This weekend on 92.9, we are bringing you the Top 10 Silverchair's songs.
10.
Miss You Love'
Neon Ballroom (2000)
The song was written when Daniel Johns was suffering from severe depression among other things. In an interview with Kerrang! magazine, Johns said that the song was "about not being able to establish a relationship with anyone, not being able to experience love outside of family".
He also said that he "wanted a song that people could perceive as a love song, while the lyrics are actually very angry".
The song appeared in the 2000 Australian film Looking for Alibrandi, although it was not included on the official soundtrack.
9.
Pure Massacre
Frogstomp (1994)
This was the second single from their debut album, Frogstomp. According to interviews with lead singer and guitarist Daniel Johns, the song and its lyrics are inspired by the Bosnian War.
"It's pretty stupid, war, like that. So, it seemed the right thing to write a song about, rather than about the usual--girls or whatever. It took about a half an hour; it came straight to my head.
8.
Abuse Me
Freak Show (1996)
Johns said about the song: "With 'Abuse Me', I just wanted to get all the feelings off my chest, the feelings I'd had when I read all the negative commentary. The song is basically saying, 'Say what you like. We don't give a **** what you think. We're just playing our music'." Johns also said that "every song I've ever heard sounds like another song I've heard"
7.
Without You
Diorama (2002)
"Without You" was penned to be used on Silverchair's third studio album, Neon Ballroom, however was carried over to be used on their fourth album, Diorama. The video is composed of many colourful auroras and seems to be in a space setting. It can be noted that Daniel Johns was sitting in a chair for a few shots. During the period in which this video was shot, John's reactive arthritis was worsening, and he could barely walk let alone play a guitar.
6.
Anthem For The Year 2000
Neon Ballroom (1999)
Anthem For The Year 2000 became Silverchair's sixth Top 10 single in Australia.
Songwriter Daniel Johns said "Anthem for the Year 2000" was inspired by a dream:
The whole thing is about youth rebelling against people who are supposedly more important. It's about youth having total control over their own minds. They do not need overweight people in suits telling them what to do and how to act. It is all about just being yourself. The chorus is very sarcastic. It is not supposed to be taken seriously Australian actress Maggie Kirkpatrick played the robot politician. Kirkpatrick said about being invited for the video "My first reaction was, 'Why me?' I later found out that the boys were from Newcastle and, being an old Newcastle girl myself, I was more than prepared to help them out. I encourage anyone from my own town. Actually, my niece and nephew went to school with the guys."
5.
The Greatest View
Diorama (2002)
Upon release of the single in 2002, songwriter Daniel Jones said: "The Greatest View" is a song that really focuses on people's perceptions of the same problem or the same scenario. Basically what was going on in my mind was that I had a lot of people who were watching over me and watching my every move making sure that I didn't fall back in to the heap that I fell in to whilst writing Neon Ballroom. Because I was aware of that I felt like I had the greatest view from where I was from because I could see what was going on. I was aware of the situation, I was in control of my own destiny really.
4.
Ana Song (Open Fire)
Neon Ballroom (1999)
In 1999, Johns announced that he had developed the eating disorder anorexia nervosa due to anxiety/depression. Johns noted that the lyrics to "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" dealt with his disorder, where he would "eat what he needed ... to stay awake". Ana is the nickname given to anorexia nervosa by people affected by it.
He revealed that his eating problems developed from the time of their previous album Freakshow and when Neon Ballroom was written he "hated music, really everything about it", but felt that he "couldn't stop doing it; I felt like a slave to it."
Johns sought therapy and medication but felt "It's easier for me to express it through music and lyrics". Johns eventually overcame the disorder, realizing that he would never be cured of the disease, but could live a fulfilled life by learning to cope with it.
3.
Freak
Freak Show (1996)
Freak was the first single to be released from their second studio album, Freak Show. It went to number one on the ARIA Charts, their second number one after Tomorrow. They would not get another number one on the charts until Straight Lines - eleven years later in 2007.
2.
Straight Lines
Young Modern (2007)
"Straight Lines" is generally a positive and upbeat song. The song is about feeling alone in the world, but making it through tough times and overcoming them. The song was written by usual Silverchair songwriter, Daniel Johns and Justin Hamilton from The Presets. The song ended up winning 3 ARIA awards in 2007 and was the most played song on Australian radio in 2007.
1.
Tomorrow
Frogstomp (1994)
Tomorrow was the debut single from Silverchair, originally released on their EP titled Tomorrow and later released on their debut album Frogstomp. "Tomorrow" became a breakthrough hit for Silverchair when it reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart in October and remained at the top position for six weeks. A re-recorded version was issued in 1995 in the United States and also peaked at number one on both the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and the Album Rock Tracks charts; it made No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. In the United Kingdom, the song made No. 59 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1995. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1995, the song "Tomorrow" won three awards in the categories 'Single of the Year', 'Highest Selling Single', and 'Breakthrough Artist – Single'; they won two further awards for Frogstomp. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the "angst-ridden single" as "from the standard grunge formula".
In February 2004, Australian rock musician Scott Owen of The Living End was asked for "the most influential Australian music release" and answered that it was Silverchair's "Tomorrow", he explained "it taught kids that if you give it a go you have the chance to take on the world".