Ana's Song (Open Fire)

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)"
Single by Silverchair
from the album Neon Ballroom
Released May 1999 (1999-05)
Format CD, 7"
Recorded 1998
Genre Alternative rock, post-grunge
Length 3:42
Label Murmur
Songwriter(s) Daniel Johns
Producer(s) Nick Launay
Silverchair singles chronology
"Anthem for the Year 2000"
(1999)		 "Ana's Song (Open Fire)"
(1999)		 "Miss You Love"
(1999)

"Anthem for the Year 2000"
(1999)		 "Ana's Song (Open Fire)"
(1999)		 "Miss You Love"
(1999)

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)" is an alternative rock song by Australian group Silverchair which was released in May 1999 as the second single from their third album, Neon Ballroom. The track earned Silverchair a Comet Award in Germany.

Background

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)" is a single issued in May 1999 by Australian alternative rock band, Silverchair. It was written by the group's lead singer, Daniel Johns. In 1999, Johns announced that he had developed the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, due to anxiety/depression.[1] 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".[2] Ana is the nickname given to anorexia nervosa by people affected by it. He revealed that his eating problems developed from the time of Freak Show (May 1996) 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."[3] 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 [anorexia].[1]

Reception

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)" peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks.[4] On the ARIA Singles Chart it reached No. 14.[5] According to 100 Best Australian Albums, by three Australian journalists, John O'Donnell, Toby Creswell and Craig Mathieson, "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" directly focused on Johns' eating disorder, "[it] became a hit all over the world and opened up for discussion the fact that males could also be affected by anorexia".[1]

Video

The music video was directed by Cate Anderson, who also made the band's video for the song "Emotion Sickness". Australian actress Sarah Aubrey played the girl at the sink washing her hands, while having a distorted image of their cleanliness through the mirror.

Track listing

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[5] 14
New Zealand Singles Chart[6] 34
UK Singles Chart[7] 45
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[4] 28
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[4] 12

References

  1. 1 2 3 O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). "25: Silverchair – Neon Ballroom". 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
  2. ↑ Fisher, Blair R (11 July 1999). "Silverchair Frontman Reveals Battle with Anorexia". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Sams, Christine (6 June 2004). "Anorexia almost killed me: Daniel Johns". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Silverchair – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  5. 1 2 "Silverchair singles". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 2001-06-14.
  6. ↑ "Silverchair singles". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  7. ↑ Roberts, David, ed. (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). HIT Entertainment. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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