" - 4:11
Personnel
- Joe Jackson - vocals, keyboards
- Tom Teeley - guitar, backing vocals
- Joy Askew - keyboards, backing vocals
- Graham Maby - bass
- Dan Hickey - drums
- Sue Hadjopoulos - drums, percussion
Production
- Joe Jackson - producer
- Ed Roynesdal - producer
- Dan Hersch - editor on "Edit" version
- Larry Alexander - engineer
- Bob Ludwig - mastering
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1991)
!Peak |
|---|
| Canadian (RPM) 100 Singles Chart{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=1220& |title=Item: 1220 - Library and Archives Canada |date=17 July 2013 |publisher=Bac-lac.gc.ca |access-date=2019-07-08}}
| style="text-align:center;"|68 |
| US Billboard Album Rock Tracks
| style="text-align:center;"|28 |
| US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
| style="text-align:center;"|4 |