That Thing You Do (song)
| "That Thing You Do" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The Wonders | |
| from the album That Thing You Do!: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| B-side | "Voyage Around the Moon (The Saturn 5)" (cassette) "Dance with Me Tonight" (45) "All My Only Dreams" (fictitious 45 from the film) |
| Released | September 24, 1996[1] |
| Format | Cassette single, vinyl single |
| Genre | Power pop |
| Length | 2:46 |
| Label | Playtone/Epic |
| Writer(s) | Adam Schlesinger |
"That Thing You Do" is a 1996 song that appears in the film That Thing You Do! The song is performed by the fictional 1960s band The Wonders, who are the focus of the film.
Contents |
[edit] In the film
In 1964, an Erie, Pennsylvania band named "The Oneders" (later known as The Wonders) goes from a college talent show to climbing up the Billboard charts thanks to the song "That Thing You Do". Written by guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Mattingly II, it was originally crafted as a ballad. During the performance at the talent show, drummer Guy Patterson produces a much more up-tempo beat and the rest of the band follow suit, turning the song into an upbeat rock song. The song is a hit with the audience, and they win the talent show. From there, the band is picked up by a local manager who helps them get more shows in the area, and eventually the song receives radio airplay. The band is then signed to Play-Tone Records, under Mr. White's guidance, and the song climbs up the Billboard Hot 100, starting at #93, then #71, #49, and #21. The following week, "That Thing You Do" climbs to #7, becoming the quickest charting song ever on Play-Tone Records. However, the band breaks up before producing another record, so they eventually become one-hit wonders.
In the film, the song is performed by James "Jimmy" Mattingly II on vocals and guitar, Leonard "Lenny" Haise on lead guitar, T.B. Player on bass and Guy "Shades" Patterson on drums. For their live performance of the song on The Hollywood Television Showcase, Scott "Wolfman" Pell replaced T.B. Player on bass.
In the fictitious "mockumentary" liner notes from the soundtrack CD, "That Thing You Do" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1964.
[edit] In real life
The song was written by Adam Schlesinger, the bassist of the alternative rock group Fountains of Wayne. Schlesinger did not expect his song to be chosen, but tried as "a personal exercise". Performers include Mike Viola on vocals with Schlesinger on backup vocals.[2]
The song was released as a single, and although not as successful as was depicted in the film, the track still did moderately well in the US, peaking at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100. (It also reached #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #18 on the Adult Top 40, and #24 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart.)[2]
The song was a bigger hit outside of the US, reaching #31 in Canada in December, 1996[3], and #22 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1997.[4] The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 69th Academy Awards as well as Best Original Song at the 54th Golden Globe Awards, losing out on both occasions to Madonna's "You Must Love Me" from the musical Evita.[5]
[edit] Cover versions
- The Knack recorded the song for their 1998 hits collection, Proof: The Very Best of the Knack.[6]
- New Found Glory did a cover of this song for their EP, From the Screen to Your Stereo in 2000.
- Japanese ska band Shaka Labbits included a cover of the song on their 2004 live album Burning Cylinder.
- Scottish band Bubblegum Lemonade included the song on their 2008 EP Ten Years Younger.[7]
- In 2010, the song was parodied by The Fringemunks to recap Fringe episode 3.03, "The Plateau." [8]
- In 1999's Pay Per View's *NSYNC concert, *NSYNC do a cover of this song.
[edit] References
- ^ Amazon.com: That Thing You Do: The Wonders: Music
- ^ a b That Tune You Do- Writing The Music For THAT THING YOU DO
- ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9720&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=54f1tht5qbkensr2c6e0iqgap5
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 610. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Golden Globes, USA (1997)". IMDB. http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000292/1997. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
- ^ Schadelbauer, Rick (September 1998). "Doug Fieger: The Circle Goes Back to the Beginning". Amplifier Vol. 3 No. 3. Archived from the original on 2006-10-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20061027160614/http://www.officialdougfieger.com/ampsept98.htm. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
- ^ Shaul, Aaron (February 2008). "Bubblegum Lemonade Ten Years Younger EP". Music Reviews. Ink 19. http://www.ink19.com/issues/february2008/musicReviews/musicB/bubblegumLemonade.html. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
- ^ Fringemunks website
