Tomorrow (Silverchair song)

"Tomorrow" is a song by Australian rock band Silverchair, which was released on 16 September 1994 on their debut extended play album, also titled Tomorrow. The song was later released on Frogstomp, the band's debut studio album, in 1995. The track was written by Daniel Johns, the band's lead vocalist, lead guitarist and front man, and Ben Gillies, the band's drummer-percussionist. It was produced and engineered by Phil McKellar at the national radio station Triple J's studios for SBS-TV's show, Nomad, which aired on 16 June 1994. After the broadcast the band were signed to the Murmur label – a Sony Music subsidiary – which subsequently issued the Tomorrow EP.

"Tomorrow"
UK single
Single by Silverchair
from the album Frogstomp
B-side"Blind" (live)
Released16 September 1994
Recorded1994 at Triple J, Sydney
GenreGrunge[1][2]
Length4:25
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kevin Shirley
Silverchair singles chronology
"Tomorrow"
(1994)		 "Pure Massacre"
(1995)

"Tomorrow" became a breakthrough hit for Silverchair when it reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart in October and remained at the top position for six weeks. A re-recorded version was issued in 1995 in the United States and also peaked at number one on both the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and the Album Rock Tracks charts; it made No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. In the United Kingdom, the song made No. 59 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1995. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1995, the song "Tomorrow" won three awards in the categories 'Single of the Year', 'Highest Selling Single', and 'Breakthrough Artist – Single'; they won two further awards for Frogstomp.

In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Tomorrow" was ranked number 36.[3]

History

Ben Gillies (on drums and percussion) and Daniel Johns (on lead vocals and lead guitar) co-wrote "Tomorrow" when they were performing with Chris Joannou (on bass guitar) as Innocent Criminals.[4][5] Innocent Criminals entered YouthRock, a competition for school-based bands, in 1994.[6] Early in that year they recorded demos of "Acid Rain", "Cicada", "Pure Massacre", and "Tomorrow" at Platinum Sound Studios.[4] Johns recalled making the demos "[w]e had just recorded that at a really cheap studio ... It cost about $75. We weren't in there for more than an hour. The version we entered went for about six minutes".[7]

In April 1994, the band won a national band competition called Pick Me, using their demo of "Tomorrow".[4][8] The competition was conducted by the SBS TV show Nomad and Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) alternative radio station Triple J.[4][8]

As part of the prize, Triple J recorded the song and ABC filmed a video, which was aired on 16 June.[4][9] For the video's broadcast, they had changed their name to Silverchair (styled as silverchair until 2002).[4][10][11] On 16 September, their Triple J recording of "Tomorrow" was released as a four-track extended play with "Acid Rain", "Blind", and "Stoned".[4][12][13] From late October, it spent six weeks at number-one on the ARIA Singles Chart.[14][15] It also reached number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart in February 1995.[16]

In 1995, a re-recorded version of "Tomorrow" (and a new music video) was made for the United States market, becoming the most played song on US modern rock radio that year.[9] In the US it peaked at number one on both the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and the Album Rock Tracks charts; it made No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.[17][18]

Inspiration

When asked about where the inspiration for "Tomorrow" came from, Johns said:

That was on a TV show. There was this poor guy taking a rich guy through a hotel to experience the losses of the less fortunate than him. The rich guy is just complaining because he just wants to get out and the poor guy is saying you have to wait till tomorrow to get out. That's one of our least serious songs but it still has meaning to it.[19]

Music videos

Two different music videos were released to promote "Tomorrow". The original version was directed by Robert Hambling for SBS-TV show Nomad,[4] which was produced and directed from 1992 to 1994 by Kerry Negara.[20] It was broadcast on 16 June 1994 as part of the group's prize for winning the Pick Me competition.

The second version was shown in the US and directed by Mark Pellington. This video has been described as similar to the music video for the Pearl Jam song "Jeremy", also directed by Pellington. Like the "Jeremy" video, the US "Tomorrow" video includes: harsh lighting, especially on the face; various disturbing images, such as a pig eating money and shots of a spider-like creature; quick shifting between random images; and handwritten notes. The US version of "Tomorrow" received high rotation on MTV, which "led to an abundance of radio requests".[7]

Reception

In the United Kingdom, the song made No. 59 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1995.[21]

ARIA Music Awards

On 20 October 1995, at the ARIA Music Awards, "Tomorrow" won three categories: 'Single of the Year', 'Highest Selling Single', and 'Breakthrough Artist – Single'; the group won two further awards for their work on the related album, Frogstomp.[22][23] At the ceremony they performed a cover version of Radio Birdman's "New Race" with Tim Rogers (of You Am I) joining them on stage.[24] Their trophies were collected by Josh Shirley, the young son of Frogstomp's producer, Kevin Shirley.[24]

Critical response

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the "angst-ridden single" as "from the standard grunge formula".[9][25]

In February 2004, Australian rock musician Scott Owen of The Living End was asked for "the most influential Australian music release" and answered that it was Silverchair's "Tomorrow", he explained "it taught kids that if you give it a go you have the chance to take on the world".[26]

Live performances

On 9 December 1995, the songs "Tomorrow" and "Pure Massacre" were performed by Silverchair on Saturday Night Live, hosted by David Alan Grier.[27]

Soundtrack appearances

"Tomorrow" was used in "The Mystery of Morning Wood", an episode on season six of Beavis and Butt-head, in 1995.[28] At the start of the episode the two main characters are singing Boston's "More Than a Feeling", then concluded that the song was stupid and ended by stating how the video fails to disturb them. The song was also released as downloadable content for the video games Guitar Hero World Tour in 2009,[29] Rock Band in 2010,[30] and Rocksmith 2014 in 2014.[31]

A re-recorded version of "Blind" was used in the film The Cable Guy in 1996 and included on the soundtrack album. "Stoned" was used in the movie Mallrats in 1995 and included on the soundtrack album.[32]

Parody

Australian band Silverpram released a parody version of "Tomorrow", titled "Frogstamp", in 1995. The lyrics of the parody were centred around the young age of the Silverchair band members at the time, with the chorus lyrics changed to "I turn four tomorrow." The single peaked at #72 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.[33]

Tomorrow EP and other releases
Tomorrow
EP by
Silverchair
Released16 September 1994 (1994-09-16)
Recorded1994
GenreGrunge
Length15:33
LabelMurmur
ProducerPhil McKellar
Silverchair chronology
Tomorrow
(1994)		 Frogstomp
(1995)

All tracks are written by Ben Gillies and Daniel Johns[5].

Tomorrow CD/MC EP (Original Australian version) (MATTCD001)/(MATTC001)
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow"4:25
2."Acid Rain"3:26
3."Blind"4:52
4."Stoned"2:50
Total length:15:33
Tomorrow 7" EP (MATTV001) Limited edition, 2000 copies
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow"4:25
2."Acid Rain"3:26
3."Blind"4:52
4."Stoned"2:50
Total length:15:33
"Tomorrow" European CD single, black cover (6614942)
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow"4:27
2."Faultline (Live)" (Recorded live at 'The Furnace' Newcastle and mixed at Triple J Studios Sydney)2:58
3."Stoned (Live)" (Recorded live at 'The Furnace' Newcastle and mixed at Triple J Studios Sydney)2:48
Total length:10:13
"Tomorrow" European limited 7" single, black cover (6623957)
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow"4:27
2."Blind (Live)" 
"Tomorrow" UK CD single, black cover (6623952)
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow"4:27
2."Leave Me Out (Live)" (Recorded live at The Big Day Out in Melbourne on the 3RPR Mobile, mixed by Phil McKellar and Toby Learmont) 
3."Undecided (Live)" (Recorded live at The Big Day Out in Melbourne on the 3RPR Mobile, mixed by Phil McKellar and Toby Learmont) 
4."Tomorrow (Demo Version)" (Australian single version)4:25
"Tomorrow" US single (ESK7137)
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow (Album Version)"4:27
2."Tomorrow (Demo Version)" (Australian single version)4:25
Total length:8:52

Personnel
Silverchair members
Production and art work
  • Producer, engineer – Phil McKellar
    • Producer, recording, mixing (Album Version) – Kevin Shirley
    • Mastering (Album Version) – Ted Jensen
  • Studios – Triple J studios, Sydney
  • Photography – David Anderson

Awards and nominations
ARIA Music Awards
Year Award Work Result
1995[22][23] Single of the Year "Tomorrow" Won
Highest Selling Single "Tomorrow" Won
Breakthrough Artist - Single "Tomorrow" Won
Song of the Year "Tomorrow" Nominated

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] 4× Platinum 280,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] Gold 5,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Danaher, Michael (4 August 2014). "The 50 Best Grunge Songs". Paste.
  2. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (20 February 1999). Billboard. p. 10. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. McFarlane, 'silverchair' entry. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  5. "'Tomorrow' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 28 May 2013. Note: User may have to supply further information, e.g. at 'Performer:' enter Silverchair
  6. "Past performers". YouthRock. Archived from the original on 22 April 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  7. Blum, Kim (8 December 1995). "Silverchair Enjoys Success Despite Adult Criticism". The Daily Egyptian. Carbondale, Il. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  8. "Silverchair". Music Australia. National Library of Australia. 10 April 2003. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  9. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Silverchair – Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  10. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Silverchair". HowlSpace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  11. Jenkins, Jeff; Meldrum, Ian (2007). Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia. Melbourne, Vic: Wilkinson Publishing. pp. 86, 231, 261–262. ISBN 978-1-921332-11-1.
  12. Spencer, Chris; McHenry, Paul; Nowara, Zbig (2007) [1989]. "'silverchair' entry". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Moonlight Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86503-891-9.
  13. Tomorrow (Media notes). Silverchair. Murmur Records. 1994. MATTCD001.CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. Hung, Steffen. "Silverchair Discography". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  15. Hung, Steffen. "Silverchair – 'Tomorrow'". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  16. Hung, Steffen. "Silverchair – 'Tomorrow'". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  17. "Silverchair - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  18. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 571.
  19. https://www.chairpage.com/press_releases/item/128/
  20. "Negara Film and Television". Film Victoria. Australian Film Institute. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  21. Roberts, David, ed. (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). HIT Entertainment. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  22. "26th ARIA Awards: Search Results 'Silverchair'". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  23. "26th ARIA Awards: Winners by Year: 1995". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  24. Jenkins, Jeff; Meldrum, Ian (2007). Molly Meldrum Presents 50 Years of Rock in Australia. Melbourne, Vic: Wilkinson Publishing. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-921332-11-1.
  25. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Frogstomp – Silverchair". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  26. Owen, Scott (23 February 2004). "The Living End Are Back!!!". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  27. "Episode: December 9, 1995". SNL Archives. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  28. "Beavis and Butt-Head – Season 6, Episode 2: 'The Mystery of Morning Wood'". TV.com. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  29. https://www.engadget.com/2008/12/19/guitar-hero-world-tour-dlc-tracks-for-january/
  30. https://www.shacknews.com/article/63462/rock-band-dlc-silverchair-flyleaf
  31. https://www.mobygames.com/game/playstation-4/rocksmith-all-new-2014-edition-silverchair-tomorrow
  32. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113749/soundtrack
  33. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 12 Nov 1995". Imgur.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  34. "Australian-charts.com – Silverchair – Tomorrow". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  35. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2801." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  36. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  37. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  38. "Charts.nz – Silverchair – Tomorrow". Top 40 Singles.
  39. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1994". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  40. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1995". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  41. "RPM Top 50 Alternative Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  42. "End of Year Charts 1995". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  43. "Here's A Look at Year's Top Music". Orlando Sentinel. 29 December 1995. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  45. "New Zealand single certifications – Silverchair – Tomorrow". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
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