Distant Sun

For other uses, see Distant Sun (disambiguation).

"Distant Sun"
Single by Crowded House
from the album Together Alone
B-side	"Walking on the Spot" (live) "When You Come" (live) "Skin Feeling" "Weather with You"
Released	20 September 1993 (1993-09-20)[1]
Length	3:51
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Neil Finn
Producer(s)	Youth Crowded House
Crowded House singles chronology
"Four Seasons in One Day" (1992) "Distant Sun" (1993) "Nails in My Feet" (1993)
Music video
"Distant Sun" on YouTube

"Distant Sun" is a song by Australian band Crowded House, released in September 1993 by Capitol Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, Together Alone (1993). The song gave the band another top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 19, but fell shy of the mark in Australia, reaching number 23. It was a top-five hit in Canada and New Zealand, reaching numbers four and five, respectively. In March 1994, a remixed version of "Distant Sun" was released in the United States, reaching number 26 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The regular mix was not released as a single in the US and was only available on the album.

A live version of "Distant Sun" was included on the single for "Locked Out", another single from Together Alone; this version was recorded at Hammersmith Apollo, England on 12 November 1993. In 2005, a tribute album titled She Will Have Her Way was created featuring a collection of Neil and Tim Finn's songs reinterpreted by female singers; "Distant Sun" was performed by New Zealand singer-songwriter Brooke Fraser. Fraser's version is mostly similar to the original version, but the key was changed to suit her voice, and she omitted the line "Like a Christian fearing vengeance from above".

Track listings

As the lead single from Together Alone, "Distant Sun" was released in various versions internationally. All songs, including B-sides, were written by Neil Finn unless otherwise noted.[2]

• Australian CD single

1. "Distant Sun" – 3:50
2. "Walking on the Spot" (live) – 2:55
3. "When You Come" (live) – 6:23
4. "Skin Feeling" (Paul Hester) – 3:56
5. "Weather with You" (live) – 5:26

Note: All live tracks were recorded at The Town & Country Club, London on 9 and 10 November 1991.

• UK CD single

Disc one

1. "Distant Sun" – 3:51
2. "This Is Massive" (Hester) – 3:55 (live)
3. "When You Come" – 6:16 (live)

Disc two

1. "Distant Sun" – 3:51
2. "Walking on the Spot" – 2:54
3. "Throw Your Arms Around Me" (Hunters & Collectors cover; written by Mark Seymour) – 3:54 (live)
4. "One Step Ahead" – 3:52 (live)

Note: All live tracks were recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987. "Distant Sun" and "Walking on the Spot" are from the Together Alone album.

• Holland CD single

1. "Distant Sun"
2. "Don't Dream It's Over" (live at the King Biscuit Flower Hour, 24 March 1987)

• Netherlands CD single

1. "Distant Sun" – 3:51
2. "Walking on the Spot" – 2:54
3. "Throw Your Arms Around Me" (Hunters & Collectors cover; written by Seymour, Archer, Crosby, Falconer, Howard, Miles, Waters) – 3:54 (live)
4. "One Step Ahead" – 3:52 (live)

Note: All B-sides recorded live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, 26 February 1987 except "Walking on the Spot" which is the Together Alone album version.

• US CD single

1. "Distant Sun" (remix version) – 3:45
2. "Pineapple Head" – 3:54 (live)
3. "Locked Out" – 3:38 (live)

Note: Live tracks were recorded at Munich, Germany, 12 December 1993.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993–1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[3] 23 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 4 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] 57 Europe (European Hit Radio)[6] 17 Germany (GfK)[7] 70 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[8] 9 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 19 UK Airplay (Music Week)[11] 4 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[12] 13 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[13] 26

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 34

Certifications

Certifications for "Distant Sun"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[15]	Platinum	70,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 18 September 1993. p. 25. Retrieved 22 June 2021. Misprinted as 13 September.
2. Bailey, Marck; Comprehensive discography Archived 9 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine of Crowded House including track listings for all albums and singles. Released 28 March 1995. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
3. "Crowded House – Distant Sun". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2399." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 42. 16 October 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
6. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 42. 16 October 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
7. "Crowded House – Distant Sun" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
8. "Tipparade-lijst van week 42, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
9. "Crowded House – Distant Sun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
11. "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 23 October 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
12. "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. 16 July 1994. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
13. "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 23 April 1994. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
14. "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM. Retrieved 5 April 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
15. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 December 2024.