- Sunsets
Infobox Single
Name = Sunsets
Caption =
Artist =Powderfinger
from Album =Vulture Street
Released = 4 January 2004
Format =CD Single Digital download
Recorded =
Genre =Alternative rock
Length = 3:50
Label =Polydor Universal Records
Writer =
Producer =Nick DiDia
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Love Your Way "
(2003)
This single = "Sunsets"
(2004)
Next single = "Since You've Been Gone"
(2004)
Misc ="Sunsets" is a song released as the third single from Australian rock bandPowderfinger 's fifth studio album, "Vulture Street ". The single was released on 4 January 2004 in Australia and New Zealand."Sunsets" earned a mixed response from reviewers. Some reviewers praised its appeal and aggression, whilst others appreciated the
power ballad elements within it. Others, however, described the song negatively as "lumbering". "Sunsets" charted moderately, reaching #11 on the Australian singles chart.Recording and production
"
Vulture Street " was recorded and developed over a seven week period inSydney , Australia. It was during this time that "Sunsets" was written and produced.Nick DiDia produced the album, as he had done on previous Powderfinger albums including "Odyssey Number Five ". "Sunsets" was mixed inAtlanta , Georgia, by Brendan OBrien, who had previously worked with DiDia. Fanning described the album during production stages as "a much more dry, direct rock", but also noted that "just because I rock, doesn't mean I'm made of stone". In that sense, "Sunsets" (and numerous other songs on "Vulture Street") were seen as emotive, combined with the rock elements Fanning described. [cite web|url=http://umusic.ca/powderfinger/|title=Powderfinger - Vulture Street|publisher=unmusic.ca|accessdate=2007-12-06]In an interview with "Undercover"
magazine , Powderfingerguitarist Darren Middleton described "Sunsets" as one of (songwriter and lead vocalist)Bernard Fanning 's older songs. He said it was similar to the acoustic songs on "Odyssey Number Five", the band's previous album. Middleton also said the band worked hard to make "Sunsets" heavy, so that it shared the feel of other songs on the album. [cite web|url=http://www.undercover.com.au/idol/powderfinger.html|title=Powderfinger, Interview|publisher=Undercover|author=Cashmere, Paul|accessdate=2007-12-06|archivedate=2007-12-12|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5U1bvrQZw] In an interview with "Rove" hostRove McManus , Fanning described "Vulture Street" as the band wanting to "make a change" and "go back to why [they] started playing". He citedrock and roll from the 1970s as a major influence on the album, especially the work ofLed Zeppelin andAC/DC . [cite episode|title=Bernard Fanning interview with Rove McManus|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq7IxJ6IW6k|series=Rove|serieslink=Rove (TV series)|network=Network Ten |airdate=November 2003]Music video
The music video for "Sunsets" was created by the animation studio Liquid Animation. It begins with the following dialogue in yellow:
The visual theme for the video is the Chinese legend of
Houyi . The video goes on to introduce King Di-Jun, his ten sons (who are also the Celestial Suns), Queen Xi and Warrior Yi. The video shows one of the King's ten sons being strapped to the back of the jade dragon, but breaks free and the sons made life on Earth unbearable, so the King send the warrior who was introduced earlier to kill them. He succeeds in finding them, and kills all but one. [cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/release.asp?id=6105|title=Sunsets|publisher=Australian Music Online |work=Releases|accessdate=2007-12-06]An acoustic video for "Sunsets" is also featured on bonus
DVD s for "Vulture Street", and "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence", as well as the "Sunsets" DVD single and "" "low key" DVD. The video featuresBernard Fanning andDarren Middleton playing the song in a rehearsal room. [youtube|hxn1HYkqbDA|Sunsets (Acoustic) - Powderfinger]Response
"Sunsets" was received with varying levels of enthusiasm from reviewers. MusicOMH reviewer Simon Evans described "Sunsets" and "
Stumblin' " as some of the more "lumbering" moments on "Vulture Street ", but still said they contained "a certain earthy appeal".cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/powderfinger.htm|title=Powderfinger - Vulture Street (V2)|publisher=MusicOMH|author=Evans, Simo|accessdate=2007-12-05] In his review of "Vulture Street", Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop agreed, calling "Sunsets" the "most successful single from the album", and praising its emotional impact.cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=10401|title=Powderfinger Vulture Street|publisher=Sputnikmusic|author=Bishop, James|date=12 December 2006|accessdate=2007-12-05]Meanwhile,
Allmusic 's "Vulture Street" reviewer, Jason MacNeil, described "Sunsets" as "adorable", and drew comparisons toThe Verve 's "Lucky Man ".cite web|url=http://wm09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0cfuxqqaldje|title=Vulture Street review|publisher=Allmusic |author=MacNeil, Jason|accessdate=2007-12-05]Sydney Morning Herald 's Bernard Zuel agreed, praising "Sunsets" as "the new definition of power ballad", and saying the song contained "open-hearted feeling and well-constructed progression".cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/10/1057783275797.html |title=Powderfinger, Vulture Street|date=11 July 2003|author=Zuel, Bernard|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=2007-12-05]Charts
Awards
Track listing
# "Sunsets" [cite web|url=http://wm09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gnfwxqqaldae|title=Sunsets
[ Australia CD] |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=2007-12-05]
# "Sunsets" (acoustic)
# "Rita" (Audio Airlock Demos)
# "Not the Only One" (Studio outtake)Personnel
Powderfinger
*Bernard Fanning — Guitar and vocals
*John Collins — Bass guitar
*Ian Haug — Guitars
*Darren Middleton — Guitars
*Jon Coghill — DrumsAdditional musicians
* Tony Reyes - Keyboards, guitar and backing vocals
* Shauna Jensen and Maggie McKinney - Backing vocals
* Lachlan Doley - Hammond organ and piano
*Nick DiDia - Tambourine and anüsaphoneProduction
* Nick DiDia - Producer, engineer
* Tony Reyes - Producer
* Brendan O'Brien - Mixer
* Anton Hagop - Additional engineer
* Catherine Claire - Assistant engineer
*Paul Piticco , Brian Quinn, Annette Perkins, Janne Scott and Jean Reid - Managers
* Steven Gorrow - Art and direction
* Christopher Morris - Photographeree also
*
* Full discographyNotes
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