Lost and Running
Encyclopedia
"Lost and Running" is a song by Australian rock group Powderfinger
. It was released as the first single from the group's sixth studio album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
. It is the band's twenty-second single and peaked at No. 5 on the Australian chart, the group's second highest charting single after "My Happiness
". It made its radio debut on 13 April on Triple J
and was released to wide radio play and the band's MySpace on 16 April 2007. The single was officially released on 12 May 2007.
, Los Angeles, as part of Powderfinger's Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
recording sessions. The song was also one of the first to be written during the group's two year hiatus. The band worked with Rob Schnapf
for the sessions. Lead singer Bernard Fanning
said in April 2007 that the song was more positive than many other Powderfinger works, stating "the music is quite up and hopeful sounding and has a breezy feel to it".
, The Rolling Stones
and Neil Young
. In an interview with The Courier Mail, Fanning noted that the song was a very simple one, stating "the actual style of song is quite different as it has very little movement. There are literally only three chords in the song."" He notes that the song's premise is reflective on how the group approached the recording of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, in that they were unsure of what they wanted to do with the album.
The video features Bernard Fanning
, the band's lead vocalist, walking around dressed as a hotel porter
, pushing a hotel luggage trolley as he walks through a hotel (actually Brisbane City Hall
) singing. As he walks through, he passes the other members of Powderfinger. He eventually walks out of the hotel and finds himself in the desert where a large chandelier
can be seen, continuing the theme from the cover art of the single. There are also a few shots of the band playing the song as a group intercut with the "dramatic" scenes.
In support of its release as a single, the music video for "Lost and Running" was included on a special edition DVD of its album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence and was the twelfth track on the DVD, dubbed the "Twelfth Man", a cricketing term. All other tracks on the DVD were music videos from throughout the band's career.
The song was performed on television on Australian variety show Rove on 17 June 2007. Powderfinger also performed the song with the Sydney Gospel Choir on 28 October 2007 at the ARIA Music Awards of 2007
, as it was nominated for Single of the Year.
noted that it's "an instant singalong anthem which should prove a crowd favourite". McCabe also comments on the band's application of their influences stating that they have "taken a vial of sonic essence from their favourite artists and skilfully distilled the parts into a Powderfinger whole." The song was rated 3.5 stars out of 5.
Meanwhile, Matthias Scherer of NoiseMakesEnemies.co.uk described the song as boring and inoffensive, questioning "Who knew the music scene down under was in this serious a state."
Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop stated that the song was an example of Powderfinger trading the "youthful" songs of their past albums for "more mature, earthly cuts". He also noted the Rolling Stones
influence, and said the song contained a "laidback approach and simple acoustic charm". Bishop noted that the song divided many long-time fans, who in his opinion "mostly didn’t get it", and summarised by calling the song catchy.
", which gained international attention. "Lost and Running" reached its peak position of No. 5 on the ARIA Singles Chart on 27 May 2007, its week of release, however failed to chart internationally. It remained in the charts for thirteen consecutive weeks, but re-entered the charts at No. 46 on 11 November following the group performing the song at the 2007 ARIA Music Awards
. The song failed to chart in New Zealand.
in 2007
; Single of the Year and Best Video, however both awards were won by Silverchair
for their song "Straight Lines
". "Lost and Running" was the 27th most played song on Australian radio in 2007, and reached No. 15 on the Triple J Hottest 100
, 2007
.
Powderfinger
Powderfinger was an Australian rock band that formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their breakup the band lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill....
. It was released as the first single from the group's sixth studio album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
Dream Days at the Hotel Existence is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band Powderfinger, released by Universal Music on 2 June 2007 in Australia, 19 November 2007 in the United Kingdom, and 11 November 2008 in the United States on the Dew Process label...
. It is the band's twenty-second single and peaked at No. 5 on the Australian chart, the group's second highest charting single after "My Happiness
My Happiness (song)
"My Happiness" is a song by Australian rock band Powderfinger. It was released on record label Universal Music Australia on 21 August 2000 as the first single from the band's fourth album, Odyssey Number Five...
". It made its radio debut on 13 April on Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
and was released to wide radio play and the band's MySpace on 16 April 2007. The single was officially released on 12 May 2007.
Recording and production
"Lost and Running" was the first song recorded at Sunset SoundSunset Sound Recorders
Sunset Sound Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California, located at 6650 Sunset Boulevard.The Sunset Sound Recorders complex was converted in 1962 by Walt Disney's Director of Recording, Tutti Camarata, from a collection of old commercial and residential buildings - some built more...
, Los Angeles, as part of Powderfinger's Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
Dream Days at the Hotel Existence is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band Powderfinger, released by Universal Music on 2 June 2007 in Australia, 19 November 2007 in the United Kingdom, and 11 November 2008 in the United States on the Dew Process label...
recording sessions. The song was also one of the first to be written during the group's two year hiatus. The band worked with Rob Schnapf
Rob Schnapf
Rob Schnapf is an American record producer and musician. He was the co-producer of Elliott Smith's albums Either/Or, XO , Figure 8 and From a Basement on the Hill, for which he was recruited by Smith's family to complete after Smith's death.Schnapf, along with Rothrock and partner...
for the sessions. Lead singer Bernard Fanning
Bernard Fanning
Bernard Joseph Fanning is a musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and frontman of Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger from its formation in 1989 to its dissolution in 2010....
said in April 2007 that the song was more positive than many other Powderfinger works, stating "the music is quite up and hopeful sounding and has a breezy feel to it".
Musical structure and style
The song's time goes through a pattern throughout its entirety of one 4:4 bar, one 2:4 bar and then two 4:4 bars. In writing "Lost and Running", the band was influences by bands that they have cited as being influences on their music from early on, including David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
. In an interview with The Courier Mail, Fanning noted that the song was a very simple one, stating "the actual style of song is quite different as it has very little movement. There are literally only three chords in the song."" He notes that the song's premise is reflective on how the group approached the recording of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, in that they were unsure of what they wanted to do with the album.
Music video
The music video for "Lost and Running" was directed by Damon Escott and Stephen Lance of Head Pictures. The video clip premiered in Australia on 21 April 2007.The video features Bernard Fanning
Bernard Fanning
Bernard Joseph Fanning is a musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and frontman of Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger from its formation in 1989 to its dissolution in 2010....
, the band's lead vocalist, walking around dressed as a hotel porter
Porter (carrier)
A porter, also called a bearer, is a person who shifts objects for others.-Historical meaning:Human adaptability and flexibility early led to the use of humans for shifting gear...
, pushing a hotel luggage trolley as he walks through a hotel (actually Brisbane City Hall
Brisbane City Hall
Brisbane City Hall, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the seat of the Brisbane City Council. It is located adjacent to King George Square, where the rectangular City Hall has its main entrance. The City Hall also has frontages and entrances in both Ann Street and Adelaide Street...
) singing. As he walks through, he passes the other members of Powderfinger. He eventually walks out of the hotel and finds himself in the desert where a large chandelier
Chandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
can be seen, continuing the theme from the cover art of the single. There are also a few shots of the band playing the song as a group intercut with the "dramatic" scenes.
Release
Having reunited after a two and a half year hiatus, new releases from Powderfinger was highly anticipated. The group announced their intention to release the single in April 2007 in a blog on their MySpace. Following this, the single was released to radio on 13 April and on the band's MySpace music player on 16 April. The CD single was then released on 12 May. In its week of release, the single reached its peak position of No. 5 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart. It also became one of the most popular songs on Australian radio.In support of its release as a single, the music video for "Lost and Running" was included on a special edition DVD of its album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence and was the twelfth track on the DVD, dubbed the "Twelfth Man", a cricketing term. All other tracks on the DVD were music videos from throughout the band's career.
The song was performed on television on Australian variety show Rove on 17 June 2007. Powderfinger also performed the song with the Sydney Gospel Choir on 28 October 2007 at the ARIA Music Awards of 2007
ARIA Music Awards of 2007
The 21st Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 28 October 2007 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. Rove McManus was the host of the event...
, as it was nominated for Single of the Year.
Reception
"Lost and Running" was earned a mixed response from reviewers. Kathy McCabe of The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
noted that it's "an instant singalong anthem which should prove a crowd favourite". McCabe also comments on the band's application of their influences stating that they have "taken a vial of sonic essence from their favourite artists and skilfully distilled the parts into a Powderfinger whole." The song was rated 3.5 stars out of 5.
Meanwhile, Matthias Scherer of NoiseMakesEnemies.co.uk described the song as boring and inoffensive, questioning "Who knew the music scene down under was in this serious a state."
Sputnikmusic contributor James Bishop stated that the song was an example of Powderfinger trading the "youthful" songs of their past albums for "more mature, earthly cuts". He also noted the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
influence, and said the song contained a "laidback approach and simple acoustic charm". Bishop noted that the song divided many long-time fans, who in his opinion "mostly didn’t get it", and summarised by calling the song catchy.
Charts
"Lost and Running" is Powderfinger's second highest charting single, second only to their 2000 release "My HappinessMy Happiness (song)
"My Happiness" is a song by Australian rock band Powderfinger. It was released on record label Universal Music Australia on 21 August 2000 as the first single from the band's fourth album, Odyssey Number Five...
", which gained international attention. "Lost and Running" reached its peak position of No. 5 on the ARIA Singles Chart on 27 May 2007, its week of release, however failed to chart internationally. It remained in the charts for thirteen consecutive weeks, but re-entered the charts at No. 46 on 11 November following the group performing the song at the 2007 ARIA Music Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
. The song failed to chart in New Zealand.
Awards
"Lost and Running" was nominated for two ARIA Music AwardsARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
in 2007
ARIA Music Awards of 2007
The 21st Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 28 October 2007 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. Rove McManus was the host of the event...
; Single of the Year and Best Video, however both awards were won by Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
for their song "Straight Lines
Straight Lines (song)
"Straight Lines" is a song by Silverchair. It was released in Australia on 20 March 2007, and debuted at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. The single was shortly followed by the release of the band's fifth studio album Young Modern on 31 March 2007...
". "Lost and Running" was the 27th most played song on Australian radio in 2007, and reached No. 15 on the Triple J Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
, 2007
Triple J Hottest 100, 2007
The 2007 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on Australia Day, 26 January 2008. It was the fifteenth countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as chosen by the listeners of Australian radio station Triple J....
.
| Ceremony | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| ARIA Music Awards ARIA Music Awards The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association... , 2007 ARIA Music Awards of 2007 The 21st Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 28 October 2007 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. Rove McManus was the host of the event... |
Single of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Video | Nominated |
Track listing
Powderfinger
- Bernard FanningBernard FanningBernard Joseph Fanning is a musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and frontman of Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger from its formation in 1989 to its dissolution in 2010....
– Guitar and vocals - John CollinsJohn Collins (Australian musician)John Andrew Collins is the mainstay bass guitarst for Australian rock band Powderfinger since 1989. He is one of the founding members of the band, along with guitarist Ian Haug, forming at their high school, Brisbane Grammar School as a three piece. Powderfinger has released seven studio albums, a...
– Bass guitar - Ian HaugIan HaugIan David Haug is a lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the Australian rock band Powderfinger. Mainstays Haug and bass guitarist John Collins formed the band in Brisbane in 1989. During a hiatus in Powderfinger's career, Haug worked on a side project, The Predators, with Collins and original...
– Guitars - Darren MiddletonDarren MiddletonDarren Stuart Middleton is an Australian lead guitarist for alternative rock band Powderfinger. He is also the lead singer for Drag....
– Guitars - Jon CoghillJon CoghillJon Coghill is an Australian drummer best known for his work with Australian rock band, Powderfinger, although he has also toured with Regurgitator. Coghill replaced Powderfinger's original drummer Steven Bishop in 1991 when Bishop wanted to pursue further studies...
– Drums