We Share the Same Sun explained

We Share the Same Sun
Cover:Stereophonics - We Share the Same Sun (cover).png
Alt:An artwork created by Steve Goddard. The colour of the image is predominately orange with text in top left and right reading "Stereophonics" and "We Share the Same Sun" respectively. The "Stereophonics" text is styled the same way as it on Graffiti on the Train and its related singles. The "We Share the Same Sun" text is also done in the same style as it is on the back of the Graffiti on the Train CD/vinyl case.
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Stereophonics
Album:Graffiti on the Train
Released: (UK)
Recorded:2012–2013
Genre:Alternative rock
Label:Stylus Records, Ignition Records
Prev Title:Graffiti on the Train
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:C'est la Vie
Next Year:2015

"We Share the Same Sun" is a song by rock band Stereophonics. It is the opening track on their 2013 album Graffiti on the Train and was released as the album's fourth single on 12 August 2013. The song was released as a 10" vinyl format and Stereophonics have regularly played it as part of their set list. When Graffiti on the Train was released the song had a mixed to positive response and has been compared to "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac.

Composition

"We Share the Same Sun" is played at a tempo of 128 beats per minute.[1] The song runs for 3:44 on both the album and single.[2] [3] It begins with an acoustic guitar playing E♭-D-Gm-F[4] for fifteen seconds until lead singer Kelly Jones begins his vocals.[3] When the chorus enters, electric guitars are abruptly introduced, along with bass and drums provided by Richard Jones and Javier Weyler, respectively.[3] The second and last chorus is extended which includes Adam Zindani singing to harmonise with Jones.[3] [5] The bridge section has Zindani echoing Jones' vocals, this is then followed by a guitar solo from Zindani.[3] [6]

The guitar in the song was described as "bluesy" by Matthew Horton from the BBC.

Promotion and release

"We Share the Same Sun" was regularly played on BBC Radio 2, particularly on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show,[7] two weeks before its release.[8] Jones performed a solo version and this was included on the bonus disc of Graffiti on the Train as "We Share the Same Sun (up close)".[2] On the iTunes deluxe edition, a video of Stereophonics in the studio – titled "We Share the Same Sun (In the Studio)" – was included which features shots of the studio, Stereophonics performing and fellow producer Jim Lowe at a mixing console.[9] [10] This was filmed when former drummer Javier Weyler was still in the band.[10]

Formats

Promotional CDs were made available on 1 July 2013 which featured the song as well as the instrumental version.[11] The limited 10" vinyl edition was available to pre-order on the band's website and was released on 12 August 2013 with lyrics etched on Side B.[12] The cover art for the single was created by Steve Goddard who created the artwork for Graffiti on the Train.[2] [3]

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United Kingdom1 July 2013Promo CDStylus Records[13]
12 August 201310" vinyl

Music video

The music video for "We Share the Same Sun" was directed by Jones.[14] It features the band in a low-lit room performing while an image projector displays various multicoloured patterns on them and the wall behind them.[15] [16] There are also shots of the projector behind individual band members as they play, creating lens flares.[17] Although Jamie Morrison is seen playing the drums in the video it was Javier Weyler who provided the drums on the track.[2] [17]

Live performances

In March 2013, Stereophonics held a March Tour to support Graffiti on the Train and "We Share the Same Sun" was played at all the shows.[18] [19] The band were booked for several summer festivals in 2013, including Pinkpop Festival (16 June), T in the Park (14 July) and the V Festival (18 August), where they performed the song.[20] [21] [22] When performing at Radio 2 in Concert, the song was the first of 6 songs to be played from the album.[23]

Critical response

Initial reviews of "We Share the Same Sun" have been mixed to positive. When reviewing Graffiti on the Train, Drowned in Sound contributor Sean Adams gave the song a positive review, calling it one of the stand-out tracks on the record. He compared the beginning of the track to "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac.[24] Eric Allen from American Songwriter called the song "moody" but stated, "it becomes glaringly obvious the band has regrouped and rediscovered their passion for making records."[25]

Matthew Horton at the BBC had a less enthusiastic response, describing it as "turning a bluesy guitar over and over against sinister keys – no quick rewards here."[26] At NME, Tom Howard had a negative response writing, "By slowly fading into the background of pop culture, the Stereophonics have created some space to pump out the same old stuff for their fans. So on 'We Share The Same Sun' Kelly Jones is gruff and there’s a big chorus, and the faithful will lap it up like hairy dogs with bowls of ice-cold water in hot weather."[27]

Appearances in other media

The song has been used by Sky Sports F1 in the background of their coverage of race weekends. A clip of the song was played on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch programme.[28]

Personnel

Stereophonics[2]
Additional[2]
Technical[2]

References

Notes
Footnotes
Videography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DMC ESSENTIAL HITS 101 – New Release . DMC . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020031241/http://www.dmcworld.com/store/dmc-essential-hits-101-new-release.html . 20 October 2013 . live . 22 August 2013.
  2. Graffiti on the Train . Stereophonics . 2013 . Deluxe CD . Stylus Records .
  3. Stereophonics . 2013 . We Share the Same Sun (10" vinyl) . Stylus Records.
  4. Web site: Stereophonics We Share the Sam Sun – [Studio Version] ]. Chordify . 22 August 2013.
  5. BBC T in the Park footage (2013), 3:11–3:34.
  6. BBC T in the Park footage (2013), 2:42–2:56. Note: Although Zindani isn't seen playing the solo, at around 2:50 Jones is seen playing rhythm guitar, thus ruling him out playing the solo.
  7. Web site: Episodes by date, August 2013 . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20130819065650/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p2d9w/broadcasts/2013/08 . 19 August 2013 . live . 9 August 2013. Note: The dates "We Share the Same Sun" were played are: 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9 August.
    • Web site: Episodes by date, August 2013 . Jo Whiley . . https://www.webcitation.org/6K1XNc0MB?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zqcjv/broadcasts/2013/08 . 30 September 2013 . live . 9 August 2013. Note: The dates "We Share the Same Sun" were played are: 1 and 5 August.
    • Web site: Episodes by date, August 2013 . The Janice Long Show . . https://www.webcitation.org/6K1XV7brr?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wr0n/broadcasts/2013/08 . 30 September 2013 . live . 16 August 2013. Note: The dates "We Share the Same Sun" were played are: 2 and 6 August.
    • Web site: Episodes by date, August 2013 . The Ken Bruce Show . . https://www.webcitation.org/6K1XcquQ2?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wr34/broadcasts/2013/08 . 30 September 2013 . live . 9 August 2013. Note: The dates "We Share the Same Sun" were played are: 6 and 8 August.
    • Web site: Episodes by date, August 2013 . Jeremy Vine . . https://www.webcitation.org/6K1XkO3DK?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wr3p/broadcasts/2013/08 . 30 September 2013 . live . 15 August 2013. Note: The dates "We Share the Same Sun" were played are: 7 and 9 August.
  8. Web site: Graffiti on the Train (Deluxe Version) . . 16 August 2013.
  9. Stereophonics, Jim Lowe . We Share the Same Sun (In the Studio) . Digital video . The Stereophonics Ltd . 2012.
  10. Web site: Stereophonics – We Share The Same Sun (song) . UK-charts.com . 7 August 2013.
  11. Web site: We Share The Same Sun limited edition 10 Pre-order . Stereophonics Ltd . 24 July 2013.
  12. Stylus Records is under exclusive license to Ignition Records Ltd. This is stated on Ignition Records' website and the credits on the back of the "We Share the Same Sun" vinyl.
  13. Web site: Stereophonics 'We Share The Same Sun' . . 1 July 2013 . 12 August 2013.
  14. Web site: Video: Stereophonics – We Share The Same Sun . MusicReview . 8 July 2013 . 22 July 2013.
  15. Web site: We Share the Same Sun video . The Stereophonics Ltd . 4 July 2013 . 21 August 2013. Note: The thumbnail shows the multicoloured patterns the image projector displays on the band and wall behind them.
  16. Kelly Jones (Director), Stereophonics . 2013 . Stereophonics – We Share The Same Sun . Music Video . 7 July 2013.
  17. Web site: March Tour Announced . The Stereophonics Ltd . 21 January 2013 . 9 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927081733/http://www.stereophonics.com/news/post/march-tour-announced . 27 September 2013 . dead .
  18. Web site: We Share the Same Sun by Stereophonics . Setlist.fm . 9 August 2013. Note: Stereophonics or 2013 has to be clicked on manually.
  19. Web site: Stereophonics Setlist at Pinkpop Festival 2013 . Setlist.fm . 10 August 2013.
  20. Web site: Stereophonics . . 7 August 2013.
  21. Web site: Stereophonics Setlist at V 2013 . Setlist.fm . 20 September 2013 . 20 September 2013.
  22. Web site: Radio 2 in Concert . . . 22 August 2013 . 22 August 2013.
  23. Web site: Stereophonics Graffiti on the Train . Adams . Sean . . 8 March 2013 . 9 August 2013 . 20 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020101727/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17506/reviews/4146143 . dead .
  24. Web site: Stereophonics: Graffiti on the Train . Allen . Eric . American Songwriter . 3 March 2013 . 9 August 2013.
  25. Web site: Stereophonics Graffiti on the Train Review . Horton . Matthew . . 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130511033816/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/z828 . 11 May 2013 . live . 9 August 2013.
  26. Web site: Stereophonics – 'We Share The Same Sun' . Howard . Tom . . 2 August 2013 . 7 August 2013.
  27. Web site: Sunday Brunch 2013 Playlist . . . 2013 . 22 August 2013.