Way Away
Encyclopedia
"Way Away" is the first single and opening track of Yellowcard
's album Ocean Avenue. The song and music video
both reflect the band's choice about leaving their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida
to California in hopes of making a name for themselves in the Southern California music scene.
"Way Away" is part of the soundtrack for the American football video game Madden NFL 2004
and SSX3.
said that "Way Away" is "about our band and facing the people who didn't believe in what we were doing. That's kind of like an ode to disbelievers." In another interview, vocalist Ryan Key
, in discussion of the song, said: "It's the story we have sort of been through as a band in the last couple of years, moving from our hometown in [Jacksonville,] Florida, out to [Southern] California and starting to tour really hard and just sort of following our dreams. Hopefully other people will take that song and apply it to their own lives and be able to kind of get out of whatever they are stuck in and don't want to be in." Key also revealed that the song was "harder than some of our other songs, [whereas] 'Ocean Avenue' is kind of in the middle of the spectrum of where the record goes."
, The video starts out with the band members pulling up in a Vista Cruiser car in a vacant parking lot and begin setting up their gear and start playing in front of a supermarket. The band's frontman, Ryan Key
is shown in from several scenes of the video showing him loading his car and moving away from his job, family, and his girlfriend and writing the lyrics of "Way Away". The video ends after Ryan and band is singing to a self image of himself and drives away in the distance.
The video was shot in front of the "Super A Foods" Market store in Los Angeles
, California
.
said he was "dumbfounded" when he listened to the song. Conlon goes on to say, "The song basically says that you are the master of your destiny, that no one can stand in your way."
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
's album Ocean Avenue. The song and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
both reflect the band's choice about leaving their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
to California in hopes of making a name for themselves in the Southern California music scene.
"Way Away" is part of the soundtrack for the American football video game Madden NFL 2004
Madden NFL 2004
Madden NFL 2004 is the 14th installment of the Madden NFL series of American football video games. Michael Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, is on the cover. New features in Madden 2004 include a new owner mode option that allows the player to control a franchise...
and SSX3.
Background
In an interview, former Yellowcard lead guitarist Ben HarperBen Harper (musician)
Not to be confused with Ben HarperBenjamin Eric Harper is an American rock musician. He is best known for being the former lead guitarist for the American pop punk band Yellowcard, as well as for the bands Amber Pacific and HeyMike!. Harper is co-owner of Takeover Records.-Yellowcard :Harper formed...
said that "Way Away" is "about our band and facing the people who didn't believe in what we were doing. That's kind of like an ode to disbelievers." In another interview, vocalist Ryan Key
Ryan Key
Ryan Key is an American rock musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the American pop punk band Yellowcard, and one of the two lead singers in his side project Big If.-Early life:...
, in discussion of the song, said: "It's the story we have sort of been through as a band in the last couple of years, moving from our hometown in [Jacksonville,] Florida, out to [Southern] California and starting to tour really hard and just sort of following our dreams. Hopefully other people will take that song and apply it to their own lives and be able to kind of get out of whatever they are stuck in and don't want to be in." Key also revealed that the song was "harder than some of our other songs, [whereas] 'Ocean Avenue' is kind of in the middle of the spectrum of where the record goes."
Track listing
- "Way Away" - 3:22
- "Hey Mike" - 4:01
- "Avondale" (Acoustic) - 3:37
- "Way Away" (Video)
- Behind the Scenes Footage (Video)
Music video
Directed by Patrick HoelckPatrick Hoelck
Patrick Hoelck is an American filmmaker and photographer based in Los Angeles and New York City. Aside from directing several mainstream music videos and television commercials, he is more widely known for his photographic work, specializing in celebrity advertisement and fine art...
, The video starts out with the band members pulling up in a Vista Cruiser car in a vacant parking lot and begin setting up their gear and start playing in front of a supermarket. The band's frontman, Ryan Key
Ryan Key
Ryan Key is an American rock musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the American pop punk band Yellowcard, and one of the two lead singers in his side project Big If.-Early life:...
is shown in from several scenes of the video showing him loading his car and moving away from his job, family, and his girlfriend and writing the lyrics of "Way Away". The video ends after Ryan and band is singing to a self image of himself and drives away in the distance.
The video was shot in front of the "Super A Foods" Market store in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Reception
Allmusic gave the song a positive review, by saying "[Way Away] thrives on the basics of rock & roll — foliated guitars weaved in between high-speed percussion." Chris Conlon of the Telegraph HeraldTelegraph Herald
The Telegraph Herald, locally referred to as the TH, is a daily newspaper published in Dubuque, Iowa for the population of Dubuque and surrounding areas in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin...
said he was "dumbfounded" when he listened to the song. Conlon goes on to say, "The song basically says that you are the master of your destiny, that no one can stand in your way."
Charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|