Living for the Weekend
Encyclopedia
"Living for the Weekend" is the fourth single from English
indie
band Hard-Fi
, from their debut album Stars of CCTV
. It was released on 5 September 2005 and peaked at #15 on the UK charts
. "Living for the Weekend" was written by Hard-Fi frontman Richard Archer
and has been heavily featured in a Lifestyle Sports commercial in Ireland
and a Carling beer
commercial in the UK
. It has also been featured on the Winter Olympics Special of BBC's Top Gear
and in the CSI
episode "Time of Your Death". The single cover does not bear the "Parental Advisory" sticker in spite of the lyrics: "Oh s**t!" about halfway through the song.
"Living for the Weekend" began as a demo with Hard-Fi frontman Richard Archer
's previous band "Contempo" before they had split up. At this time, Hard-Fi drummer Steve Kemp
was drumming for the Contempo. Contempo apparently played the song a couple of times in Portsmouth
before it was re-recorded with Hard-Fi. The song is a typical Hard-Fi song lyrically, it's about having no money, having a dead end job and, as the song title suggests, just living for the weekend. It addresses what a stresses of work and other issues in Staines
such as having counterfeit clothes (Archer has addressed the sale of fake Burberry
various times in interviews). Talking about the song, Archer said, "It's a song about when you've been working all week, for me and my friends that would probably be in a job you don't like or enjoy doing, and it gets to Friday and all of that frustration you've been through all week is released. The money you've earned you spend it to get rid of all that stress, you let your hair down, your life's your own again, you're free. Everyone knows what that's like. You get out there and you see your friends again. It's like you've been released. And are you working to live or living to work?"
The Sugababes
also covered this song, which appeared on their single "Follow Me Home
" as well as the Radio 1's Live Lounge compilation.
on 1 August 2005 and was directed by Scott Lyon. It features Hard-Fi performing on top of a building during the day as well as scenes of people walking around the streets and suburbs of Brentford. Towards the end of the song, night falls and a large group of youths can be seen approaching a train station
and then at a party
. The 1000 Great West End Building can be seen in the video.
. It was also used on a highlight video for the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix
on the official Formula 1
website.
Despite the lack of radio airplay in Australia
, it was used during the Seven Network
's coverage of the 2009 Australian Open
to promote Rafael Nadal
's match against Tommy Haas
. Quite appropriately, the match was played on a Saturday. It was also used on the sports news show Sports Tonight
on Network Ten
.
. It entered the UK singles chart at #15 and the UK download chart at #27 on September 27, 2005.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
indie
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Hard-Fi
HARD-Fi
Hard-Fi are an English indie rock band formed in Staines, Surrey in 2003. The band's members are Richard Archer , Ross Phillips , Kai Stephens and Steve Kemp .They achieved chart success with their third single, "Hard to Beat" and then followed by other successful singles such as...
, from their debut album Stars of CCTV
Stars of CCTV
Stars of CCTV is the debut album by English indie rock band Hard-Fi. It was first released on 4 July 2005 on Necessary/Atlantic and Warner Music UK...
. It was released on 5 September 2005 and peaked at #15 on the UK charts
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. "Living for the Weekend" was written by Hard-Fi frontman Richard Archer
Richard Archer
Richard John "Rich" Archer is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter and main composer of indie rock band Hard-Fi. Hard-Fi have produced several top 10 hits and two #1 albums. The influence of Archer's hometown of Staines is often...
and has been heavily featured in a Lifestyle Sports commercial in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and a Carling beer
Carling
Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...
commercial in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It has also been featured on the Winter Olympics Special of BBC's Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
and in the CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
episode "Time of Your Death". The single cover does not bear the "Parental Advisory" sticker in spite of the lyrics: "Oh s**t!" about halfway through the song.
"Living for the Weekend" began as a demo with Hard-Fi frontman Richard Archer
Richard Archer
Richard John "Rich" Archer is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter and main composer of indie rock band Hard-Fi. Hard-Fi have produced several top 10 hits and two #1 albums. The influence of Archer's hometown of Staines is often...
's previous band "Contempo" before they had split up. At this time, Hard-Fi drummer Steve Kemp
Steve Kemp
Steven F. Kemp is a former Major League Baseball outfielder from 1977 to 1986 and 1988. He is of Armenian heritage.-Professional career:...
was drumming for the Contempo. Contempo apparently played the song a couple of times in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
before it was re-recorded with Hard-Fi. The song is a typical Hard-Fi song lyrically, it's about having no money, having a dead end job and, as the song title suggests, just living for the weekend. It addresses what a stresses of work and other issues in Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
such as having counterfeit clothes (Archer has addressed the sale of fake Burberry
Burberry
Burberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, and fashion accessories. Its distinctive tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. Burberry is most famous for its iconic trench coat, which was invented by founder Thomas Burberry...
various times in interviews). Talking about the song, Archer said, "It's a song about when you've been working all week, for me and my friends that would probably be in a job you don't like or enjoy doing, and it gets to Friday and all of that frustration you've been through all week is released. The money you've earned you spend it to get rid of all that stress, you let your hair down, your life's your own again, you're free. Everyone knows what that's like. You get out there and you see your friends again. It's like you've been released. And are you working to live or living to work?"
The Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
also covered this song, which appeared on their single "Follow Me Home
Follow Me Home
"Follow Me Home" is a song by British girl group Sugababes from their fourth studio album, Taller in More Ways. It was written by band members Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Heidi Range in collaboration with Jonathan Lipsey, Karen Poole and Jeremy Shaw. It was produced by Jony Rockstar. The song...
" as well as the Radio 1's Live Lounge compilation.
Music video
The video was filmed in BrentfordBrentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
on 1 August 2005 and was directed by Scott Lyon. It features Hard-Fi performing on top of a building during the day as well as scenes of people walking around the streets and suburbs of Brentford. Towards the end of the song, night falls and a large group of youths can be seen approaching a train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
and then at a party
Party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
. The 1000 Great West End Building can be seen in the video.
Use in the media
The song became one of the bands anthems being used in the media quite frequently from TV Series adverts to, quite appropriately, the Weekender Show on XFMXfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
. It was also used on a highlight video for the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix
2009 Chinese Grand Prix
The 2009 Chinese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on April 19, 2009 at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. It was the third race of the 2009 Formula One season, a change from previous years, when it took place towards the end of the season.Sebastian...
on the official Formula 1
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
website.
Despite the lack of radio airplay in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, it was used during the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
's coverage of the 2009 Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
to promote Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
's match against Tommy Haas
Tommy Haas
Tommy Haas is a German and recently naturalized American professional tennis player. He has competed on the ATP Tour since 1996. After breaking into the world top 100 in 1997, and reaching a career-high ranking of world no...
. Quite appropriately, the match was played on a Saturday. It was also used on the sports news show Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten . The program was broadcast on Weeknights at 10.30 pm; at 11.00pm , Fridays at 12.00am , and on Sunday from 7:30pm AEDT Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten (and on...
on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
.
CD1
HARD04CD- "Living for the Weekend" (Radio Edit)
- "Unnecessary Trouble" (Live)
Maxi CD
HARD04CDX- "Living for the Weekend" (Radio Edit)
- "Peaches" (Radio 1 Live Version)
- "Hard to Beat" (Axwell Mix)
- "Living for the Weekend" (Video)
Charts
Living for the Weekend has been listed for 6 weeks on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It entered the UK singles chart at #15 and the UK download chart at #27 on September 27, 2005.
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 15 |
| UK Download Chart | 27 |