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Neil Finn’s musical apprenticeship in brother Tim’s band, Split Enz, had seen him emerge as a classic pop craftsman, gaining the quirky New Zealanders global success with “I Got You”. However it it was with his own band, Crowded House, and Californian

Crowded House Song facts

Composer
Neil Finn

Genre
Pop

Album
Crowded House

Year of release
1987

UK Chart Position
27 producer Mitchell Froom that his Beatlesque vision became fully-realised.

Their self-titled debut album was an instant hit in the USA, propelled by the #2 hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. Its anthemic chorus and minor-key melancholy made it perfect FM radio material and a live favourite. However in the UK, where Acid House and Stock Aitken and Waterman ruled, it barely troubled the charts.
The band’s subsequent hits, all penned by Finn, eventually led to global success, but this is still his finest 3 minutes. Covered by Paul Young and used to promote the New Zealand tourist board, it was the very last song the band ever played at their farewell concert in Sydney in 1996. It reduced both the band and the entire 100,000-strong crowd to tears.
For more Finn Brothers magic, check out the pages for their live and exclusive concert for Sold on Song here .

Neil Finn on songwriting

Neil Finn

Neil Finn talks to Roger Scott about the joys of songwriting for Crowded House - "It's a pleasure to write a song ... It's a wonderful feeling".
 
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Paul Young

  Paul Young had a #20 hit with Neil Finn's masterpiece in 1991.

A song so ethereally beautiful with a special sentiment that you think its been around for a hundred years.

David
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