Obvious Song

"Obvious Song"
Single by Joe Jackson
from the album Laughter & Lust
Released1991
GenreRock[1]
Length3:40
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Joe Jackson
Producer(s)Joe Jackson
Ed Roynesdal
Joe Jackson singles chronology
"Stranger than Fiction"
(1991)
"Obvious Song"
(1991)
"Oh Well"
(1991)

"Obvious Song" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1991 as the second single from his ninth studio album Laughter & Lust. The song was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and Ed Roynesdal.[2] The song's music video was directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Marc Rosenberg.[3]

Background

As Jackson's US debut single for Virgin, "Obvious Song" was selected by the label as a track they believed would generate play on album, alternative and college radio. Diana Fried, product manager for Virgin, told Billboard of the label's decision to release it: "They felt Joe had had a long, illustrious career, but without a whole lot of radio successes in his recent past. To come out with a more pop single right off the bat might not be the best way to let the fans know he's got a new album out, and also might limit where we go with it."[4] The song reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and No. 28 on Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts.[5][6]

Critical reception

On its release, Billboard described the song as "rebellious social commentary that gains credibility from the singer's distinctive phrasing." They added: "A ringing '60s style guitar arrangement combined with horns and piano lines make this rhythmically dynamic tune a must for modern and album rock formats."[7] In a review of Laughter & Lust, John Everson of the Southtown Star wrote: "Kicking off with the wryly labeled "Obvious Song," Jackson spits out observations that are obvious, but seldom acted on."[8]

Mark Lepage of The Gazette wrote: "When Laughter & Lust works, it is as brisk, invigorating, tuneful and concise as "Obvious Song"."[9] Roger Catlin of the Hartford Courant commented: "The punchy "Obvious Song" and "It's All Too Much" are worthy rockers with pithy jabs."[10] Parry Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel considered the song to "perform the difficult task of combining social commentary and pop craftsmanship without sounding preachy or pretentious".[11]

Elysa Gardner of Rolling Stone described the song as a "straight-ahead rocker" which "takes aim at an American rock star who drives around in a gasguzzling limo while preaching to a foreigner who makes his living by cutting down trees".[12] People was more critical of the song, describing it as "preachy", with Jackson "com[ing] across as a swollen, whiny Billy Joel".[13]

Track listing

CD single (US promo)
  1. "Obvious Song" (Edit) - 3:47
  2. "Obvious Song" - 4:11

Personnel

  • Joe Jackson - vocals, keyboards
  • Tom Teeley - guitar, backing vocals
  • Joy Askew - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Graham Maby - bass
  • Dan Hickey - drums
  • Sue Hadjopoulos - drums, percussion

Production

  • Joe Jackson - producer
  • Ed Roynesdal - producer
  • Dan Hersch - editor on "Edit" version
  • Larry Alexander - engineer
  • Bob Ludwig - mastering

Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Canadian (RPM) 100 Singles Chart[14] 68
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[6] 28
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[5] 4

References

  1. ^ Molanphy, Chris (November 19, 2022). "Angry Young Men Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Jason Damas (1991-04-30). "Laughter & Lust - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  3. ^ "Music Video: Video Track". Billboard. 25 May 1991.
  4. ^ Bessman, Jim (4 May 1991). "Artist developments: A jolt for Jackson". Billboard.
  5. ^ a b Billboard. "Joe Jackson Obvious Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  6. ^ a b Billboard. "Joe Jackson Obvious Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  7. ^ "Single Reviews". Billboard. 4 May 1991.
  8. ^ Everson, John (6 June 1991). "Joe Jackson's 'Laughter' bubbles with angry wit". Southtown Star.
  9. ^ Lepage, Mark (4 May 1991). "Joe Jackson finds old edge in catchy, cutting melodies". The Gazette.
  10. ^ Catlin, Roger (14 July 1991). "Joe Jackson's repertoire suitably classy for Bushnell". Hartford Courant.
  11. ^ Gettelman, Parry (14 June 1991). "Records". Orlando Sentinel.
  12. ^ Elysa Gardner (1991-05-30). "Joe Jackson: Laughter & Lust : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  13. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Laughter and Lust". People. 1991-05-20. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  14. ^ "Item: 1220 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-08.

Read other articles:

For other ships with the same name, see Priscilla (ship). United States historic placePriscilla (Long Island Sound Oyster Sloop)U.S. National Register of Historic PlacesU.S. National Historic Landmark Priscilla at the dock.LocationWest Sayville, New YorkBuilt1888 (1888)NRHP reference No.06000238Significant datesAdded to NRHPFebruary 17, 2006[1]Designated NHLFebruary 17, 2006 [2] Priscilla is a classic oyster dredging sloop and museum ship at the Long Island Ma…

2020年夏季奥林匹克运动会波兰代表團波兰国旗IOC編碼POLNOC波蘭奧林匹克委員會網站olimpijski.pl(英文)(波兰文)2020年夏季奥林匹克运动会(東京)2021年7月23日至8月8日(受2019冠状病毒病疫情影响推迟,但仍保留原定名称)運動員206參賽項目24个大项旗手开幕式:帕维尔·科热尼奥夫斯基(游泳)和马娅·沃什乔夫斯卡(自行车)[1]闭幕式:卡罗利娜·纳亚(皮划艇)[2…

此条目序言章节没有充分总结全文内容要点。 (2019年3月21日)请考虑扩充序言,清晰概述条目所有重點。请在条目的讨论页讨论此问题。 哈萨克斯坦總統哈薩克總統旗現任Қасым-Жомарт Кемелұлы Тоқаев卡瑟姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫自2019年3月20日在任任期7年首任努尔苏丹·纳扎尔巴耶夫设立1990年4月24日(哈薩克蘇維埃社會主義共和國總統) 哈萨克斯坦 哈萨克斯坦政府與…

此条目序言章节没有充分总结全文内容要点。 (2019年3月21日)请考虑扩充序言,清晰概述条目所有重點。请在条目的讨论页讨论此问题。 哈萨克斯坦總統哈薩克總統旗現任Қасым-Жомарт Кемелұлы Тоқаев卡瑟姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫自2019年3月20日在任任期7年首任努尔苏丹·纳扎尔巴耶夫设立1990年4月24日(哈薩克蘇維埃社會主義共和國總統) 哈萨克斯坦 哈萨克斯坦政府與…

New York City, the world's principal financial center[1][2] and the epicenter of the principal American metropolitan economy[3] Further information: Technological and industrial history of the United States This article is part of a series on theEconomy of theUnited States Economic history Agricultural history Banking history Petroleum history Shipbuilding Industrial Revolution in the United States History of the United States dollar Lumber history Tariff History United S…

محافظة الأحمدي   الإحداثيات 29°04′37″N 48°05′02″E / 29.077°N 48.084°E / 29.077; 48.084   [1] تقسيم إداري  البلد الكويت[2]  التقسيم الأعلى الكويت  العاصمة الأحمدي  خصائص جغرافية  المساحة 5120 كيلومتر مربع  عدد السكان  عدد السكان 682582 (2010)  الكثافة السكاني…

Comté de Sarrewerden(de) Grafschaft Saarwerden ?–1793 Le comté de Sarrewerden après 1648.Informations générales Statut Comté, terre d'Empire Capitale Saarwerden puis Neusaarwerden Langue(s) Francique rhénan, allemand Religion Catholicisme, protestantisme Histoire et événements 1629 Cession de Bouquenom et Sarrewerden à la Lorraine 19 juin 1793 Incorporation aux districts de la Moselle et de la Meurthe 23 novembre 1793 Incorporation au Bas-Rhin Entités suivantes : District …

North Central West Virginia (sometimes known as Mountaineer Country) is a region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The region's largest cities are Morgantown, Fairmont, and Clarksburg. Counties Monongalia County Marion County Harrison County Taylor County Doddridge County These counties are sometimes also included in the region. Barbour County Lewis County Upshur County Preston County Randolph County Wetzel County Cities and towns Morgantown Fairmont Mannington Clarksburg Bridgeport Grafton We…

Este artículo trata sobre el código de aditivos alimentarios. Para la constante matemática, véase Número e. Una solución de E101 riboflavina (también conocida como vitamina B2) Cristales de E621 glutamato monosódico, un potenciador del sabor Los números E son códigos asignados a los aditivos alimentarios y se encuentran normalmente especificados en las etiquetas de los productos alimenticios, sobre todo en la zona de la Unión Europea.[1]​[2]​ El esquema de números que sig…

Peta Irlandia Utara. Hukum Irlandia Utara adalah sistem hukum yang berlaku di Irlandia Utara semenjak pemisahan Irlandia membuat Irlandia Utara memiliki yurisdiksi yang terpisah pada tahun 1921. Latar belakang Britania Raya terbagi menjadi tiga yurisdiksi, yaitu: Hukum Inggris di Inggris dan Wales; Hukum Irlandia Utara di Irlandia Utara Hukum Skotlandia di Skotlandia Irlandia Utara merupakan negara dengan sistem hukum umum. Walaupun hukum umumnya mirip dengan Inggris dan Wales dan berasal dari s…

Overview of the law of the U.S. state of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signing a bill into law in 2022 The law of Minnesota refers to the legal framework that governs the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is a combination of the federal legal system, applicable throughout the United States, and state-specific laws and regulations. Minnesota has its own constitution, first ratified in 1857, which provides the fundamental structure and guidance for the state's legal processes. History Minnesota became the…

1999 Flash game 1999 video gamePico's SchoolDeveloper(s)Tom FulpPublisher(s)Newgrounds, Tom FulpProgrammer(s)Tom FulpComposer(s)ThatJohnnyGuyEngineAdobe FlashPlatform(s)BrowserReleaseJuly 25, 1999Genre(s)Point-and-click adventureMode(s)Single-player Pico's School is a 1999 Flash game developed by Tom Fulp for his website Newgrounds. At the time of its release, it was one of the most sophisticated browser games, exhibiting a complexity of design and polish in presentation that [was] virtually uns…

Dutch government organisation The Joint Sigint Cyber Unit (JSCU) is a Dutch government organisation, which was founded in 2013[1] and became operational on June 15, 2014.[2] JSCU's primary tasks are intercepting radio and satellite traffic (Sigint) and obtaining intelligence through cyber-operations. The organisation cooperates closely with allied foreign intelligence agencies.[3] General The decision to create a joint intelligence organisation was made in 2011.[4]…

2006 San Francisco Board of Supervisors election ← 2004 November 7, 2006 2008 → Elections in California Federal government U.S. President 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 Dem Rep 2000 Dem Rep 2004 Dem Rep 2008 Dem Rep 2012 Dem Rep 2016 Dem Rep 2020 Dem Rep 2024 Dem Rep U.S. Senate 1849 1850 1852 sp 1856 1857 sp 1860 1860 sp …

Jan.1920 Abd al-Rahman Shahbandar (1880 – Juni 1940) adalah seorang nasionalis Suriah terkenal pada masa Suriah Mandat Prancis dan lawan utama yang berkompromi dengan otoritas Prancis. Pencurahannya kepada nasionalisme Arab bermula dari masa Komite Persatuan dan Perjuangan dan kebijakan-kebijakan Turkifikasinya. Ia mendukung Pemberontakan Arab pada Perang Dunia I dan secara singkat mengepalai kementerian luar negeri di bawah kepemimpinan Emir Faisal. Referensi Wikimedia Commons memiliki media …

Permutasi Kubus Rubik memiliki sebuah struktor terkelmpok; kelompok tersebut adalah sebuah konsep fundamental yang berhubungan dengan aljabar abstrak. Aljabar abstrak adalah bidang subjek matematika yang mempelajari struktur aljabar, seperti grup, gelanggang, medan, modul, ruang vektor, dan aljabar medan. Frasa aljabar abstrak diciptakan pada awal abad ke-20 untuk membedakannya dengan bidang yang biasa disebut sebagai aljabar, yaitu studi aturan manipulasi rumus dan ekspresi aljabar yang melibat…

カニンガム侯爵Marquess Conyngham創設時期1816年1月1日創設者摂政ジョージ(国王ジョージ3世名代)貴族アイルランド貴族初代第3代カニンガム男爵ヘンリー・カニンガム現所有者ヘンリー・ヴィヴィアン・ピエレポント・カニンガム(英語版)推定相続人マウント・チャールズ伯爵アレクサンダー・バートン・カニンガム (1975-)相続資格初代侯爵の直系男子付随称号カニンガム伯…

Summer in ParisSingel oleh DJ Cam featuring Anggundari album SoulshineDirilis2002FormatCD SingleDirekam2002GenreJazz, ClubLabelSony MusicProduserDJ Cam Summer in Paris adalah singel dari Anggun yang berkolaborasi bersama DJ Cam pada tahun 2002. Di dalam lagu jazzy ini Anggun menjadi vokalis tamu yang diiringi oleh hentakan musik DJ Cam. Lagu ini sendiri resminya dirilis di album DJ Cam bertajuk Soulshine pada tahun 2002. Anggun juga memuat ulang lagu ini di album Best Of-nya pada tahun 2006. Daf…

Siege during Little War in Hungary Siege of Buda (1541)Part of the Little War in HungaryDate4 May – 21 August 1541LocationBuda, HungaryResult Ottoman victory Ottomans capture Buda John Sigismund Zápolya restored to the throneBelligerents Habsburg Empire Habsburg-held Hungary Ottoman Empire John Szapolyai's Hungarian KingdomCommanders and leaders Wilhelm von Roggendorf †Jeromos Záray † Suleiman the MagnificentŞehzade MehmedŞehzade SelimŞehzade BayezidHadım Suleiman P…

Annual observance against speciesism You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (September 2021) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the French article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-tra…