Released 1 April 1987
Format Vinyl single
“Something So Strong” is a rock song written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom and performed by the band Crowded House for their eponymous debut album (June 1986). The track was released as the album’s fifth and final single in April 1987. The single peaked at No. 18 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, No. 3 in New Zealand, No. 7 in the United States Billboard Hot 100, and No. 10 on the Canadian RPM 100.
The track lends its title to the book, Crowded House: Something So Strong (1997), by Australian biographer Chris Bourke, which details the band’s career from forming to just after their breakup in 1996. According to Bourke, “Something So Strong”, was the first song written by Finn specifically for Crowded House. However while in the studio, producer, Froom, and Finn reworked parts of the song and as such, Froom is credited as a co-writer. Demos of this song have been linked to Finn’s earlier band Split Enz, from the 1984 See Ya ‘Round period, potentially making the timeline earlier on this track.
The song, though in a different version by Crowded House, plays during the end credits of the 1999 Bryan Brown film, Dear Claudia.
The track is included in the various artists’ 3× CD, Flood Relief: Artists for the Flood Appeal (January 2011), which raised money for victims of the Queensland floods. A sample of “Something So Strong” plays during a TV spot of Flood Relief.
Track listings
“Something So Strong” written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom. All other songs written by Finn.
Standard 7″ vinyl single
Released in Australia, Japan, Netherlands, United States and United Kingdom.
“Something So Strong” – 2:51
“I Walk Away” – 3:05
US promotional single
Released on 7″ and 12″ vinyl.
“Something So Strong” – 2:51
US 12″ vinyl single
“Something So Strong” – 2:51
“Can’t Carry On” – 3:57
“I Walk Away” – 3:05
UK 12″ vinyl single
“Something So Strong”
“Something So Strong” (live at King Biscuit Flower Hour, The Trocadero, Philadelphia, 24 March 1987)
“I Walk Away”
“Don’t Dream It’s Over” (live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987)
Personnel
Studio recordings
Neil Finn – Vocals and guitar
Nick Seymour – Bass guitar
Paul Hester – Drums and backing vocals
Mitchell Froom – Keyboards
Live performances
Neil Finn – Vocals and guitar
Nick Seymour – Bass guitar and backing vocals
Paul Hester – Drums and backing vocals
Eddie Rayner – Piano, keyboards and backing vocals