Something So Strong

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"Something So Strong"
Single by Crowded House
from the album Crowded House
Released 1 April 1987 (1987-04-01)
Format Vinyl single
Recorded 1986
Capitol Recording Studios, Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles
Genre Pop rock
Length 2:51
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Neil Finn, Mitchell Froom
Producer(s) Mitchell Froom
Crowded House singles chronology
"Don't Dream It's Over"
"Something So Strong"
"Better Be Home Soon"

"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.[1] The single peaked at No. 18 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart,[2] No. 3 in New Zealand,[3] No. 7 in the United States Billboard Hot 100,[4] and No. 10 on the Canadian RPM 100.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7][8] 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 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.[9] A sample of "Something So Strong" plays during a TV spot of Flood Relief.

Music video[edit]

A music video was produced to promote the single.[10]

Track listings[edit]

"Something So Strong" written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom. All other songs written by Finn.

Standard 7" vinyl single[edit]

Released in Australia, Japan, Netherlands, United States and United Kingdom.

  1. "Something So Strong" - 2:51
  2. "I Walk Away" - 3:05

US promotional single[edit]

Released on 7" and 12" vinyl.

  1. "Something So Strong" - 2:51

US 12" vinyl single[edit]

  1. "Something So Strong" - 2:51
  2. "Can't Carry On" - 3:57
  3. "I Walk Away" - 3:05

UK 12" vinyl single[edit]

  1. "Something So Strong"
  2. "Something So Strong" (live at King Biscuit Flower Hour, The Trocadero, Philadelphia, 24 March 1987)
  3. "I Walk Away"
  4. "Don't Dream It's Over" (live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987)


Studio recordings[edit]

Live performances[edit]

Chart performance[edit]

"Something So Strong" was the group's second North American hit, reaching #7 on the US Hot 100 Charts in July 1987 and achieving #18 in the group's local ARIA Charts. The single also reached #95 in the UK singles chart.

Release history[edit]

Region Date
United States April 1987
Australia May 1987


  1. ^ Bailey, Marck; Comprehensive discography of Crowded House including track listings for all albums and singles. Released 28 March 1995. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  3. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Crowded House – 'Something so Strong'". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 10 September 2014. 
  4. ^ "Crowded House – Crowded House | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2014. 
  5. ^ "RPM Top Singles". RPM (Library and Archive Canada) 46 (17). 1 August 1987. Retrieved 10 September 2014. 
  6. ^ Bourke, Chris (1997), Crowded House : something so strong, Macmillan. National Library of Australia, ISBN 978-0-7329-0886-7 
  7. ^ Bourke, Chris (1997). Crowded House: Something So Strong. South Melbourne, Vic: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-7329-0886-7. 
  8. ^ "'In the Metro' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 July 2014.  Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Something So Strong; &/or at 'Performer:' Crowded Housel
  9. ^ "Flood Relief: Artists for the Flood Appeal". NineMSN. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2014. 
  10. ^ Video on YouTube

External links[edit]