Somewhere Only We Know

"Somewhere Only We Know"
Single by Keane
from the album Hopes and Fears
Released	16 February 2004 (See Release history)
Format	7" Vinyl Enhanced CD Single 3" Pocket
Recorded	Heliocentric Studios, Rye, East Sussex, England Les Essarts, Normandy, France
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	3:57
Label	Island
Writer(s)	Tim Rice-Oxley Tom Chaplin Richard Hughes
Producer	Andy Green James Sanger Keane
Keane singles chronology
"This Is the Last Time" (2003) "Somewhere Only We Know" (2004) "Everybody’s Changing" (2004)
Hopes and Fears track listing "Somewhere Only We Know" (1) "Bend and Break" (2) Promo cover Cover for the promo version release. The image appears on the back of the official release's cover.

"Somewhere Only We Know" is a song performed and composed by English alternative rock band Keane, officially released as their third commercial single, and appearing as the opening track of their debut album, Hopes and Fears as the first single. It is considered also Keane's first major commercial release, becoming one of the greatest hits of 2004 worldwide and peaking on the UK charts at number three during its first week of sale. Also, it was Keane's best selling single until "Is It Any Wonder?" in 2006.

Track listings

Enhanced CD Single

Catalogue number: CID849
The CD included two different wallpapers for the PC and the official UK release music video.

1. "Somewhere Only We Know" – 3:58
2. "Snowed Under" – 3:51
3. "Walnut Tree" – 3:40
4. "Somewhere Only We Know" (CD-ROM video) – 3:56

UK 7" Vinyl

Catalogue number: IS849

1. "Somewhere Only We Know"
2. "Snowed Under"

UK, 3" Pocket CD

Released 19 July 2004. It included links for download polyphonic and real ringtones.

1. "Somewhere Only We Know"
2. "Snowed Under"

Alternative versions

German Enhanced CD Single

Released 26 March 2004.

1. "Somewhere Only We Know"
2. "Snowed Under"

Spanish Enhanced CD Single

Released 16 April 2004.

1. "Somewhere Only We Know"
2. "Walnut Tree"
3. "Somewhere Only We Know" (Video)

Promo version

The font depicted was used only during the Fierce Panda era.

1. "Somewhere Only We Know"

Composition, recording and musical structure

Composition and recording

The first demo was composed by Tim Rice-Oxley circa 2001. Rice-Oxley composed this song out of hammering with the piano and based on David Bowie's song "Heroes"[1]. It was first played on the guitar, just before Dominic Scott left the band, and recorded as a demo the same year with a Yamaha CP70 instead of the guitar.
Keane recorded the final version in 2003 at the Helioscentric Studios, Rye, East Sussex for the album. Keane played this song at the historic concert Live 8 in London, along with the single "Bedshaped".

A demo version of "Somewhere Only We Know" was leaked into the Internet in 2004. This version features a different length (4:24) and an extra bridge. Chaplin's shout at the outro is removed.

Musical structure

Main verse sheet music (voice above, piano below)

"Somewhere Only We Know" is a clear example of the Piano rock characteristics. The main piano riff is written in quavers. It features an 87bpm tempo, a 4/4 time signature and is in the Key of A major. The song can be divided in three main parts. The first one is the 24 seconds main piano riff; the second the verses, changing to minor chords later and the third one, the chorus, which features a Bm7 chord. The piano is also the only instrument that never stops playing. The bass is also played by Rice-Oxley, previously recorded, to be played during live performances by his Apple PowerBook G4. The rhythm shows a 16-beat made by Hughes' tambourine attached to the drums, as can be seen on the music video. The synthesizer is a fundamental instrument on Keane music. In this song, it makes a harmony with the piano and vocals from the second verse, when Chaplin sings "Oh simple thing, where have you gone?". Finally, the main vocals from Chaplin top in the A5 note when he sings "And if you have a minute why don't we go?" and on the semi-bridge shout at the outro.

Information about song

The song was mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent. Pocket 3" CDs were released as a 1000-pieces limited edition, containing the b-side "Snowed Under" as well as links to get polyphonic ringtones via SMS. These copies are now valued at £20 due to their rarity. This song was the first Keane item released on vinyl format. The records were numbered and limited to 5000 copies, only sold in the United Kingdom. The b-side "Walnut Tree" was recorded during the James Sanger sessions at Normandy, France.

The real meaning of the song's video and lyrics remain unknown; however, several have accepted that the meaning refers to "Manser's Shaw", a place in Battle where Keane members used to visit in their childhood days and the site of the Battle of Hastings, fought on October 14, 1066.

Richard Hughes, Keane's drummer, offered the following explanation of the song on Chris Flynn's fansite:

“

We've been asked whether "Somewhere Only We Know" is about a specific place, and Tim has been saying that, for him, or us as individuals, it might be about a geographical space, or a feeling; it can mean something individual to each person, and they can interpret it to a memory of theirs... It's perhaps more of a theme rather than a specific message... Feelings that may be universal, without necessarily being totally specific to us, or a place, or a time..."

”

B-sides

Snowed Under

The song talks about a place called "Manser's Shaw" in Battle, East Sussex where the band used to spend their childhood days. It was inspired by a poem "Snowed Under" was the only b-side played live during 2004, 2005 and early 2006, because of its appearance on the CD+DVD version of Hopes and Fears, as well as in the Japanese version of it. Like "Walnut Tree", this song was mixed by Andy Green. "Snowed Under" also titles the band's debut album, with the line "someone who understands your hopes and fears".

Walnut Tree

The lyrics talk about waiting for someone under a walnut tree but Rice-Oxley hasn't given a real meaning to this. It appeared on the Music from the OC: Mix 2 soundtrack. James Sanger is credited on this song for his contributions at his studios in France. This song was mixed by Andy Green.

Technical information on songs

Song	Length	Tempo	Key	Time signature	Genre
"Somewhere Only We Know"	3:57	87bpm	A (La major)	4/4 on 16 beats	Piano rock
"Snowed Under"	3:50	130bpm	F (Fa major)	4/4 on 8 beats	Piano rock
"Walnut Tree"	3:42	110bpm	F# (Fa sharp major)	4/4 on 16 beats	Alternative ballad
"Somewhere Only We Know" (Demo not included)	4:24	87bpm	A (La major)	4/4 on 8 beats	Alternative

Cover versions and appearances

The song is the most covered of Keane's songs, with cover versions by several artists:

• Natasha Bedingfield at Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 1 programme
• Lifehouse at the Pepsi Chart
• Laura Michelle Kelly on her album The Storm Inside
• Almighty Records released a cover version under their Deja Vu feat. Tasmin project, featured on on Almighty Anthems Vol. 1 and Handbag Heaven: The Ultimate Deja Vu Collection.
• Ex-Toto lead singer Joseph Williams did a voice and piano only version for his cover album Smiles.
• A version performed by Travis, based on the song but with different lyrics, is titled "After Mark And Lard Go".
• A version was performed by Blake Lewis on American Idol
• A version was performed by Stacey Solomon on The X Factor in October 2009.
• Joy Electric performed a synthpop version on the 2009 album Favorites at Play.
• A version was performed by Jeff Martin at his Dublin concert, also takes place in Live in Dublin Album.
• Darren Criss, along with the Warblers, covered this in Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers for the 18th episode of the series' second season, Born This Way (Glee).
• A version was performed by the top 12 contenders of the first season of The Glee Project during the season finale.
• Connie Lim recorded a video of herself singing this song for her friend's wedding.

The song has had several appearances in film and television :

• In the automotive show Pimp My Ride
• In a Victoria's Secret commercial
• On The Ashlee Simpson Show
• In the second episode of Grey's Anatomy
• On the trailer for The Lake House
• On the trailer for Paris
• In He's Just Not That into You (2009), a major motion picture based on the self-help book
• In a penultimate episode of The Vicar of Dibley The Handsome Stranger in 2006
• In an episode of Doctor Who Confidential in 2005
• In an episode of Cold Case
• In advertisements for Journeyman
• During a video montage for the 2006 ESPY Awards
• In the Speed Skating Canada promo video for the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics
• In the first week of the semi-finals (21 February 2007) on the sixth season of American Idol, performed by Blake Lewis, the runner-up of the show, receiving great reviews from the judges. The song was also featured in various episodes, such as Idol Gives Back on 2 May and the video of Lewis' home-visiting in Seattle on 16 May. After the finale of Idol, the song was performed by the singer on The View on 14 June 2007.
• On Match of the Day following the 2007 FA Cup Final in which Chelsea beat Manchester United
• On Britain's Favourite View on 9 September 2007
• On S02E17 of Life (2009)
• On the trailer for the 2011 film Winnie the Pooh
• In advertisements for Danone Actimel/DanActive in France
• In LOL (Laughing Out Loud)

Compilation appearances:

• The Acoustic Album (2006, Virgin)

Used as sample in:

• Colette Carr (We Do It) Primo

Music videos

There are three music videos for this song:

International version

Keane appear coming out of a studio and taking a taxi. Then they come across a forest where live the "simple thing" aliens (called "Roxleys" by some fans.)[2][3]. Each Roxley represents the spirit of a tree.
This international video was directed by Corin Hardy, produced by Kit Hawkins for White House Pictures and shot between November 22–23, 2003. Hardy had an influence by Princess Mononoke movie and created the "simple thing" aliens, based on the "kodamas" appearing on that film.

The video saga starts with an image of a backstage door shortly before Keane gets through it with Tom holding a snare. They get on a British taxi cab. A little spirit (a "simple thing" alien) is sat inside the taxi. Then they arrive in a wooded area (in East Sussex, owned by an acquaintance of Corin Hardy). The "simple thing" alien remains in the cab.
They began walking through the forest, "an empty land", across a "fallen tree" and finally arrive to a stream. They are now playing the song in the stream.
Near the end of the song, the little spirits, Roxleys, appear again and get closer to Keane. Finally lights representing their hearts shine.

United States version 1

The video is the same without the "simple thing" aliens

United States version 2 & other countries

This video was shot in 29 May 2004 in Hollywood, California and directed by The Saline Project. The song kicks off and Keane are playing a gig on the stage with a photography of a forest behind them. Soon, the photography becomes real and Keane are actually playing in the forest it represents. After the chorus, the forest becomes a city, and buildings start to grow. On the last chorus, it starts raining before converting into a forest again. The forest disappears and then Keane are playing again on the stage.

Cover art

The cover art was designed by Madefire and Alex Lake, and represents maple leaves falling as on the music video. It also relates to the themes of the B sides, "Walnut Tree" and "Snowed Under". Although neither of the b-sides appear on the Hopes and Fears album, they are relatively well known due to live performances and soundtracks. The letters reading "KEANE" are also in the background, featuring the red leaves.

Release history

Country	Date
United Kingdom	16 February 2004
Europe	26 March 2004
Australia	17 May 2004

Chart performance

The single reached the highest position on the whole "Hopes and Fears era" for a single. It was only succeeded by "Is It Any Wonder?" in 2006. It stayed for 18 weeks on the Mexican airplay chart top 10.

Chart	Peak position
Mexico	1
Taiwan	2
Argentina	2
UK Singles Chart	3
US Adult Top 40	11
Dutch Top 40	15
US Modern Rock Tracks	32
UK Official Download Chart	35
US Billboard Hot 100	50
Germany	55
France (2010) Download Chart	21

External links

• Official site
• Keaneshaped - Information about record
• Keane.fr - Information about the record in French