There She Goes (The La's song)

"There She Goes" is a song by English rock band The La's, written by the band's frontman, Lee Mavers. The song reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart when it was re-issued in 1990.

"There She Goes"
Artwork for 1990 rerelease
Single by The La's
from the album The La's
B-side
  • "Come In, Come Out"
  • "Who Knows"
  • "Man I'm Only Human"
  • "All by Myself"
Released31 October 1988
22 October 1990 (re-issue)
20 September 1999 (2nd re-issue)
31 March 2008 (3rd re-issue)
Recorded1988
Woodcray Studios, Wokingham
GenreJangle pop[1]
Length2:42 (album version)
2:31 (single version)
LabelGo! Discs (GOLAS 2)
Songwriter(s)Lee Mavers
Producer(s)Bob Andrews
The La's singles chronology
"Way Out"
(1987)		 "There She Goes"
(1988)		 "Timeless Melody"
(1990)
The La's singles chronology
"Timeless Melody"
(1990)		 "There She Goes"
(1990)		 "Feelin'"
(1991)
There She Goes (2nd Re-issue)
(1999)
There She Goes (3rd Re-issue)
(2008)

In May 2007 NME magazine placed the song at number 45 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.[2] Predating Britpop by four years,[3] the band's self-titled album was named one of the 40 greatest one hit wonders by Rolling Stone, with the magazine stating, "Whether about heroin or just unrequited love, the La's single "There She Goes" off their self-titled debut has endured as a founding piece of Britpop's foundation."[4]

Lyrics and meaning

Structurally, the song is very simple and contains no verses, only a single chorus repeated four times and a bridge.

"There She Goes" has gained a reputation for being about the use of heroin, possibly as a result of the lines: "There she goes again... racing through my brain... pulsing through my vein... no one else can heal my pain".[5] Several newspapers ran articles about The La's and their apparent ode to heroin.[6] When asked about the rumour in 1995, the group's bassist John Power replied: "I don't know. Truth is, I don't wanna know."[7] However, in the book In Search of The La's: A Secret Liverpool (2003) by MW Macefield, ex-La's guitarist Paul Hemmings denied the rumour and added: "Jeremy Fisher, you don't know what you are talking about." In an interview with Les Inrockuptibles, Lee admits to trying heroin in 1990. The song therefore predated his experience as it was originally released in 1988. Mavers himself has also emphatically denied that the song is about heroin.[8]

The band's guitarist John Byrne said of the song, "I thought it would be big, a lot bigger than it was, but then forgotten like a lot of pop songs. In retrospect, the opposite happened."[9]

Release and reception

The first version of the song, produced by Bob Andrews, was released by The La's in 1988, and again on 2 January 1989, but failed to chart. Andrews' production of the song was remixed by Steve Lillywhite in 1990 for inclusion on their debut album The La's.[10] This remixed version was issued as a single on 22 October 1990 and hit number 13 in the UK Singles Chart (and later hit number 49 in the US).

In May 2007, NME magazine placed "There She Goes" at number 45 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.[2] In 2008, it was also re-released as a vinyl single for its 20th anniversary. A precursor to Britpop, the album was listed at number 13 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 40 greatest one hit wonders.[4]

On NPR's All Songs Considered, musician Ben Gibbard selected "There She Goes" as his pick for "perfect song."[11] Gibbard observed that the song "defines the perfectly written pop song: an instantaneously recognizable melody and lyric set to simple, economic musical structure. It is such a simple song that it boggles the mind that someone hadn't already written it."[11] Eric Clapton also praised the song.[9]

Music videos

There are two music videos for this song; a UK version and an international version.

The first video, released in 1988 and directed by Jeff Baynes, was recorded on a camcorder, and was shot in the English countryside and in the band's home town of Liverpool. It shows the band performing in an alleyway and on a hill, as well as footage from their concerts. The band are also seen in a park. The video ends with a shot of the drum logo.[12] This version was released exclusively for the UK and Irish markets only.

The second music video, released in 1990, was shot in Los Angeles, California. It is the band's first video to feature new lead guitarist Peter Camell and drummer Neil Mavers (Lee's younger brother). It shows the band performing in the streets and neighboring towns of Los Angeles, interspliced with footage of a young woman. The band is also shown performing infront of the Los Angeles skyline as evidenced by the U.S. Bank Tower. The video ends with a shot of the woman's face. This version, dubbed as "American version" and "International version", was released internationally.

As soundtrack

It has appeared on several film soundtracks, including The Parent Trap; Fever Pitch; Girl, Interrupted; Cold Case; The Adventures of Pete and Pete; Snow Day and So I Married an Axe Murderer (where both the original and The Boo Radleys version appear). It also opens the "Pilot" episode of Gilmore Girls. Sixpence None the Richer's version of the song was used in the commercials for birth control company Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo from 2004-2005.[13] The song was also used for the opening dream sequence at the Peach Pit in episode of 4 of BH90210.

The song was also used for the opening montage of the first episode of Channel 4's drama series This Is England '90 which also featured outgoing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's resignation speech.[14]

The song was used frequently for slow motion scenes with Nori in the U.S. TV series Me, Myself & I.

Formats and track listings

Other reissues

Personnel

The La's[15]

  • Lee Mavers – lead vocals and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
  • John Power – bass and backing vocals
  • John "Boo" Byrne – electric guitar
  • Chris Sharrock – drums and tambourine

Production[15]

  • Bob Andrews – producer
  • Dave Charles – engineer
  • Jeremy Allom – engineer, producer (on "All by Myself")
  • Mike Haas – engineer (on "All by Myself")
  • Steve Lillywhite – producer, mixing (on "Freedom Song"), remixing (on "There She Goes" 1990 version)
  • Mark Wallis – additional producer, engineer (on "Freedom Song")

Other personnel

  • Ryan Art – design

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Platinum 600,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Sixpence None the Richer version
"There She Goes"
Single by Sixpence None the Richer
from the album Sixpence None the Richer
Released14 April 1999 (1999-04-14)
Recorded1997
GenreAlternative rock, pop rock
Length2:43
LabelSquint/Elektra
Songwriter(s)Lee Mavers
Sixpence None the Richer singles chronology
"Kiss Me"
(1998)		 "There She Goes"
(1999)		 "I Can't Catch You"
(2000)

Sixpence None the Richer released a cover version of the song in 1999 as the second single from their self-titled album, Sixpence None the Richer. The band's rendition of the song reached number two in Iceland, number 12 in Canada and Scotland, number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Track listing
  1. "There She Goes" – 2:42
  2. "There She Goes" (Ben Grosse mix) – 2:42
  3. "Kiss Me" (acoustic version) – 3:12

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[30] 47
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[31] 14
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[32] 12
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[33] 5
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[34] 50
Germany (Official German Charts)[35] 67
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[36] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 17
Poland (LP3)[38] 47
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[39] 12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[40] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 32
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[42] 19
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 13

Year-end charts
Chart (1999) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[45] 54
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[46] 46
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[47] 35

References
  1. LaBate, Steve (18 December 2009). "Jangle Bell Rock: A Chronological (Non-Holiday) Anthology… from The Beatles and Byrds to R.E.M. and Beyond". Paste. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  2. "The Greatest Indie Anthems Ever – countdown continues". NME. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  3. "The La's There She Goes". All Music. 10 May 2018.
  4. "40 Greatest One-Album Wonders: 13. The La's, 'The La's' (1990)". Rolling Stone. 10 May 2018.
  5. "The La's, "There She Goes" (1990). Your Love Is a Drug: 20 Great Narcotic Love Songs". Rolling Stone. 1 May 2018.
  6. "The La's – 25 years on from one of the UK's greatest ever debut albums". Liverpool Echo. 1 May 2018.
  7. Jelbert, Steve. "Pop: The One and Only", The Independent, London: 26 January 2001, p. 16.
  8. http://www.the-las.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=34033#p34033
  9. Comaratta, Len. "Dusting 'Em Off: The La's - The La's". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  10. "Tom Graves' Blog". Tomgraves.blogspot.gr.
  11. "Perfect Song: Artist Picks". All Songs Considered. NPR. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  12. "The La's". Strikingmedia.co.uk.
  13. Flynn, Caitlin. "12 Things You Forgot About 'Gilmore Girls' Pilot, Like When Rory Didn't Want To Attend Chilton," Bustle, Friday, April 10, 2015.
  14. Vine, Richard (28 August 2015). "Shane Meadows on This is England '90: 'They're very addictive, them lot'". theguardian.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  15. The La's: Deluxe Edition (booklet). The La's. UK: Polydor Records. 2008. 5306021.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  17. "Ultratop.be – The La's – There She Goes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 48. 1 December 1990. p. 13. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – There She Goes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – The La's – There She Goes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  21. "Notowanie nr482" (in Polish). LP3. 17 May 1991. Retrieved 16 February 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  23. "The La's Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  24. "The La's Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  29. "British single certifications – La's – There She Goes". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  30. "Australian-charts.com – Sixpence None the Richer – There She Goes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  31. "Ultratop.be – Sixpence None the Richer – There She Goes" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  32. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8451." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  33. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7842." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  34. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 39. 25 September 1999. p. 16. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  35. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sixpence None the Richer – There She Goes". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  36. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (14.10 – 21.10 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 15 October 1999. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  37. "Charts.nz – Sixpence None the Richer – There She Goes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  38. "Notowanie nr926" (in Polish). LP3. 29 October 1999. Retrieved 16 February 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  39. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  40. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  41. "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  42. "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  43. "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  44. "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  45. "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  46. "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  47. "End of Year Charts 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
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