The Show Must Go Explained

The Show Must Go
Type:Studio
Artist:Hedley
Cover:The_show_must_go_album_art.jpg
Released:November 17, 2009 (CAN)
Recorded:2009
Length:37:37
44:27
Prev Title:Famous Last Words
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:Go with the Show
Next Year:2010

The Show Must Go is the third studio album by Canadian pop rock group Hedley. It was released on November 17, 2009, in Canada. The album was successful, producing three top 20 singles, with the lead track, "Cha-Ching", and eighth track, "Perfect" both hitting the top 10. The album was later released in the US on December 7, 2010.[1]

Background

The group worked with producers David Bendeth, John Feldmann, Dave Genn and Brian Howes.[2] [3] Hoggard began writing songs for The Show Must Go as the band was wrapping up their Famous Last Words tour.[2] The group wrote 45 songs over the course of three months before choosing the 11 tracks for the album.[4] Songs from the album were inspired from "the collapse of several relationships — both romantic and platonic."[2] Whereas Hedley and Famous Last Words were more pop punk and alternative rock influenced, this album was inspired by hip-hop music and electro beats.[5] Hoggard stated, "I don't know if the album as a whole has anything to do with me liking Dizzee Rascal or Method Man. There are some songs that might lend to the production elements of urban music, but we still wanted the album to sound as acoustic as possible."[5] In an interview with MuchMusic, Hoggard described The Show Must Go as a more "personal album" and that the band pushed themselves to create an honest record.[6] The album's concept comes from "remembering that your whole life is not a show and you can't just always be performing."[2]

In 2010, the band signed an American record deal with Island Records.

Release

"Cha-Ching" was released to radio in Canada on August 17, 2009, as the lead single from the album.[7] The song was released internationally the following day.[8] "Don't Talk to Strangers" was released as the second single from the album on October 27, 2009.[9] The album's third single "Perfect" was released on February 8, 2010, through Universal Music Canada.[10] "Hands Up" was released on June 29, 2010, as the fourth single from the album.[11] "Sweater Song" was released as the album's fifth single in December 2010.

The Show Must Go was released in the United States on December 7, 2010 via Island Records. The album contains the bonus tracks "I Do (Wanna Love You)" and "Color Outside The Lines". "Perfect" was released as the album's first single in the US on August 10, 2010.[12]

Critical reception

The Show Must Go was met with positive reviews from music critics. Alexey Eremenko of AllMusic stated that the album features, "simple, straightforward guitar licks and a vocal delivery that teeters on the brink of larger-than-life emoting." He complimented the album for its catchiness, however criticized the record for its "cheesy hard rock of yesteryear." Sydney of MuchMusic called the album their best effort yet. She described the album's ninth track "Sweater Song" as the standout track, as well as praising "Amazing", calling the track, "a classic Hedley ballad." However, she stated that "Young & Stupid" is a skip. Max Specht of PressPlus1 remarked, "Hedley has made a great album that won’t pigeonhole them, and although the first two singles might try to write them off as a novelty, there is a lot of quality to be found here in songs like 'Sweater Song' and 'Friends'."

Personnel

Credits for The Show Must Go adapted from AllMusic.[13]

Hedley
Additional musicians
Production

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for The Show Must Go
YearOrganizationAwardResultRef(s)
2010Juno AwardsPop Album of the Year[14]
2011Album of the Year

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[15] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[16] 16

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, release format, label catalog number, and reference! Country! Date! Format! Label! Catalog !
CanadaNovember 17, 2009Universal Music CanadaB002SXPK9S[17] [18]
UruguayApril 6, 2010CD
WorldwideApril 16, 2010
United StatesDecember 7, 2010Island RecordsB003ZYJS7Y[19] [20]
United KingdomMarch 11, 2011CDPhantom Sound & VisionB002SXPK9S[21]

Tours

The Show Must Go... on the Road Tour

Concert Tour Name:The Show Must Go... on the Road Tour
Artist:Hedley
Album:The Show Must Go
Start Date:March 22, 2010
End Date:October 2, 2010
Number Of Shows:39
Number Of Legs:2
Last Tour:Famous Last Words Tour
(2009)
This Tour:The Show Must Go... on the Road Tour
(2010)
Next Tour:Shipwrecked Tour
(2012)

Hedley announced a tour across Canada in support of the album.[22] Fefe Dobson and Stereos were supporting acts for the entire tour,[23] while Boys Like Girls supported the dates from March 28 to April 10,[24] and Faber Drive supported the other eight dates.[25] A live album called Go With the Show was released in a CD/DVD pack on November 9, 2010.[26] The CD contains tracks from the three final destinations of the tour from the first leg, as well as a documentary and bonus features on the DVD.[27]

A second leg was announced on May 25, 2010.[28] The opening acts touring with the band are San Sebastian, These Kids Wear Crowns, and Lights.

Setlist
  1. "Cha-Ching"
  2. "On My Own"
  3. "Shelter"
  4. "She's So Sorry"
  5. "Perfect"
  6. "Old School"
  7. "Amazing"
  8. "Saturday"
  9. "Gunnin'"
  10. "Don't Talk to Strangers"
  11. "Friends"
  12. "Beautiful"
  13. "321"
  14. "Never Too Late"

Encore:

  1. "For the Nights I Can't Remember"
  2. "Trip"
Tour dates

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top 40 Mainstream - Future Releases. All Access Mediabase. https://web.archive.org/web/20101204085030/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. December 4, 2010. July 9, 2022.
  2. Web site: Hedley: From Idol to Survivor. The Toronto Star. April 4, 2010. August 14, 2024.
  3. Howe's He Do it. SOCAN Magazine. Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. Kerry Doole. August 1, 2010. August 14, 2024.
  4. Web site: Hedley Wrote 45 Songs For New Album, Some Of Them Sucked. Chart Attack. Trevor Morelli. November 25, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100325003318/http://www.chartattack.com/features/80344/hedley-are-ok-with-cougars. March 25, 2010. usurped. August 6, 2023.
  5. Web site: Hedley Are OK With Cougars. Chart Attack. Trevor Morelli. March 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100325003318/http://www.chartattack.com/features/80344/hedley-are-ok-with-cougars. March 25, 2010. usurped. August 6, 2023.
  6. Web site: Jacob Hoggard Talks New Music. MuchMusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20091217214857/http://blog.muchmusic.com/jacob-hoggard-talks-new-hedley/. December 17, 2009. October 6, 2009. August 14, 2024.
  7. 3313455303. Hedleyonline. New single "Cha-Ching" hits radio on Monday!! Request on your local station! xo. August 14, 2009.
  8. Web site: Stream The New Hedley Single Here. Melodic. Dallas. August 19, 2009. August 4, 2023.
  9. 5193162102. Hedleyonline. To clarify only track u get instantly with the pre-order is 'Don't Talk To Strangers' - the bonus track and everything else come Nov. 17. October 27, 2009.
  10. 8828785897. Hedleyonline. Don't forget to request 'Perfect' at your local radio station now :) #hedley. February 8, 2010.
  11. 17342912217. Hedleyonline. Hey Canadian Hedley fans you should start requesting 'Hands Up' on your local radio station. June 29, 2010.
  12. Web site: Perfect - Single by Hedley. iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. October 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20100817192031/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/perfect/id384801457. August 17, 2010.
  13. Web site: The Show Must Go - Hedley Credits. AllMusic. August 2, 2022.
  14. Web site: Past Nominees and Winners - The Juno Awards. July 29, 2022.
  15. Hedley Chart History (Canadian Albums). . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117202947/https://www.billboard.com/artist/hedley/chart-history/cna/. November 17, 2021. August 6, 2023.
  16. Canadian Albums: 2010 Year-End Charts. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 7 November 2015.
  17. Web site: The Show Must Go by Hedley. iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. 7 November 2015.
  18. Web site: The Show Must Go: Hedley: Amazon.ca: Music. Amazon.ca. 7 November 2015.
  19. Web site: The Show Must Go by Hedley. iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. 7 November 2015.
  20. Web site: Hedley - The Show Must Go - Amazon.com Music. Amazon . 7 November 2015.
  21. Web site: Show Must Go On by Hedley: Amazon.co.uk: Music. Amazon.co.uk. 7 November 2015.
  22. Web site: Hedley Presale Madness. MuchMusic. November 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20130706183153/http://blog.muchmusic.com/hedley-presale-madness. July 6, 2013. August 14, 2024.
  23. Web site: Hedley singer wants to deliver bang for buck on arena tour. Winnipeg Free Press. Rob Williams. March 30, 2010. August 14, 2024.
  24. Web site: Concert Review: Hedley at the Bell Centre, April 7, 2010. The Gazette. April 8, 2010. August 14, 2024.
  25. Web site: Hedley Rocks Sudbury Arena. Sudbury.com. Village Media. April 13, 2020. August 14, 2024.
  26. Web site: Hedley - The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Betty Nygaard King. Historica Canada. May 21, 2015. August 14, 2024.
  27. Web site: Go with The Show - Hedley. AllMusic. August 14, 2024.
  28. Web site: Hedley. Essar Centre. September 22. David. Helwig. SooToday.com. May 25, 2010. May 25, 2010.
  29. Web site: Hedley Announce Canadian Tour. Harper. Kate. Chart Attack. November 16, 2009 . 2009-11-17. usurped. https://web.archive.org/web/20091120123641/http://www.chartattack.com/news/76770/hedley-announce-canadian-tour. 2009-11-20.

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