The Day You Come

Infobox Single
Name = The Day You Come
from Album = Internationalist
Format = Single
Artist = Powderfinger


Released = flagicon|Australia August 10, 1998
Recorded = Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne
Genre = Rock
Length = 4:01
Label = Universal
Producer = Nick DiDia
Last single = "Take Me In"
(1997)
This single = "The Day You Come"
(1998)
Next single = "Don't Wanna Be Left Out/Good-Day Ray"
(1998)"The Day You Come" is a song from Powderfinger's third studio album "Internationalist". It was released as a single on August 10, 1998. [Last.fm, [http://www.last.fm/music/Powderfinger/The+Day+You+Come The Day You Come - Powderfinger - last.fm] , retrieved 24 August, 2007.]

History

"The Day You Come" was the first single off "Internationalist" to be released, and thus gave an impression of what the album was set to contain. Lead singer Bernard Fanning said this impression was inaccurate, describing the song as being "not very up-tempo" compared to the rest of the album. He said one of the reasons the next single released was "Don't Wanna Be Left Out/Good-Day Ray" was that it was the complete opposite; a much more "thrashy" single than "The Day You Come".cite web|url=http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl13.htm |title=Finger on the Pulse |work=HIT |last=Bolster |first=Teresa |date=December 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |accessdate=2007-10-22] Guitarist Ian Haug agreed, adding that the band had not intended for "The Day You Come" to be the first single off the album, but was released because the band couldn't decide on any other songs to release.cite web |url= http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl37.htm |title=The Beckoning Finger |work=JUICE |last=Watts |first=Benedict |date=November 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |accessdate=2007-10-22]

As well as the band's usual line-up, "The Day You Come" featured backing vocals from Brisbane trio Tiddas. This was the first time the trio worked with Powderfinger. They would also provide backing vocals on "Passenger",cite web |url= http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl38.htm |title=Taking Flight |work=JUICE |last=Clode |first=Samantha |date=October 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |accessdate=2007-10-22] and on future songs including "Like a Dog" and "Thrilloilogy". [cite book|author=Fanning, Middleton, Haug, Collins, Coghill, et. al|title=Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994-2000|publisher=Powderfinger|page=8, 9] "The Day You Come" also featured Nick DiDia for the first time, who would go on to be a long term producer for the band.

Political influences

"The Day You Come" was the first Powderfinger song to contain notable political references, although the band denied attempting to "preach" through their music. Haug said the band was happy to be quoted on politics, but not to have their words preached, telling Benedict Watts "I personally like to separate [the two] a bit [...] If someone asks us what our views are, we'll tell them, but we don't go out to our gigs and preach about things." Fanning agreed, saying "we would never try and preach, we would only ever try and suggest things to people as possibilities.", comparing the band to Midnight Oil, especially its lead singer-turned politician and activist, Peter Garrett. Fanning didn't rule out political messages altogether, however, but enforced the need for moderation and for not "preaching".cite web |url= http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl12.htm|title=Talkin' Politics? |work=Beat Magazine |last=Johnson |first=Neala |date=December 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |accessdate=2007-10-22]

When the song was released, there was speculation that it alluded to Pauline Hanson's political climb, however the band has reported that the song is more vague than specifically referring to one person, indicating that the song was not directly describing or attacking Hanson, though not ruling out that she may be one of many described. The song's release did fall within Hanson's party, One Nation's political peak. [Hindley Site, [http://www.hindleysite.com/songs/dayoutcome.htm Powderfinger: Hindley Site (Songs)] , "The Day You Come", retrieved 24 August, 2007.]

Awards

"The Day You Come" received the ARIA Music Award for "Song of the Year" in 1999, [ARIA Awards, [http://ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=P&artist=Powderfinger ARIA Awards History] . Retrieved 8 August, 2007.] was nominated for the APRA Award also for "Song of the Year", though this award was won by "Addicted to Bass" by Amiel. [APRA, [http://www.apra.com.au/awards/music/noms1999.asp APRA Awards 1999] , Song of the Year, retrieved 24 August, 2007.] The song also placed as #8 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 1998. [cite web | title=Hottest 100 1998 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1998.htm | work=Triple J | accessdate=2007-06-11]

Track listing

# "The Day You Come" – 4:01
# "Polly" – 3:31
# "Ironical" – 1:49
# "John Callahan" – 3:08

References