The Distance (song)

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“The Distance”
Single by Cake from the album Fashion Nugget
Released	1997 (1997)
Format	CD single
Recorded	September 1996 (1996-09)
Genre	Alternative
Length	3:00
Label	Capricorn
Writer(s)	Greg Brown
Cake singles chronology
"I Will Survive" (1996) "The Distance" (1997) "Frank Sinatra" (1997)

"The Distance" is a song by the American alternative rock band Cake. Released in 1997, "The Distance" was the first single from their second album, Fashion Nugget, their "best-known" and "ubiquitous" ^[1] single. It was written by the band's guitarist at the time, Greg Brown.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Instrumentation 3 Music Video 4 Chart positions 5 References in popular culture 6 External links 7 References

[edit] Track listing

1. "The Distance" - 3:00
2. "Multiply the Heartaches" - 2:49
3. "Jolene" (Live) - 8:25
4. "It's Coming Down" - 3:44

[edit] Instrumentation

The song is based around Cake's standard guitar, bass and drums setup, with flourishes of solo trumpet, and John McCrea's characteristically deadpan, driving vocals. The song does not employ McCrea's rhythm guitar, but does feature some overlaid synthesised sounds.

[edit] Music Video

The video for "The Distance" features footage of the members of the band performing the song in a busy office lobby, mixed with footage of a businessman who inexplicably starts to run off into the sun-set; first he runs from his office building (the same one the band is performing in) to the suburbs, then into the country and a forest, and finally into the sea. While the man is running, various people in humorous animal costumes cheer him on.

[edit] Chart positions

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1997	The Distance	Modern Rock Tracks (US)[2]	No. 4
1997	The Distance	Mainstream Rock Tracks (US)[2]	No. 38

[edit] References in popular culture

• Ska punk band The Aquabats make reference to The Distance in the opening of their song Sandy Face, by mimicking the introduction to the chorus and using the line "He's going the distance".^{[citation needed]}

• An instrumental cover of this song is featured in The Simpsons episode "Saddlesore Galactica"

• The great Luke Ski recorded a parody of "The Distance" for his early album, Shadows of the Bunghole (later re-released on Carpe Dementia). Entitled "Resistance", it was a humorous take on the film Star Trek: First Contact ("resistance" being part of the signature tagline of the film's antagonists, the Borg).

[edit] External links

• Official site

[edit] References

1. ^ allmusic - Overview.
2. ^ ^{a b} Cake—Artist Chart History. Billboard.com.

v • d • e CAKE John McCrea • Vince DiFiore • Xan McCurdy • Gabe Nelson • Paulo Baldi Former Members: Greg Brown • Victor Damiani • Shon Meckfessel • Pete McNeal • Todd Roper • Frank French Studio albums Motorcade of Generosity • Fashion Nugget • Prolonging the Magic • Comfort Eagle • Pressure Chief Compilations B-Sides and Rarities • Live at the Crystal Palace Demo Tapes & EPs Is This Love? • Three Song Sampler • Extra Value Singles Rock 'N' Roll Lifestyle • Jolene • Ruby Sees All • I Will Survive • The Distance • Frank Sinatra • Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps • Friend is a Four Letter Word • Never There • Let Me Go • You Turn the Screws • Sheep Go to Heaven • Short Skirt/Long Jacket • Arco Arena • Love You Madly • No Phone • The Guitar Man • Carbon Monoxide Related articles Discography • Deathray