Never There
"Never There" is the first single from Cake's third album Prolonging the Magic. The song spent three weeks at number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, surpassing "The Distance" (which peaked at number four) as the band's highest-charting single. "Never There" was the band's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 78. In Iceland the song was a major hit, peaking at number nine in November 1998. The song also charted in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, reaching numbers 75, 42 and 66 respectively. In Australia, the song appeared at number 30 on the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown for 1998.[1]
"Never There" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Cake | ||||
from the album Prolonging the Magic | ||||
Released | October 13, 1998 | |||
Recorded | 1998 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, funk rock | |||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | Capricorn | |||
Songwriter(s) | John McCrea | |||
Producer(s) | John McCrea | |||
Cake singles chronology | ||||
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Lyrical content
The lyrics are from the viewpoint of a lover who is frustrated that, while his beloved claims to love him back, her actions indicate that she does not really care about him.
Music video
The music video for "Never There" features Cake performing in a western-style bar, while a story arc covers a trucker calling his girlfriend on a pay phone and she never answers as she is too busy partying with male body builders in speedos.
Track listing
- "Never There" - 2:44
- "Cool Blue Reason" - 3:27
- "Half As Much" - 2:55
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1998–1999) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[2] | 75 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] | 42 |
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[4] | 10 |
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[5] | 9 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6] | 66 |
US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 78 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[8] | 29 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[9] | 1 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[10] | 40 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1999) | Position |
---|---|
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 7 |
In popular culture
The song can be heard in the Friends episode "The One Where Rachel Smokes" and in the Daria episode "Depth Takes a Holiday".
References
- "Triple J Hottest 100 1998". Australian Broadcasting Company. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 47.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6974." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7037." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Íslenski Listinn (27.11–4.11. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 27, 1998. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Cake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Cake Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Cake Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Cake Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "1999 – The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111 no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. 138. Retrieved April 2, 2020.