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I Don't Remember

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"I Don't Remember"
Song

"I Don't Remember" is the second single from Australian rock group Powderfinger's sixth studio album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. It made its radio debut on July 9, 2007 on Australian radio stations.[1] The single was released on August 4, 2007 in Australia,[2] and on August 13 2007 in the United States.[3]

"I Don't Remember" was rated highly by reviewers, who appreciated its energy, whilst other reviewers were more critical, dubbing it an "advertisement song". The music video also received some acclaim, especially for the parodies it contained. Despite the reviews, "I Don't Remember" charted poorly, only reaching #42 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[4]

Background, writing, and recording

The song was written by Powderfinger's lead singer, Bernard Fanning following a night he was drinking with the group's bass guitarist John Collins towards the end of the recording phase of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence.[5] The song was written by Fanning on guitar, but he later wrote the main riff on piano,[5] which was then converted into a lead guitar riff performed by Ian Haug.[6] The guitars for the song are all tuned down one step; while the guitar finger is played as though in the key of C major, the detuning brings the key of the song down to Bb, with the song leading off with Bb's relative minor, G minor.[6] During the recording phase, Fanning suggested "softening" the main riff by returning it to the piano, and even recorded this concept[7] however this piano version did not end up in the final album mix, nor was it included as a B-side on the single.

"I Don't Remember" was recorded in Los Angeles during pre-production for Dream Days at the Hotel Existence.[8] It contains a simple acoustic riff, similar to several songs on previous albums including Vulture Street.[9]

Whilst recording the song in January 2007, Fanning, said in an interview that:

It's a song about making mistakes and trying to reconcile what they were — but then in the end, in the wash up — it doesn't really matter whose fault it was, as long as it gets reconciled.[8]

This meaning was also evident in the song's lyrics. In the second line, Fanning states that "I made a mistake that I'll never surpass", before explaining that it doesn't matter whose fault it is, in saying "I know you needed someone to take the fall/I know you needed someone to blame it on". In the second verse, Fanning again reiterates that he feels pain in the mistake that was made, when he says "I found my heart and it broke like glass/I made that mistake that I'll never surpass".

Powderfinger's bassist John Collins said of the song:

I hope the song sounds exciting, without sounding... big rock? Without sounding country, and sound interesting, cause I think that the basis of the song if you play it on the acoustic is there, and it's up to us (Powderfinger) to stuff it up now.[10]

When Powderfinger first played the song to Benmont Tench, who would feature in a piano role throughout the album, he remarked that it reminded him of Buffalo Springfield, who was an inspiration of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Fanning replied that "we were thinking more of the Heartbreakers", indicating the musical style intended in "I Don't Remember", but also paying homage to Tench, whom the band would work with extensively.[11]

Music video

The music video for "I Don't Remember" was made by Fifty Fifty Films, the same group that Powderfinger collaborated with for the music videos for "Passenger" and "Like a Dog" among others.[1]

The music video starts with a school bus with children playing and throwing things, and features a young boy who then puts on the song "I Don't Remember" on his iPod and closes his eyes. He then dreams about a school concert for a band called "Littlefinger", a parody of the band for which he is the lead singer "Bernie", a parody of Bernard Fanning. The band and audience is comprised of primary school students. Also seen is children ordering a chocolate milk called smilo, a take on Milo, and a camera crew for "Channel [Z]" and reporter "Su-Mi". This is a parody of Yumi Stynes, presenter from Australian music station, Channel V. The end of the clip shows that it was a dream being had by the student who played the lead singer for "Littlefinger".[12]

Many elements of I Don't Remember's video received positive critical response, especially the large numbers of children in it. Kathy McCabe of The Daily Telegraph summarised critical feelings towards the video well, when in her review she stated that "Maybe bands should get kids to play them in videos forever".[13]

Parodies in the music video

  • Powderfinger portrayed as "Littlefinger".[14][15]
  • Yumi Stynes portrayed as "Su-Mi".
  • Channel V portrayed as "Channel Z".
  • News Ltd portrayed as "News Unlimited" on a t-shirt.
  • Big Day Out portrayed as "Little Day Out".
  • A sign posted says "Sshhh! Jackson sleeping", a parody of Australian band Sleepy Jackson.
  • Milo portrayed as "Smilo".
  • Silverchair portrayed as "Hi Chair" on a t-shirt.
  • Wolfmother portrayed as "Wolfmummy" on a t-shirt.
  • Tony Mott, an Australian concert photographer is portrayed as "Tony Mop" on a t-shirt with the actor also holding a SLR camera
  • Cocaine and cigarettes portrayed as children's candies Wizz Fizz and Fadds.

Response

Powderfinger performing "I Don't Remember" on the Across the Great Divide tour.

In his review of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, Herald Sun Hit journalist Cameron Adams claimed that "I Don't Remember" was more of an advertisement style song, similar to the first single from the album "Lost and Running". Adams states that "'I Don't Remember' is not the next single without reason — it does everything you expect a Powderfinger single to, perhaps a more appropriate "ad" for this album."[16] Meanwhile, Web Wombat's review of the album included more positive comments about the song, with the review dubbing it "classic Powderfinger."[8] Maxalbums's review agreed with Web Wombat, declaring that "I Don't Remember" "has more classic PF sound", and calling it a catchier song then other works on the album.[17] Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop described "I Don't Remember" as unoriginal, but at the same time said that it proved Powderfinger "haven’t forgotten how to write a good song".[18]

"I Don't Remember" was performed regularly on the Across the Great Divide Tour, generally with positive responses. FasterLouder reviewer gumbuoy stated that "The new songs are excellent live; I Don't Remember has more energy than its [sic] recorded counterpart (Lost and Running)", following by praising the album and performance as a whole.[19]

Charts

"I Don't Remember" was released in New Zealand, but did not chart on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[20]

Year (2007) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 42[4]

Track listings

Template:Sound sample box align right

"I Don't Remember"
A 20 second sample from Powderfinger's "I Don't Remember"
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Template:Sample box end Written and performed by Powderfinger.[2]

CD single

  1. "I Don't Remember" — 3:41
  2. "Who Really Cares (Featuring the Sound of Insanity)" (Live at Brisbane Powerhouse)
  3. "My Kind of Scene" (Live at Brisbane Powerhouse)

iTunes digital download

  1. "I Don't Remember" — 3:41
  2. "Black Tears" (Live) — (Early release exclusive)

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b "Powderfinger go back to school". News.com.au. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  2. ^ a b "I Don't Remember - Powderfinger". JB Hi Fi. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  3. ^ "Powderfinger — I Don't Remember". VH1. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  4. ^ a b "Powderfinger I Don't Remember". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  5. ^ a b The making of 'I Don't Remember' part 1 (WMV). Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  6. ^ a b The making of 'I Don't Remember' part 2 (WMV). Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  7. ^ The making of 'I Don't Remember' part 3 (WMV). Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  8. ^ a b c "Powderfinger & Silverchair Tour News". Web Wombat. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  9. ^ "Review - Dream Days At The Hotel Existence". News.com.au. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  10. ^ The making of 'I Don't Remember' part 4 (WMV). Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  11. ^ Mengel, Noel (7 July 2007). "Powderfinger's distinctive sound given a sparkling setting". The Courier Mail, p. 52.
  12. ^ "I Don't Remember". Herald Sun Hit. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
  13. ^ McCabe, Kathy (2 August 2007). "Music reviews - I Don't Remember - Powderfinger". The Daily Telegraph, p. 50.
  14. ^ Powderfinger - I Don't Remember on YouTube
  15. ^ I Don't Remember video at Last.fm
  16. ^ Adams, Cameron (2007). "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence review". Herald Sun Hit. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
  17. ^ "Powderfinger Discography". Max Albums. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  18. ^ James Bishop (13 October 2007). "Powderfinger Dream Days At The Hotel Existence". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2007-12-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Powderfinger, Silverchair, Blue King Brown @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre, 31/08/07". gumbouy. FasterLouder. Retrieved 2007-09-18. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  20. ^ "Powderfinger I Don't Remember". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
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