| Revision as of 16:19, 29 December 2008 edit-5- (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers73,508 edits →Track listing← Previous edit | Revision as of 22:30, 28 January 2009 edit undo-5- (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers73,508 edits →Origin and recordingNext edit → | ||
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| ==Origin and recording== | ==Origin and recording== | ||
| The song features lyrics written by vocalist ] and music co-written by drummer ] and guitarist ]. The polyrhythmic drum pattern for the song was inspired by a ] drum solo that Irons heard at a drum shop when he was eight years old.<ref name="spin"/> Vedder played an ] on the song, giving it an Eastern-influenced sound. Regarding the song, Vedder said, "We realized that we had an opportunity to experiment."<ref name="spin">Marks, Craig. . '']''. February 1997.</ref> | The song features lyrics written by vocalist ] and music co-written by drummer ] and guitarist ]. The polyrhythmic drum pattern for the song was inspired by a ] drum solo that Irons heard at a drum shop when he was eight years old.<ref name="spin"/> Irons said, "To turn my drum music into a song is pretty challenging, but the guys have been really supportive of me doing it, and we've worked some things into a few songs."<ref name="modern drummer">Peiken, Matt. . '']''. June 1998.</ref> Vedder played an ] on the song, giving it an Eastern-influenced sound. Regarding the song, Vedder said, "We realized that we had an opportunity to experiment."<ref name="spin">Marks, Craig. . '']''. February 1997.</ref> | ||
| ==Release and reception== | ==Release and reception== | ||
Revision as of 22:30, 28 January 2009
| "Who You Are" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Habit" |
"Who You Are" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music co-written by drummer Jack Irons and guitarist Stone Gossard, "Who You Are" was released on July 30, 1996 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album, No Code (1996). The single topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991–2003. On Pearl Jam's greatest hits album, "Who You Are" has a slight lyric change. Instead of "circumstance, clapping hands," it's "avalanche, falling fast."
Origin and recording
The song features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music co-written by drummer Jack Irons and guitarist Stone Gossard. The polyrhythmic drum pattern for the song was inspired by a Max Roach drum solo that Irons heard at a drum shop when he was eight years old. Irons said, "To turn my drum music into a song is pretty challenging, but the guys have been really supportive of me doing it, and we've worked some things into a few songs." Vedder played an electric sitar on the song, giving it an Eastern-influenced sound. Regarding the song, Vedder said, "We realized that we had an opportunity to experiment."
Release and reception
Vedder has admitted that the choice of the song as the first single for No Code was a "conscious decision" intended to keep the size of the band's audience down. "Who You Are" was the most successful song from No Code on the American rock charts. The song peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, number five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Outside of the United States, the single was released in Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Thailand. In Canada, the song reached the top ten on the Canadian Singles Chart. "Who You Are" reached the UK Top 20 and peaked at number five on the Australian Singles Chart. "Who You Are" charted at number 47 in the Netherlands, reached the top 30 in Sweden, and was a top ten success in Finland and Norway. It was a moderate top 20 success in Ireland and New Zealand.
David Fricke of Rolling Stone said that the song has an "Indo-Bo Diddley glow" and called it a "buoyant electric variation on Vedder's recent collaborations with Pakistani vocal god Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan." Christopher John Farley of Time also identified an influence of Vedder's collaboration with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, stating, "The spiritualized, bass-heavy "Who You Are" is a solid number, but it clearly owes a lot to Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, with whom Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder worked on the sound track to the film Dead Man Walking." Vedder denied that his collaboration with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had any influence on the song.
The song is featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film, Chicago Cab.
Live performances
The song was premiered live at the band's September 14, 1996 concert in Seattle, Washington at The Showbox. After Irons left the band in 1998 the song was not performed for ten years. The song finally made a return appearance at the band's June 11, 2008 concert in West Palm Beach, Florida at the Cruzan Amphitheatre.
Track listing
- "Who You Are" (Stone Gossard, Jack Irons, Eddie Vedder) – 3:51
- "Habit" (Vedder) – 3:36
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Finnish Singles Chart | 2 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 4 | |
| Canadian Alternative Top 30 | 1 | |
| Australian Singles Chart | 5 | |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 7 | |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 17 | |
| UK Singles Chart | 18 | |
| Irish Singles Chart | 19 | |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 26 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 31 | |
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 1 | |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 | |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 47 |
References
- ^ "Pearl Jam Songs: "Who You Are"". pearljam.com.
- ^ Marks, Craig. "The Road Less Traveled". Spin. February 1997.
- Peiken, Matt. "Jack Irons: This Inner Life". Modern Drummer. June 1998.
- Fricke, David. "Pearl Jam: No Code". Rolling Stone. September 5, 1996.
- Farley, Christopher John. "Identity Crisis". Time. September 2, 1996.
- "Finnish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- "Canadian Charts - "Who You Are"". RPM. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "Canadian Rock/Alternative Top 30 – "Who You Are"". RPM. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "PEARL JAM - WHO YOU ARE (SINGLE) (74339)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
- "Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- "PEARL JAM - WHO YOU ARE (SONG)". New Zealand-charts.com. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
- "EveryHit.com". Retrieved 2007-02-16.
- "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
- "Swedish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- ^ "Pearl Jam Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "Dutch Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
External links
| Preceded by"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" by Primitive Radio Gods | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single September 7, 1996 - September 13, 1996 |
Succeeded by"Down" by 311 |
 | This 1990s rock song-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |