Just a Day

"Just a Day"
Single by Feeder
Released 10 December 2001
Format
Recorded 2001
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:45
Label Echo
Writer(s) Grant Nicholas
Producer(s)
  • Grant Nicholas
  • Feeder
Certification Gold (BPI)
Feeder singles chronology
"Piece by Piece"
(2001)		 "Just a Day"
(2001)		 "Come Back Around"
(2002)

"Just a Day" is a song by Feeder, released as the band's final single of 2001, notable for being their last with drummer Jon Lee. The Alan Moulder Mix featured as the opening track for the European version of Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec. It was first released on the "Seven Days in the Sun" single as a B-side. It was released as a single as it was included on the Gran Turismo soundtrack; it is a common misconception that "pressure from fans" was the reason.

Despite having already appeared in the top 20 earlier in the year as a B-side, the single A-side release stayed in the top 20 for 4 weeks, peaking at number 12. It instantly became a regular to end the band's live sets, but has been occasionally rested from this position for a cover of "Breed" by Nirvana, while never used as one of the "Feeder covers" at Renegades gigs. "Just a Day" has sold over 100,000 downloads and physical copies combined.

Feeder's performance of "Just a Day" on CD:UK in December 2001 was Feeder's last with Jon Lee. The week Jon Lee died, the band were due to appear on Top of the Pops performing "Can't Stand Losing You", a cover of The Police which appears on CD1 of this EP. Their place was taken by Ash performing "There's a Star". Before the release of the single, Feeder had already appeared on Later... with Jools Holland for the first time. This would be the last time Jon would perform with the band in a live setting as CD:UK was not fully live, they ended the show with the aforementioned "Can't Stand Losing You".

History

Feeder had already enjoyed a successful 2001 by the time "Just a Day" was released as a stand-alone single in December of that year. "Buck Rogers" had given them their first top 10 single and had then repeated the success with the attendant album Echo Park.

"Just a Day" stayed in the UK top 20 for four uninterrupted weeks and featured on "Seven Days in the Sun", as a B-side after being originally planned for their 1999 album Yesterday Went Too Soon. It later was included on The Singles in 2006, making it the first time the radio edit version of the track was on an album. The song describes the concept of waking up in the morning after heavy drinking the night before, while realizing the person has messed up a relationship in the process.

The single was also released as an orange vinyl, with a Brian Serper mix of the main track as its A-side although the differences are hardly noticeable.

The single is especially notable as it was released as an EP, Just a Day E.P.. This makes the release Feeder's sixth EP.

Critical reception

Drowned in Sound rated the single 7/10, with reviewer James Westfox saying that although readers might dislike Feeder, the song is "a difficult record to dislike."[1] NME also reviewed the EP, although reviewer Christian Ward focused his attention on the B-side "Can't Stand Losing You".[2] Sputnikmusic said that "Just a Day" was an "almighty radio single" and "really worth having".[3]

Music video

The video shows various fans miming to the song in their bedrooms. It started off as a competition on the band's website, in which fans had to send in an unedited video of themselves and the director chose the best ones. After being notified that they were successful, they were then advised to refrain from posting on any public internet forum until the release of the video.

Despite the mixed reception the video has within the fanbase (judging by the review on Feeder Fan Site), it gained cult classic status.[4] It also became an inspiration to Jetplane Landing and Canadian rock band the Barenaked Ladies, for their videos to "Brave Gravity" and "Wind it Up" respectively.

Fans critical of the video often mention that the fans' voices singing over the track makes the video hard to enjoy. The idea of this was inspired by the idea of the song playing on a small 2-speaker tape player with the fan in question singing along to it.

All-time list appearances

Track listings

CD1

  1. "Just a Day" (edit)
  2. "Can't Stand Losing You"
  3. "Piece by Piece" (video)

CD2

  1. "Just a Day" (full length)
  2. "Emily"
  3. "Slowburn"
  4. "Just a Day" (video)

7" vinyl (orange)

  1. "Just a Day" (Alan Moulder mix)
  2. "Emily"

References

  1. ↑ http://drownedinsound.com/releases/5279/reviews/2623-
  2. ↑ http://www.nme.com/reviews/artistKeyname/5912
  3. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/7595/Feeder-The-Singles/
  4. ↑ Feeder Fan Site "Just a Day" single review
  5. ↑ proboards forum - VH2 Indie 500- Feeder Fan Site messageboard discussion thread
  6. ↑ X-List 2006
  7. ↑ "Xfm's Best British Songs Of All Time". xfm.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  8. ↑ "Xfm's Top 1000 Singles Of All Time". xfm.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-15.

External links

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